Royal Caribbean canceled two back-to-back cruises with less than a week's notice — leaving many travelers scrambling to make alternative travel arrangements.
25.08.2023 - 14:14 / skift.com / Matthew Parsons / Airlines
With fewer business travelers in the skies, Lufthansa is now allowing passengers to bid for an upgraded seat during a live auction.
The German airline is testing its “Bidboost” initiative on international flights to begin with, between Newark, JFK and Miami airports in the U.S. to Munch and Frankfurt in Germany.
It works by the passenger telling Lufthansa what he or she is willing to pay, right up until boarding begins. It differs from similar schemes like Plusgrade which offers bids during the reservation window until three days before departure.
It has tapped startup SeatBoost to power the auctions, which claims airlines can’t lose because the bidding process closes just before the departure. The argument is that any sales are extra ancillary revenue compared to letting the plane take off with the seat empty.
“Our pricing often starts at 50 percent of the airline’s upgrade rate. It’s really aggressively priced, because it’s going to go for zero,” said CEO Kevin Stamler.
It’s the first major airline deal for SeatBoost since it began with TAP Air Portugal. A partnership struck in December 2019 generated $1.5 million in its first 90 days, the company said, before the pandemic struck. Prior to that it worked with Virgin America in 2016.
The startup also works with Avianca, with another “European leisure carrier” to be announced in the coming weeks. It aims to announce five more partner airlines before the end of the year.
Although corporate travel agencies have approached SeatBoost, it said was currently more popular among leisure travelers.
“A lot of business travelers want their guaranteed seat, they don’t want to leave it to chance,” said Stamler. “They want something that’s set in stone.”
However, he said blended trips will play a role in the future.
More routes are planned with Lufthansa in the spring, while it may also develop a function to allow passengers to bid with loyalty points.
Royal Caribbean canceled two back-to-back cruises with less than a week's notice — leaving many travelers scrambling to make alternative travel arrangements.
Utah’s Bryce Canyon National Park showcases the largest collection of hoodoos — thin spires of rock — and despite its name, it’s not actually a canyon but rather a series of natural amphitheaters carved into the edge of the Paunsaugunt Plateau. The park is relatively small compared to other national parks in the state, like Zion, Arches, and Canyonlands. The 18-mile scenic road that runs north-south through the park traces the rims of the amphitheaters for the most part and has turnoffs for viewpoints, hiking trailheads, and picnic areas. Small or not, the park can afford you days of on-foot exploration, and the varying levels of hiking difficulty and length mean there’s something for everyone. There’s no need to rush. Staying for a few days gives you ample time to explore the region and immerse yourself in the desert.
The Sharjah Airport Authority has initiated summer activities to enhance the travel experience for passengers across various age groups, with the intent to make their journey memorable during this holiday season.
Blueground is seeing its apartments being rented out as safe havens from political upheavals.
Agency consortium GlobalStar Travel Management is expanding in Europe, after boosting its presence across North America and Asia.
Travel prices across Europe have started to decline, following months of continuous hikes in air fares and hotel rates. However, they’re expected to remain highly volatile for several years as the market undergoes a correction.
TUI’s remote work policy, launched during the pandemic, is set to evolve as the travel giant looks to offer its staff free stays across its hotel and resort network.
If you’d thought Silicon Valley’s TripActions was running out of steam as we head towards the year’s end, after its acquisitions and extensive fundraising, think again.
The Middle East’s almost year-long summer is its competitive advantage when attracting the European market. However, the region would do well to add more beachfront properties and curate experiences beyond its Uber-luxury eccentricities.
Good morning from Skift. It’s Wednesday, November 30. Here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today.
The situation on the ground in China isn’t ideal as the country readies to remove its travel restrictions this weekend.
A bid from German carrier Lufthansa for ITA Airways could come early next week, three sources familiar with the matter said on Friday, in a crucial step to speeding up the full privatization of Italy’s state-owned company.