On the Go – October 29, 2020

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.

* * For the latest COVID-19 travel industry information, please click on this link:

https://traveloneinc.com/covid-19-industry-information/

Airlines

Delta Installs High-Tech Antimicrobial Lighting to Better Protect Airplane Lavatories (Source: Delta News Hub)
Delta is adding an additional layer of antimicrobial protection to airplane lavatories to enhance cleanliness: LED lighting that will better protect customers during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

JetBlue Will Continue Capping Seats Into 2021 (Source: Reuters)
JetBlue Airways will continue limiting seats sold on each flight into early 2021. “Our view is that over the course of time the seat caps will go, but right now it’s a very important issue for customer perception,” CEO Robin Hayes said.

Federal Agency Approves Delta, WestJet Partnership (Source: Reuters)
The Transportation Department has approved a partnership between Delta Air Lines and Canada’s WestJet that the airlines said will expand flight options and frequent flyer benefits. The agency is requiring that WestJet exclude its discount carrier Swoop from the arrangement and provide interline connections to other airlines.

Southwest to End Capacity Controls, Sell Every Seat in December (Source: Business Travel News)
Southwest Airlines will end capacity controls that enable it to keep middle seats vacant on Dec. 1, though it is increasing flexibility for passengers who prefer not to be on full flights. Passengers who already have tickets booked for December beyond will be given an option for a full refund if they are not comfortable with the new policy.

Security

New TSA Tech Allows Passengers to Swipe Their Own IDs (Source: KXAS-TV)
The Transportation Security Administration is installing machines similar to credit card readers that will allow air passengers to swipe their own identification cards at airport checkpoints, eliminating a touch point. “It’s much better from a security standpoint and it’s certainly better from a passenger convenience standpoint because it’s more automated,” TSA Administrator David Pekoske said.

Airports

New York’s LaGuardia Airport Now Offers COVID Testing – And It’s Free (Source: The Points Guy)
COVID testing plays an important role in restarting the travel industry. However, in many parts of the country, getting a fast, reliable and affordable COVID test remains a challenge. That’s no longer the case if you’re traveling through New York’s LaGuardia Airport.

Salt Lake City Airport Opens 2nd New Concourse (Source: Deseret News)
Salt Lake City International Airport opened its new Concourse B Oct. 27, with a Southwest Airlines flight to Oakland as its maiden voyage. Opening of the 21-gate concourse, which will also host Alaska, American, United, Delta and JetBlue flights, completes the first phase of a massive project that essentially replaces the entire airport with a new facility.

XpresSpa to Offer Flu Tests and Vaccines at Airport (Source: MarketWatch)
XpresSpa is expanding the health-related offerings of its airport locations beyond COVID-19 testing to include tests for flu, mononucleosis and streptococcus as well as flu vaccine. “This pandemic is prompting people to change the way they think about their health when traveling, paving the way for this new industry segment in a post COVID-19 world,” said CEO Doug Satzman.

Hotels

Hilton Hotels Updates Loyalty Program Requirements (Source: Business Traveler News)
Travelers who have Hilton Honors points can now hold on to them until the end of 2021, and Silver, Gold and Diamond loyalty program members who were scheduled for downgrade this year or next will see their status extended until March 31, 2022. Additionally, Hilton Hotels has reduced the status qualification requirements by half for base points, stays and nights throughout 2021.

Worries About Hotel Ventilation Lack Expert Support (Source: The Washington Post)
The pandemic has thrust hotel ventilation into the spotlight as a transmission issue and prompted chains to tout their systems’ effectiveness, but four public health experts assign less than high priority to the element. “The key question when going to hotels is not so much the ventilation, but who you’re interacting with there and where you’re interacting with people,” says Amesh Adalja of Johns Hopkins University.

Airport Hotel Coming to Nashville (Source: Travel Weekly)
An airport news release says the on-site, Hilton-branded hotel will be 14 stories and will feature a parking garage. The Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority board on Wednesday selected Chartwell Hospitality as the developer and hotel operator.

Leisure Travel

10 Awesome Things To Do In London For Free (Source: The Points Guy)
London is a wonderful destination to visit, but… it can be expensive. Hotel prices, especially in the summer, can skyrocket. A cheeky pint down at your nearest pub can easily be $8 or more. And you could spend more on a taxi into the city from the airport than what the flight cost. If you have money to burn, London is a great place to do it. But the city also caters well to those on a tight budget.