January 28, 2020
STM TRAVEL TALKS ARE BACK!
Details include taking a look at how Travelport supports agency partners to ensure corporate customers have access to all supplier partner's fares and ancillaries to best support their travel program. Additional topics include insights into Travelport's position with NDC as well as details into the much anticipated partnership with Southwest.
All Travel Talks are free, but space is limited so don't wait!
Logistics
Tuesday, January 28th 12 pm CST
Check your reservation: Southwest pushes 737 Max return to early June, cancels 330 flights
On Thursday, Southwest Airlines joined American and United in pushing the return of the grounded Boeing 737 Max into early June.
The airline had previously scheduled the plane to return after Easter but the prolonged grounding has forced repeated schedule changes in the past 10 months. Further delays aren't out of the question, especially since Boeing is now recommending pilots go through more rigorous pilot simulator training before the plane returns. More
United Gets Stingier With Customer Compensation for Flight Delays
If you take a delayed United Airlines flight and want compensation for your troubles, you may need to ask for it.
United is no longer proactively offering vouchers to customers on flights delayed fewer than six hours, according to a message sent to employees. The airline said it was making the change “based on feedback we’ve received,” though the message did not expand on who gave this feedback. A United spokesman confirmed the policy shift. More
The Best and Worst U.S. Airlines of 2019
Flight cancellations increased. So did long delays, bumping ticketed passengers and consumer complaints.
Overall, 2019 was a frustrating year for many U.S. travelers. But the travel pain wasn’t evenly distributed.
Delta excelled and finished at the top of the Middle Seat Scorecard for the third year in a row. At the bottom of the rankings? More
Uber, Lyft Will Cease Curbside Airport Pickups in Phoenix Over Higher Fees
(Associated Press) — Uber and Lyft said they will make good on their threats to stop taking customers to and from the airport in the nation’s fifth-largest city, creating confusion next year for travelers used to opening a phone app to catch a ride after Phoenix decided to raise fees on ride-hailing companies.
Both companies confirmed late Wednesday that they would stop curbside service at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport after the City Council voted to raise fees for pickups and drop-offs at one of the largest commercial U.S. airports, serving some 44 million passengers annually. Neither provided an exact date for stopping airport operations. More
10 essential tips for the solo traveler
Are you a solo traveler? The sort of person who wants to head out into the world and experience whatever you like, wherever you like, whenever you like? You're not alone.
Research shows a spike in bookings for solo travelers across almost all age groups in recent years — from baby boomers to millennials. More and more of us want the freedom to travel on our own terms, and more and more of us are turning those dreams into reality.
If you're a first-time solo traveler, you'll feel liberated, but before you head out on your first solo journey, here are 10 things you should know. More
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