United Grows Its Leading Pacific Network With New Flights To Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Adelaide And Manila

United today announced it intends to be the only U.S. airline to offer flights to Bangkok, Thailand, and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, with new daily service from Hong Kong planned to start this fall*. These new flights will be scheduled to offer easier connections for travelers from across North America to help meet the growing demand for travel to these destinations.

Starting December 11, United will launch the first nonstop flights between the U.S. and Adelaide, Australia – just in time for the Australian summer. With the addition of this three times weekly seasonal service, United is now the leading carrier to Australia from the continental U.S., also offering flights to Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne.

In addition, United is also adding a second daily flight between San Francisco and Manila. Starting on October 25, travelers from both cities will have the option of a daytime or evening flight for greater convenience. United is the only U.S. airline to serve the Philippines, with service to both Manila and Cebu.

With these new routes, United will now offer flights from the U.S. to 32 different cities in the Pacific region – four times that of any other U.S. carrier – further cementing its status as the world's largest airline** with the most extensive international network.

"At United, we're changing the way people think about where they travel – by offering the greatest access to see and explore the world, whether it's for relaxation, adventure or business," said Patrick Quayle, Senior Vice President, Global Network Planning and Alliances at United. "We offer more than the best schedule and travel options – we connect customers to sought after destinations and opportunities to explore new, vibrant cities."

United is the world's leading carrier across the Pacific**; in the past year alone, the airline served more than six million business and leisure passengers in the Pacific region.

Tickets for the Adelaide and the new Manila flights are on sale now on United.com and on the United app. Tickets for Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City flights will be available for sale at a later date.

Bangkok, Thailand

United will be the only U.S. airline to offer daily flights to Bangkok starting October 26. The flights will operate on a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner and allow a mix of local and international travelers to explore the city's deep history.

Known for mixing vibrancy and tradition, there is plenty to explore in Bangkok. Customers can see hundreds of ancient temples like Wat Phra Kaew (The Temple of the Emerald Buddha) and Wat Arun (The Temple of Dawn), check out Lumpini Park – a green oasis amid the bustling cityscape, ride in a tuk-tuk around the city, sample street food like mango sticky rice, boat noodles, and gai tod, and finish the evening walking through Srinagarindra Train Night Market filled with local eats, lights, live bands and bars.

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Beginning October 26, United will be the only U.S. airline to offer daily flights to Ho Chi Minh City. The flights will operate on a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner and allow a mix of local and international travelers to explore the city's deep history.

Customers visiting can enjoy notable sites like The Saigon Opera House and Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica, scooter through rice field paths, try amazing Vietnamese flavors from open-air pho stalls and local street vendors, enjoy the bursting microbrewery scene, and much more.

Adelaide, Australia

United will become the first carrier to offer nonstop service between the U.S. and Adelaide* with its nonstop three-times weekly seasonal service from San Francisco starting on December 11. The flight will operate on a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner and builds on United's leading network coverage, making United the only airline to offer nonstop service between the U.S. and four major cities in Australia. These routes, combined with the airline's partnership with Virgin Australia, offer travelers more choice and access across the country.

Adelaide offers U.S. travelers the chance to escape the cold and visit renowned wine regions like Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale, experience the stunning natural beauty of Kangaroo Island, and taste the region's impeccable produce while exploring stands from more than 70 local traders at the Adelaide Central Markets – one of the largest fresh produce markets in the Southern Hemisphere.

Manila, Philippines

On October 25, United will begin flying its second flight between San Francisco and Manila*, bringing U.S. travelers more flexibility between day and evening flights when traveling to the Philippines. The flight will be operated on a Boeing 777-300ER.

Customers can visit historic sites like San Agustin and Fort Santiago, try local Filipino foods like kwek-kwek, turon, and halo-halo from street vendors , shop at one of the largest malls in Asia – the Mall of Asia, take in art and history at some of the country's national museums housed in Manila, or make a day trip to Tagaytay and cruise by boat to see the stunning Taal Volcano – a natural wonder set on its own island.

United's Growing Global Reach

United has the largest network in the world**, including the largest international network from North America, which it continues to expand at an industry-leading pace. The airline offers approximately 500 daily flights to and from 150 international destinations for travelers around the world. This expansion reinforces United's commitment to growing its network and bringing travelers to new destinations. The airline is also gearing up to kick off its highly anticipated Summer 2025 schedule that was announced last October.

* Subject to government approval ** As measured by available seat miles

For more details, please visit: https://www.united.com/en/us

Walt Disney World Cuts Ticket Prices For Kids This Summer

Taking kids on a summer vacation to Walt Disney World just got cheaper.

The Florida theme park announced this week it is offering half-price tickets for kids ages 3 to 9, plus other family-friendly discounts and entertainment this summer.

Here is what to know about the offerings.

Half-price kids tickets valid through Sept. 20

Half-price kids tickets are now available for purchase.

The 50% discount is valid on three-day tickets or longer and on visits from May 27 through Sept. 20, 2025.

Adult pricing for Disney World tickets begins at age 10. Guests under age 3 may enter for free.

Return of the free dining plan deal

Disney-goers can get a free dining plan with the purchase a non-discounted four-night, four-day (or longer) package that includes a room at select Disney Resort hotels, and a ticket with a Park Hopper option.

The offer is valid for visits on select dates from June 29 through Dec. 22, 2025.

Kid zone experiences at Magic Kingdom, Epcot

From May 27 through Sept. 1, new experiences will open in Magic Kingdom and Epcot designed specifically for kids.

Kid zones at Magic Kingdom in Storybook Circus and Tomorrowland will offer new activities and opportunities to interact with Disney characters.

At Epcot, Goofy will take over CommuniCore Hall, where kids can cool down and have fun in what Disney describes as the "ultimate game party and play space."

New shows and a nighttime parade

A new nighttime parade is coming to Magic Kingdom later this summer, featuring characters from "Peter Pan," "Frozen," "Encanto" and more.

The Disney Starlight parade is the first nighttime parade at Disney World in almost a decade, according to the company.

At Hollywood Studios, two new shows for kids will debut on May 27 -- "The Little Mermaid: A Musical Adventure" and "Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After."

Character visits at select Disney hotels

This summer, select resorts -- Disney's Art of Animation Resort, Disney's Pop Century Resort, Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort and Disney's Wilderness Lodge -- will feature character visits and new Disney-themed activities for families.

https://abcnews.go.com/author/GMA_Team

Trump's Tariffs Set To Drive Up Bar Bills And Wipe Out Spirits Jobs

U.S. drinkers will pay more for cocktails, champagne and foreign beers, brands will disappear from bar menus and jobs will be lost on both sides of the Atlantic as a result of U.S. President Donald Trump's reciprocal tariffs, drinks industry bodies and analysts said on Thursday.

Trump's latest round of global and country-specific tariffs was set to hit everything from the popular negroni cocktail, based on Italy's Campari liqueur, to Guinness stout, made by the world's top spirits producer Diageo.

He also introduced a 25% levy on all beer imports and added beer cans to existing aluminium tariffs, hitting labels such as Mexican-made Corona and Dutch Heineken.

Shares of some spirits companies such as Diageo and Campari however gained as threats of 25% tariffs affecting Mexican tequila and Canadian whisky did not materialise. A threatened 200% tariff on European alcohol also remained outstanding for now.

However, industry bodies said the levies laid out on Wednesday were already high enough to hurt sectors that rely heavily on U.S. drinkers for sales.

European spirits exports alone to the U.S. stood at 2.9 billion euros ($3.18 billion) in 2024, according to trade body spiritsEurope, which said many U.S.-based jobs also relied on this trade.

French groups and officials warned of a 20% slide in sales and mass layoffs in regions like Cognac, where French brandy is produced for export, largely to the U.S. and China. The Spanish Wine Association warned no market could offset lost sales in the United States.

WINNERS AND LOSERS

"Many labels, which cannot be replaced by local production, will disappear from the tables of U.S. consumers, while a serious production and employment crisis is looming in Italy and Europe," Micaela Pallini, president of Italian trade association Federvini, said in a statement.

Japanese drinks maker Suntory said it will focus on selling spirits in countries where they are made as a result of tariffs.

Other major spirits and beer producers either declined to comment, did not immediately respond to requests for comment or said they were assessing the impact.

Analysts at UBS estimated that large listed spirits makers would have to hike prices by between 2% and 5% to cover the tariffs, or absorb the cost themselves and take a similar hit to operating profit.

Serious discussions about prices were underway now that tariff rates are known, said Tammy Curtis, senior vice president of commercial finance at Republic National Distributing Company, a top U.S. spirits distributor. "There will be winners and losers," she said, adding products where more of the tariff can be absorbed throughout the supply chain will fare better.

Sales of products like wine and cognac are already falling in the United States. French and Spanish wine producers told Reuters U.S. drinkers would have to pay some of the cost of tariffs. This would hurt U.S. wine businesses more than foreign counterparts, the U.S. Wine Trade Alliance added.

NOWHERE TO GO

Strategies used to mitigate tariffs during Trump's first term, such as shipping wine in bulk, would not help with these blanket levies, Allan Sichel, chairman of Bordeaux wine lobby CIVB, said.

Some producers may be able to shift manufacturing or parts of it, such as bottling. Other products like French champagne or Scotch whisky have to be made in specific countries or designated regions and cannot move production.

The Irish whiskey sector exports 40% of its production to the U.S., which drives growth and helps fund expansion in other markets, said Eoin O Cathain, head of the Irish Whiskey Association.

Companies may now shift their focus elsewhere, he continued, especially given ongoing uncertainty.

While Europe was spared the 200% tariff Trump has threatened to impose, it could still come if Europe's retaliation hits U.S. spirits, such as bourbon whiskey. "If it goes up to 200%, that'll be game over. The U.S. market will be finished," said Frederic Zeimett, CEO of Champagne Leclerc Briant which exports to the United States. ($1 = 0.9116 euros)

Reporting by Emma Rumney in London, Elisa Anzolin in Milan, Sybille de La Hamaide, Dominique Patton, Tassilo Hummel in Paris and Corina Pons and Emma Pinedo in Madrid; Additional reporting by Diana Mandia Alvarez in Gdansk and Lucien Libert in Paris; Writing by Emma Rumney; Editing by Barbara Lewis and Tomasz Janowski

Canada’s Snowbirds Reconsider Calling The US Their Second Home

Sharon Savoy, a 65-year-old retiree from just outside of Toronto, had planned a typical three-month stay at her vacation home in Miami earlier this month. But then she abruptly decided to put the trip on hold, and now she wonders when she’ll ever go back to her second home.

Tariffs to be placed on Canada and other U.S. trading partners may significantly impact Florida's tourism industry. STRF/STAR MAX/IPx/AP

“I should be there right now,” Savoy told CNN. “But we’re trying to debate whether or not it’s a good idea to go.”

Savoy is one of the hundreds of thousands of Canadians who make their home in warmer parts of the United States during Canada’s colder months. In fact, Canadians are the top foreign buyers of US properties — making up 13% of all home purchases in 2024, mostly concentrated in Florida and Arizona — according to a July report from the National Association of Realtors.

But as trade tensions grow between the two countries, many Canadians have taken the conflict to heart, loudly booing “The Star-Spangled Banner” at sporting events and boycotting US-made products. Some Canadian snowbirds are reconsidering their lives in the United States altogether. US-based Realtors in Arizona and Florida told CNN they are fielding calls from Canadians looking to sell their homes, and recent data shows Canadian tourism to the United States has slowed to a trickle.

Stephen Fine, the president of Snowbird Advisor, a Canadian company that provides real estate, legal and insurance guidance to Canadians who travel south for the winter, said many of his company’s members feel “angry, upset, disappointed and frustrated.”

“A number of them are considering alternative destinations to the US next year. Some want to sell their US properties,” Fine said.

Savoy said that although she loves her Miami home, she is putting off a visit to show solidarity with her fellow Canadians.

“I’m in these snowbird groups where people have been saying we shouldn’t be spending money in the US,” she said. “I don’t want my country to feel like I’m betraying them during this threatening time.”

Economic fallout from tariffs

A drop-off in Canadian tourism could bruise the US tourism industry.

Canada is the top source of international visitors to the United States, according to the US Travel Association. A hypothetical 10% reduction in Canadian travel could mean $2.1 billion in lost spending and 14,000 job losses.

There are already signs of a slowdown: Canadian residents made 13% fewer trips by air to the United States in February and 23% fewer trips by car, compared to a year ago, according to Statistics Canada, Canada’s national statistical office.

Flight reservations from Canada to the United States have plummeted by more than 70% every month from March through the end of September, according to OAG, a travel data provider.

Share Ross, a Realtor based in southeast Florida, said she’s recently seen a sharp uptick in Canadians listing their Florida homes for sale.

“Some of the clients I have been dealing with want to sell at any cost, even at a loss,” Ross said.

Rental properties have also experienced a steep decline in demand this year, she said.

“The Canadian market for rentals is just done,” said Ross. “I usually get a few people from various provinces looking for homes to rent. I didn’t have any this season.”

A growing exodus of Canadians from Florida could strain the state’s already troubled housing market. Florida currently has a record number of homes for sale as homeowners face skyrocketing insurance premiums and a growing risk of hurricane-induced flooding fueled by climate change.

The drop-off in travel from Canada to the United States comes amid a bubbling tit-for-tat trade squabble between the two nations. The latest blow came this past week: US President Donald Trump said he would place a 25% tariff on all auto imports, which Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called a “direct attack” in violation of US trade agreements with Canada.

Earlier this month, the Trump administration officially placed a 25% tariff on most of the other imports from Canada and Mexico. The president also ramped up threats to annex Canada and make it the 51st state. Canada responded by announcing retaliatory tariffs on billions of dollars worth of American goods, though the trade war threatens to plunge Canada’s economy into a recession.

“It is clear that the United States is no longer a reliable partner,” Carney said Thursday, adding that Canada would look to shift to trading more with other countries.

To sell or not to sell?

Miles Zimbaluk, an Arizona-based Realtor who offers cross-border real estate guidance for Canadians looking to buy and sell US property, said he believes politics isn’t the only thing motivating more Canadians to list their properties for sale.

Zimbaluk said a weakened Canadian dollar has factored into some snowbirds’ decision-making process. Last month, the Canadian dollar fell to its lowest level against the US dollar since 2003, meaning that everyday goods like groceries and gas have become significantly more expensive for Canadians. It also means that Canadians stand to make a profit by moving their money from the United States to Canada.

“There are people cashing in now and taking that dollar back to Canada and converting it back to Canadian dollars,” Zimbaluk said. “We’ve definitely seen a big uptick in people wanting to sell their homes for a lot of different reasons right now.”

Savoy, the Toronto-based retiree, said she isn’t quite ready to put her Miami home up for sale.

“I enjoy my life there. Miami has some great nightlife and beautiful beaches. It’s got everything you need, and I’ve never had any issues,” she said. “But if things continue to get worse, I will be selling my home in the USA. Not because I’m afraid of being there, but because, why would I want to do business there?”

https://www.cnn.com/profiles/samantha-delouya

If You Live In New York Uber Shuttle will get you to JFK airport for $10, Increasing To $25 After April 30th

Uber is expanding its airport shuttle service to include one of the busiest hubs in the world, New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport. For a limited time, customers can grab a ride from specific stops in Manhattan or Brooklyn to JFK for just $10. After April 30th, the fare increases to $25, including taxes.

Uber’s shuttle to JFK runs every 30 minutes. Image: Uber

Airport runs are a crucial part of Uber’s business, and customers have expressed frustration at the rising cost of booking a car to the airport. JFK, in particular, is one of the most expensive airports for travelers, with Uber and Lyft trips costing $80 or more, depending on the pickup location. By bundling riders together in a shuttle, Uber hopes to introduce a more affordable option to budget-conscious customers.

For JFK trips, customers can use the Uber app to book up to four seats in a shuttle. Rides can be booked up to seven days ahead of time or simply on the day you need it. Riders will get their pricing upfront before booking and won’t be subject to surge pricing.

Image: Uber

When the shuttle arrives, riders will validate their reservation with the driver via QR code and a unique PIN. At launch, vehicles will be limited to just 14 passengers. Each rider is allowed one personal item, like a purse or backpack, and one piece of luggage (carry-on or checked) weighing up to 50 pounds. Riders can rate and tip drivers in the app, just like a normal Uber trip.

Uber says it will operate four routes to JFK, with pickup locations at Port Authority, Grand Central Terminal, Chinatown, and Atlantic Center in Brooklyn. The service will run every 30 minutes from 5AM to 10:45PM, seven days a week. For its shuttle business, Uber is partnering with fleet providers who manage commercially licensed drivers. In New York, the company is using ETS, an airport shuttle operator since 1996.

Uber has been experimenting with shuttle service for airports and concerts, including $15 rides to Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour concert in Miami last year. The company also launched an $18 shuttle to LaGuardia Airport last year. (That price is now $20.) For airport trips, the company needs to negotiate terms with airport operators before a new service can be launched. Uber said it’s currently in talks with Boston’s Logan International Airport about bringing its shuttle service there.

https://www.theverge.com/authors/andrew-j-hawkins

Trump Travel Ban Indefinitely Delayed As U.S. Continues To Revoke Visas

A plan for the Trump administration to bar entry into the United States from foreign nationals whose countries do not meet its vetting standards has been indefinitely postponed, with no new date set.

The State Department said Monday it is continuing to work on the report that would serve as the basis for the anticipated visa restrictions but could not say when it would be ready. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on his first day in office requesting recommendations on what new visa restrictions should be applied to which countries by March 21.

Trump gave his administration 60 days to submit a report "identifying countries throughout the world for which vetting and screening information is so deficient as to warrant a partial or full suspension on the admission of nationals from those countries."

A list of more than 40 nations, including Iran, Russia and Venezuela, were reportedly under consideration for full or partially restricted travel to the U.S. as part of the mandate, which built on a travel ban Trump enacted during his first term and the Supreme Court upheld.

But the due date for an official list to be submitted came and went without an announcement from the White House, and the State Department's top spokesperson declared the deadline no longer in effect.

State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said at a briefing on Monday that a new date for the recommendations had not been set. She called the original deadline, which was set by Trump's executive order, a "target date that no longer applies" without offering an explanation.

"The State Department like every department in President Trump's administration are acting on executive orders, including this one," Bruce said.

It was not immediately clear why the administration postponed the report that would lay the groundwork for Trump to enact a new travel ban and impose visa restrictions on foreign nationals from select countries.

"I can't speak to that. But I can tell you that we're working on what the executive order asked for," Bruce said, describing them as "restrictions on other countries" of "whether or not they meet the standard of security and vetting that's required for entry into the United States" rather than a travel ban.

Asked to clarify if a new date had been set, she said "no," before adding, "Again, because there's not a date, it doesn't mean that it's not being worked on. And so we are all working to implement what President Trump has ordered."

The White House declined to provide a comment.

At a previous briefing, on the report's March 21 due date, Bruce told reporters the deadline was no longer that day. "I can’t tell you the specifics, but it’s – don’t expect... that today is a day that something will have to come out," she said.

State Department revokes visas

Trump issued multiple bans on travel from seven Muslim-majority countries during his first term, with each of them facing legal challenges, before the Supreme Court ruled in his favor in 2018.

In his January executive order, he told U.S. officials to use the standards that were in place when he left office as a baseline for reestablishing screening and vetting procedures.

Trump's order tasked the secretary of state, director of national intelligence, attorney general and secretary of homeland security with jointly submitting recommendations for a list of countries that would be slapped with the visa restrictions.

He also told them to identify "how many nationals from those countries have entered or have been admitted" into the country since former President Joe Biden took office and directed DHS to "take immediate steps to exclude or remove" foreign national from the country who do not meet the current administration's vetting standards.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters Friday that the department is doing daily reviews to revoke visas when a person undertakes activities counter to the national interest or foreign policy of the U.S. government or the person is involved in criminal activity.

“My standard — If we knew this information about them before we gave them a visa, would we have allowed them in?” Rubio said. “And if the answer is no, then we revoke the visa.” He said upward of 300 student visas have been affected.

Last week, Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained 30-year-old Rumeysa Ozturka, a Turkish graduate student studying at Tufts University near Boston. The Department of Homeland Security told USA TODAY that she supported the terrorist group Hamas, which runs the Gaza Strip and has been at war with Israel.

Days before that, Customs and Border Patrol deported Dr. Rasha Alawieh, a Lebanese national who had a work visa to practice at Brown Medicine in Rhode Island. Customs and Border Protection alleged her phone had content that was sympathetic to the terrorist group Hezbollah.

And Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained Syria-born Mahmoud Khalil, who was one of the pro-Palestinian leaders of the encampment protests at Columbia University last year. Another Columbia student, Korean-born Yunseo Chung, sued the Trump administration to maintain her legal permanent residency in the U.S.

Rubio said student visas are among those being reviewed but he wasn’t sure if they were the only ones. “We’ve also identified people that have criminal charges and even while in the country, and still have active visas. Some are unrelated to any protests and are just having to do with potential criminal activity.”

https://www.usatoday.com/staff/9751000002/francesca-chambers/ https://www.usatoday.com/staff/3063822001/erin-mansfield/

Travelore Tips: Getting From The Cancún Airport To Your Hotel Just Got Easier, Thanks To A New US $7 Bus Service

Tourists traveling from Cancún International Airport (CUN) to the hotel zone can now take a 140-peso (US $7) bus ride, Quintana Roo Governor Mara Lezama has announced.

The long-established ADO transportation company now runs buses from the Cancún airport to the hotel zone every two hours from 10:25 a.m. to 6:25 p.m. (@BradWelton/X)

The new route, operated by Grupo Asur in collaboration with Autobuses de Oriente (ADO), is in response to reports of ongoing taxi fare abuse.

Previously, ADO offered direct transportation services only to city centers such as Cancún and Playa del Carmen, from which tourists needed to use another transportation service to the hotel zone.

The new ADO service departs from Terminals 2, 3 and 4, connecting to Plaza Fiesta in the hotel zone. According to ADO’s website, the service is available every two hours between 10:25 a.m. and 6:25 p.m. The ride takes about 40 minutes.

Taxis departing from CUN are known to charge tourists more than US $100 for a ride to the hotel zone. According to the rates established by the city, a one-way trip from the airport to the hotel zone should cost from 100 to 400 pesos (US $5 to $20).

Reports of taxi abuse increased after Mexican influencers fell victim to the scams. In a video posted on his social media in January, content creator Luisito Comunica shared how a taxi driver charged 2,000 pesos (US $99) for a ride of less than 20 minutes. Meanwhile, influencer Narabask reported that a taxi driver charged her and her friends 10,000 pesos (US $500) for a 30-minute drive.

Such reports prompted Sergio González Rubiera, head of the Mexican Association of Inbound Travel Agencies (AMATUR), to voice his concern.

“It is very worrying that the abuses committed by taxi drivers and airport concessionaires are damaging and undermining the image of tourist destinations, throwing away all the promotional work that we have done,” he said.

In addition to the pricing issues, users of ride-hailing apps like Uber have experienced acts of violence from taxi drivers. Uber was authorized to operate in some areas of Cancún and the Riviera Maya in January 2023, but strong opposition from local taxi operators has led to conflict, increasing attacks by taxi drivers.

To address these issues, the local Congress increased penalties for assaults involving transportation and public byways, which now include the cancellation of licenses, permits and concessions. Sentences for murder and assault involving public or private transportation were also increased.

https://mexiconewsdaily.com/author/gsolis/