Travel, tech, lifestyle. @Wharton MBA grad. Always on the move, preferably in the sky. Embrace the underscore. IG: @_zachgriff
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In November, I typed the first issue of my travel newsletter in the attic of my in-laws' house.
Last month, From the Tray Table was on a billboard in Times Square.
I spent nearly seven years as the de facto reporter-at-large for The Points Guy.
But with media changing, I decided to lean into my personal brand, which now reaches 500K+ followers.
In addition to my social content, I wanted a new home for my writing and reporting.
Instead of spinning up a blog to compete in the dying SEO space, I wanted to earn a spot in your inbox.
That's why I launched From the Tray Table. I write it 3x/week, share the latest travel updates, and build tools to help improve your travel experience.
This journey is just taking off. Thanks to @beehiiv for putting independent creators on the biggest stage in the world.
Not on the list yet? You're missing out: newsletter.fromthetraytable.…
Delta is making a big bet that goes against what American and United are doing.
Bigger planes vs. more new routes. Which airline will win this one?
The 3 reasons why Chicago (aka the 3rd busiest U.S. airport) *still* doesn’t have a credit card lounge
Is it just me, or has Verizon service gone completely downhill? Especially in crowded places like airports and train stations.
With and without 5G enabled.
Enter girl dad, duo mode.
Jill and I just welcomed our second daughter! Mom and baby are healthy and doing well, and our two-year-old is adjusting to life as a big sister.
(Parents of twins: I have so many questions.)
Paternity leave when you’re self-employed is a weird concept. I’m a one-person shop, but family comes first, so I’ll be running a lighter cadence for the next few weeks.
That said, if our first kid is any indication, I won’t stay off the road for long.
Her travel to-dos are already underway:
📧 Gmail address with her name (no numbers)
✈️ Frequent flyer accounts with all the major airlines
🛂 Passport application ready to go
🌎 Global Entry up next
I'm loving @AlaskaAir's wild new route from Anchorage to Tokyo Narita.
It'll be ~8 hours in the air on a 737 MAX 8 covering 3,434 miles. (Alaska's second-longest MAX route after Seattle-Iceland.)
It's Alaska's first time connecting ANC and NRT. How cool.
Wait, has Apple ever opened preorders at anything other than the top of the hour?
My take: there’s a reason for it. I bet another product drops Wednesday morning, too.
The most premium plane in the U.S. is here.
Have you seen inside it yet? Nice work @AmericanAir on the Boeing 777 retrofits
Great news: it wasn’t stolen!
Just lots of stares, as I unboxed Apple’s iPhone Duo on an NYC sidewalk before it even launches.
.@united just unveiled its largest club ever in Houston — and the biggest airline club in the Americas.
✨ 54,000 sq ft
✨ 800 seats
✨ 1,350-sq-ft outdoor terrace
✨ 2 full-service bars
✨ 11 private phone rooms
Opens to the public tomorrow.
It’s official. Now that the @Boeing 737 MAX 10 is certified, here’s how U.S. airlines plan to fly it.
@AlaskaAir: 168 MAX jets on order, mostly MAX 10s. At least 25 will get lie-flat Aurora Suites for premium transcons
@AmericanAir: 115 on order. No routes yet, but they’ll have 24 first-class recliners
@Delta: 100 on order (plus 30 options), flying from core hubs with 24 first-class recliners
@united: 167 on order. Some were slated for lie-flats, but with the Coastliner and A321XLR covering that, I’d bet on a standard domestic layout
This is exactly the kind of breakdown I send in my free aviation newsletter. Not on the list yet? Fix that here: newsletter.fromthetraytable.…
Congrats to @AmericanAir for being the first travel app to support iPhone Duo! Can’t wait to get my hands on one soon
At long last, the @Boeing 737 MAX 10 has officially been certified.
This has major implications for U.S. airlines. American, Delta, United, and Alaska all have MAX 10 orders.
I'm especially excited for Alaska's new premium transcons on the MAX 10.
I forgot to add: how long do we think it'll be until @Delta announces a return to Osaka and Tahiti?
Delta last flew SEA-KIX in 2019, and it pulled out of Tahiti last year.
But with Alaska entering both markets — and the ever-competitive landscape in Seattle — I wouldn't be shocked to see Delta try again. Even if it's just to put up a fight.
Confirmed: @AlaskaAir will launch nonstops from Seattle to Osaka and Tahiti.
Osaka starts May 14, 4x weekly.
Tahiti starts June 11, 3x weekly.
Both flights will be operated year-round by Hawaiian Airlines Airbus A330s, which will (finally) get new onboard products in 2028.
Confirmed: @AlaskaAir will launch nonstops from Seattle to Osaka and Tahiti.
Osaka starts May 14, 4x weekly.
Tahiti starts June 11, 3x weekly.
Both flights will be operated year-round by Hawaiian Airlines Airbus A330s, which will (finally) get new onboard products in 2028.
.@Delta’s summer 2027 route drought, by the numbers:
✈️ United: 13 new routes, 10 new destinations
✈️ American: 7 routes, 3 destinations
✈️ Delta: 4 routes, 0 destinations
The biggest reason for the gap? A plane Delta never ordered.
I'm about to break down why this happened, with rare commentary from Delta's chief commercial officer.
This is what you're missing if you're not on my (free) travel newsletter.
newsletter.fromthetraytable.…
