Friends,
It is another good morning for tea, and I wanted to share a few travel notes that are worth paying attention to as this first full week of 2026 gets going.
Over the weekend, news broke about the United States deposing Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro, and while this is not a political newsletter, it is hard to ignore the ripple effects when major geopolitical moves happen. Travel is often one of the first places those ripples show up. Airports. Airspace. Airlines. Routes that once existed quietly for decades suddenly feel fragile.
Venezuela is a good example. For years, Caracas sat at the center of an airline network that connected much of South and Central America and reached far beyond it. Some of those connections were unusual (few carriers fly A340s to Mexico City). Many were controversial (commercial non-stops from Caracas to Tehran are unique at best). All of them remind me that aviation is never just about planes. It is about power, economics, and how the world chooses to stay connected. It will be interesting to watch how this unfolds, especially through the lens of travel.
Against that backdrop, I find myself appreciating the smaller things that actually improve the experience of being on the move.
Reliable internet on a flight is one of them. Not because we need to work constantly, but because it gives you back a sense of control. You can check in with home. You can get something done. Or you can ignore it entirely. When a tool works consistently, it fades into the background, which is usually a sign it is doing its job.
American Airlines is beginning its move toward free inflight Wi-Fi for AAdvantage members this week, and I am genuinely glad to see it. It has become table stakes in the U.S., and I think it is a meaningful quality of life upgrade for anyone who travels regularly. American is positioned better than most to do this well because their onboard Wi-Fi equipment is generally solid, and free only matters if it is actually usable. I have an American flight next week and I will report back.
Separately, a recent WSJ article on jet lag reminded me that the truth is often simpler than the advice surrounding it. Change your clock early. Drink water. Sleep when you can. Get outside when you arrive. Move your body a little. None of this is exciting, but it works. I am always struck by how consistent these habits are among people who travel constantly. The body has not changed, even if the routes and aircraft have.
What ties all of this together for me is restraint. The best improvements in travel do not overwhelm you. They remove friction. They make space for people to arrive a little more human than they otherwise might.
Travel has a way of sharpening perspective. It shows how interconnected the world really is and how quickly conditions can change. It also reminds me how much grace matters when people are tired, displaced, or simply trying to get where they are going.
As I look ahead to the trips still to come this year, I am less focused on novelty and more grateful for the things that quietly work. If you are traveling soon, I hope your next journey feels steady, thoughtful, and perhaps a bit lighter.
Fly well.
