TravelSkills

News and Tips For Your Trips

Frequent flyers say free flights are not enough

A restaurant component can be an important part of an airline loyalty program. (Image of InterContinental LA Downtown: Chris McGinnis)

The more ways that members can earn and spend points/miles, the happier they are, says the latest J.D. Power and Associates survey on frequent flyer programs.

It also ranked JetBlue’s program in the top spot, Delta’s in the middle of the pack, and American’s & United’s nearly tied at the bottom of satisfaction levels.

This is somewhat surprising to be because Delta usually takes so much heat for its parsimonious SkyMiles program. Most frequent travelers agree that Delta is probably the best airline, but it has the worst loyalty program due to its stinginess. Maybe this survey shows that that’s changing. On the other hand, United is usually cited as not such a great airline, but that can be overlooked by its relatively generous Mileage Plus program. What do you think? Comments below, please!

Anyway, based on the J.D. Power 1,000-point satisfaction scale, the 2017 survey determined that the satisfaction level among frequent flyer program members rises most significantly when they can earn rewards in restaurants. They also favor earning points for merchandise for car rentals.

According to Michael Taylor, head of J.D. Power’s travel surveys, “Flexibility in how miles are redeemed is valued by members. After all, if you win a pie-eating contest, you may want to be rewarded with something besides another pie.”

Source: J.D. Power and Associates

Programs that give their members a “lowest price guarantee” earn a big premium in customer satisfaction levels, the company said, while waiver of same-day change fees adds slightly fewer satisfaction points.

One of the more obvious findings of the survey is that elite-level loyalty members are more satisfied (814 points) with their programs than general members (744). Elite members are also more likely than general members to be “promoters” of their preferred airline brand (59 percent vs. 49 percent).

JetBlue’s TrueBlue program took top honors in the 2017 survey. (Image: JetBlue)

Likewise, members who are offered bonus points/miles show a gain of 52 points in satisfaction levels, but those who have had some problem with their mileage program show a 99-point drop. And the study found that mileage programs can be complicated, with just 52 percent of respondents saying they completely understand the redemption process for their points/miles.

The 2017 survey, conducted in September, was based on responses from 3,387 airline loyalty program members.

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Love or hate your company’s travel policy?

Penny-pinching travel policies can make employees resentful and unhappy. (Image: Jim Glab)

Does your company impose harsh restrictions on your travel bookings and spending in the interest of saving money? A new study suggests that approach could be costing more than it saves.

The stresses imposed on road warriors by strict company travel policies can result in employees who are disgruntled, less productive, less healthy, and more inclined to seek employment elsewhere according to a new report from the Airlines Reporting Corporation, which processes ticket payments from travel agencies.

The survey of 750 business travelers contrasted the experience of working for companies with “cost-focused” travel policies vs. those with “traveler-focused” programs – i.e., policies aimed at keeping travelers productive and satisfied.

Concentrating on strict cost controls often results in what the report calls ‘travel friction” – i.e., needless frustrations and aggravations on the road that contribute to less effective business results. Examples: requiring travelers to book a less expensive connecting flight when non-stops are available; prohibiting business class bookings on long-haul flights; and limiting hotel choices.

For example, 82 percent of the travelers in cost-focused programs said they sleep much better at home than on the road; only 53 percent of those with traveler-focused programs said so. Likewise, three-fourths of cost-focused travelers said it’s hard for them to maintain a healthy lifestyle when traveling, vs. just 32 percent in the traveler-focused group. Two-thirds of the cost-focused travelers said they sometimes get sick or need time off due to their heavy travel schedules; the comparable rate for traveler-focused programs was just 29 percent.

Asked what portion of their trips they considered to be worthwhile from a business standpoint, those in traveler-focused programs cited 82 percent, on average, vs. 60 percent for those in cost-focused programs.

You can see the full report here.

Tweaks to spending rules can lead to improved productivity on the road. (Image: Delta)

Perhaps most tellingly, three-fourths of the cost-focused travelers said they hoped to be traveling less two years from now; only 35 percent of those in traveler-focused programs said the same.

The report suggested that the biggest drawback of focusing on strict cost controls for travelers is that it can motivate some of a company’s most valuable employees to leave – and replacing them can be extremely expensive.

“Designing a traveler-focused travel program can help companies retain top talent, especially in sales, account management and technical positions with valuable relationships and specialized areas of knowledge,” the report said. “As an added benefit, it also makes the company far more attractive to potential employees.”

The survey asked travelers in both groups what kinds of changes in policy would make their trips easier to take. Here are the results:

Readers: Do you work for a company with a travel policy that is cost focused, or traveler focused? Love it or hate it? Please leave your comments below. 

ICYMI, see the 25 most recent TravelSkills posts right here

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Don’t work all weekend: Drive out of town instead

Nothing like a weekend road trip to take your mind off work. (Image: Jim Glab)

One of the big drawbacks of a busy career is working too hard.  A new survey finds that most workers keep plugging away on weekends — when it might be better for their mental and physical health to just drive away from the job for a couple of days.

The study conducted for Enterprise Rent-A-Car found that nearly 70 percent of those polled said they work an average of nine hours at least one weekend a month. And getting away from the job is hard: 63 percent said their employers expect them to work weekends, and 61 percent said they can’t help thinking about work on those precious days off. Two-thirds of those polled said they regularly read and reply to work-related emails on Saturdays and Sundays.

The obsession is more severe among Millennials: Three out of four said they can become consumed with work thoughts over weekends.

What to do? Break away from the routine. Survey respondents said they could significantly improve their weekends by “exploring new places” (54 percent), “getting out of town” (51 percent) or “more weekend trips” (48 percent).

Driving the paved road up Colorado’s 14,000-foot Mt. Evans will literally take you into the clouds. (Image: Jim Glab)

That could be a problem if you don’t have access to wheels. Whether you’re a Millennial who has shunned car ownership thus far, or a road warrior who has relied on Uber rides at your destination, a weekend car rental will let you get out of town and escape the constant tug of the laptop screen.

And you don’t even have to go to the airport for your ride. Enterprise, for instance, has hundreds of neighborhood rental offices around the country where you can quickly pick up a car and be on your way.

Tacking a personal getaway onto a business trip has become increasingly common, so think about extending your next one over a weekend and exploring the nearby region. It will take your mind off work and give you more perspective about the places you travel to.

Sun, sand and surf beckon from California’s beach towns. (Image: Jim Glab)

Rocky Mountains that you can probably see through the window of your meeting rooms. Tip: If you want a real driving adventure, head for Mount Evans (about an hour west of Denver) and drive the sinuous road that takes you to the 14,000-foot summit. It’s the highest paved road in the country, and something you won’t soon forget. Or head to nearby Rocky Mountain National Park for a drive along Trail Ridge Road, which goes up to 12,000 feet across an alpine tundra.

Just wrapping up a week of tedious trade shows in Los Angeles or San Francisco? That’s a no-brainer: A ride up or down the Pacific Coast Highway will really clear the work-related cobwebs out of your head, and provide great backdrops for stunning selfies as you go. (The Enterprise survey also found that two-thirds of the respondents said they tend to share their non-working weekend moments on social media.)

So don’t waste those weekends when new experiences beckon. You know what they say about all work and no play.

This post is sponsored by Enterprise Rent-A-Car

Disclosure: Thank you for reading TravelSkills! We will periodically create posts or send out messages like this one from commercial partners about topics relevant to frequent travel.  Our sponsors’ support, and yours, help us keep TravelSkills a free publication. 


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Trump’s ban seen hurting business travel

Dubai Airport

Will Middle Eastern airports like Dubai’s see fewer business travelers this year? (Image: Chris McGinnis)

The Trump Administration’s ban on travel to the U.S. for citizens from seven mainly Muslim countries is likely to hurt global business travel, according to a new poll.

The Global Business Travel Association last week surveyed its membership of corporate travel buyers and found that 31 percent of the respondents expect Trump’s executive order to result in a reduction in their company’s business travel over the next three months.

Some 29 percent said they expect that dampening effect to continue over the following three to six months as well, and 28 percent said it could well keep hurting travel over the next six to 12 months and beyond.

A majority of respondents – 63 percent – said they expected to see other countries respond to the ban by making travel more difficult for Americans, while 56 percent said it could lead to difficulties for travel to the U.S., and 54 percent were concerned about an increase in threats to U.S. travelers abroad.

Corporate travel managers worry about threats to their employees overseas. (Image: jim Glab)

Corporate travel managers worry about threats to their employees overseas. (Image: jim Glab)

When asked about top concerns regarding the immigration ban on their company’s business travelers, “uncertainty regarding green card and approved visa credibility to enter the United States (55 percent), harassment of U.S. travelers to and from the Middle East (50 percent) and increased traveler harassment in general (50 percent) topped the list,” GBTA said.

Asked about their own views on the ban, half of the respondents opposed it while 38 percent supported it. The ban – which affects citizens of Iraq, Syria, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen – led to massive confusion and demonstrations at major U.S. airports over the last two weeks.

Late Friday, a federal judge in Washington temporarily halted the travel ban saying that “no one is above the law, even the president.”

And after a weekend of adjustment, it appears that we are back to business as usual at US airports and borders, but that could change quickly.

It’s going to be an interesting four years…

Have you had any personal experience around the travel ban? Do you feel different now traveling as an American abroad? Please leave your comments below. 

 

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Another airline adds “kid-free” seating

Parents who don't control unruly kids are high on the list of bad behaviors (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Parents who don’t control unruly kids are high on the list of bad behaviors (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Passenger surveys usually find that screaming, kicking, out-of-control kids – a.k.a. adorable children – are one of the biggest annoyances for air travelers. But what if you could book a seat that guaranteed you wouldn’t have any of them around you?

Indian budget airline Indigo is the latest carrier to introduce what it calls “Quiet Zones” – seating areas where it does not allow any children under age 12 (rows 1-4 and 11-14, including the exit rows).

A similar concept was introduced a couple of years ago by a few other Asian airlines, including Thai, Malaysian, Air Asia, Malaysian and Scoot.

Also, most big airport lounges now have separate, usually glassed in, romper rooms for the kiddie-boos to keep the noise at bay.

Thoughtful kiddie playroom inside SAS business class lounge (Chris McGinnis)

Thoughtful kiddie playroom inside SAS business class lounge at CPH (Chris McGinnis)

While the idea may seem like a terrific one for many business travelers, especially those on long-haul flights, some people might take offense at what could be considered a discriminatory policy – like the parents of those kids, who are increasingly having trouble on some airlines just getting a guaranteed seat next to their offspring. Opponents of the concept might reasonably ask what other kinds of passengers might be targeted by such a policy in the future.

The no-kids seating area can also cause enforcement problems for the airline when it has to rebook passengers onto almost-full flights, for instance.

Still, a survey of 1,100 U.K. travelers a couple of years ago found that 70 percent said they’d like to see kid-free zones—and more than one-third said they would pay extra to fly on a flight with no kids at all.

OK, readers, what’s your take on this controversial topic? Would you pay extra to be guaranteed a seat away from kids? What should the age limit be for kid-free seating zones?

Don’t miss out on these popular TravelSkills posts:

Kicking support animals off planes | Shocked passenger refuses to pay $3 for water | Marriott-Starwood: Higher prices, better rewards | The 10,000 points question! | Eye-catching maps explain state of the world | Test your planespotting skills!

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Are you a boozy traveler? [Poll]

cocktails

Drinking and traveling go together like gin and tonic (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

No matter how abstemious Americans may be at home, the prospect of going on a trip seems to loosen their inhibitions a bit – or a lot – when it comes to drinking. That’s according to a new survey from Cheapflights.com that asked 1,000 respondents about their drinking practices at airports and on the plane.

As you might expect, the survey found that a traveler’s inclination to imbibe depends in part on where she’s from. According to the poll, 53 percent of those from western states and 51 percent from the east coast said they drink when they travel. By contrast, only 43 percent of Midwesterners said the same. TAKE OUR POLL BELOW!

How do travelers spend time at the airport when they’re faced with a long layover? Just over one-third of the respondents said that situation will send them to the airport bar.

The proportion of drinkers bumps up to 37 percent on their flights – although the survey found that one-fifth of its respondents only do so when the drinks are free. (Speaking of spending money on drinks, seven percent of the respondents admitted that when they go on vacation, they spend more on alcohol than on food.)

Related: Shocked passenger refuses to pay $3 for water

Drinking on trips varies by area of residence. (Image: Cheapflights.com)

Drinking on trips varies by area of residence. (Image: Cheapflights.com)

And what do Americans drink when they travel? Forty-eight percent of men said they prefer beer, while women were divided between cocktails (28 percent) and wine (26 percent).

The survey didn’t ask subjects exactly how much they pour back on their trips, but we’ve seen plenty of evidence from the evening news that overindulgence can be a big contributor to air rage, in-cabin misbehavior and even diverted flights. One in five of the men surveyed said that they had been intoxicated at the airport or on a plane, while 11 percent of women admitted the same.

And it could be a hair of the dog situation 🙂 , but six percent of the respondents conceded that they have had their first drink before 8 a.m. during a trip (11 percent of men and 2 percent of women). I’m always surprised to see folks kicking back the vodkas on those early flights… but who am I to judge?

POLL:

What about you? Do you tend to drink more, less or about the same amount, or not at all? Please take our poll!

When it comes to drinking and traveling, do you:

View Results

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Don’t miss out on these popular TravelSkills posts! Shocked passenger refuses to pay $3 for water | More Delta SkyMiles for Asian trips | Tips from a Hawaiian Vacation | JetBlue-Delta slugfest means lower fares | Test your planespotting skills! )

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Thought-provoking: Business travel burnout is a thing

Restrictive travel policies can lead to employee burnout. (Image: Jim Glab)

Restrictive travel policies can lead to employee burnout. (Image: Jim Glab)

If you travel on business a lot, you know that the quality of your trips — which airline class you book, what kind of hotels you stay in — can make a big difference in whether you enjoy the experience or not.  And now a new survey of road warriors confirms that too much of the wrong kind of travel can quickly lead to burnout — and a desire to spend less time on the road.

The survey — conducted for American Express Global Business Travel,  Airlines Reporting Corporation and tClara — explored what it calls traveler friction, defined simply as “the wear and tear caused by business travel.” Friction creates heat, and heat creates burnout: The survey found that 15 percent of the 757 business travelers it polled “are nearly burned out on travel.”

“Half want to travel significantly less in two years; two-thirds believe they could find a good job that doesn’t require much travel, and eight in ten are interested in job offers from firms that have very favorable travel policies. Most importantly, eight in ten said that a new firm’s travel policy would be at least as important as the new job’s pay and responsibilities,” the report noted.

Business travel burnout causing flameouts? (Image: Pixabay)

Business travel burnout causing flameouts? (Image: Pixabay)

The key to retaining traveling employees and keeping them on the road, the report said, involves nothing more than some simple adjustments to company travel policies.

The survey presented respondents with a list of 24 possible changes that companies could make in their travel policies, and participants most frequently settled on four of them:

  • The ability to take non-stop flights where available
  • The option to choose more comfortable or convenient hotels
  • The allowance of business-class travel on flights more than six hours
  • Additional paid time off following a long stretch of travel

Two-thirds of the respondents said that if companies adopted their four most preferred policy changes, it would have a significant impact on their desire to stay in their jobs, and they estimated it would increase their productivity by 44 percent.

“This study is significant as it quantifies what for so long we’ve intuitively known: that frequent business travel can also be wearing. But what is most interesting is that it’s not trip frequency that matters, it’s the trip quality,” said  Lauri Reishus, VP and chief operating officer at ARC.

The survey participants all spent at least 35 nights away on business over the previous 12 months, and reported annual incomes exceeding $50,000. You can download the full report here.

Readers: About how many trips to you take per month on average? Does that feel like too much, or just about right? Please leave your comments below. 

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: How to get the BEST summer fare deals | One airline fee fading fast | Trip Report: Aer Lingus Economy Class | 5 top jobs for frequent travelers  | First class phase out coming soon

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Award seats: More on Delta, fewer on AA, United

The chance of getting the award seats you want varies considerably by airline and by season. (Image: Jim Glab)

The chance of getting the award seats you want varies considerably by airline and by season. (Image: Jim Glab)

What are your odds of scoring the frequent flyer award seats you want, on the dates you want? The odds change over time, but the latest (i.e., 2016) annual study of availability by IdeaWorks Company and Switchfly suggests that Delta SkyMiles members are seeing significantly better odds this year, while availability declined on Alaska, United and especially American.

But among the U.S. carriers covered in the survey, Southwest’s award seat availability was head and shoulders above everyone else’s, with JetBlue running second.

The survey team made more than 7,000 queries during March for at least two roundtrip award seats on the websites of 25 airline loyalty programs worldwide. They requested travel on dates from June through October, looking for the lowest-priced (i.e. “saver style”) award seats.

Low-cost (or as the study team calls them, “value-oriented”) airlines dominated the results, as they have most years. Among U.S. carriers, the success rate for finding the desired seats was 100 percent on Southwest and 92.9 percent on JetBlue. For Southwest, that was the same as last year, while the JetBlue result showed a gain of 5.7 points. (In fact, Southwest was found to have at least three available flight choices for every query.)

As for other large U.S. carriers, the success rate on queries to Delta was 68.6 percent, an improvement of 10.7 points over the 2015 survey. The comparable rate on United was 72.1 percent, down 2.9 points. For Alaska it was 72.9 percent, down 7.1 points. And for American, the success rate was just 56.4 percent, a drop of 10.7 percent from 2015.

Virgin America was not included in the study.

awardseats2

The report noted that availability varies considerably based on the month of travel. For 2016, the best availability was in September (84.3 percent) and October (84.8 percent), while the worst was in July (53.1 percent). It also observed that long-haul rewards can be especially elusive in the summer months. “Some airlines radically reduce reward inventory for long-haul travel during June, July and August. This is often a major source of member frustration,” the report said.

Here’s a chart summarizing the results for long-haul flights:

awardchart

Readers: Is it getting easier to use you miles and points….or not? Please leave your comments below. 

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: United’s newest, longest flight + Tipping Uber drivers + Qantas 747 Trip Report + Confusion over PreCheck policies + No-fee earlier flights

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Popular: Uber tipping + New lie-flat seat + China contest + Delta spat + Denver train

Surge pricing benefits drivers and Uber but what about you? (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Tipping Uber drivers likely to become more common (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

News broke Friday regarding the controversial issue of whether or not to tip Uber drivers— something TravelSkills covered in a post and poll last month. From Bloomberg: “…Uber has agreed to notify customers more clearly that tips are not included in fares and give tacit approval for optional gratuity. Drivers can now solicit cash tips by asking passengers or posting signs in their vehicles…riders should start seeing gratuities as a major part of an Uber driver’s income. In other words, more like a cabbie….With this information, many riders will begin tipping their drivers, which will increase drivers’ pay substantially.” Check out the full story here…and see where TravelSkills was cited!

TravelSkills’ 10 most popular posts over the last week (descending order):

1 Who knew this would be such a hit? A new lie-flat seat on busy California corridor

2 Venomous Delta-Qatar Airways spat gets uglier

3 Entered yet? Tick-tock! Contest: 2 free United BusinessFirst tickets to China 西安Weekend Edition

4 Routes: AA, Alaska, United, Delta, Frontier, OneJet, JetSmarter

5 A great thing! Denver International Airport rail line opens

6 Date set for new United Club LAX: United progress + Delta move + Southwest + American

7 The little plane New California corridor small-jet service: $109 each way

8 Lyft surges. Taxis drop. And we love Delta, National and Hampton Inn

9 Timely Should I tip my Uber or Lyft driver? [Poll] (Check out the contro comments!)

10 Airports: Delta Sky Club re-do, Hotel at MSP, United Club CLE, JFK nap pods

In case you missed it: The Barclay is back in NYC plus other shiny new hotels! 

XIAN CONTEST! Thanks to all the eager TravelSkills readers who have submitted entries to our contest for two free United BusinessFirst tickets to Xian, China! We are busy reading thru hundreds of clever entries and look forward to announcing the lucky winner this week! Very exciting! Here’s your last chance to enter. 

Links to stories from other sources that we thought you’d like to read:

The new Hyatt House in Seattle sits in the shadow of the Sapce Needle. (Image: Hyatt)

The new Hyatt House in Seattle sits in the shadow of the Space Needle. (Image: Hyatt)

Hyatt joins other chains offering members-only discounts

Taxi trips in LA down 30% since arrival of Uber, Lyft

Airlines in court over recent multi-city fare shenanigans

Getting out of the dreaded middle seat

Hey Virgin America fans: JetBlue is after you

Time to give Lyft a try? (Use our link and get $50 in free ride credit!)

Kuwait to require DNA testing of all visitors

Delta is most reliable airline, but least economical

The console provides plenty of storage space both above and below- enough space for laptop and contents of pack or case (Chris McGinnis)

Aer Lingus’ new business class seat on an A330 (Chris McGinnis)

Popular AerLingus new business class now on B757s

The fine art of deciding which passengers to kick off a flight

Survey finds road warriors are generally happy with business travel

Twenty-one kinds of bad behavior at the airport

The U.S. is no longer the world’s biggest market for  business travel

New Istanbul airport is expected to be the world’s largest

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: United’s newest, longest flight + Tipping Uber drivers + Qantas 747 Trip Report + Confusion over PreCheck policies + No-fee earlier flights

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Americans love the air travel experience! Wait. What? [POLL]

Americans love to fly, a new survey finds. (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Americans love to fly, a new survey finds. (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

A new consumer survey finds that Americans love the air travel experience – they even love all those fees!

Really? Well, you need to consider the source: The survey was sponsored by Airlines for America (A4A), the airline industry’s trade organization. Hey — we just report; you decide. (Take our TravelSkills poll below)

A4A said its online survey of more than 3,000 consumers found that fully 80 percent of them “are satisfied or very satisfied with air travel.” Only six percent were somewhat dissatisfied or very dissatisfied, A4A said. That seems pretty low based on the mountain of complaints we get at TravelSkills, but we are probably lightning rods when it comes to complaints.

When queried about the old air fare system where most things were included in the price vs. the new “a la carte pricing” system where most things carry an extra fee, “two-thirds of travelers said they prefer to pay only for the items and services they want ‘so my ticket ends up being less expensive.’” Was that how they phrased the survey question? If so, it just goes to show how easily a pollster can get the results he or she wants.

It’s important to note that this was not a survey of business travelers but a broad cross-section of the public, and A4A said that only 45 percent of U.S. adults traveled by air in the past year (although 81 percent had done so sometime in their lives). The survey group covered all the demographic bases, and 86 percent of them said that price is the biggest single factor in their decision to fly instead of using another form of transportation or staying home.

By contrast, the majority (57 percent) of “road warriors” in the survey (i.e., those who fly 12 or more times a year) said their biggest concerns are comfort and inflight options such as seat outlets, wi-fi and entertainment, in addition to logistics – airline schedules and routes.

I'm originally from Atlanta and have flown Delta extensively for the last 25 years (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Fewer business travelers, more leisure travelers these days according to poll (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

The increasing affordability of air travel has indeed led to a sort of democratization of the skies, the survey found: Whereas business trips accounted for 47 percent of all air travel 20 years ago, A4A said, that number has now dropped to 31 percent. Everyone else is flying for personal or leisure purposes.

Apparently the survey didn’t give respondents a chance to evaluate the things they might not  like about the air travel experience. It provided no data about respondents’ opinions on seat size, service quality, airport lines and so on. Nor did it address the inevitable results of cramming a cross-section of society into cramped seats in a metal tube for a few hours: Google the term “air rage” and you’ll get more than 3.4 million search results. Or just bring up the topic at your next cocktail party and you’ll stir up plenty of prattle!

Consumer complaints to the Transportation Department about air travel jumped 34 percent last year, but FAA reauthorization legislation currently in the Senate tacked on only a few modest provisions to make life easier for travelers, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. More significant reforms, like defining acceptable seat dimensions and requiring airlines to justify all those fees, were rejected.

Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) commented: “I know there are some who think we should go further and re-regulate the airline industry, but we know deregulation has helped make air travel more accessible and more affordable for families and business travelers.” He sounded very much like an A4A press release.

Let’s take a TravelSkills poll and see how our view of the airline experience stacks up against the A4A  findings. How would you rate your satisfaction with airlines?

TravelSkills Poll

How would you rate your satisfaction with the current air travel experience?

View Results

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Be sure to click on the clear or grayed out “Vote” button

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NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: United’s newest, longest flight + Tipping Uber drivers + Qantas 747 Trip Report + Confusion over PreCheck policies + No-fee earlier flights

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Rental car rates are down. But why? [POLL]

The new car rental center at San Diego's airport opens January 20. (Image: San Diego International Airport)

The new car rental center at San Diego’s airport might not be as busy as expected (Image: San Diego International Airport)

Apparently, it’s not just cabbies getting clobbered by ride-sharing companies like Uber and Lyft. Today Hertz warned that weak demand for rental cars will cut its revenues for the first quarter by about 3 percent.

While that’s bad news for Hertz and other car rental companies, it’s good news for those of us who frequently rent cars. Why? Because when there are too many rental cars chasing too few travelers, prices decline.

While Hertz did not mention in its warning that ride-sharing alternatives such as Uber or Lyft are having an impact, the New York chattering classes did.

“I think this is a challenged group, all of which are dealing with Uber,” said CNBC’s vociferous Jim Cramer, adding “Their failure to acknowledge Uber shows their head is in the sand.”

“If by ‘excess capacity’ he means ‘Uber’ then, yes, we are in agreement.” – Jason Clampet, Skift

In recent years, the rental car industry has consolidated into just three primary giants (Hertz, Enterprise & Avis)– which you think would lead to higher prices, but that’s not happening. You’d also think that it would lead to higher stock prices, but Hertz’s price is down 55 percent over the last year. And it’s likely due to competition from the likes of Uber and Lyft. Or is it?

Question for TravelSkills readers: Is the availability of ride-sharing options like Uber/Lyft reducing your reliance on rental cars? Please take our poll: 

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NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: United’s newest, longest flight + Tipping Uber drivers + Qantas 747 Trip Report + Confusion over PreCheck policies + No-fee earlier flights

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Starwood surprise in latest JD Power survey

Hilton's new West Palm Beach hotel. Hilton tied for first place in rankings of guest loyalty programs. (Image: Hilton)

Hilton’s new West Palm Beach hotel. Hilton tied for first place in rankings of guest loyalty programs. (Image: Hilton)

J.D. Power and Associates has come out with the results of a new survey on hotel loyalty programs, and the results raise a new question about the upcoming acquisition of Starwood Hotels by Marriott.

That acquisition was approved by shareholders of both companies on Friday. In the run-up to the deal – which is on track to be finalized by midyear – Marriott executives cited the devotion of Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) loyalty members as one of the reasons they found Starwood such an attractive merger target.

But here’s the thing: In the new J.D. Power 2016 Hotel Loyalty/Rewards Program Satisfaction Report – based on a poll of more than 3,000 U.S. hotel program members – the SPG program’s score was way, way below Marriott’s, and well below the industry average of the 14 programs in the survey. In fact, it was almost at the bottom. (As it has been in previous years.)

Marriott Rewards tied with Hilton HHonors as the top-ranked programs, each with a score of 741 on J.D. Power’s 1,000-point scale. Also scoring above the industry average of 711 was InterContinental Hotel Group’s IHG Rewards at 722. And Starwood’s SPG? It ranked 13th out of 14 with a 674 score, just above last-place Red Roof Inns. Starwood didn’t fare much better in last year’s results either.

Here’s the full list for 2016:

jdpower2016hotelplan

In the case of Starwood, our best guess as to its low ranking is that SPG puts a lot of focus on keeping its elite level members happy, likely to the detriment of the much larger pool of non-elites. The JD Power survey polls all members– not just elites. Had it done a poll of hotel program elite members, I’m sure SPG would have placed much higher. And it seems to be SPG’s elite level members that are the most vocal when it comes to the Marriott/Starwood merger.

Loyalty programs are rated on a number of factors, including account management, ease of redeeming points/miles, ease of earning points/miles, variety of benefits, reward program terms and customer service.

Some 77 percent of survey respondents said they believe their preferred program is just as valuable as it was a year ago. The main reason that consumers select one program over another when they join, cited by 40 percent, is the convenience of that company’s hotel locations at the destinations where they travel.

Readers: What’s your take on loyalty programs? Do you agree with the J.D. Power survey findings?

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: United’s newest, longest flight + Tipping Uber drivers + Qantas 747 Trip Report + Confusion over PreCheck policies + No-fee earlier flights

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Airline seats & fees: time for federal regulations? (POLL)

Is it time for the government to regulate airlines' rising passenger fees and cramped seating? (Image: Jim Glab)

Is it time for the government to regulate airlines’ rising passenger fees and cramped seating? (Image: Jim Glab)

When Congress passed the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978, the idea was that except for matters of safety, airlines should be free to set their own pricing and service standards without government interference, and let the free market sort things out. But this week some legislators are responding to a growing chorus of consumer outrage by suggesting it might be time for government to stop a heavily consolidated airline industry from abusing passengers by slapping them with ever-higher fees and ever-shrinking personal space.

Congress this month is expected to act on a reauthorization bill for the Federal Aviation Administration, and some Senators are trying to use that as a vehicle for change, introducing amendments to protect consumers from further airline abuse.

First, Democratic Senators Richard Blumenthal (Conn.) and Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) introduced an amendment that would require the FAA to set minimum measurements for airline seating and seat pitch. Blumenthal said the “incredible shrinking airline seat” could pose “a serious threat to the health and safety of passengers,” not only from the dangers of things like blood clots forming in their legs, but also by inhibiting speedy exits in case of emergencies.

That was followed by Blumenthal and Sen. Edward Markey (D.-Mass.) proposing a bill that would bar airlines from assessing passenger fees that are “not reasonable or proportional to the cost of the service.” They cited the growing number and rising levels of “ancillary fees” that have sprung up in recent years, for things like checked bags, itinerary changes and many other amenities and services. The bill’s proposal would be similar in concept to last year’s order from the Transportation Department that airlines assessing fuel surcharges must show a direct relationship between those fee levels and the cost of fuel.

Of course, the airlines are screaming bloody murder about the prospect of any new regulations like the ones above, arguing that they would simply raise the cost of air travel and make it unaffordable for many people.

But consumer groups contend that in order for competition to act as an effective regulator of the airlines, there must be enough competitors to make it work – and that might not be the case following the industry’s rapid consolidation in recent years.

TravelSkills POLL

When it comes to airline seating and/or ancillary fees:

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NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about:  Should I tip my Uber driver? + Boeing 747 nearing its end? + Bargain hunters travel guide for 2016 + World’s best airline lounge? + Fares to Europe tumble 

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What did Marriott say about the Starwood merger?

The view from my room at the JW Marriott LA Live, Los Angeles (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

The view from my room at the JW Marriott LA Live, Los Angeles (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

As you may recall from the recent TravelSkills post/poll about the pending Marriott-Starwood merger, we attended a meeting in Los Angeles with Marriott’s top loyalty executives last week.

We were hoping to get an earful of what members of the Starwood Preferred Guest and Marriott Rewards programs have in store this year. But we learned from the outset that execs are legally bound from talking specifics with us (or each other) until shareholders at both Marriott and Starwood vote on the merger in late March.

But I did my best to read the tea leaves and make some guesses about what’s coming.

First off, the title of this meeting was “The Future Of Loyalty Forum” and there were about 15 travel writers/bloggers/influencers attending along with 5-6 Marriott executives, most notably Thom Kozik, Marriott’s new VP, Loyalty. There was no one from Starwood in attendance.

Thom Kozik, Marriott's new VP, Loyalty

Thom Kozik, Marriott’s new VP, Loyalty

The meeting was held at the JW Marriott at LA Live in downtown Los Angeles. Upon arrival, the group attended a nice networking dinner at Wolfgang Puck’s glitzy WP24 restaurant on the top floor of the neighboring Ritz-Carlton. The following morning, the forum ran for about 3-4 hours and included lunch on the hotel’s pool deck, in unusual 85-degree winter heat. Then we all went home.

The most important thing I picked up at this meeting was that Marriott is making an effort to listen. They know that they have a beast on their hands when it comes to marrying the two popular loyalty programs. They know that SPG members are anxious (and angry) about any messing around with their cherished program. Given the heated political environment, I could not help but think that Marriott was taking a page from the Hillary Clinton campaign, and embarking on a “listening tour.” First step: listen to what influencers in the business travel and loyalty space have to say. Then, I imagine, there will be well-orchestrated efforts to listen to what program members have to say– in similar meetings, or in a wave of surveys.

Another point I picked up is that Marriott is not going to try and ram its program down the throats of SPG members. Based on the tenor of the meeting, I think Marriott plans to re-engineer its Rewards program as it absorbs Starwood, and is open to new ideas, whether they be from Starwood or elsewhere.

Kozik, who has only been on the job for just over a year, clearly knows he has a big task ahead. He was quick to point out to the group that he’s an outsider– he has had a multidimensional career in promoting internet and gaming brands including Microsoft and Yahoo. He’s not ever worked in the hotel, or even the loyalty business, which should make him even more open to new ideas.

Marriott's Future of Loyalty Forum at LA Live (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Thom Kozik, VP Loyalty, speaking at Marriott’s Future of Loyalty Forum at LA Live (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

He used the following experience to illustrate his openness to change– and the possibility of Marriott expanding the reach of its loyalty program beyond the focus on registered guests: In his previous jobs, Kozik said he patronized the Ritz-Carlton Marina Del Rey all the time– it was where he frequently had his morning coffee, and almost always entertained clients. Staff there knew him by name, took good care of him when he arrived, and over the course of a year or two he estimated that he spent over $10,000. But since he lived nearby and was not a guest at the hotel, his loyalty was never recognized. Bingo! So that’s one change we might see in a new Marriott Rewards program: The opportunity to earn loyalty points whenever we interact with a Marriott brand, and not just when we’re registered guests.

He spoke about the tests Marriott recently carried out by installing “beacons” at various places hotels to beam messages to members’ mobile phones. For example, a beacon at the hotel bar could alert you to a happy hour special when you walk by. It could let you know that there’s availability at the spa. But Kozik said that based on feedback from its trials, the most highly rated feature of the beacon experiment was that guests received a greeting from the hotel each time they entered the front door. It was the recognition more than anything else that guests liked. Bingo again: you can expect more use of technology as a means to recognize you as a member of the new loyalty program.

Kozik has also been looking at how members interact with its brands on the Marriott Rewards Insiders site, an online forum where members can learn about new promotions and exchange information– and earn points for it. He said that about 70 percent of posts on the site were about “exploits” or ways in which members maximize the value of their points. But he said that the remaining 30 percent are related to members asking other members for local area information– you know, posts like “Hey I’m staying at the JW Marriott at LA Live next week. What’s the best place to get real Mexican food nearby?” Kozik liked that– So I bet we’ll see more focus ways to exchange local information (and maybe get rewarded for it) in a future program.

Marriott Rewards Insiders landing page

Marriott Rewards Insiders landing page

Another thing Kozik thinks hotels could do better: Asking for flight information during the hotel reservation process. He noted that car rental companies always ask for flight arrival info, but most hotels do not. He thought this would be a good way to impress guests, and prevent hotels from giving away rooms of guests experiencing flight delays.

Forum organizers also set up an interactive session where bloggers and other experts could brainstorm ways in which hotels could better reward their best guests. One of the ideas from our group that Marriott seemed to like was a program to recognize families at home when members are gone for extended periods of time. They also liked the idea of inviting members who frequent specific cities to test and evaluate new Marriott brands– for example, someone who stays several nights a year a the Marriott Marquis in New York might be asked to stay over in a brand new Marriott hotel elsewhere in the city and provide feedback before it opens to the general public.

At the close of the meeting, organizers promised more forums like this one, and of course we were all most interested in the one that will occur after the merger closes and we can get down to brass tacks to find out what the new megabrand has in store for members. Kozik told me, “Maybe at the next meeting I’ll be standing here with Chris Holdren [Starwood’s head of the SPG program].

But until then, it’s good to know that Marriott is listening. Stay tuned…

Here’s a look at the poll results from last week’s post:

Overall, how do you feel about the Marriott/Starwood merger? Is it a good thing or not? Let’s ask a basic question:

Right now, what is your overall feeling about the Marriott-Starwood merger?

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NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about:  Should I tip my Uber driver? + Boeing 747 nearing its end? + Bargain hunters travel guide for 2016 + World’s best airline lounge? + Fares to Europe tumble 

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How would YOU merge Starwood & Marriott? [Poll]

What in the world is Marriott going to do with W Hotels? (Photo W Singapore by Chris McGinnis)

What in the world is Marriott going to do with W Hotels? (Photo W Singapore by Chris McGinnis)

Late last year Marriott surprised nearly everyone when it announced that it would acquire Starwood to become the world’s largest hotel chain. It’s not a “done deal” yet, but seems to be moving in that direction. (NOTE: Be sure to take our one-question poll below!)

Since the announcement, there has been a lot of teeth-gnashing and hand-wringing over what this will mean for members of both chains popular frequent stay programs. Marriott Rewards members generally seem okay with it, but loyal Starwood Preferred Guest members (especially elite members) are worried about erosion of the benefits they’ve come to love.

Marriott has been pretty mum on the subject, but this week its CEO Arne Sorenson told CNBC, “We’ve heard from SPG members loud and clear when they say ‘tell me I’ll be okay.” He continued: “You’ll be okay. I want to make sure we continue to earn that loyalty.” Regarding their respective loyalty programs, Sorensen told Forbes, “They are both extraordinarily powerful programs, and we will make them more powerful and relevant,” but offered few other specifics.

But…Marriott invited TravelSkills editor Chris McGinnis to a forum this week in LA to discuss what all this will mean for frequent travelers, so stay tuned for our report on that!

Anyway, the merger announcement has also prompted a lot a speculation about what Marriott is going to do with all those famous brands that Starwood has hatched over the years. Will they be absorbed by Marriott brands, or will Marriott allow them to maintain their identities as part of the Marriott family? If so, which brands survive, and which ones die? Would it make sense to combine two or three brands into one?

Overall, how do you feel about the Marriott/Starwood merger? Is it a good thing or not? Let’s ask a basic question:

Right now, what is your overall feeling about the Marriott-Starwood merger?

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To get a conversation started, here are some ideas we’ve tossed around recently among friends and and TravelSkills readers– do you agree or disagree?

Starwood's new St. Regis Dubai is modeled after the New York St. Regis. (Image: Starwood)

Could this St Regis in Dubai become a Ritz-Carlton? (Image: Starwood)

Westin and Sheraton could easily become standard Marriott properties. While it might seem crazy to dump those two famous brand names, it’s difficult to see how they’d survive in the Marriott family. Could a few become JW Marriotts?

Contemporary W Hotels, on the other hand, might survive the merger, and perhaps bring in the upscale Renaissance or Le Meridien brands which have struggled to capture the hearts and minds frequent travelers.

When combining on the upper end, which brand should survive: Ritz-Carlton or St Regis? Both names are iconic, but the hotels and service are not really that much different. Would it be better to have one or two brands at the top?

Are you signed up for the TravelSkills.com blog? Why not? Do it right now and don’t miss out.

And what about all those “limited service brands” that will collide in the merger, such as Courtyard, Aloft, Residence Inn and Four Points? One Starwood survivor could be Aloft, which proved almost immediately popular and could absorb and modernize other similar Marriott brands.

And what about the handful of new brands that most travelers don’t really know yet, such as Marriott’s Moxy or AC Hotels… or Starwood’s Element or Tribute brands?

And then there’s the hotly contested question of how to combine Marriott Rewards and Starwood Preferred Guest? Assuming Marriott Rewards is the surviving entity, what features of the popular SPG program should be preserved? And what about the future of the super-popular American Express/SPG credit card? Hmmm. Lot’s to think about…

How would you rearrange or recombine this “Brady Bunch” of brands? Please leave your comments below! 

To help get this conversation started, here’s a list of Marriott and Starwood brands for your reference.

Marriott brands (19):

  • AC Hotels
  • Autograph Collection
  • Bulgari
  • Courtyard
  • Delta
  • EDITION
  • Fairfield Inn & Suites
  • Gaylord Hotels
  • JW Marriott
  • Marriott
  • Marriott Executive Apartments
  • Marriott Vacation Club
  • Moxy
  • Protea Hotels
  • Renaissance
  • Residence Inn
  • Ritz-Carlton
  • Towneplace Suites
  • Springhill Suites

Starwood Brands (11): 

  • Aloft
  • Design Hotels
  • Element
  • Four Points
  • Le Meridien
  • Sheraton
  • St Regis
  • The Luxury Collection
  • Tribute Portfolio
  • W Hotels
  • Westin

How would you rearrange or recombine this “Brady Bunch” of brands? Please leave your suggestions & comments below! We’ll share them with Marriott execs later this week. 

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NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about:  Should I tip my Uber driver? + Boeing 747 nearing its end? + Bargain hunters travel guide for 2016 + World’s best airline lounge? + Fares to Europe tumble 

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Should I tip my Uber or Lyft driver? [Poll]

Is your inclination to tip drivers changing? (Photo: Uber)

Is your inclination to tip drivers changing? (Photo: Uber)

Last week I received an earful of anger from an UberX driver about how recent discounting by the ridesharing app is translating to less money for its drivers.

He complained about how expensive it is to operate a car in San Francisco and that his costs are going up at a time when his revenues are going down. He said he thought that Uber “wants all its drivers to end up homeless” or “put Lyft out of business” and that he supported the various driver protests taking place in San Francisco during Super Bowl week.

Since I had accepted his ride at 1.6x surge I asked, “Well it seems I’m paying Uber surge pricing a lot more these days, don’t you guys make more when a surge is in effect? And aren’t you paying less for gas these days?”

He said something like, “Yes, we make more during surge, but it’s not enough to counteract the losses during non-surge, which is most of the time.” He did not respond to my question about lower gas prices.

His diatribe went on for nearly the length of my 20-minute ride across town. When I got out of the car, I thought to myself, “Jeez this guy needs to find another job.”

I also wondered if perhaps he was gunning for a tip.

I did not tip him, but it made me wonder… should I be tipping my Uber drivers these days?

When Uber first cranked up five years ago, one of the hallmarks of the new service was that it was cashless… there’s nothing to do at the end of the ride except to say “thanks” and “goodbye.” It was my understanding that the tip was built into the rate and that the the tip would be taken care of by Uber.

What about you? Please take our TravelSkills poll at the bottom of this post!

But that understanding and ease is starting to erode. I’ve asked around have found that, at least anecdotally,  a lot of folks are now tipping their Uber drivers with cash. I get emails from Uber drivers asking me to encourage users to start tipping more. As a matter of fact, I did a quick Twitter poll this week and found that about 30% of my followers regularly tip Uber or Lyft drivers. And with UberX saving me so much on rides these days, I wouldn’t mind tossing in a tip from time to time.

But should I?

Image: Lyft

Add a tip after riding Image: Lyft

Uber’s FAQs clearly discourage tipping, stating, “You don’t need cash when you ride with Uber. Once you arrive at your destination, your fare is automatically charged to your credit card on file — there’s no need to tip.” So if you do want to tip your driver, you have to do it with cash– which can be unwieldy and time consuming and awkward if you don’t have the right change. (Update: UberTAXI does allow users to leave tips)

On the other hand, Lyft, which I have started to use a lot more frequently, encourages tipping, but only after the ride. When you get your receipt, it asks if you’d like to tip your driver. It even offers a “how to tip your driver” page on its website. Nonetheless, when I ask my friends if they tip on Lyft…or ask my Lyft drivers how often they get tips, it sounds somewhat rare.

On FlyWheel, the taxi industry’s new mobile platform, “You can adjust the tip amount (percentage) at any point during your ride or up to 5 minutes after. The tip is automatically applied and charged to your card along with the metered fare and $1 service fee. On average, most passengers leave a 20% tip so that’s where we set the default amount.”

So, in the end, even though that Uber driver irritated me with his complaining, he made me re-assess my tipping practices when it comes to ride-sharing. So starting now, if I have a few extra bills or a $5, I’ll offer it to a good Uber driver. And I will regularly say “yes” when Lyft asks me for a tip. And as always, I’ll tip my taxi driver with cash, or via FlyWheel.

What about you? Please take our TravelSkills poll or leave your comments below. 

Do you regularly tip your Uber or Lyft driver?

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Update: Check out this online forum of Uber drivers under the headline “Gratuity”

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Top 20 most livable cities: Good places to travel?

Santa Barbara made the top five in a ranking of 100 best smaller cities to live in. (Image: Jim Glab)

Santa Barbara made the top five in a ranking of the 100 best smaller cities to live in. (Image: Jim Glab)

Are you looking for a nice place to hang out before or after a business trip? Or maybe you’ve recently visited a city and thought, “Hmm, I could live here!” 

The website Livability.com has just come out with its third annual ranking of the 100 best small to mid-sized cities in the U.S. It looked at more than 2,000 cities with populations ranging from 20,000 to 350,000, analyzing a variety of lifestyle factors including the local economy, housing, education, public amenities, health care, demographics, transportation and infrastructure, among others.

The study ranked Rochester, Minnesota in the number one spot, up from number two last year and number seven the previous year. The home of the world-famous Mayo Clinic, Rochester also scored big for its range of affordable housing, its educational opportunities, and its civic engagement. It’s located about an hour and an half southeast of Minneapolis. Rochester is probably a great place for a family, but I’m not sure it would be on the top of my travel bucket list!

Just outside Seattle, the techie, new suburb of Bellevue, Washington (hometown of the like of Microsoft or Expedia) took the second spot this year, mainly for its many outdoor recreation options; its cultural activities and restaurants; and its schools. When I was working with Expedia, I spend a lot of time in Bellevue, and it was indeed one of those places where I thought, “Gee, I could live here!” (at least when the sun was out).

Ranking third was Madison, Wisconsin — the state capital and the home of the University of Wisconsin, cited for its top-rated school system, its strong economy, effective health-care systems and cultural activities tied to the university. I’ve never been to Madison, but know a ton of folks who went to school there, and love the place. So it’s in the bucket list!

Top 20 mid-sized Cities for Livabililty CLICK for full report

Top 20 mid-sized Cities for Livability CLICK for report of the top 100

In fourth place this year is Santa Barbara, California; if you’ve ever visited there, you need no further explanation of its abundant attractions — seaside location and beaches, mountains in the background, perfect climate and more. (If Oprah likes it, I like it! And I would love to visit anytime, or move there.)

And rounding out the top five was Boulder, Colorado — a city that appears on all kinds of top-10 lifestyle rankings. Google knows about Boulder’s charms and will soon open a large campus there. Boulder’s outdoor activities — hiking, cycling, water sports and more — are supplemented by a highly educated population, the University of Colorado, a great restaurant scene, and the Flatirons as a scenic backdrop. Having spent five of my tender young years at the University of Colorado, I hold a special place in my heart for Boulder, and try to go back at least once every year or so. If I were not living in San Francisco, I’d probably be in Boulder.

If you could drop everything and move to one of these top 20 cities, which would it be? Which one(s) have you or would you most like to visit? 

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: Surviving San Francisco + Photos: New United first class seat + Save money on calls from other countries + 6 secrets for snagging low fares

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Marriott’s new “free” wi-fi: Is it fast enough? [POLL]

Marriott wifi

Today Marriott announced that it would offer free wi-fi to all Rewards members at all its brands, worldwide, including Ritz-Carlton, starting in January. That’s 42 million members getting free wi-fi at more than 3,800 hotels around the world. That’s huge!

Or is it? (See poll below)

Dig into Marriott’s release about the plan, and you’ll see that the free wi-fi is the “standard” or basic version- at many hotels that’s only fast enough for a quick check of email or flight status. Plus, to get free wi-fi you have to book directly with Marriott.com or with a hotel– travel agency or other third party bookings won’t qualify.

Have you ever tried to do anything else with the basic version of wi-fi at Marriott or any other hotel? To me, basic wi-fi is now basically useless given today’s much bigger bandwidth requirements. But hey, it’s better than paying $16.95 for a crappy connection, right? (PLEASE TAKE POLL BELOW)

How do you feel about "basic" hotel wi-fi?

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Some good news: Marriott is giving free “enhanced” wi-fi to its elite Platinum and Gold Rewards members. If that’s not you, you’ll have to pay up for the fatter pipes.

Helpful: Choose your hotel based on its wi-fi speed

In any case, Marriott’s announcement is more evidence that it pays off to join nearly every hotel loyalty program at at least the basic level. Marriott joins other brands like IHG,  Kimpton and Fairmont in offering free wi-fi– but only to registered members of their loyalty programs. Best Western was the first chain to offer free wi-fi at all its hotels way back in 2004.

Bonus: How to get 50,000 Marriott Rewards points

Tell us what you think about Marriott’s big move…and what you think about “tiered” hotel wi-fi speeds. >PLEASE scroll up and take our poll!< 

>>Take a peek at what you may have missed on TravelSkills.com this week! <<

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Delta raises bar for Medallions + More LAX flights + Ebola poll results + Delta back in Love

This is part one of this weekend’s Catching Up on Travel News (part 2 comes tomorrow)

AIRLINES

Delta keeps making moves to improve the ride for it's customers with deepest pockets.

Delta keeps making moves to improve the ride for it’s customers with deepest pockets. (Photo: Jim Glab)

Delta tightens SkyMiles rules — again. Will United? In the latest tweak to its ever-changing SkyMiles program, Delta is increasing by 20 percent the minimum spend required during 2015 to achieve 2016 Medallion status — e.g., Medallion Qualifying Dollar requirements go from $2,500 to $3,000 for Silver status and so on, up to $15,000 for Diamond from the current $12,500. Delta says it is upping the ante to increase exclusivity of higher status– much like it’s done with more restrictions on guests allowed in Sky Clubs to control crowding. And keep an eye on United, which in keeping with it’s WWDD (What Would Delta Do) policy of mimicking every Delta move, could impose similar higher spending requirements. Is it working to make the experience more exclusive? We frequently hear from both sides of this issue, so please leave your comments below.

Another Delta squeeze. In another change, Delta will downgrade its Basic Economy fares (E fares). Effective February 15, passengers on those low-cost fares (typically on fares where the carrier competes with the likes of Spirit or Frontier) will not be able to get free Medallion upgrades, paid upgrades or advance seat selection; no refunds, changes or same-day standbys are allowed; and Preferred and Economy Comfort seats are off-limits.

Delta gets more time at DAL. Instead of being forced out of Dallas Love Field on October 13 as reported earlier, Delta will now get a reprieve at least until January 6 to keep operating its five daily DAL-ATL flights. What changed? Southwest Airlines — which controls 16 of DAL’s 20 gates — agreed to let Delta use one of them for a few months, and United anted up ticket counter space as well. Delta has been subleasing two gates from American Airlines, but those will be transferred to Virgin America this week.

An American Airlines B737-800 will soon fly ATL-LAX (Photo: BriYYZ / Flickr)

An American Airlines B737-800 will soon fly ATL-LAX (Photo: BriYYZ / Flickr)

American adds another key ATL route. A week ago, American revealed plans to revive LaGuardia-Atlanta service on January 6. And now AA announced another stab at the heart of Delta’s network: It will begin three flights a day between Atlanta and its Los Angeles International hub on March 5, and is already taking reservations. LAX-ATL will be a mainline AA route, operated with 737-800s. So for those of you who say you are ready to dump Delta for a carrier that (so far) has not made the move toward revenue-based frequent flyer rewards, you now have more options.

Ebola fears in check. Based on our recent Ebola Fear Poll and post, it sounds like frequent travelers are not too alarmed about the possibility of contracting Ebola. With nearly 500 votes from TravelSkills readers in so far, 68% say that they are not fearful about Ebola, 22% say they are somewhat fearful and just 10% say that they are very fearful. Have you participated in the poll? In case you missed it, here’s one of the most viral travel videos this week showing hazmat crews entering a plane where a passenger joked about having ebola. VIDEO

How fearful are you of the possibility of contracting ebola?

View Results

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(click on the vote button or the clear looking button to cast your vote)

wipesSpeaking of germs, we got a kick out of this email from TravelSkills reader MM about a recent flight where she was seated next to one of the 10% who are very fearful of Ebola: Dear Chris: I had to share an inflight experience I had tonight traveling from DFW to the ATL.  So I am seated on a three seat row, when a passenger seated beside me (I was stuck in the middle seat) gets to her aisle seat to settle in. I said a quick hello and continued looking at my phone.  She then began to pluck what I appeared to be antibacterial wipes from a container…they were ALCOHOL wipes—big ones!!  She proceeded to stand up and wipe down her entire seat…every inch…seat belt included..straps too.  Then she wiped down her tray table, light and ac controls, arm rests…the whole kit-kat and caboodle!  By this time, I am having flashbacks to having my ears pierced in seventh grade at Rich’s department store where they doused you in alcohol.  Then she neatly sat down.  There were so many fumes that I felt like I needed the pull down the oxygen mask before take off!  This is what happens when the fear of germs affects the quality of flight I thought to myself. Then I smiled and thought…I couldn’t wait to email TravelSkills about this!  I am anti-germy myself but keep my hand sanitizer neatly tucked away.  This woman was ready to do battle with bacteria!  Oh, the stories that will emerge from all this…”

HOTELS

Marriott's new wireless charger

Marriott’s new Kube wireless charger

Marriott tries a new tech amenity. if you see an odd black box in a Marriott lobby, don’t hesitate to put your phone on it — that’s what it’s for. Marriott installed Kube Systems wireless charging stations in the lobbies of 29 hotels, acting on a suggestion from customers at its idea website, www.TravelBrilliantly.com. Besides the wireless charging surface, the boxes have built-in connectors to power up to six devices.

In Case You Missed It…

>Looks like a major renovation is in store for New York’s iconic Waldorf-Astoria following its sale by Hilton to a Chinese insurance company for nearly $2 billion.

>Airline lounge memberships: Why they’re not for everyone.

>Try these tips for catching some Zs in your hotel room.

>Eight essential tips for business trips to San Francisco.

>>Take a peek at what you may have missed on TravelSkills.com this week! <<

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Peak summer + United TP mess + SFO’s best food + Virgin at SJC

PRICEY SUMMER. This is expected to be the busiest summer travel season since before the recession of 2008. The peak of the peak summer travel season, which runs from roughly June 21 through August 10 this year, is now upon us. Summer got off to a slow start at SFO this week, with the rainy weather resulting in ground stops and delays of up to 2-3 hours, while Oakland and San Jose Airports were operating normally.  Airlines say that the busiest days of this summer will be Thursdays and Fridays, so avoid those if you can. Since this is THE most expensive, most crowded time of year to travel, try to postpone trips until late August if you can, and you may get through this summer with your wallet and sanity intact. (Check out the above video, which is part of a summer travel project I’ve been working on with the Chase Sapphire Preferred card.)

United flight attendants improvisation when toilet paper ran low. (Credit: Unknown)

United flight attendants improvised when toilet paper ran low on an London-SFO flight (Credit: Unknown)

UNUSUAL TP ON UNITED? By now you’ve likely heard about United flight 931 from London to San Francisco that somehow took off… without enough toilet paper. United uses a 747-400 on the 10-hour daylight flight from Heathrow, which has nine lavatories. Over the last week, the story has gone viral. A quick Google news search using “United Toilet Paper” shows at least 28 stories have run so far.While it appears that the Bay Area’s KGO Channel 7 scooped this story locally (which was originally posted on FlyerTalk), here’s our favorite take on it, from the Daily Beast: “Is it us, or does flying keep getting crappier? Every airline seems to be cutting back on something, but United took it to a whole new level by taking off for a ten-hour flight without [enough] toilet paper on board. Some quick thinking flight attendants stocked the bathrooms with cocktail napkins, but the effort didn’t sit well with passengers. In a statement, United said, ‘We apologize to our customers on this flight for the inconvenience and would like the opportunity to welcome them back.’” Another good headline from USA Today: “United is wiping up after a customer service mess.” CNN confirmed that the lavatories lacking TP were in the coach section, not in business or first class. Thoughts please! Leave them below in the comments section. 

Precheck logo TMPRE-CHECK AT SFO TERMINAL 1. The TSA’s super-popular PreCheck lanes are coming to Delta’s gate area at SFO’s Terminal 1, boarding area C, by mid-July according to SFO spokesman Doug Yakel. This means that PreCheck will now have lanes in all three domestic terminals at SFO; however, PreCheck will NOT have a lane in Terminal 1, boarding area B used primarily by United Express, Southwest and US Airways. PreCheck is one part of the No Hassle Travel Trifecta that every frequent traveler in the Bay Area should be a part of!

BEST FOOD AT SFO?. One of our favorite foodie blogs, Eater SF, recently chose the top 5 dining standouts at SFO. Do you agree with the following assessment? What’s your favorite place to grab a meal at SFO?

  1. Piq.  Italian influenced café and bakery in Terminal 1
  2. Ebisu. Hard-core sushi in the International Terminal G-side (United side).
  3. Burger Joint. Above average burgers in Terminal 2
  4. Yankee Pier. Good ole standby seafood house located near security lanes in United’s Terminal 3
  5. Cat Cora’s Kitchen. Upscale comfort food (like lobster mac and cheese) in Terminal 2

SUMMER DEALS TO ASIA. Singapore Airlines launched an interesting “Early Bird” sale for late summer and early fall travel this month. Every week, it puts a new Asian destination on sale. It started out with Singapore at $999 round trip, and has followed with Thailand and Vietnam at $1100 round trip. You must book tickets by June 29th and travel between August 18 and November 15. Singapore Air also posts last minute deals for trips as soon as July 16 to its stopover cities (Hong Kong and Seoul) for $784 to $964 roundtrip. (Fares are “all in”– including all taxes and fees.) These deals are not bad considering a roundtrip nonstops from SFO to Europe are in the $1,500 range for late August trips.

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TAKE BART TO THE AIRPORT? You may want to start thinking about alternatives starting next week as a strike looms. SFgate reports: “With a BART strike appearing increasingly possible, Bay Area transportation officials are urging commuters to start planning for the gridlock and chaos that could be unleashed on Monday morning. Labor agreements with BART and its five unions expire at midnight Sunday.”

WILL YOU MAKE PREMIER? Based on our recent poll, TravelSkills reader are split regarding the impact of United’s recently announced spending thresholds for Premier status. Over half of you (57%) said that you’ll be able to maintain status (easily or just barely) while 43% said that you would not be able to meet the new spending requirements. See the poll (and vote!) here.

VIRGIN WINNING SJC-LAX. Remember when Virgin America announced that it would enter the San Jose-Los Angeles market with new nonstops on May 1? As soon as Virgin made that move, other airlines pounced, adding new service or beefing up existing flights, making the route one of the most competitive in the country with multiple daily flights from Alaska, American, Delta, Southwest and Virgin. At a recent Bay Area/Silicon Valley Business Travel Association meeting, John MacLeod, Virgin’s SVP Planning & Sales, told TravelSkills that according to ARC data (which does not include Southwest), Virgin already has the highest share of passengers on the route. However, MacLeod is not resting easy, adding, “Despite our low costs we’ll need it to be even higher to make a profit on the route. It’s very competitive.” Where’s all the biz coming from? MacLeod says that more Silicon Valley travelers than expected are driving to San Jose International and then flying Virgin to LAX to connect to transcon flights instead of facing the traffic-clogged 101 north to SFO.

United employees in new duds (Photo: United Airlines)

United employees in new duds (Photo: United Airlines)

NEW DUDS FOR UNITED. United employees will don new uniforms today. Here’s how a United press release describes them: Flight Attendants: The uniform includes a core wardrobe of black trousers, skirts, sweaters, vests and blazers with two rows of silver braid on the sleeves. Female flight attendants will also wear sweaters, vests, short sleeve jackets and two styles of dresses, including a signature blue dress with a black stripe detail. Outerwear for male and female flight attendants includes a black all-season coat and an optional gray double-breasted wool coat. Customer Service Agents: The uniform includes a wardrobe of black blazers, trousers, sweaters, vests and skirts. Agents will also wear colored shirts and distinctive neckwear that vary depending on their job responsibilities. What do you think? Please leave your comments below. 

NEW PLANES FOR UNITED. At the Paris Air Show earlier this month, United announced that it would order 35 of a “stretch” version of the new Airbus A350, the 350-seat Airbus A350-1000. A350s are new super-efficient composite aircraft introduced to compete with Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner. Deliveries of the new plane will not begin until 2018. United already has 65 Dreamliners in the pipeline—20 of which will be the newer, larger 787-10 stretch version. All of these new planes will be used for long-haul international flying.

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NO MORE RENO-OAKLAND. Southwest Airlines is eliminating its 2x daily nonstops between Reno and Oakland this month due to lack of interest. However, you can still fly to Reno from San Jose (on Alaska) and SFO (on United).

The apple-sized Beacon Phoenix wireless speaker in my NYC hotel room (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

The apple-sized Beacon Phoenix wireless speaker in my NYC hotel room (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

PORTABLE BLUETOOTH SPEAKERS. Last month Beacon Audio sent me one of their new, fist-sized, Phoenix Bluetooth speakers ($49-$99 depending on where you buy it) for a test drive. I’m no audiophile, but this tough, rubberized, rechargeable and travel-friendly speaker packs a wallop of sound that’s great for jamming on iTunes in the hotel shower—it also adds a deeper dimension to watching videos on my iPad. I plan on bringing it to the beach later this summer. Do you pack a portable speaker for your listening pleasure when on the road? What’s your speaker of choice? Why? Please leave your comments below.

MORE MEGA-MILE BONUSES. Remember when I wrote about Rocketmiles and Pointshound—two new hotel booking sites that offer mega-mileage bonuses at select hotels? Well both have some out with news this month. First, Rocketmiles has teamed up with Virgin America, and is offering Elevate elites a big 5,000-point bonus for the first hotel booking; regular members get a 3,000-point bonus. Details on the bonus here. Pointshound is offering a 500-point bonus on Virgin America, United and several other carriers, but only for bookings made by the end of June. (Note: We have posted affiliate links to these sites and earn bonus points, too, when readers book trips. So help us out!)

United's new half bottles of wine. Would you?

United’s new half bottles of wine. Would you?

BIG JUGS ON UNITED. Have you seen the new 375 ml half bottles of wine that United is serving on p.s. flights? Each bottle (2.5 glasses) costs $15.99. Currently on offer: Meiomi Pinot Noir 2011 or St Supery Sauvignon Blanc 2012. Both rate 91+ on Wine Spectator. In a related story, Spirit Air is now selling canned wine onboard—in white or strawberry moscato at $7 per can. The press release says, “This new category is defined by delectable wine products in a convenient, environmentally-friendly container with six percent alcohol content.

NEW STAR ALLIANCE PARTNER. Taipei-based EVA Air has officially joined Star Alliance, which means you can earn and burn United miles, albeit at reduced levels, when flying on EVA’s Boeing 777 SFO-TPE nonstops. United’s planned nonstops between SFO and TPE, which were to have cranked up this past April, have been shelved until (at least) next March.

EMIRATES A380 TO LAX. SFO? Emirates announced last month that it would begin flying a double-decker, 489-seat, Airbus A380 between Los Angeles and Dubai starting December 2. As soon as I heard that, I wanted to know when it might bring the big bird in to replace the current B777s on SFO-DXB, but received the following non-committal answer from Emirates PR reps, “Emirates has not announced plans to bring the A380 into any additional US destinations but continues to review destinations as more A380s are delivered. Emirates, the largest A380 operator in the world, has 34 A380s in service and an additional 56 A380s on order; receiving one A380 delivery per month, on average.” While having an Emirates A380 at SFO would be great, keep in mind that the behemoth with have to dock at the far end of the international terminal, which would mean elimination of allowing business and first class passengers to board the plane directly from SFO’s enormous 9,500 sq ft Emirates lounge (which is located in the middle, not the end of the terminal).

—Chris McGinnis

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Mileage Plus ranking + new 787 @ SFO + PreCheck + Airport standoff

In This Issue: New 787 Dreamliner flight at SFO, Mileage Plus ranks highly, Sour Milk, SFO Airport Tiff, Virgin America loss, Tito’s vodka, dream of a new Terminal 1 at SFO. Sorry for the recent lag in updates! Let’s catch up on Bay Area Travel news right now>>>

A Japan Airlines 787 Dreamliner at San Diego Int'l Airport.

A Japan Airlines 787 Dreamliner at San Diego Int’l Airport– soon at SFO!

MORE 787 DREAMLINERS.  Starting September 1, Japan Airlines will fly a new Boeing 787 Dreamliner between SFO and Tokyo’s close-in Haneda Airport, replacing the current B777 service. ANA will re-start Boeing 787 flights between San Jose and Tokyo-Narita on June 1. (Did you see the slideshow from my ANA flight from SJC to Tokyo?) Currently, United has no plans to fly Dreamliners from SFO.

UNITED EASIEST TO REDEEM. Among major legacy carriers, United ranks highest when it comes to redeeming awards online, according to a survey by Ideaworks. The report says that United had award seats available 80% of the time. By comparison, American had award seats available only 49% of the time. Delta and US Airways are the most parsimonious with awards, with seats available only 36% of the time. Only AirTran/Southwest and JetBlue ranked higher than United. Full report here.

VIRGIN AMERICA NARROWS LOSS. Our hometown carrier is still struggling to climb into the black, even as many of its competitors are showing relatively healthy and consistent profits (except United). In the first quarter of this year, Virgin America lost $46 million, which is not good. But it’s better than the loss of $76 million during the same period a year ago. It’s expanding, too, adding new flights between LAX and Las Vegas, and from SFO to Newark and Austin, and between San Jose and LAX. Based on that sorta good news, the carrier is flirting with the idea of an IPO. Would you invest in Virgin America if it manages to go public? Please leave your comments below.

Rendering of proposed Terminal 1 at SFO

Rendering of proposed Terminal 1 at SFO

DREAMING OF A NEW TERMINAL 1. Check out this interesting proposal for a massive re-do of SFO’s Terminal 1. It’s many years away, but it looks super cool. And tatty old T1 could use some help, that’s for sure.

PRECHECK NEWS. Have you noticed that United has started printing your PreCheck status on your boarding pass? Nice to know before you go whether or not you’ll get those glorious three beeps! Another good thing about PreCheck: It’s now available for those traveling on “select international flights.” Has anyone out there been able to use PreCheck internationally yet? SFO officials say that there are no PreCheck lanes at the international terminal yet—so is it smarter to use the PreCheck lanes at T3, and then walk to your international flight?  Please leave your comments below.

INFLIGHT WI-FI POLL. Last winter we visited Gogo headquarters in Itasca, Illinois and took a fun ride on their in-flight lab for a look-see at a new system called ATG-4 that is designed to improve Gogo’s connections and speed. That was six months ago and we are wondering… Have you noticed a difference? PLEASE ANSWER! (The “Vote” button might appear clear, but you must click it to VOTE and see the results)

Have you noticed an improvement with in-flight wi-fi performance?

View Results

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FlightCar

FLIGHTCAR UPDATE. By now you’ve likely heard of FlightCar, a new online service that offers air travelers free parking by SFO, plus the opportunity to earn some cash when they rent your car to other passengers arriving at SFO. Sounds like a good “sharing economy” deal, but the airport is not at all happy about these unlicensed interlopers (including other services like pink mustachioed Lyft).  Earlier this year, SFO issued a cease and desist order, forbidding these new companies from operating at the airport. To get around the C&D order, FlightCar hired a licensed black car service to shuttle its customers between the airport and their private parking lot. FlightCar’s Shri Ganeshram told TravelSkills: “We’re operating within the legal bounds of the system using independent licensed liveries to drop off and pick up passengers at the airport.” He says that FlightCar is now renting about 80 cars per week, despite the SFO cease and desist order. So we contacted SFO spokesperson Doug Yakel to find out if FlightCar is operating legally. He said, “As a public agency, we need to ensure a level playing field for all providers of ground transportation, and FlightCar must sign a permit and provide proof of insurance like every other off-airport rental car company.  This is a matter of basic fairness. FlightCar has yet to meet the obligations, including insurance, required for an SFO permit that would certify them for safe and legal operation at the airport. Their method of transportation to/from the offsite location does not change the fact that they are attempting to operate at SFO without a proper permit. It remains an issue of safety and fairness for us.” How do you think this will all shake out? Have you, or would you use FlightCar? Please leave your comments below!

6 MONTHS FREE AND CLEAR. Starting later this month, CLEAR card holders will be able to use their cards for expedited security screening at San Antonio International Airport. And starting this month, Visa Signature is working with CLEAR to bring the uninitiated a free 6-month CLEAR membership — and $60 off the annual rate of $179 when membership automatically renews. Do you have one of the many Visa Signature cards? Then check this out.

WE NEED YOUR HELP! Dearest TravelSkills Readers: TravelSkills needs more readers. Can you help us out? Please forward this link to frequent traveling friends, travel agents, travel managers, travel bloggers and tell them why you love TravelSkills and encourage them to sign up! THANKS!

CLOUDY MILK. The campaign to rename San Francisco International after Harvey Milk has come to a vague close with only a promise to name an as-yet unnamed terminal at SFO after him. I’m glad the whole contentious issue is (mostly) behind us. What about you? Please leave your comments below.

New 76-seat Embraer 175 from United

New 76-seat Embraer 175 from United

MORE BARBIE JETS. United will add 30 Embraer 175 regional jets to the United Express fleet starting next year. The 76-seaters will replace the less efficient 50-seat RJs currently in use. United says, “The aircraft will be configured with 12 United First, 16 Economy Plus and 48 United Economy seats. The design of the aircraft will result in more personal space for customers with wider seats and aisles than those on the 50-seat aircraft. The aircraft can accommodate standard carry-on bags, resulting in more convenience for customers.”

BETTER VODKA. Starting in June, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, made in Austin, TX, will replace Absolut vodka on all United flights. Did you know that vodka is the most-served spirit on US flights?

Join Chris McGinnis & JohnnyJet for the #travelskills chat on Friday mornings!

Join Chris McGinnis & JohnnyJet for the #travelskills Twitter chat on Friday mornings!

SEEKING SUMMER TRAVEL DEALS? Join in the #TravelSkills chat with @JohnnyJet and me this Friday at 9 am PDT. Our new chat has been trending in the US on Twitter on nearly every Friday, so stop by and join the fun. And learn something, or uncover a summer travel deal! See www.travelskills.com/chat

MORE MEXICO AT SFO. Aeromexico will add a second daily round trip to Mexico City on July 15. Check out BAT editor Chris McGinnis’ recent Business Trip: Mexico City for BBC!

San Francisco – Mexico City

Flight NumberDepartureArrivalFrequency
AM 066501:00 am07:14 amDaily
AM 0669*01:25 pm07:53 pmDaily

Mexico City – San Francisco

Flight NumberDepartureArrivalFrequency
AM 066408:26 pm11:25 pmDaily
AM 0668*09:30 am12:07 pmDaily

*New flights schedules available starting July 15th, all in local time and subject to change without notice.

SEEKING SASSY WHEELS in Dallas or Austin? High end Silvercar (which rents only silver Audi A4s) is offering four Virgin America Elevate reward points per $1 spent, 2,500 bonus points with your first rental, and another 2,500 points for your fourth rental through November 30. Have you tried Slivercar? What did you think?

—Chris McGinnis

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Catching up on Bay Area Travel News, March 17 2013

In this issue: New flights to Newark; free mags at Bay Area airports; new lie-flat seats to Japan; more car sharing at Bay Area Airports; take our POLL about car-sharing!; how to jump in a seat on a private jet.

Jersey in Noe Valley (Chris McGinnis)

Jersey in Noe Valley (Chris McGinnis)

25% OFF JERSEYLICIOUS FLIGHTS. To celebrate its new nonstops between SFO/LAX and Newark, New Jersey (EWR), Virgin America is offering a nice 25% discount on a future flight  to or from EWR. (somewhat restricted– no Fridays or Sundays). To get the discount, you must enter its “Fly Like a Boss” Facebook campaign. You can also win a chance to fly on the inaugural LAX-EWR run with Richard Branson and Mashable’s Peter Cashmore. Details here. Virgin says that since it announced the launch of EWR flights, fares on the EWR-West Coast routes have dropped by as much as 30 percent “and travelers now have an airline option that guarantees Wi-Fi, live TV and new aircraft on every flight.” Current roundtrip fares on the SFO-EWR run for mid-May flights are about $365. Virgin is also offering a double or triple points promo on flights between now and June 30, but you have to register to get the bonus.

FREE PREMIUM MAGS AT SFO/OAK/SJC. Here’s a helpful new app for TravelSkills Readers (BATs) who frequently find themselves stuck at the airport during delays, yearning for a good read, but hesitating to weigh down their bags with heavy magazines. The new Foli iPad app offers free access to premium magazine content (the stuff that’s normally behind a pay wall at glossies like Vogue, Car & Driver, GQ or Bon Appetit)—but it only works at the airport. Foli uses geolocation technology to limit access to Bay Area airports only—as well as a few coffee shops and hotels.  Download the Foli app for free at the iTunes store. It’s definitely worth a download because you never know when the fog will roll in.

Delta's flat bed seating on a 767. (Photo: Delta Air Lines)

Delta’s flat bed seating on its Boeing 767s. (Photo: Delta Air Lines)

MORE LIE-FLAT SEATS TO JAPAN. Starting April 1, Delta will offer business class seats that recline to a full 180 degree flat bed for sleeping on its Boeing 767-300ER flights between SFO and Tokyo Narita. That means that all business class seats on all airlines (United, ANA, Delta) on the heavily traveled SFO-NRT route are now flat.  Japan Airlines flies between SFO and the closer-to-downtown Tokyo Haneda Airport, but offers the less popular “angled lie flat” business class seat.  (Did you know that JAL’s SFO-Haneda flights are numbered 001 and 002?) Headed to Tokyo? Then be sure and check out my latest dispatch from the Land of the Rising Sun for BBC: Business Trip: Tokyo.

Are YOU signed up for BAT updates? If not, why not? Email in the upper right column, please! 

One of BMW's electric DriveNow cars in SF (Photo: DriveNow)

One of BMW’s electric DriveNow cars in SF (Photo: DriveNow)

DRIVING TO SFO. TravelSkills recently included mention of FlightCar’s car sharing service but we’ve heard from readers about other similar options. For example, DriveNow is a car sharing service that allows travelers to drive all-electric BMW cars from several locations in and around downtown San Francisco to parking lots near SFO or Oakland airports for less than the average cost of airport shuttle services and more than 50% cheaper than cab fares. The first 30 minutes costs $12 and then 32 cents for every additional minute. (There’s a $39 fee to join the car sharing service.) The service is part of BMW’s sustainable transportation initiative and currently only available in the Bay Area. A similar car sharing service for airport trips called Hubber is in the works, too, with locations at SFO and LAX expected to open this April.

DRIVING TO/FROM NYC AIRPORTS. Hertz on Demand has a similar service in New York City—members can drive a Hertz car between airports and several locations in Manhattan for less than half of what you’d pay a cab or car service…and with the Hertz plan, there is no membership fee. (Hertz on Demand has a location in downtown SF, but currently does not offer one-way drop offs at local airports.)

What do you think about new car-sharing options for airport transfers?

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A Gulfstream IV (Photo: Nima Pirzadeh)

A plush Gulfstream IV awaits private-jetsetters (Photo: Nima Pirzadeh)

PRIVATE JET SHARING, TOO. Since we are on the topic of sharing transportation, let’s take a look at a brand new service called Jumpseat, which has been billed as “the Airbnb for private jets.” Since many seats on private jets fly empty, Jumpseat is a new app that connects people looking to share those seats with those looking to fly, producing significant savings for both parties. Shopping is free and takes only a few clicks. Registered members can book a JumpSeat without paying a membership fee. For example, when I recently searched for flights from the Bay Area, I found several flights in March and April from San Jose to Santa Ana, CA available for $1000-$2,250 each way. In March, there’s a nice big Citation X jet flying from LA to Eagle (Vail), Colorado with two seats available at $5000 each. Eight seats on a March flight from New York to Aspen on a posh Hawker 4000 are going for $20,000 each. Flying private is not cheap, but there are few hassles—no airport security, for example, when using private jet terminals. Interested? Then check out this article about it on Forbes.com.

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Catching up on Bay Area Travel News, Feb 24

FREE PARKING AT SFO? Last week a new service called FlightCar soft-launched an innovative new car sharing service at SFO. FlightCar lets people parking at the airport rent their vehicles out to other travelers. Every rental is insured up to $1 million, and every renter is pre-screened. Depending on the size, age and condition of your car, you can also make up to $10 per day in gas credits. (And you avoid having to pay for airport parking.) Airport valets are at SFO to pick up and drop off cars to renters. They even wash your car. If you are a renter, FlightCar valets meet you at the airport with your rental. Rates are about 30% less than what you’d pay the big guys like Hertz or Avis. Watch the video above to see how it works. Would you do this? Please leave your comments below!

NEW UNITED FLIGHT BONUSES. Remember last year when TravelSkills broke the news about United’s new flights from SFO to Paris and Taipei? Those inaugural flights are coming up soon, and United is offering mileage bonuses on both runs. To Paris (11,000 miles roundtrip), you’ll earn 50% to 100% bonus award miles for flights between April 11 and May 31. Register here. For Taipei (13,000 miles round trip), United is also offering 50% to 100% bonuses for flights between April 9 and June 30. Register here. (UPDATE 2-25-13: United has confirmed that dates for the launch of these flights has been affected by the grounding of the 787 Dreamliner. Tentative new start dates: SFO-Paris: April 26; SFO-Taipei: June 6.)

Chris McGinnis inspecting ANA's maintenance hangar at Haneda Airport on the day before the 787 was grounded. (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

BAT-man Chris McGinnis inspecting ANA’s maintenance hangar at Haneda Airport on the day before the 787 was grounded. (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

787 UPDATE: If you didn’t get a chance to jump on one of those shiny new Boeing 787 Dreamliners when United had them at SFO, or when ANA was flying them from San Jose to Tokyo, it sounds like it might be a while until you get the chance to do so. United announced this week that it was dropping the 787 from its schedule through at least June, and has put off new routes set to use the plane, such as Denver-Tokyo. ANA announced today that it has canceled all 787 flights, including San Jose-Tokyo, through at least May 31.

STARWOOD SPG TEAMS WITH DELTA. Delta and Starwood have launched a unique new program called Crossover Rewards, which offers reciprocal benefits in both programs. This means that starting March 1, Starwood Preferred Guest elites get access to Priority lines when checking in and can board Delta flights early. Delta Diamond and Platinum Medallions will get elite level benefits in the Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) program, including 4 pm checkout, free internet, and one SkyMile per dollar spent on room rate in addition to Starpoints. They will also get one free check bag. Details and registration here:delta.com/crossoverrewards or spg.com/crossoverrewards. Insiders tell TravelSkills that a Starwood brand will team up with Delta later this spring with some trendy inflight amenities or other promotions. Have you flown Delta from the Bay Area recently? What did you think?

HILTON HHONORS DEVALUED: Effective March 28, Hilton HHonors will play under a new set of rules. Instead of the current seven award tiers, there will be 10. The highest tier will now require a whopping 95,000 points per night, up from just 50,000. You’ll pay more during high season, and less during low season. This is indicative of a travel industry trend I’ve been following—when paying with cash or with points, peak season prices are rising through the roof due to rising demand from travelers. The only way to get the best deals at rates that feel reasonable is to fly or stay during low or so-called “shoulder” seasons. How do you feel about this? Angry enough to dump Hilton and move to a competitor? Well, not so fast…This week Starwood rolled out its adjusted list of hotel award categories, with more hotels moving up than down—not as severe as Hilton’s, but still. Thoughts?

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Atop the shiny new $7 billion Marina Bay Sands complex in Singapore (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

SWEATY IN SINGAPORE. Your BAT editor recently traveled to Singapore to research and write his latest BBC Business Trip Column: Business Trip: Singapore. If you haven’t been there recently, check out this column to learn about the city’s newest hotels, hottest tables, and how those new casinos are affecting the local economy.

STREAMING MOVIES ON SOUTHWEST. Last week Southwest announced that it would offer more on demand TV and movies on all wi-fi equipped aircraft (75% of its fleet). Movies cost $5 per device. Wi-fi access (via Row 44) costs $8 per day. Most Southwest flights I take are so short that movies aren’t really an option. What do you think? Have you tried using Southwest’s in-flight Row 44 wi-fi product, which seems to get about as many complaints as the Gogo system used by other carriers? Please leave your comments below.

Harvey Milk San Francisco International Airport?

Harvey Milk San Francisco International Airport?

HARVEY MILK AIRPORT. Despite the lukewarm reaction to the idea (among TravelSkills reader and others) the campaign to add Harvey Milk’s name to SFO continues. SFgate’s City Insider blog said, “Privately, politicos say they’ve heard from plenty of local constituents, including gay and lesbian residents, who like the brand name of SFO, don’t think it’s worth the cost, fear the embarrassment of losing at the ballot or just don’t think it’s worth getting worked up over either way.” The Harvey Milk Foundation has donated $4,500 to a campaign to get the measure on the November ballot, and there’s a slick new website promoting the cause. Have you voted in our poll yet? Please do!

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— Chris McGinnis

 

 


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Catching up on travel news 1-19

American Airlines bright new look. What do you think? (Photo: American Airlines)

American Airlines bright new look. What do you think? (Photo: American Airlines)

If you’ve been following TravelSkills this week, you know that I’ve been buried in the Boeing 787-ANA debacle— interesting times in Tokyo! Hope you enjoyed the coverage.

Thanks to ANA for inviting TravelSkills along for what turned out to be a very bumpy ride. All 787’s are currently grounded, and new San Jose – Tokyo flights are in limbo for the near future. Currently, it appears that the crux of the issue is the overcharging of the plane’s highly volatile lithium ion batteries.

Now I’m reviewing all the news I missed on this side of the Pacific last week. Lots happened here that will have an impact on TravelSkills Readers– BATs!

>American Airlines rolled out a new livery for its planes (see above). So long to its polished silvery birds. As usual, pundits have generally panned the new paint-job, but at TravelSkills, we like it. What do you think? Too bad that American’s presence continues to dwindle in the Bay Area as it focuses on other key hubs.

>The movement to re-name SFO for Harvey Milk is stirring up controversy– some city leaders and gay rights advocates embraced the idea early on, but the tide seems to be shifting away a name change, at least according to the letters to the editor in the San Francisco Chronicle. In any case, it appears that San Francisco voters will likely be seeing this on a November referendum. Let’s go ahead and vote on it now! How do you feel?

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>The TSA has decided to remove all “backscatter” screening machines that use low-dose X-rays made by Rapiscan. Instead it will be using only the L3 millimeter wave machines (that use radio waves) nationwide. At SFO, only millimeter wave machines are in use. However, in San Jose, backscatter machines are still in use. Millimeter wave machines are circular, glassed-in units. Backscatter machines require passengers to stand between to large blue boxes.

>United has changed its boarding process, reducing boarding groups from an unwieldy seven to six. “Preboarding” is for Global services, uniformed military and passengers requiring assistance. Group 1 will now be for paid first/business class, Premier 1K and Platinum. Group 2 is for Premier and Star Alliance silver, gold, Mileage Plus Awards and Explorer card holders (good luck!). Groups 3-5 will be for everyone else. Will this help or hurt the boarding process?

>United has installed satellite based wi-fi on one 747, which means that passengers on that jet can log on on the long over-water flights. It’s also put it on two A319 flying domestic routes. (Good luck determining which ones and whether you’ll have it on yours…) Too bad you still can’t log on over the good old USA on most UAL flights, as you can on all Delta and Virgin America flights, and most Southwest and American flights. However, United says that the wi-fi access should be available on over 300 mainline aircraft by the end of this year. In an interesting new twist, the price is tiered– standard speed runs between $4 and $15 based on flight duration. For faster speeds, you’ll pay between $6 and $20.

>Starting in 2014, Delta Air Lines will require its elite level members to hit certain spending thresholds (from $2,500 to $12,500) in addition to miles flown to attain or maintain “medallion” status. This is seen by many as the first step in a process that will turn SkyMiles into a program based on how much money passengers spend instead of how many miles they fly. Virgin America and Southwest have already moved to revenue-based plans. Could United be next? Probably not until it has put its operational house in order… but you never know… stay tuned…

>The flu epidemic that has missed California is now hitting the state rather hard. Time to wash hands frequently, travel with a handkerchief and handiwipes, and keep your fingers away from your face. And if you get sick, please cough into your sleeve, collar or a hanky— not into your hand! Or just stay home and off planes…

 


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