Jun 16 2009
News: Airlines Want To End Sales, Best/Worst Airline Comfort, And More
Here are several travel industry updates that caught my eye, and what I have to say.
1. Airlines want to reign in unprecedented airfare sales. In a subject near and dear to our travel hearts, Dallas Morning News is reporting that top airline executives are thinking of reeling in those airfare sales that we love.
While airlines have believed that the sales were necessary in order to fill seats, US Airways president Scott Kirby, for one, believes that while reduction or elimination of sales would reduce load factors somewhat, it would still likely increase profits.
My thoughts: While they may try to do so, airfares sales are likely to go on as long as there are competing airlines. I’m not about to start worrying, yet.
2. The best and the worst comfort in airline seats.
Seatguru.com (an Expedia/TripAdvisor company) has released its 2009 survey of 1,600 fliers. It ranks airlines based on seating, food and service. Of the airlines serving Hawaii, these three were rated as having the most uncomfortable seating: American, United and US Air.
My thoughts: I’m not sure about the validity of their survey as little details are provided. As for uncomfortable seating, their results come as no surprise. What about to you? As for food and service, forgive please, but what food and service?
3. Delta/Northwest are rapidly consolidating. Delta’s president said last week that in concert with cutting capacity, they expect to eliminate all overlapping services and be a single company by early 2010.
My thoughts: This won’t do anything good for pricing from Delta/Northwest hubs to Hawaii.
4. New US Airways website. The beta version was unveiled today. Have you tried it? It includes a new and useful award availability calendar.
My thoughts: The site is just in beta (you have to click to select the new site). I’ll reserve my thoughts until it matures a bit.
5. No more holding reservations at UAL. United has quietly removed the ability to hold reservations on their website, claiming that most of the tickets held there were not purchased.
My thoughts: This is an industry trend and comes as no surprise. We recently reported on the ability to cancel reservations and how each airline handles it.
Photo taken at Wailua Beach, Kauai.
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