News and notes from around the interweb:
- Since today’s travelers are younger and leisure, without brand preference, they’re more likely to book through an online travel agency too.
- Since Israel is closed to tourists, their Ministry of Tourism is taking notes and prayers that they will physically place in the cracks of the Western Wailing Wall in Jerusalem, one of the holiest sites on earth. Anyone can submit for this.
- I guess it shouldn’t surprise me when things like this happen on planes. Airline passengers are people, and there are awful people on the ground, too.
- Computer Scientists Break Traveling Salesperson Record more computer science than travel, a foundational problem involving computing power and efficient travel.
- Before the pandemic over 40% of new Bonvoy members came from China, maybe that’s why Marriott’s CEO seems to support Xi Jinping’s re-election so enthusiastically.
- Finnair is now selling business class meals in grocery stores. That’s a business Thai Airways was looking to get into as part of its turnaround plan and I’d actually buy their food, since I’m starved for decent Thai in Austin.
40% of OTA users claim that they do in order ‘to get the best room’? Lol
That’s so dumb because OTA bookers got screwed the hardest during the early days of the pandemic.
With U.S. airlines mortgaging their frequent flyer programs after eliminating award charts and changing/devaluing their mileage points, it’s difficult to score outsize value from collecting airline points/miles. And so it seems airline credit cards and mileage programs have peaked.
Hotel programs still offer some good opportunities to score outsize value (and get free upgrades and benefits), but not so much the airlines.
@ Gary — The Expedia story confirms what I suspected all along — the primary travelers right now are what I call the “non-travelers”. I hope that the airlines don’t adopt them as their new elites while I am away.
Of course most people book through OTAs, and of course thats not understood here.
Here you have an audience of people who mostly fly for work, and stay in boring chain hotels paid for by their corporate overlords.
Booking through OTAs – you can stay far far away from chain hotels, and stay in real boutique 4/5* hotels, choosing the exact room your want, with exactly what you want as an add on (breakfast, lounge) Its also far easier to book a refundable hotels on OTAs.
@bob
You don’t get out much do you?
I am a business traveler, I stay at boutique hotels if I want, I choose my flights, my itin, everything, and yet I very rarely use any OTA
How did you reach your ridiculous conclusion?
I work in the travel industry, a relatively high position, and I can promise you that the myth of the worst room going to the OTA is mostly right
@ Gary — What Doug said. BC, we spent $7,500 per month on travel, and I VERY RARELY used OTAs.
That priest took the definition of Holy Water too far
Hey Gary — on the OTA story, I like it that you left us to find the punchline ourselves! The survey was done by Expedia (obviously with the help of a survey agency). To me, no further explanation is needed.
@Eric S – it’s not wrong though, even if it’s motivated reasoning, it’s very infrequent rather than brand loyal travelers now buying cheapest tickets on schedule and price. far fewer members of loyalty programs even.
My experience as a frequent traveler has been like that of @Gene and @Doug. I have no idea where @Bob is getting the idea that OTAs are so wonderful.
We always upcharge the OTAS 16% you want to book thru them? You will pay more.
I wonder if people redeeming via Chase Travel or Citi ThankYou OTAs are enough to notice. If people aren’t transferring points for big international trips due to restrictions, and still spending on their point-earning cards, I could see a small shift.
I’ve still never understood why nobody notices the Citi Prestige 5x OTA earning rate.