On the Go – December 1, 2022

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

Alaska Airlines Starts Electronic Baggage Tag Program (Source: TravelPulse)
Alaska Airlines is sending 2,500 electronic bag tags to frequent flyers, launching the eagerly-awaited, time-saving program, which is the first of its kind in the US. The tags can be activated through the Alaska Airlines app and passengers using them can just drop off their tagged luggage without visiting a counter or kiosk.

Southwest Will Try Early Boarding For Families (Source: Travel Weekly)
Southwest Airlines will experiment with offering early boarding for families.  The weeklong trial is slated to be held during the middle of December at four of the airline’s gates in Atlanta, said vice president of business transformation Angela Marano at Southwest’s Media Day on Wednesday.  During the trial, families traveling together will be offered the chance to board before individuals who hold an A-list boarding assignment. However, those families would be required to sit behind row 15, Marano said.

Delta to Raise SkyClub Membership Prices, Restrict Access (Source: Business Travel News)
Delta Air Lines is raising membership and entry fees for access to its Sky Club airport lounges in an effort to “preserve a best-in-class experience,” the carrier announced Wednesday. The changes come after a year with a “record number of visits,” according to Delta.

Delta Unveils 8 New and Expanded SkyClubs Coming in 2023 (Source: The Points Guy)
Delta Air Lines continues to invest in modernizing and expanding the Sky Club network.  This year, the Atlanta-based carrier opened four stunning lounges, including its two largest in New York’s LaGuardia Airport (LGA) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), as well as its only international club in Tokyo’s Haneda Airport (HND) and a major, 22,000-square-foot new space in Terminal 5 at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD).

Delta Air Lines And LATAM Launch Nonstop Between Brazil And Los Angeles (Source: Travel Market Report)
Three years after the two carriers first agreed on a new codeshare agreement, LATAM and Delta Air Lines launched their first joint service, a new nonstop route between São Paulo and Los Angeles.  The new route will officially start on July 1 and will be the only nonstop flight between Los Angeles and Brazil. It will also offer connections around the West Coast of the U.S., including San Francisco, Las Vegas, and Seattle, via Delta’s U.S. network and to destinations in LATAM’s South American network.

Security

TSA: More Than 2.56M Travelers Screened November 27 (Source: Reuters)
The numbers are in and the Transportation Security Administration screened 2.56 million air passengers at airport checkpoints on Sunday, the highest daily total since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, while not quite reaching the 2.88 million screened on the peak day in 2019.

Airports

6 U.S. Airport Upgrades Making Road Warriors Happy (Source: MeetingsNet)
The travel experience is seeing an upgrade in Orlando, Newark, Chicago, Denver, and elsewhere.  Airports around the country have been celebrating ribbon-cuttings or expansion announcements this fall that promise new or expanded facilities to make the travel experience a bit better for you and your meeting attendees. Here are recent projects worth noting.

Hotels

Hilarious All-New Secret Password Will Unlock Bonus Treats at Kimpton Hotels This Holiday Season (Source: The Points Guy)
Kimpton is the playful and sociable brand within IHG, and now it’s back with a timely, hilarious new secret password — just in time to kick off the winter holiday travel season.  Kimpton generally makes for a fun hotel stay due to its unique atmosphere — plus neat inclusions, such as an evening happy hour and ‘raid the mini bar’ perk for elite guests. Throughout the year, Kimpton takes the fun up a few notches with a secret password that unlocks extra goodies for anyone who utters the magic words.

Leisure Travel

Hawaii Volcano Erupting For First Time in Nearly 40 Years; What’s The Travel Impact? (Source: The Points Guy)
Although the world’s largest active volcano, Mauna Loa, continues to erupt on the island of Hawaii for the first time in nearly 40 years, the effect on flights, hotels and cruises thus far has been fairly minimal. Of course, that could change. Here’s what you need to know.

6 Best Ski Experiences in Colorado (Source: Travel Daily Media)
Colorado is known as being the home of outdoor exploration all year round and during winter many avid skiing enthusiasts flock to the destination for a winter to remember.  The state has 26 ski resorts in fact all with impressive terrain – making it the expert destination for those who love the slopes. As the 22/23 ski season returns in full force, we look to the best ski experiences in the state.