So Much Iceland

American Airlines joins Iceland avalanche with service from DFW Airport

American Airlines is hurrying to jump on this Iceland thing.

Photo courtesy of American Airlines

Dallas travelers are about to go from "no direct flights to Iceland" to suddenly "all the direct flights to Iceland a person could ever want," with a third airline joining the DFW-KEF fray.

DFW's own American Airlines is me-too-ing its way into the Iceland mix by adding service to Reykjavik-Keflavik, Iceland (KEF) in summer 2018. Its service to Iceland's capital and largest city begins June 7 from American's Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) hub.

AA VP Vasu Raja claims that the new service is prompted by the fact that Iceland has become popular.

"Reykjavik has become a very popular leisure destination and we look forward to giving our customers the opportunity to experience Iceland's unique landscape of geysers, volcanoes, and hot springs with our new direct service next summer," Raja says in a release. "The new destination complements our continued growth from Dallas-Fort Worth, including Rome and Amsterdam."

But Iceland has been popular for a while, though. American's decision to introduce service from DFW to Iceland surely has nothing to do with responding to a similar decision by Icelandair, the country's elder airline statesman, which announced that it will offer flights between Reykjavík Keflavik International and DFW four times a week, beginning in May 2018.

And Icelandair's decision to introduce service from DFW to KEF had toootally nothing to do with trying to compete with the trailblazing service from groovy new airline WOW air, who first announced service between DFW and Iceland in early September. WOW air will offer non-stop access to Reykjavik, Iceland, with flights going out three times per week on a seasonal basis.

Airline world, so competitive.

American Airlines' route will be flown on a 176-seat Boeing 757-200, featuring "lie-flat" Business Class seats, Casper bedding, and Cole Haan amenity kits in the premium cabin.

Flights go on sale on November 20. Service dates will run through the summer as follows:

DFW–KEF: June 7-Oct. 26
KEF–DFW: June 8-Oct. 27

DFW to KEF flights will depart DFW at 8:20 pm and arrive at KEF at 9:15 am.

KEF to DFW flights will depart DFW at 11:10 am and arrives at DFW at 2:50 pm the next day.

vacation

Best of Texas

Beloved Texas city hailed top place to travel in 2025 by Travel + Leisure

Photo courtesy of San Antonio River Walk

The world is finding out there's a lot to love about San Antonio.

Texas travelers already know the many charms of San Antonio, and now the whole world is finding out, too. National magazine Travel + Leisure has declared San Antonio one of the best places to travel in 2025.

The publication's annual "Where to Go" list reviews nearly 120 notable places around the globe and chooses only 50 for its collection of best destinations. Winners are then categorized into one of seven categories: cultural immersion, nature lovers, big-city thrills, moments on the water, food and drinks, beach vibes, and adventurous travelers.

San Antonio was the only Texas city to be recognized in the 2025 list. Dallas neighbor Fort Worth earned this unique recognition in the 2024 report.

"These are places that feel 'of the moment,' whether that’s because they offer unparalleled access to the outdoors, a cultural immersion you can’t find anywhere else, a pulse-quickening hit of excitement, or the sort of blissful luxury only a true five-star property can deliver," Travel + Leisure editors wrote.

San Antonio was lauded as a must-visit destination "For the Food and Drinks" by T+L. The Alamo City was specifically praised for being "on the cutting edge of culinary innovation" in part thanks to the 13 outstanding local restaurants that were recognized in the first-ever Texas Michelin Guide, and the numerous James-Beard Award-nominated local chefs and eateries.

"Elsewhere, chef and restaurateur Jason Dady will be opening Mexico Ceaty in early 2025, overhauling a food court to create a dining destination that highlights Mexican cuisine," T+L said.

Mexico Ceaty in San Antonio Mexico Ceaty will bring several concepts to the Shops at Rivercenter. Rendering courtesy of SA Partnerships

The report also gives a shoutout to the increasingly popular dining complex Pullman Market, which opened earlier in 2024.

"Our market highlights the difference and value of truly fresh and truly local," said CEO Kevin Fink in the report. "Whether it’s whole fresh fish from the Gulf of Mexico, Berkshire pigs from down the road, or butter from a herd of cows whose milk tastes of the Texas landscape."

When it comes to finding a place to stay in San Antonio, there is no shortage of comfortable and lavish accommodations. T+L names two recently opened hotels in its report: Kimpton Santo, a boutique hotel that repurposed 19th century schoolhouses, and the fully renovated InterContinental San Antonio RiverWalk.

Earlier this year, San Antonio won national acclaim in the publication's annual "World's Best" reader's choice awards, and was named the No. 6 best U.S. city in 2024.

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