On the Go – September 12, 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 New Policy Allows Carry-On Bags (Source: USA Today)
JetBlue allows passengers traveling “Blue Basic” fares to bring on a complimentary carry-on bag. “Carry-on bags are an important part of travel to customers, and when presented with a choice between JetBlue’s award-winning service and another carrier’s basic offering, we want JetBlue to be the easy winner,” said Marty St. George, JetBlue’s president.

US Airlines May Soon Face Cash Penalties For Delayed Flights (Source: Financial Post)
In the past year, Delta Air Lines has installed its Delta Sync entertainment system on more than 330 aircraft, offering personalized content and travel information as well as free Wi-Fi on personal devices. Starting this month, Delta will add BBC News to its inflight entertainment lineup. “We have introduced customers to a seatback product that is meaningful and relevant to how they go about their lives,” says Julieta McCurry, vice president of in-flight entertainment and connectivity strategy. “SkyMiles Members have already logged in to Delta Sync seatback more than a million times, enjoying personalized content and seamless guidance through their travel day.”

US-China Flights Are A Quarter Of What They Were Pre-Pandemic – Here’s Why (Source: The Points Guy)
China was a booming opportunity when United Airlines launched flights to Chengdu a decade ago.  “China is a market that is an economy that continues to grow at a very strong pace.  And there are many opportunities in China that you can develop markets with, particularly with the [Boeing] 787,” Jim Compton, United’s then-chief revenue officer, said in July 2014.

Security

Google Wallet Will Turn Passports Into Digital IDs (Source: TechCrunch)
Google announced on Thursday that it’s introducing new Wallet updates for travelers and commuters. Most notably, Google Wallet will soon start beta testing the ability to create a Digital ID from your U.S. passport. The ID pass will work at select TSA checkpoints when traveling domestically.

TSA Proposes Phased Enforcement Of REAL ID Requirement (Source: TSA Newsroom)
Ahead of next year’s May 7 REAL ID deadline at airport checkpoints, TSA is proposing a phased enforcement approach to implementation. The proposed rule does not extend the deadline, but travelers without a REAL ID compliant ID or another form of acceptable ID after the deadline could face delays at security.

This US Airport Gets The Most TSA Complaints (Source: SmarterTravel)
Avoid the airport at all costs if you want a smooth airport security experience.  Plus: We’re shocked at which airports have the least complaints!  If you’ve ever been screamed at by a TSA agent or had to wait in line for hours at an understaffed checkpoint, you know that the airport security experience can vary widely from airport to airport.

Airports

Airport Tech Enhances Passenger Journey (Source: Forbes)
Technology such as biometrics, advanced baggage and passenger scanning, mobile apps and accessible kiosks are enhancing the passenger experience. “Future airports will offer unparalleled travel experiences where efficiency, personalization and safety converge to enhance the entire passenger journey,” writes Brian Tossan, chief technology officer of the Greater Toronto Airports Authority.

Atlanta Airport Reopens Expanded Delta Gates (Source: Airways Magazine)
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) has completed the first phase of a project to widen Concourse D, allowing it to accommodate larger aircraft. The airport has reopened six enlarged gates, which are used by Delta Air Lines.

$1B Florida Airport Expansion Wins Lee County Approval (Source: WFTX-TV)
Plans to add a $1 billion 14-gate terminal at Southwest Florida International (RSW) Airport are advancing with approval by Lee County Commissioners. Groundbreaking is scheduled for Jan. 1, and about three years of construction is expected, with funding of $900 million provided by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) via airport revenue bonds and grants.

Hotels

Hyatt Place Rouen Opens In France (Source: Travel Weekly)
The hotel, located in a former 19th-century college, is within walking distance of the Musee des Beaux-Arts de Rouen and the city’s Gothic cathedral.  The hotel features a modern design, panoramic views overlooking the city’s skyline and original sculptures in the Jardins des Oeuvres garden.

Leisure Travel

7 Gorgeous East Coast Beach Towns That Are Even Better In The Fall (Source: AFAR)
Despite the chillier water, fall is the best time of year to get a good surf session in as hurricane season brings in larger swells, and birds migrate en masse—maybe it’s time to finally take that new birding hobby seriously?  Summer is prime time to hit the beach for obvious reasons. But there’s a solid rationale for why fall is a fantastic (and arguably better) time to sneak in a trip to the coast: an abundance of festivals, a new crop of in-season dishes like oysters, and thinning crowds, to name a few.

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