Hawaiian Airlines will stand up its colorful 31 days of Lei pop-up event at City Creek Center on May 18.
14.05.2024 - 09:05 / skift.com / Pete Buttigieg / Dennis Schaal / Rashaad Jorden / Sean Oneill / Jane Alexander / Rob Greyber / Rohit Chopra
Good morning from Skift. It’s Friday, May 10. Here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today.
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast | Google Podcasts | Amazon Podcasts
The U.S. government is investigating whether airlines have devalued frequent flyer miles, which would make booking reward tickets more difficult for customers, writes Airlines Reporter Meghna Maharishi.
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director Rohit Chopra said at a hearing his agency has found some evidence of airlines and credit card companies devaluing points and miles. Chopra added the bureau found that airlines have sold inflated points to consumers while credit card issuers receive those same points at a lower price.
The Department of Transportation announced last December it would investigate.
Another issue is whether loyalty programs of the biggest U.S. airlines have grown so big that smaller carriers can’t compete. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg acknowledged that would represent a competition concern. Buttigieg said the agency had not reached any conclusions.
Next, Hyatt received a boost from a surge in business travel as well as its loyalty program and all-inclusive resorts, reports Senior Hospitality Editor Sean O’Neill.
Hyatt executives said during the company’s first-quarter earnings call that they saw revenue from transient business travelers increase from last year. The company also registered a 22% increase in loyalty program members. In addition, O’Neill notes Hyatt’s 2021 move to buy Apple Leisure Group seems to be paying off as Hyatt saw bookings surge at its all-inclusive resorts.
Finally, the CEO of vacation rental operator Vacasa has told employees the company would suffer another round of layoffs, reports Executive Editor Dennis Schaal.
CEO Rob Greyber sent a letter to staff stating Vacasa would experience a “significant restructuring” amid another difficult year for the vacation rental market. The letter didn’t say how many employees would be laid off. Schaal notes this is Vacasa’s fourth round of layoffs since Greyber took over as CEO in September 2022.
Producer/Presenter: Jane Alexander
Hawaiian Airlines will stand up its colorful 31 days of Lei pop-up event at City Creek Center on May 18.
American Airlines Group has confirmed its chief commercial officer, Vasu Raja, will leave the company next month. He has been in the role since April 2022.
While summer kicks off, customers can get a head start on planning to get away this winter with more options to visit the Caribbean and Latin America with American Airlines. In winter 2024, American will enhance its industry-leading short-haul international network with eight new routes and increased service, offering flights to more destinations than any other U.S. carrier in the region. “Customers will have more reasons to choose American than ever before for nonstop fun in the sun this year,” said Brian Znotins, American’s Senior Vice President of Network and Schedule Planning. “We are excited to continue growing our network to the region with more flights this winter to the Caribbean and Latin America than any other U.S. carrier ever.”
American Airlines' pilots, flight attendants, and airport staff are the face of nearly 6,000 flights operated by the carrier around the world each day.
As the merger of Air India and Vistara airlines picks up steam, the process of merging their loyalty programs has also begun.
Since the pandemic, airlines have reported record results quarter after quarter. International and premium travel have been the main drivers. But in the most recent quarter, airlines got a big boost from a segment many thought was long gone: business travel.
I didn't retain much from United Airlines' new inflight safety video. And I doubt passengers will either.
If you’ve ever sat in an even smaller than usual coach seat, had your flight canceled, or fought with a rude customer service agent—you know the airline you fly can make a huge difference in the pleasantness of your trip.
When airlines merged in the past, executives at both companies used to talk about the synergies that were there and how that was an advantage in collaborating..
Either Hawaiian Airlines knows something that we don’t, or it is just being prudent and making plans ahead of time.
United Airlines expects the 2024 edition of the Memorial Day holiday travel period to be the busiest in the company’s history.
A mother is suing American Airlines and calling for answers after her 14-year-old son died on board a flight.