Two college students who went hiking in Colorado were found dead after they were not seen or heard from for several days.

Deputies discovered the bodies of Kaden Matsuda, 19, and Jackson Donlon, 20, in a mountain basin on West Apostle Mountain, the Chaffee County Sheriff's Office confirmed.

Matsuda, of Ridgway, Colorado, and Donlon, of Queensbury, New York, were both students at Colorado Mountain College Leadville campus. Deputies say they left campus for a hike near Ice Mountain Friday, Oct. 23.

CLIMBER DIES IN FATAL FALL ON COLORADO 14ER SOUTH OF ASPEN

Their bodies were found Wednesday after the young men were reported missing by CMC on Monday.

CALIFORNIA COLLEGE WRESTLING STAR RYAN GEORGE DIES AFTER 400-FOOT FALL HIKING IN YOSEMITE

The sheriff's office said their bodies were found near one another, and "foul play is not suspected."

MISSING CANADIAN HIKER FOUND DEAD 2 WEEKS AFTER VANISHING DURING MOUNTAIN TREK IN WASHINGTON

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Investigators shared detailed updates on social media about the mission in which 60 search and rescue volunteers deployed from six different counties and had to brave treacherous trails and deteriorating weather conditions to try and find the men.

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Deputies were able to come up with a possible timeline for the students' doomed hike.

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Timeline

• Friday, Oct. 23: The pair departs campus for Chaffee County during rainy weather.
• Saturday, Oct. 24: Their planned return day if conditions were poor. A heavy snowstorm hit between 1-2 p.m., causing severe local road hazards.
• Sunday, Oct. 25: Their planned return day if they pushed to the summit.
• Monday, Oct. 26: CMC staff officially reported them missing. Deputies located Matsuda’s vehicle at a trailhead near Winfield, Colorado.
• Tuesday, Oct. 27: Aerial crews spotted their collapsed tent near Lake Ann.
• Wednesday, Oct. 28: Kaden Matsuda and Jackson Donlon were found dead.

HUSBAND AND WIFE GET TRAPPED IN PREMIER HIKING DESTINATION; ONLY ONE OF THEM MAKES IT OUT ALIVE

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In a statement, Sheriff Andy Rohrich said in part, "Our heart aches for Kaden and Jackson’s family and friends. We are very proud of our team’s efforts to find them before this weekend’s coming storm. Although this is a gut punch, our prayers were answered that we would find Kaden and Jackson, allowing some closure for the family."

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Their remains were sent to the Chaffee County Coroner’s Office for autopsies.

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The investigation into their deaths continues.

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Fox News Digital has reached out to Colorado Mountain College for comment on the tragedy.

People diagnosed with ADHD and those travelling with them can get a third off their train tickets with disabled railcards, it has emerged.

The post People With ADHD Get Third Off Train Tickets appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

The 19th-century stronghold sits in the Scottish Highlands

The 19th-century stronghold sits in the Scottish Highlands

• The boss of Villa Vie Residences sent passengers an "urgent" appeal for financial help in August.
• Three months before the cruise halted in Cambodia, CEO Kathy Villalba warned of soaring fuel costs.
• "We have now reached a critical point," she wrote. Read the full message to residents below.

Almost three months before Villa Vie Residences suspended operations on Tuesday, leaving residents of the "never-ending" cruise stranded in Cambodia, the company had already warned the Odyssey's residents that it was running out of money for fuel.

In an August 1 memo to residents labeled "urgent," Villa Vie CEO and founding partner Kathy Villalba asked residents for financial contributions to buy fuel.

The memo, which Business Insider reviewed, said the company needed to make "immediate and creative operational decisions to preserve the voyage."

The company behind the 509-cabin ship had promised a permanent life at sea and a voyage around the world every three-and-a-half years for its residents. That came to an abrupt halt on Tuesday, when residents were told to disembark with only a few hours' notice.

In a Tuesday statement announcing it had halted operations, Villa Vie said it had taken "significant steps to reduce fuel consumption" after prices rocketed following the onset of the US-Israel war with Iran in February, but that these steps had not been enough.

Villa Vie founder Mikael Petterson told Business Insider in a phone call on Wednesday that the fuel price surge triggered a "cascading effect" that culminated in the suspension of operations.

Financial pressures became clear to residents in April, two months after the war in Iran began, when Villa Vie asked residents to loan the company money, offering interest rates of 12% to 24%, according to a separate letter viewed by Business Insider.

And by August, Villa Vie had reached a "critical point," according to Villalba's message, which you can read in full below.

Villalba, Petterson, and Villa Vie did not respond to multiple requests for comment from Business Insider.

URGENT OPERATIONAL UPDATE

Confidentiality Reminder: This communication contains confidential and proprietary information intended solely for current Residents and authorized participants of the Villa Vie community. It is being shared through Circle as part of our commitment to transparency and open communication. We respectfully ask that you do not repost, forward, or otherwise distribute this information outside of Circle without the prior written consent of Villa Vie Residences.

Dear Residents,

We want to provide you with a direct, straightforward update regarding Odyssey's current operational realities.

When the fuel contribution was requested several months ago, participation was not universal. The contributions received helped some, but they covered only part of the extraordinary increase in fuel costs. Since then, the company has exhausted its available reserves covering the remaining shortfall and keeping Odyssey moving.

We had hoped that improving conditions in the region would begin to stabilize fuel prices. Unfortunately, the continued conflict and renewed market disruption have caused prices to rise sharply again. This is not simply an itinerary issue. It is an immediate cash-flow challenge that directly affects our ability to purchase the fuel required to continue the voyage.

Odyssey currently needs approximately 650 metric tons of fuel. Under normal market conditions, that fuel would cost approximately $450,000. At today's prices, the cost is nearly double ($800,000).

We have now reached a critical point. The lack of full participation, combined with the unprecedented increase in fuel costs, means we must make immediate and creative operational decisions to preserve the voyage.

We are working toward receiving a partial fuel delivery as early as Monday. Our berth is available until Friday, August 7 at 4:00 p.m., subject to final confirmation from the port agent and Singapore Port Authority. The current recommendation is to remain alongside until August 7 and then sail at a slower, more economical speed to Nha Trang for our scheduled arrival on August 12.

We are asking every Resident who did not previously contribute to please do so now. We are also asking those who are able to provide additional support to consider helping with this immediate fuel requirement.

While every Resident has a contract with Villa Vie, this international crisis has created costs far beyond the circumstances contemplated when those agreements were made. The financial need is real, immediate, and necessary to keep Odyssey moving. This is a moment when preserving our home and continuing the voyage requires support beyond contractual minimums from those who are able to provide it.

To conserve fuel and reduce operating costs, we will cancel Brunei and proceed directly from Singapore to Nha Trang. This will help reduce the expense, but it does not eliminate the need to fund the required bunkering.

We will provide another update as soon as the fuel, berth, and departure arrangements are confirmed.

Thank you for your understanding and support.

— VVR Management."

• The founder behind the "never-ending" cruise told Business Insider that problems piled up this year.
• The Iran war sent fuel prices soaring. Then Villa Vie spooked passengers by asking them for loans.
• Now founder Mikael Petterson says he is considering bankruptcy.

A financial whirlpool sucked the "never-ending" cruise under.

The founder behind the Villa Vie Odyssey told Business Insider that the Iran war fuel-price surge was the beginning of a "cascading effect" that led the cruise to shut down this week. Mikael Petterson, Villa Vie Residences' founder and executive chairman, said he's considering bankruptcy.

Villa Vie sold permanent cabins at prices ranging from $119,999 to $439,999, promising residents an endless cruise with stops at more than 400 ports of call and a global circumnavigation every three-and-a-half years.

Here are five business problems that brought the trip to an abrupt end.

1. Fuel prices soared.

In February, the United States and Israel launched a war in Iran. Fuel prices surged. The Odyssey uses marine gas oil, or MGO.

Villa Vie had typically paid around $600 or $700 per metric ton for the Odyssey's fuel, Petterson said. By March, the price of MGO in Singapore had soared to nearly $2,000 per metric ton, according to data from Ship & Bunker, a trade publication.

2. The company was too small to hedge.

Some publicly traded companies, like Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, have told shareholders this year that they have taken measures to blunt the impact of fuel-price volatility. Unlike larger cruise lines, Villa Vie didn't have the scale to absorb the higher prices, Petterson said.

"They're able to hedge and take away some of that risk, but we're too small of a company to do that," he said.

The ship changed its itinerary to spend more time docked at ports and conserve fuel, but it wasn't enough, Petterson said.

3. Villa Vie spooked its own passengers.

In April, Villa Vie wanted residents to help shore up its finances. The company asked them to loan Villa Vie money, offering them interest rates of 12% to 24%, according to a letter viewed by Business Insider.

Some residents got "scared," Petterson said. They sold their cabins to other people who wanted to live aboard. That made things more difficult for Villa Vie's sales team, which was still trying to find buyers for the remaining vacancies on the ship, Petterson said.

4. The company's reputation was damaged.

Some of the Odyssey's residents were content creators. In Substack posts and YouTube videos, they posted about their experiences, some positive and some negative, for the roughly two years that it sailed the world.

Some travel bloggers and social media posters blamed Villa Vie's management for the operation's financial troubles. The negative publicity made it harder to bring more people aboard, Petterson said.

5. The company struggled with cash flow.

The ship's original launch in 2024 was delayed for four months while mechanical problems — including issues with the aging ship's rudder — kept the ship stuck in dry dock. Preparing the ship for launch cost $15 million more than what Villa Vie had expected, Petterson said.

He said the operation was on track to get to break-even cash flow by the second quarter of this year — but the Iran war blew up that plan.

• Villa Vie Residences' Odyssey ship was meant to be a 'never-ending' luxury cruise.
• But its voyage ended just over 2 years after it first set sail.
• From its luxurious suites to gym facilities, take a look inside the doomed cruise ship.

In the famous ancient Greek poem "The Odyssey," Odysseus' journey home took him 10 years. The voyage of the Villa Vie Odyssey cruise ship was much shorter.

The promise of Villa Vie Residences' Odyssey cruise ship was that passengers could purchase or rent one of the rooms, with the idea of spending the rest of their days aboard a luxurious cruise ship.

The company had retrofitted the 33-year-old ship and sold permanent cabins priced from $119,999 to $439,999.

However, the company suspended the cruise ship's operations on October 27, 2026, just over two years after it first set sail. Villa Vie Residences cited rising fuel costs as the reason.

"I think we would have been absolutely fine — and we would have seen this through — if there was no Iran war," Mikael Petterson, founder and executive chairman of Villa Vie, told Business Insider this week.

With photos from Villa Vie Residences' media kit for the Odyssey, and information from its official website, take a look inside the doomed Villa Vie Odyssey.

The Odyssey is 195 meters long and could house 650 residents.

Residents could either opt for full ownership of a room or rent one for a shorter-term stay.

It offered a culinary experience using local ingredients from every place it traveled.

The Thistle Restaurant offered a daily menu that rotated on a 14-day cycle, with an emphasis on healthy, locally sourced cuisine.

The buffet-style Palms Café also had a 14-day rotating menu.

Lunchtimes also included an American grill for those missing a taste of home.

The Coral Club was the spot for late-night entertainment.

It offered activities such as live music, dancing, and karaoke.

Another socializing space is The Morning Light Pub.

It offered a café menu in the mornings and turned into a bar in the evenings.

The Observatory also offered a similar day-to-night vibe.

On Deck 8, The Observatory was a café that turned into a sunset-watching spot in the evening.

Villa Vie describes the Neptune Lounge as the place for "top-tier entertainment."

It offered local entertainment from each destination, such as live music and shows.

The Business Center offered a place to work for residents.

Connected to Starlink, the Business Center was open to all residents at no extra charge, with private offices available as well.

The Fitness Center features cardio and strength-training equipment, along with ocean views.

It also offered classes, such as yoga and wellness sessions.

On Deck 3, there is a spa equipped with a sauna and steam room.

There was an on-site hairdresser in the spa.

As well as a nail salon.

There is also a medical center on-site Deck 3.

On Deck 8, there is a pool deck.

It's also equipped with jacuzzis.

The deck also has a pickleball court.

One of the room types available for rent was the porthole villa.

During meal times, all residents were given access to complimentary wine and beer.

The balcony suites have a separate living area.

The superior suite had a private balcony, a separate living area, and an additional living space.

• Recently, I traveled with my husband, our two young children, my in-laws, and other family members.
• Our international trip to Mexico felt more manageable and fun because we had so many people.
• For now, I wouldn't travel internationally with my kids without my in-laws or extended family.

Some people don't get along with their in-laws, but I'm not one of them.

I lived with my in-laws for years from my mid-20s to early 30s. My husband and I still go to their house every week or two, and after we had kids, my mother-in-law has always stepped in, whether coming over to assist with bath time or to drop off food.

So, it's no surprise that traveling with them (and other members of our extended family) to Mexico was a no-brainer.

We've actually done it multiple times, but this latest trip was the first with both my two small children, who are 3 years old and almost 8 months old.

Looking back, this whole Mexico trip wouldn't have been feasible without my in-laws and extended family.

It was nice having a big group as we headed to Mexico for a few days

We traveled from San Diego to Querétaro, Mexico, with a whole crew in tow: me, my husband, our kids, my mother-in-law, father-in-law, sister-in-law, niece, nephew, and one of my husband's cousins.

Our big family trip was a four-day adventure, and the main purpose was to attend my husband's cousin's wedding. (It later turned into a five-day event thanks to a flight delay, but more on that later.)

We've done large family trips like this since 2019, so we have an intuitive groove, where everyone contributes in some way — looking up where to eat, figuring out what to see, or even getting coffee delivered to the hotel.

This time, we split up into three separate rooms at a hotel where most of the wedding guests were staying, but were located right across the hall from each other.

This arrangement made it easy for the kids to head to their grandparents' room for bath time or to hang out with the cousins while my husband and I got ready.

Having more people came in handy throughout the trip — and made it more fun

Not only was it extremely helpful to have more hands on deck, but it was genuinely fun traveling with a group spanning such a wide range of ages, from 8 months old to age 59.

There were various interests and dynamics at play, which also meant more excitement and more brainpower.

Cousins were funny and entertaining, which helped break the tension in stressful moments or squash the occasional toddler tantrum. I also appreciated that abuelita helped with diaper changes and baths, while abuelito helped carry or hold the kids whenever we were out and about.

Although our large crew mostly stayed together throughout the trip, we were also able to split up and do different things.

For instance, sometimes part of the family went out to the nearby market to explore, while others stayed in their room to nap or hang out.

At one point, most of our group went into the Centro Histórico in Santiago de Querétaro for churros while my husband and I put the kids to bed.

Our big group's ability to divide and conquer especially came in handy when our travel plans were thrown off.

When our flight was delayed until the next day, we all went into action: My in-laws arranged a new hotel for us, my husband and sister-in-law booked transportation for a large group, and I called the travel-insurance agency to see what our options were. We all kept an eye on the kids.

It was nice to have multiple adults working to solve a problem, rather than the pressure falling solely on my husband and me.

The journey back home was much longer and more complex thanks to layovers, but again, being around family made it easier.

I could have my sister-in-law, who was in the aisle behind me, watch my toddler while I went to the airplane restroom and my husband helped the baby nap.

We couldn't have done this trip without our support system

I've done shorter, more local overnight expeditions with my children — I've even taken them on a work trip — but this was our first international journey with them.

My children are very young, with a close enough age gap that makes travel particularly difficult right now. However, going on this trip with in-laws and family made everything feel so much more manageable.

Any time I felt a bit tired or overwhelmed, there was someone there to make it easier. It was especially fantastic, considering how poorly the baby slept during the trip, which left my husband and me even more fatigued.

I'm so grateful my kids got to see a bit of their heritage in Mexico and have some new experiences. I can't wait to show the world to my children, especially since I couldn't travel outside of the country until I was 17.

However, I'd prefer to hold off on these international travel dreams for a couple of years when my kids are slightly older and don't require quite as many naps or diaper changes.

For now, multigenerational trips make the most sense for us — and my wonderful in-laws have changed the travel game.

• A couch, a seat, a table, two beds, a full bathroom, a window, and a sliding door.
• My home for the longest train ride in the US was basically a hotel room in motion.
• It wasn't cheap, but I don't regret splurging on an Amtrak bedroom.

I wasn't about to sacrifice comfort to save a few bucks. Not when booking the longest train ride in the US.

Most people use trains to get from one place to another. But in February, Amtrak's California Zephyr was my destination. I wanted to thoroughly enjoy the 53-hour journey from snowy Chicago to sunny Emeryville, California.

That's why I spent $2,200 on a bedroom accommodation, a private cabin with a full bathroom.

While I was excited to stay in the tiny, moving hotel room, I wondered whether I'd regret spending so much. In the end, I was sure I had made the right choice for such a long journey.

Here's a look inside the 50-square-foot bedroom.

My bedroom was on the second level of an Amtrak Superliner train.

The California Zephyr is an Amtrak Superliner — a two-story train with coach seating, bedrooms, roomettes (a private cabin that's about half the size of a bedroom), a dining car, and a lounge car. There are also larger, family-sized bedrooms and accessible bedrooms.

I'd ridden the California Zephyr a year earlier, but I took a shorter trip in a roomette. This was my first time riding the entire route from Chicago to California. It was also my first time booking a bedroom on an Amtrak Superliner.

The 50-square-foot enclosed space packed in two bunks, a couch, a single seat, and a full bathroom.

The couch folded out to form the bottom bunk, and the top bunk pulled down from the ceiling.

The Amtrak bedroom sleeps up to two passengers, though I traveled solo.

The booking also included some perks. Sleeper-car ticket holders get a first-class attendant, priority boarding, lounge access at some stations, and complimentary meals on board.

When I first boarded the train, there were no bunks in sight.

During the day, the lower bunk was set up as a couch, and the upper bunk was folded up. A single seat faced the couch with a pullout table in between.

There was a pullout table between the seats that I used for working and eating.

The table also had two foldout leaves for more space. I thought this was a smart space-saving hack.

There was also a narrow closet at the front of the room.

The closet had two hangers inside. I used it to store my coat, sweater, and winter boots.

The closet was across from a sink and vanity.

The sink and vanity had two power outlets and an overhead light. Although the cabinets were stocked with extra hand towels, tissues, and soap, there was still enough space for me to store my own toiletries. The paneled mirror made getting ready in the morning feel a tad luxurious.

On the other side of the vanity, a door led to a compact bathroom with a toilet and shower.

Only bedroom accommodations on Amtrak Superliner trains have private bathrooms.

Showering next to the toilet felt odd, but I couldn't deny that it was a clever use of a limited space. And I certainly preferred it over having just a toilet or just a shower.

To use the shower, I set the temperature first. Then I pressed a button to start the water. There was another button on the showerhead itself to turn the water on and off. On the wall above the toilet, I spotted shampoo, conditioner, and body wash.

There was a full-length mirror on the far end of the bedroom behind the single seat.

The mirror was not only useful for getting ready — it also made the tight space feel larger.

I used the shelf above the single seat to store my luggage.

When I changed my clothes each morning and evening, I pulled my suitcase down to the single seat. Passengers can also store their luggage in a shared space in the sleeper car, but I prefer to keep my stuff with me.

I found room controls on either side of the couch.

Both sets of controls had a reading light. One had a power outlet and a temperature dial, and the other had an attendant call button and lighting options.

Among these controls was a night setting for the lights.

The night setting was a dim blue light, which I thought added a dreamy glow to the space before bed.

When it was time for bed on night one, I selected the top bunk.

When I pulled the top bunk down from the ceiling, I found a ladder on the cot and attached it to the far side of the bunk. There were safety straps that I hooked onto the ceiling.

There was also a mattress topper, soft bedding, and pillows. I used a wall-mounted pouch to store a water bottle and my phone.

I liked sleeping on the top bunk — despite hitting my head on the low ceiling — because I could store my backpack and other belongings on the couch below, which kept the room neat. I got seven hours of sleep that first night.

I slept in the bottom bunk on the second night.

I pulled a lever beneath each couch cushion to form the lower bunk.

Although the room wasn't as tidy, since I didn't have as much space to store my belongings, I appreciated that the lower bunk was slightly larger than the top cot.

I also liked being right next to the window when I woke up in the morning. I got eight hours of sleep in this bunk.

After 53 hours on the California Zephyr, I decided the bedroom was worth the steep price point.

Unlike most overnight trains I've taken, the bedroom was comfortable enough to actually enjoy spending 53 hours in a confined space. I arrived in California feeling well-rested and squeaky clean.

I wouldn't splurge on a bedroom for just any long-distance Amtrak train. I think the smaller roomette is comfortable enough and worth saving money on shorter overnight journeys. But for rides that are more than 24 hours long, I'll book a bedroom every time.

Passengers now have new opportunites to fly direct from Copenhagen or Iceland to Ilulissat

• Meal options aboard Amtrak trains can be hit-or-miss.
• A dessert by a small Delaware bakery quickly became my favorite menu item while traveling.
• Frank & Louie's buttercake has an online cult following among Amtrak travelers.

I've spent thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours traveling on Amtrak, and, like anyone who travels regularly enough by train, I can tell you that the food isn't always particularly showstopping.

But one menu item during a recent long-distance trip wowed me more than some fine-dining desserts.

In fact, it made my nearly $1,000 first-class ticket worth it — and I'm far from the only one obsessed with the unique regional dessert.

I've traveled long-distance on Amtrak many times, and the food isn't always my highlight

Most of the time, I travel by coach, so I eat little else than whatever snacks I pack and maybe Amtrak's $5 hot dog that I find weirdly enjoyable aboard the train — perhaps the only time I would find a microwaved bun at all appetizing.

On the coach café, microwaved burgers and hot dogs offer a sufficient warm meal if you don't care for anything other than survival and perhaps the novelty of train dining.

On the other hand, the first-class dining car offers much better alternatives, though not particularly worth the $1,000 travel upgrade. While some routes offering flex dining allow passengers to buy a breakfast, lunch, or dinner pass for $20, $25, or $45, respectively, the upcharge isn't always worth it depending on travel plans.

The buttercake dessert on a recent trip changed my opinion on the train dining options

During a June trip from Washington, DC, to Chicago, while traveling in a first-class roomette, I enjoyed the better dining options in the first-class dining car.

After my lunch, the server asked whether I'd like to have dessert. The two options were a brownie and a buttercake. Having tried the brownie on a prior trip, I went with the buttercake, although I wasn't too sure what the name exactly described.

What arrived at my table was a warm, rich, gooey, very sweet, and buttery custard-filled shortcake. I was beyond wowed by it.

After a couple of delicious bites, I looked online to see if other riders felt as passionately about the dessert as I had.

They certainly did.

The dessert is only regionally available on certain routes and has an online cult following

As soon as I looked it up, I encountered an online cult following for the dessert, which is only offered on certain train routes and has limited availability off the tracks.

Frank & Louie's, the manufacturer of the buttercake, is a small family-run Italian bakery and retailer in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Apart from the train routes and a couple of locations in Delaware, the business also sells the buttercakes online, although they can only be ordered by the case. The minimum order you can place is 60 frozen buttercakes, which comes to $299 after shipping and handling.

In May, Amtrak posted an exciting, all-caps message to all buttercake lovers announcing the dessert would now be available aboard the Northeast Regional route. Online users report that the cake is usually available on routes like the California Zephyr, the Crescent, and the Empire Builder.

Aside from the many grams of sugar in the dessert, the buttercake competes in taste with some of the best fine-dining desserts I've tried.

Next time I travel on Amtrak, I might have to plan my route around finding this regional dessert again — or maybe just plan a trip to Delaware.

The era of the standard $99 airline credit card may be fading as American Airlines becomes the latest major carrier to adjust its price tag.

Beginning Jan. 24, 2027, the annual fee for both the Citi/AAdvantage Platinum Select MasterCard and the Citi/AAdvantage Business MasterCard will jump from $99 to $150, according to a company press release.

The adjustment marks the first price hike for the popular Platinum Select consumer card since 2018, signaling a shift in the travel rewards landscape.

MAJOR AIRLINE DITCHES SNACKS DURING SHORT FLIGHTS AS ‘ZERO SERVICE’ SPARKS DEBATE

To soften the blow of a nearly 52% fee increase, American Airlines, Citi and MasterCard are adding several new travel and lifestyle perks.

Whether those additions make up for the $51 increase will depend largely on how travelers use the card, Nick Ewen, editor-in-chief of The Points Guy, told Fox News Digital. 

"You have to look at the real dollar value based on your own travel habits," said Ewen, who is based in Florida. 

Cardholders will gain additional ways to earn AAdvantage miles on everyday spending, along with up to $120 toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fees every four years, American Airlines confirmed.

Additionally, a new $100 annual statement credit for in-flight purchases will replace the previous 25% food and beverage discount. 

This makes the card significantly more rewarding for travelers, as the credit can be applied toward broad in-flight expenses, including Wi-Fi, which was explicitly excluded under the old discount system.

For someone who regularly spends money aboard American flights or already pays for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, Ewen said the new credits could help offset the higher annual fee.

"If the answer is yes, you're definitely going to come out ahead," he said of travelers who typically spend up to $100 on in-flight purchases each year.

PASSENGER JET BOUND FOR US PLUNGES 27,000 FEET BEFORE CIRCLING FOR HOURS

The changes may not be for everyone, however.

"If you're only flying American once a year, you may not be able to stomach that additional increased annual fee," he said.

The changes also include adjustments to how cardholders can rack up rewards on everyday purchases, according to the press release. 

The personal Platinum Select card will offer three miles per dollar on eligible AAdvantage Hotels and Cars bookings and two miles per dollar on gas and EV charging, select streaming services, and eligible Rides and Rails purchases.

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Existing perks — including preferred boarding, no foreign transaction fees and a free first checked bag on domestic American itineraries for the cardholder and up to four companions — will remain intact.

Ewen said the higher fee follows a broader shift among airline rewards cards. 

"American is far from the first airline that we've seen this increase in their annual fees," he said, pointing to similar changes from Delta, Southwest and United.

Entry-level airline cards that once hovered around $100 annually are increasingly moving closer to $150, Ewen said.

"This is definitely the norm, although it's not universal across the board," he added.

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The move by American Airlines aligns with a broader trend sweeping the credit card sector.

Over the past few years, the travel rewards market has seen steady fee inflation as issuers pack mid-tier and premium cards with statement credits and subscription services.

Financial institutions are betting consumers will accept higher upfront costs in exchange for tangible, use-it-or-lose-it perks, transforming traditional flight-focused credit cards into broader lifestyle products, according to reports. 

The changes drew mixed reactions from cardholders online.

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"Call me crazy, but none of this is an upgrade," one Reddit user commented.

Another questioned the value of the new in-flight credit. 

"These inflight credit[s] [are] annoying," the person wrote. "They don't even stock them except for longer flights."

Others were more receptive to the new benefits, with one commenter pointing to the Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit as a reason the higher fee could be worthwhile.

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"This has become more of a respectable airline card in my opinion now with this refresh," one user wrote.

In its heyday, Route 66 was a road of opportunities and dreams. Today, it’s a highway of ghosts, a symbol of what once was, although it still attracts visitors. For Current Affairs, Jesse Wright reflects on America’s historic highway in a time of artificial intelligence, when so much land across the country is being bought up, repurposed, and turned into data centers. Wright, who traveled the road from Chicago to Santa Monica, asks: What will these massive centers leave behind?

But what is new, perhaps, is the utter absence of even having been at all. The data centers’ legacy will be nothing. Their absence will be complete. Computer hallucinations leave no room for the dreams of humans. In 100 years, there will be nothing. Nobody will want to spend their vacation touring endless rooms full of rusty server racks.

The UK government is warning travellers to be prepared for possible travel disruption in the Middle East

• US Census data shows population growth in small towns across every state from 2020 to 2025.
• Many of the towns are in proximity to major cities, often within 25 miles.
• They range from rural mountain towns to desert communities.

The US population has grown by roughly 58 million since 2000, but the nation's biggest cities aren't the only areas seeing increases.

Whether it's suburbs next to urban areas or towns that have become hot spots in their own right, all 50 states are seeing population growth in small- and medium-sized towns.

Business Insider used the latest five-year Census population estimates, covering July 1, 2020, to July 1, 2025, to calculate the population growth percentage for each state's towns and cities over the period.

Census population estimates are revised every year, so some 2020 figures differ slightly from estimates published in previous years.

To avoid municipalities with negligible populations, we considered only places with more than 1,000 residents in the 2020 population estimates. We also excluded unincorporated areas and Census-designated places belonging to a larger city. Of the 50 places, most have populations under 20,000.

Here's each state's fastest-growing city or town.

Triana, Alabama

2020 population: 3,003

2025 population: 5,244

Percentage growth: 75%

Sitting in the northern region of Alabama along the Tennessee River, Triana was named the fourth-best suburb to live in Alabama by Niche, a real-estate and education ranking platform.

Wasilla, Alaska

2020 population: 9,113

2025 population: 10,556

Percentage growth: 16%

Wasilla sits roughly 40 miles north of Anchorage, the state's largest city. As of 2020, Wasilla had just 732 residents per square mile, according to Census data.

Coolidge, Arizona

2020 population: 13,425

2025 population: 19,959

Percentage growth: 49%

Coolidge sits between Phoenix and Tucson and is home to the site of the Casa Grande Ruins, containing fragments of Native American structures. Sitting in the Sonoran Desert, the town sees frequent daily temperatures above 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer.

Highfill, Arkansas

2020 population: 1,672

2025 population: 3,676

Percentage growth: 120%

Highfill is about 15 miles away from Bentonville, Arkansas, and is near the Northwest Arkansas National Airport.

Paradise, California

2020 population: 5,090

2025 population: 10,023

Percentage growth: 97%

The rapid growth can largely be attributed to Paradise's recovery after the 2018 Camp Fire, which ravaged the community. Per the Census, the town had over 26,000 residents in 2010, and is still rebuilding after being at the heart of the deadliest fire in the state's history.

Elizabeth, Colorado

2020 population: 1,710

2025 population: 2,957

Percentage growth: 73%

Elizabeth is about 40 miles from Denver, making it popular for those seeking a rural life while living within commuting distance of Colorado's economic hub, according to a report by Outside.

Woodmont, Connecticut

2020 population: 1,554

2025 population: 2,391

Percentage growth: 54%

Woodmont, a borough of Milford, is a popular summer destination, according to the Connecticut Tourism Office. It is about 7 miles away from New Haven.

Cheswold, Delaware

2020 population: 1,938

2025 population: 2,653

Percentage growth: 37%

In 2000, Cheswold had just over 300 residents, per the Census.

Westlake, Florida

2020 population: 1,048

2025 population: 9,042

Percentage growth: 763%

Westlake was formerly farmland before the land was purchased by Minto Group, a real-estate company with development plans for the area. The town only officially became a municipality in 2016.

Occupying over 6 miles of land, Westlake has thousands of single-family residential homes with more under construction, according to the town.

Hoschton, Georgia

2020 population: 2,775

2025 population: 8,623

Percentage growth: 211%

Hoschton lies about 50 miles northeast of Atlanta and 30 miles northwest of Athens.

Hawai'i County, Hawaii

2020 population: 200,744

2025 population: 210,043

Percentage growth: 4.6%

Hawaii holds the distinction of being the only US state without official incorporated municipalities. The state's towns are governed at the county level.

Of the five counties — Hawai'i, Honolulu, Kalawao, Kaua'i, and Maui — Hawai'i County, commonly known as the "Big Island," reported the largest population growth from 2020 to 2025.

Star, Idaho

2020 population: 11,488

2025 population: 20,874

Percentage growth: 82%

Star is located just 15 miles northwest of Boise.

Wonder Lake, Illinois

2020 population: 4,004

2025 population: 5,593

Percentage growth: 40%

Wonder Lake sits just below the Illinois-Wisconsin border, about 65 miles between Milwaukee and Chicago.

Whitestown, Indiana

2020 population: 10,383

2025 population: 15,767

Percentage growth: 52%

Whitestown, which is just over 20 miles northwest of Indianapolis, is home to more than 50 acres of parks and 13 miles of trails.

Tiffin, Iowa

2020 population: 4,625

2025 population: 7,156

Percentage growth: 55%

The fast-growing suburb sits F. W. Kent County Park, a sought-after destination in the state for outdoor activities. Tiffin is located 22 miles south of Cedar Rapids.

Maize, Kansas

2020 population: 5,818

2025 population: 7,853

Percentage growth: 35%

It takes under 20 minutes to drive from Maize to central Wichita.

Elkton, Kentucky

2020 population: 2,061

2025 population: 2,387

Percentage growth: 16%

Nashville is the nearest major city to Elkton, located about 60 miles south of the town.

Maurice, Louisiana

2020 population: 2,185

2025 population: 3,215

Percentage growth: 47%

Maurice is just southwest of Lafayette, Louisiana's fourth-largest city.

Greenville, Maine

2020 population: 1,440

2025 population: 1,743

Percentage growth: 21%

Far from the cities of Portland and Bangor, Greenville is located further inland at the southern tip of Moosehead Lake, the state's largest freshwater body, according to Visit Maine. Greenville sits roughly 60 miles from the US-Canada border.

Trappe, Maryland

2020 population: 1,177

2025 population: 1,517

Percentage growth: 29%

Trappe has seen growth in population in part because of a modern housing development, Lakeside at Trappe.

Bolton, Massachusetts

2020 population: 5666

2025 population: 6477

Percentage growth: 14%

Bolton is about 18 miles northeast of Worcester and about 40 miles west of Boston.

Editor's Note: Amherst had the largest estimated population increase from 2020 to 2025, but Business Insider chose second-place Bolton because Amherst’s unusually low 2020 estimate could have been distorted by pandemic-era student departures.

Manton, Michigan

2020 population: 1,271

2025 population: 1,626

Percentage growth: 28%

Manton was a finalist in Reader's Digest's "Nicest Place in America" ranking in 2021.

Dayton, Minnesota

2020 population: 7,432

2025 population: 11,402

Percentage growth: 53%

Dayton is a relatively wealthy suburb, with a high homeownership rate and a median household income of $148,947 in 2024, per 2024 Census data. Dayton is under 30 miles northwest of Minneapolis.

Sumrall, Mississippi

2020 population: 1,777

2025 population: 2,299

Percentage growth: 29%

Sumrall sits just over 15 miles northwest of Hattiesburg, Mississippi's fifth-largest city.

Rogersville, Missouri

2020 population: 3,897

2025 population: 5,754

Percentage growth: 48%

According to 2024 Census data, there are about 2.98 households per resident in Rogersville, which is above the national average.

The town is located 20 miles east of Springfield.

Kalispell, Montana

2020 population: 25,263

2025 population: 31,851

Percentage growth: 26%

According to the 2024 Census data, Kalispell is the seventh-largest city in Montana by population and the eighth-largest by land area.

Hickman, Nebraska

2020 population: 2,655

2025 population: 3,663

Percentage growth: 38%

Hickman's population has more than tripled since 2000, per the Census. The town is under 20 miles south of Lincoln, the state's capital city.

Mesquite, Nevada

2020 population: 20,608

2025 population: 24,001

Percentage growth: 16%

Mesquite sits in the Mojave Desert and borders Arizona. The nearest major city is Las Vegas, roughly 80 miles southwest of Mesquite.

Epping, New Hampshire

2020 population: 7,153

2025 population: 7,973

Percentage growth: 11%

The New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute attributed Epping's population growth to its proximity to major state highways and economic hubs in the Seacoast, Merrimack Valley, and Boston.

Seaside Park, New Jersey

2020 population: 1,445

2025 population: 2,135

Percentage growth: 48%

Seaside Park neighbors Seaside Heights, a popular Jersey Shore destination known for its amusement park.

Los Lunas, New Mexico

2020 population: 17,454

2025 population: 20,572

Percentage growth: 18%

Los Lunas has held significance at different points in American history, including its use as a bombing range after World War II, according to the Center for Land Use Interpretation.

The town is about 20 miles south of Albuquerque.

Kiryas Joel, New York

2020 population: 33,507

2025 population: 47,147

Percentage growth: 41%

Kiryas Joel, coterminous with the town of Palm Tree, has a predominantly Hasidic Jewish population and covers only 1.46 square miles, according to the 2020 Census.

Wendell, North Carolina

2020 population: 9,997

2025 population: 19,687

Percentage growth: 97%

Wendell is within 20 miles of Raleigh, North Carolina's second most populous city. The growth is expected to continue, with 1,900 new homes under construction in the town, the area's ABC 11 reported.

Horace, North Dakota

2020 population: 3,249

2025 population: 7,001

Percentage growth: 115%

Horace is a suburb of Fargo, North Dakota's largest city by population, and is itself the 13th most populous city in the state.

South Bloomfield, Ohio

2020 population: 2,147

2025 population: 4,164

Percentage growth: 94%

South Bloomfield is located 20 miles south of Columbus.

Newcastle, Oklahoma

2020 population: 11,171

2025 population: 15,198

Percentage growth: 36%

A suburb of Oklahoma City, Newcastle appeared on 24/7 Wall St.'s "The Best City to Live in Every State" list in 2019.

Estacada, Oregon

2020 population: 4,531

2025 population: 5,814

Percentage growth: 28%

Estacada is roughly 30 miles southeast of Portland.

Lancaster Township, Pennsylvania

2020 population: 2,765

2025 population: 3,734

Percentage growth: 35%

Lancaster Township is a small municipality in Butler County, western Pennsylvania, and is separate from the much larger city of Lancaster in southeastern Pennsylvania. It's about 34 miles north of Pittsburgh.

Glocester, Rhode Island

2020 population: 9,984

2025 population: 10,612

Percentage growth: 6.3%

Glocester, seated 20 miles northwest of Providence, contains the villages of Harmony and Chepachet.

Hardeeville, South Carolina

2020 population: 7,764

2025 population: 16,459

Percentage growth: 112%

Located under 20 miles north of Savannah, Georgia, Hardeeville has historically had the nickname "The Lowcountry Host" for its many hotels and accommodations for travelers, per the Hardeeville Police Department.

Harrisburg, South Dakota

2020 population: 6,845

2025 population: 10,405

Percentage growth: 52%

Harrisburg, just 10 miles south of Sioux Falls, has 3.7 miles of land area, per 2020 Census data.

Lebanon, Tennessee

2020 population: 38,908

2025 population: 53,412

Percentage growth: 37%

Located 30 minutes east of Nashville, Lebanon is becoming a population hub in its own right. The town is home to the Nashville Superspeedway and Cumberland University.

Josephine, Texas

2020 population: 2,283

2025 population: 10,208

Percentage growth: 347%

Josephine, 40 miles northeast of Dallas, is experiencing a major housing boom. Companies like D.R. Horton are constructing developments with hundreds of homes, and the low cost of living in the area is attracting a lot of millennial first-time homebuyers, Business Insider's Alcynna Lloyd reported.

Saratoga Springs, Utah

2020 population: 38,318

2025 population: 61,397

Percentage growth: 60%

Saratoga Springs sits along Utah Lake and is among Utah's 15 most populous cities. Saratoga Springs has a reputation for safety, with its total crime rate 69% below the national average, per Best Utah Real Estate.

Newport, Vermont

2020 population: 1,581

2025 population: 2,583

Percentage growth: 63%

The town, a distinct municipality from the neighboring city of Newport, is just over 5 miles south of the US-Canada border and is one of Vermont's least populous municipalities.

Louisa, Virginia

2020 population: 1,993

2025 population: 2,244

Percentage growth: 13%

Louisa is located roughly 50 miles northwest of Richmond.

Ridgefield, Washington

2020 population: 10,875

2025 population: 16,132

Percentage growth: 48%

Located near Vancouver, Washington, Ridgefield has a history as a Native American village site, which was visited during the Lewis and Clark expedition, the city says.

Charles Town, West Virginia

2020 population: 6,529

2025 population: 9,329

Percentage growth: 43%

Charles Town was notably founded by Charles Washington, the youngest brother of President George Washington, according to the city.

Lannon, Wisconsin

2020 population: 1,419

2025 population: 2,057

Percentage growth: 45%

Lannon's growth can largely be attributed to new investments in the town, such as housing developments, TMJ 4 Milwaukee reported. Lannon is located about 20 miles northwest of Milwaukee.

Alpine, Wyoming

2020 population: 1,229

2025 population: 1,382

Percentage growth: 13%

Alpine sits on the Idaho-Wyoming border and is near Jackson, one of the state's 10 most populous cities.