U.S. to Increase ESTA Fee by $19
U.S. authorities have confirmed that the new, increased fee of $40 for the Electronic System for Travel Authorization will take effect from later this month. U.S. Customs and Border Protection said the ESTA fee will nearly double from its current $21 to $40 from Sept. 30. Visitors from visa waiver countries, such as the U.K. and most EU members, have to apply for an ESTA for entry to the United States. The authorization is valid for two years unless the traveler’s passport expires within this time. Read More…
What happens when your flight is overbooked — and what you should do
Maybe this has happened to you before — you’re at the gate, bags packed, boarding pass in hand, when the announcement hits: “This flight is overbooked.” Your stomach drops, and suddenly your travel plans feel uncertain. The first time I heard that announcement, I had no clue if I was even going to make it on the plane. So, what does it really mean when you’re on an overbooked flight — and why do airlines even do it? Let’s break it down in plain English. Read More…
Southwest to Offer Free Wi-Fi to Loyalty Members
Southwest Airlines will begin offering free Wi-Fi to Rapid Rewards loyalty program members on all flights next month via a new partnership with T-Mobile, the carrier announced. As of Oct. 24, Rapid Rewards members, regardless of their wireless provider, will be able to connect to Wi-Fi without charge for the duration of their flight across Southwest’s network. Southwest said it has been testing free Wi-Fi for Rapid Rewards members, and it has shown “a strong customer satisfaction score from those customers who used the Wi-Fi,” according to the carrier. Read More…
Airlines Set Ancillary Fee Records, Lean Into New Revenue Streams
Total global ancillary revenue for airlines broke records in 2024, surpassing $148 billion, and carriers continued to grow through the addition of these revenue streams.IdeaWorksCompany published these findings in its 2025 edition of the “Yearbook of Ancillary Revenue,” which revealed traditional airlines were “under pressure with more traffic but lower fares” in 2024. However, these airlines also saw a 5.3 percent passenger ancillary revenue increase that offset losses from discounted fares. Read More…
Guided tours gain popularity with Generation X
Tour operators are sharpening their focus on Gen X, saying that travelers in their mid-40s to 60 are increasingly turning to guided tours over independent travel because of a desire to make the most of limited vacation time. Tauck in August said it will launch a new brand next year, Roam by Tauck, that will specialize in travel for people in their 40s and 50s. The typical Tauck traveler is a wealthy retiree, and though the operator will continue to cater to that customer base, the company is teeing up tours for this younger generation, said Tauck president Jeremy Palmer. Read More…
