Texas has become the latest state to impose restrictions on arriving airline passengers. And the Governor says that mandatory quarantine for passengers arriving from the New York area and New Orleans will be enforced by some of the state’s troopers.
Data Shows Just How Empty And Cheap Hotels Are Right Now
For the week ending March 21, U.S. hotel occupancy fell to its lowest level ever recorded. Occupancy fell by 56% and average room rates fell 30%. Group (event) occupancy was down to 1%. And occupancy rates are likely even lower right now – we’ll just have to wait about a week to learn just how low.
Why Airlines Shoot Themselves In The Foot Refusing To Provide Refunds For Cancelled Flights
If there’s one thing consumers thought they could trust it’s that if an airline flight doesn’t operate they can get their money back. Many have refused and now Canada is backing up its airlines against consumers.
The problem for airlines is that this tactic (1) erodes what little trust consumers had, and (2) incentivizes customers not to buy airline tickets now for travel far in the future because they now know they might get stuck without travel or money.
12 Things To Expect When People Start Flying Again
Air travel isn’t going to open back up all at once, or evenly everywhere. It won’t be uniform even domestically, and it’ll happen in waves across the world. People will be afraid to fly. Some businesses will have gotten used to online meetings and won’t fly as much. The world of air travel is going to be very different as we (eventually) transition back into the air.
U.S. Airlines About To Become Part Government-Owned
Creating a mechanism for the money provided to airlines to be paid back is better than not, however it’s important for politicians not to meddle in the industry, forcing airlines to make decisions to please legislative constituencies rather than customers.
What’s Happening To Expiring Hyatt Free Night Certificates?
I’ve had several readers ask about expiring Hyatt free nights. They’re offering reservation cancellation flexibility, postponing peak season award pricing and hotel category changes and have paused expiration of points through May 31.
Like many other programs they haven’t said anything about elite status for the year yet. And they haven’t spoken to free nights – I have one myself expiring April 2. Here’s what I learned.
It’s Not Too Late To Say No To Bailing Out The Airlines
The U.S. government can issue over $50 billion in loans and grants (and take non-voting equity positions in airlines in exchange for grants) under plans that have been sketched out so far. There’s also nearly $20 billion for airports and cargo airlines. It is not too late to stop this.
Irony: Alitalia May Finally Become A Viable Airline Thanks To COVID-19 And Nationalization
A roundup of the most important stories of the day. I keep you up to date on the most interesting writings I find on other sites – the latest news and tips.
NAME AND SHAME: 27 Airlines Making Refunds More Difficult To Get For Cancelled Flights
One thing that many airlines have done to make refunds more difficult is removed the ability for travel agents to process refunds for their customers through computer reservations systems. The Amadeus system maintains a list of those airlines.
Hilton Extends Everyone’s Status and Freezes Points Expiration
Hilton has come out with new accommodations for prepaid reservations, points expiration, free weekend night certificates and elite status. With customers largely not staying at hotels, Hilton is going to hang onto elites, extending everyone’s status. They’re extending the validity of everyone’s points and any credit card free weekend night certificates. And they’re extending flexible cancellation of prepaid hotel bookings by two months through the end of June.