On the Go – April 4, 2024

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

JetBlue’s Checked Bags Fees Now Depend On The Day (Source: CNN)
JetBlue is proving that not even your baggage is safe from dynamic pricing, with the airline rolling out fees that vary depending on the day of departure.  The price of a first checked bag now ranges from $35 to $50 under a recently revealed fee structure that depends on a number of factors, including dates JetBlue determines to be peak or off-peak.

Security

Global Entry Tests Automated Gates At Major Airport (Source: The Points Guy)
US Customs and Border Protection plans to test unmanned “e-gates” for international travelers with Global Entry membership at Dulles International Airport outside Washington, D.C. Incoming passengers enrolled in the pre-screening program will be able to handle customs procedures on the new Global Entry smartphone app and go through automated gates that open after completing a biometric scan.

Hotels

Nashville, TN, Airport Gets An Onsite Hotel (Source: The Tennessean)
With the opening of the Hilton BNA Nashville Airport Terminal, the Nashville, Tenn., airport has its first onsite hotel. The hotel’s entrance is on a 5th story bridge connecting the airport terminal with its parking garage, and boasts a rooftop pool and lounge.

Hilton Acquires The NoMad Brand (Source: Travel Weekly)
Hilton has acquired a majority stake in Sydell Group, with plans to add Sydell’s NoMad brand to its portfolio.  The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Sydell will be responsible for the design, branding and management of NoMad hotels while Hilton will lead all development.  NoMad has hotels in London, New York, Los Angeles and Las Vegas.

Ground Transportation

National Tops Again In BTN’s Annual Car Rental Survey (Source: Business Travel News)
Travel buyers gave car rental companies mixed results in BTN’s 2024 Car Rental Survey, with three of the five rated brands garnering higher scores compared with 2023, but two declining. National Car Rental secured its ninth straight win. Meanwhile, chauffeured transportation suppliers held steady.

Leisure Travel

Over 100 Years Later, The Largest Unfinished Catholic Church In The World Will Finally Be Complete (Source: The Points Guy)
After more than 140 years of incomplete construction, Barcelona’s famous Sagrada Familia church is expected to be finished in 2026, per a report released by the church on March 20.  The remaining parts of the church, the Chapel of the Assumption and the tower of Jesus Christ, will be finished in 2025 and 2026, respectively, per the Basilica de la Sagrada Familia’s 2023 annual report.

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