Travel Week in Review – August 25th, 2023

Consumers may be pinching pennies regarding some discretionary purchases, but budget tightening hasn’t derailed interest in air travel yet. Last year, U.S. airlines carried 194 million more passengers than in 2021, up 30%, according to the Bureau of Transportation. Growth has slowed, but the number of people boarding planes was still up by a double-digit percentage in the 12 months through May. Those figures are impressive, but air travel… Read More…

Through May of this year, Las Vegas has welcomed 2.7 million convention attendees, putting it on track to surpass 5 million meeting attendees who came to town in 2022, the first full calendar year after most pandemic-related restrictions on travel and large gatherings had ended. And growth is in sight: Last year, the city’s convention center secured 14 new shows to take place this fall through 2029, including Nike in 2024, Fabtech in 2026 and Money 20/20, which is scheduled annually from 2027 through 2029. Read More…

There are two types of travelers: Those who arrive at the airport early (the recommend two or three hours prior to the flight time) and those who casually stroll in as the plane is boarding. If you recognize yourself as the first type, wait times may not often be an issue for you. But if you hope to breeze through security, chances are you’ve come close to missing your flight due to long wait times. While early arrivals help to avoid the stress of travel and navigating security lines, all airports are not created equal. Read More…

There was a time in the not-so-distant past when a standard coach airline ticket included checked and cabin baggage, seat selection, and even some type of meal or snack. But starting the early 2000s, that began to change, and now 89% of the world’s airlines hit consumers with one or more hidden fees, according to a new survey from NetVoucherCodes. That said, some air carriers are worse than others when it comes to add-ons and unexpected charges. Read More…

Southwest Airlines takes a unique approach to boarding by not assigning passengers a seat like other carriers. While that may not be ideal for everyone, there are many travelers who appreciate the option to choose their own seats on a flight. But Southwest has made a number of changes to its boarding process in recent months, and the latest update is upsetting some of its most loyal customers. Read More…