On the Go – April 20, 2023

Industry News – Click on the title to read the full article. Many of the sources below require a free registration to gain access to the article. If a paid registration is required, the individual source will be noted.

Airlines

Delta Will Open 2 Grab-And-Go Lounges As Part Of Broader SkyClub Trial (Source: The Points Guy)
Delta Air Lines has done a great job at building Sky Clubs that travelers actually want to visit.  From brand-new outposts popping up around the country to expanded facilities in major airports, the Sky Club network keeps getting better. But what if you’re in a rush and don’t have time to stop at the lounge? Or what if there’s a long line to get into the lounge (a frequent occurrence, particularly when flying with Delta)?

American Airlines Hits Smaller Hubs With Steeper Airfares Through Legacy Channels (Source: Skift)
It’s been a fortnight since the American Airlines’ airfare shakeup, and travel agencies continue to report fairly large discrepancies and some confusion — including a twist involving the carrier’s smaller hubs.  Business travel platform AmTrav said its corporate customers pay more when not going through American’s New Distribution Capability platform on at least 34 percent of bookings, with the difference averaging $128. However, one agency told Skift a gap of more than 400 percent recently appeared.

Turkish Airlines Introduces Free And Limitless Messaging On International Flights (Source: Future Travel Experience)
Turkish Airlines has introduced free and limitless messaging services to all passengers on international flights where internet access is available – with the motto ‘Enjoy Limitless Messaging’ – through applications such as WhatsApp, Messenger or iMessage, along with others.

Expect Some U.S. Airlines To Announce Seat Configuration Changes In The Next Year (Source: Forbes)
How many seats to put on an airplane, and how many different classes of service, is a critical decision that every airline must make. Years ago when I first joined Spirit Airlines, we had A320s with 168 seats. When meeting with an Asian low-cost airline CEO, he looked quizzically and said “if the regulators let you put 180 seats on the plane, why on earth would you put fewer?” This clarity is easy if your goal is all about low fares. For most airlines, the answer is more complicated.

Delta Air Lines Opens Third Minneapolis Lounge (Source: Star Tribune)
Delta Air Lines is opening its third Sky Club at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport to meet burgeoning traveler demand. “Our goal was to create a space that reflects the natural beauty of the Great Lakes region, transporting and inspiring customers through the Club’s design, all while delivering a full suite of amenities and our signature hospitality,” said Claude Roussel, Delta Sky Club managing director.

Alaska Boosts Self Service Options In Airport Upgrade (Source: Alaska Airlines Blog)
Alaska Airlines has launched a 3-year, $2.5 billion project to improve the passenger experience at hubs like Seattle, Portland, San Francisco and Los Angeles, focusing on technological improvements like biometrics and kiosks that will allow passengers to pay for and tag baggage using iPad tablets. “We are working to make sure that everybody’s travel-ready before they get to the airport,” said Charu Jain, Alaska’s senior vice president of merchandising and innovation.

Security

A Former TSA Employee Shares Everything You Need To Conquer Airport Security (Source: HuffPost)
Travel is stressful enough. You don’t need the added pressure of frustrated TSA officers and a line of angry passengers behind you, throwing eye-daggers at your lace-up shoes and the jumbo tube of toothpaste you forgot you packed. To help you make it through the airport quickly and calmly, we spoke to a former TSA agent about the best ways to prep for a plane ride.

Airports

Major Airport Upgrades In the Works In The South (Source: Construction Dive)
Airport upgrades are underway across the nation, with a boost from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which authorized $15 billion in spending over five years for a variety of aviation infrastructure projects. Cities working on major projects include Charlotte, N.C.; Nashville, Tenn.; Louisville, Ky.; Fort Myers, Fla., and Baltimore.

Hotels

5 Hotels With Great Rooftop Bars (Source: Forbes)
With views of the Potomac River and the Washington Monument, top-shelf liquor and comfortable lounge seating, the Rooftop at the Graham Georgetown in Washington, D.C., was deemed one of the five best hotel rooftop bars by travel writer Rebecca Deurlein. Other recommended venues include Cielo at Hotel Valencia Santana Row in San Jose, Calif., which takes advantage of nearby Wine Country by serving a selection of Napa Valley varietals, and Tiger & Peacock at The Memphian in Memphis, Tenn., where guests are surrounded by a whimsical menagerie of animal art.

Hyatt Announces New Brand Hyatt Studios, It’s First Upper-Midscale Brand In The Americas (Source: Travel Market Report)
Hyatt on Tuesday announced plans to add a completely new brand to its portfolio, Hyatt Studios, a longer-stay brand.  Hyatt Studios marks the company’s entrance into the upper-midscale lodging segment in the Americas. Plans call for 100 Hyatt Studios hotels to be built starting in 2023 and the first location opening in 2024.