On the Go – May 19, 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

New Southwest Fare Offers Flexibility, Same-Day Changes (Source: USA Today)
Southwest has enhanced its fare lineup and added its new Wanna Get Away Plus fare that will allow passengers to use flight credits for other people if they cancel and also allow them to stand by for an earlier flight the same day at no charge. “With Wanna Get Away Plus, we’re thrilled to offer a new low-fare product that enhances Southwest’s fare lineup and provides more options for our customers while maintaining all of the benefits our customers know and love about our existing fares, and even adding some new ones,” Southwest’s Vice President of Marketing, Loyalty, & Products Jonathan Clarkson said.

Southwest to Invest $2B in Customer And Cabin Experience (Source: Future Travel Experience)
Southwest Airlines has unveiled a series of cabin and customer experience upgrades designed to simplify and enhance the passenger journey. These include improved Wi-Fi capabilities, larger overhead bins, power ports, as well as new functionality for the carrier’s digital platforms and airport kiosks.

Delta Backtracks on New SkyClub Access Restrictions After Flyers Push Back (Source: The Points Guy)
Fear not, you’ll still be able to grab a snack and take a shower in the Delta Sky Club upon arrival. The Atlanta-based carrier just backtracked on one of its major new lounge access restrictions, citing the “feedback received in response to the updates,” which were first announced on May 4.

General Interest

Food and Drinks at New York City Airports Just Got Less Expensive (Source: Travel Market Report)
Just under a year since a story about a $27 beer at LaGuardia Airport Terminal C went viral, things are changing at New York City airports. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the state agency that governs LaGuardia Airport, John F. Kennedy Airport, and Newark Liberty Airport, this week released a 35-page report that reaffirmed policies for vendors inside those airports to specifically try to stop price gouging.

Airport Parking Crisis?  How to Save Money While Securing a Space (Source: The Points Guy)
As travel bounces back to pre-pandemic levels, we’ve already seen expensive flights, scarce rental cars and limited hotel rooms affect those looking to get away. Now, due to an increase in the number of those flying, combined with more of those travelers driving themselves to the airport than before, parking is the latest part of the travel infrastructure to feel the strain.

Airports

Miami Airport to Fully Implement Biometric Tech by 2023 (Source: PhocusWire)
Miami International Airport will have biometric boarding available at all its gates by 2023, the most widespread implementation of the technology by any US airport. “We look forward to elevating our passenger experience with this state-of-the-art boarding solution,” said airport CEO Ralph Cutie.

Houston Airports’ Enhance Self-Service Passenger Experience (Source: Future Travel Experience)
Houston Airports, which manages services at George Bush Intercontinental and William P. Hobby airports, is partnering with Amadeus to create a next-generation airport experience. Passengers will soon have the option to check-in, drop-off their bags, enter airline lounges, and board their aircraft without interacting with agents or providing paper documents. Instead, biometric-enrolment will mean the traveller’s face becomes their boarding pass and passport, making their journey through the airport quick, simple, and smooth.

Atlanta Airport Expansion Includes Wine Bar (Source: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
The expansion of Concourse T at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport will feature a Vino Volo wine bar and a gourmet market. The ongoing project will add five gates as well as 6,000 square feet of concessions space and is to be completed by the end of the year.

Hotels

Hyatt’s New Lifestyle Brand Debuts Soon In Memphis – And Food Is The Main Star (Source: The Points Guy)
Hyatt plans to go walking in Memphis with its latest brand. The only question is: Can it make this new concept appeal to customers in the increasingly crowded “lifestyle hotel” segment? At first glance, Hyatt’s new brand Caption — first announced in 2019 and set to debut in Memphis this summer — might seem like a case of yet another hotel conglomerate pushing a competitor into the arena where Moxy, CitizenM and Yotel already compete.

Layover Lodging: Transit Hotels Fill Niche For Weary Flyers (Source: Simple Flying)
Airports throughout the world offer transit hotels for travelers caught between flights who need a few hours’ sleep in unadorned privacy. The accommodations, which normally bill by the hour, also lend themselves to smaller versions, called capsule hotels.

Leisure Travel

8 Stunning European Cities For Architecture Lovers (Source: Lonely Planet)
From Unesco-protected wonders to contemporary masterpieces, Europe has something for every traveling architecture buff. Here’s Lonely Planet’s roundup of the best the continent has to offer.