The coronavirus (COVID-19) is bringing with it a lot of fast-breaking, bad news for travelers and the travel industry.
Over the weekend, American Airlines and Delta Air Lines announced the temporary suspension of flights to Milan, Italy and United Airlines announced a temporary suspension of flights to Tokyo Narita, Osaka Singapore and Seoul.
Coronavirus schedule updates: We are suspending some service to Tokyo Narita, Osaka, Singapore and Seoul. China and Hong Kong flight suspensions are extended through 4/30. We will stay in close contact with the CDC as we continue to evaluate our schedule. https://t.co/qNMXQnoHLCpic.twitter.com/pR1XwjlHcT
And, because travelers are holding back on buying new plane tickets, on Sunday American Airlines announced it will join JetBlue and Alaska Airlines in offering a change fee waiver on new tickets purchased in the next two weeks.
For the next 2 weeks, there’s no change or cancellation fees* with any of our fares. Applies to bookings made 2/27-3/11 for travel through 6/1/20. Details > https://t.co/Z2MO9WX3Zzpic.twitter.com/tZBI3tL19O
Our Peace of Mind Waiver is currently in place for new tickets booked between February 27 and March 12 for travel through June 1, 2020. Learn more on the Alaska Blog. https://t.co/xsP8wpmbG8
The airline says using wipes to clean armrests and tray tables is fine, but they’re asking passengers not to use cleaning wipes on the leather seats because commercial wipes will deteriorate the top coat of leather.
“The wipe might look dirty, ” says Alaska, “but it’s actually the leather dye color that’s coming off.”
Bad news for travelers may keep coming for a while, so it was refreshing to have Saturday Night Live do this silly bit about traveling through New York’s LaGuardia Airport.
The all-access Club at MSY should open early next year and a United Airlines club lounge is promised in 2020.
Stuck at The Airport stopped into the Delta Sky Club during an opening day tour of the airport. We are delighted to report that in addition to all the features you’d expect in a lounge (comfortable seating and lots of outlets) the 2nd-floor lounge definitely celebrates the New Orleans vibe and culture.
The menu includes regionally inspired snack and meals, including oysters, gumbo and muffuletta sandwiches. Of course, the bar menu includes local beers and cocktails.
And all the artwork is by Louisiana artists.
Delta was kind enough to share images of the artwork. Here are a few more of our favorites.
By Skylar Fein Artwork by Kelly Mcgee Artwork by Kelly McgeeArtwork by Masy Chighizola
Stay tuned for more details about the amenities at the new terminal at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY). Next up: all the food!
My story this week for CNBC online is all about the (possible) move to free Wi-Fi in the sky.
Who’s doing it? Should we have it? Will we have it? Give this story a read and let me know if you think we are indeed on our way to having free Wi-Fi in the sky:
It wasn’t all that long ago (2000 or 2006, depending how you measure) that being able to access the internet on an airplane was a pie-in-the-sky idea.
Once the technology became generally available and
airlines began equipping their planes with Wi-Fi service, passengers soon found
they couldn’t bear to fly without it.
In 2013, 66% of passengers surveyed by Honeywell Aerospace
said the availability of in-flight Wi-Fi would influence their flight
selection.
By 2018, Inmarsat’s
Inflight Connectivity Survey found that more than half (55%) of all airline
passengers considered inflight Wi-Fi to be a crucial amenity. And almost as
many (53%) said they’d be willing to forgo an alcoholic drink, tea, coffee, and
other in-flight amenities in exchange for Wi-Fi access.
The
price of staying connected in the sky
While free messaging is
available on Alaska Airlines and Delta Air Lines and Southwest Airlines and on a variety of
international airlines, most all domestic airlines levy a charge for accessing
the internet for email, streaming and other purposes.
And the cost to
access that Wi-Fi varies. Sometimes widely.
Southwest Airlines charges $8 a day
for its Wi-Fi service, which prohibits access to Netflix and other
high-bandwidth applications. Gogo,
which provides inflight Wi-Fi to airlines such as United, Delta, Alaska and Air
Canada, sells a variety of buy-before-you-fly passes. Order ahead and you’ll
pay $7 for one hour of Wi-Fi access on domestic flights and $19 for 24 hours of
Wi-Fi access on domestic flights.
Wait until you’re
in the air to buy Wi-Fi access, though, and on most airlines the cost will be
much higher.
How much higher?
“Prices will vary,” is all several airlines will tell you. And it is rare, if
ever, that purchasing an hour or a full day of Wi-Fi access is cheaper once
you’re up in the air.
But the tide on paid inflight Wi-Fi may be turning.
In 2016 JetBlue
became the first domestic airline to offer its Fly-Fi streaming-quality Wi-Fi service
free on all its planes.
Now Delta
Air Lines is taking its first steps towards offering free Wi-Fi
as well.
The
Atlanta-based carrier started a two-week pilot test on May 13 that includes
free Wi-Fi on around 55 domestic short, medium and long-haul flight segments a
day.
“Customers are
accustomed to having access to free Wi-Fi during nearly every other aspect of
their journey, and Delta believes it should be free when flying, too,”
said Ekrem Dimbiloglu, Delta’s Director of Onboard Product, in
a statement, “Testing will be key to getting this highly complex program
right – this takes a lot more creativity, investment and planning to bring to
life than a simple flip of a switch.”
The
test flight segments change daily; passengers learn if they’re on a free Wi-Fi flight
from a pre-flight email or via a push notification from the Fly Delta app. Gate agents and flight attendants are also making
announcements.
Only free ‘basic’
Wi-Fi is offered as part of the test, so passengers who need a more robust
service for streaming will have to purchase the paid service. Right now it costs
$16 for a North America Wi-Fi day-pass on Delta, if purchased pre-flight.
Is free in-flight Wi-Fi here to stay? And will
other carriers follow?
“It’s nice to see an
airline offering a desired amenity on a complimentary basis,” said travel
industry analyst and Atmosphere Research Group founder Henry Harteveldt, “But
I’m uncertain whether Delta will be able to increase its market share, customer
preference or revenue premium enough to warrant offering the free Wi-Fi.”
Other industry experts
expect Delta will continue down the full-time free Wi-Fi path, though, and that
other airlines will have no choice but to follow.
“Delta tends to go first with these kinds of
customer-friendly initiatives,” said Seth Kaplan, an
aviation journalist and author of the book “Glory Lost and Found: How
Delta Climbed from Despair to Dominance in the Post-9/11.” Kaplan said American
Airlines and United Airlines sometimes match Delta rather than lose customers, even if they’re reluctant
to do so. “But Delta’s move makes widespread free Wi-Fi much more likely than
it seemed until recently,” said Kaplan.
“Millennials and younger generations expect free Wi-Fi
access everywhere, especially when they are traveling,” said Kelly Soderlund, a
travel trends expert with Hipmunk, “Much like hotels, which have been successful in
leveraging consumer loyalty through free Wi-Fi, I would expect airlines to follow
suit and meet that demand.”
Airports across the country will be marking Mother’s Day with complimentary flowers, music and more.
Today between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. in the post-security Great Hall at Los Angeles International Airport, the Mother’s Day celebration will include a photo booth, complimentary wooden roses, and appearances by some of the pups from the Pets Unstressing Passengers (PUPs) program.
And, as they have for many years, this weekend volunteers at Florida’s Jacksonville International Airport will likely be handing out flowers to arriving moms and those waiting for their moms.
We’ll add more Mother’s Day activities as they roll in.
Delta Air Lines
rolling out free in-flight WiFI
Starting May 13, Delta Air Lines is kicking off a
much-welcome two-week pilot program to offer free in-flight Wi-Fi in all cabins
on 55 short, media and long-haul flights.
The carrier says this is the first step towards offering complimentary
Wi-Fi for everyone, all the time.
“Customers are accustomed to having access to free Wi-Fi during nearly every other aspect of their journey, and Delta believes it should be free when flying, too,” said Ekrem Dimbiloglu, Director of Onboard Product in a statement. “Testing will be key to getting this highly complex program right – this takes a lot more creativity, investment and planning to bring to life than a simple flip of a switch.”
The free
Wi-Fi service won’t support content streaming, but will let passengers browse,
email, shop, message, and engage with social media for free.
Delta’s Wi-Fi for purchase
and free mobile messaging will remain available throughout the test.
Boston Logan Airport – and others – are reminding travelers that Uber & Lyft driver are planning a strike today, which might make getting to and from this and other airports a bit more complicated.
Uber & Lyft drivers have indicated they are planning a strike today. If you are traveling, we have several other modes of transportation that passengers should utilize to and from the airport – including Logan Express & @MBTA Silver Line and Blue Line. https://t.co/NSC1lDFrAz
— Boston Logan International Airport (@BostonLogan) May 8, 2019
Delta Air Lines announces a “Reclaim My Status” loyalty benefit for its customers. Nice.
Batik Story Quilts: Yoruba and Other Cultural Proverbs, displays Batik tapestry quilts made by artist Tunde Odulande.
The exhibit includes seven quilts:
“The Fairytale of the Blue Ghosts and Their Magical Spree,” Musicians Make Music While the Audience Makes Orchestration,” “Has Man Finally Arrived?,” “If you Don’t Know Where You Are Going, Any Road Will Do,” and “Our Heritage” are on display across from carousel 1 in the Terminal 1 Baggage Claim area.
“Sweet Mother” and “Mask of Peace” are on display near the A Concourse entrance. Batik Story Quilts: Yoruba and Other Cultural Proverbs is on display at STL through October 23, 2019
Don’t be surprised if these rules are adopted soon by other airlines.
Delta’s new policy goes into effect December 18. Under the new rules, service and support animals under four months of age will be banned from any Delta flight.
Delta will also no longer allow emotional support animals – of any age – to be booked on flights longer than eight hours.
If you purchased a ticket before December 18th and have requested to travel with an emotional support animal, Delta will still allow you and your emotional support animal to travel.
Come February 1, 2019, however, emotional support animals will not be accepted on flights longer than eight hours, regardless of booking date.
“These updates support Delta’s commitment to safety and also protect the rights of customers with documented needs, such as veterans with disabilities, to travel with trained service and support animals, ” said John Laughter, Senior Vice President – Corporate Safety, Security and Compliance.
Delta said the updated policy comes on the heels of an 84 percent increase in reported incidents involving service and support animals from 2016-2017.
Those incidents include urination/defecation, biting and an attack by a 70-pound dog. Delta also notes that its updated support and service animal age requirement aligns with the vaccination policy of the CDC and the eight-hour flight limit for emotional support animals is consistent with principles outlined in the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Air Carrier Access Act.
The full policy, including rules about what kind of animals can be considered service or emotional support animals, is on the Delta website.
The new rules don’t apply to animals traveling in the cabin inside closed carriers as pets on paid tickets.
Airlines and airports are going pink to promote Breast Cancer Awareness month.
Throughough October, Tampa International Airport is lighting up its SkyConnect stations in a shade of pink. TPA’s Guest Service Representatives are all wearing pink scarves and ties and airport police officers are wearing pink ribbon-adorned badges.
Travelers will see pink signage on MIA’s Central Boulevard welcome sign, flight information screens, ticket counter monitors and more.
Last year, the Miami-Dade Aviation Department (MDAD) raised more than $35,000 for the American Cancer Society’sMaking Strides Against Breast Cancer (MSABC) Walk – the most of any Miami-Dade County department – through employee-led food sales, raffles, auctions and activities. This year, MDAD has partnered with concessionaires at Miami International Airport to raise more than $16,000, with the goal of surpassing its 2017 total.
Airlines are also going pink.
To raise awareness and support for breast cancer research, Delta Air Lines employees will wear pink uniforms and sell pink products, including pink lemonade and pink headsets, on board and in Delta Sky Clubs throughout the month of October.
This year, customers can also purchase Pink Boutique merchandise through the Pink Boutique online store. Proceeds from the onboard sales and online Pink Boutique benefit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation’s research projects and the overall mission of finding a cure. Delta will also donate 10 percent of all on-board sales directly to BCRF during the month of October.
American Airlines is also participating in Breast Cancer Awareness month by raising fund for the Susan B. Komen group:
AAdvantage customers can receive 20 AAdvantage miles for every $1 donated to Susan G. Komen with a minimum donation of $25 from Oct. 1 to Oct. 31.
Team members who are survivors of breast cancer will be prominently featured on aa.com, on AA flight and gate information display screens and in Admirals Clubs.
On planes, there will be pink beverage napkins and pink inflight menus, amenity kits, Wi-Fi portal and more.
Passengers will also be invited to donate directly to Susan B. Komen during flights. flight.
Other airlines and other airports will be marking Breast Cancer Awareness Month as well with fundraising efforts, information campaigns and lots of pink. If you know of a campaign, let us know.
Alaska Airlines joins the list of airlines adding extra flights to Las Vegas for CES 2019, the big electronics show.
Alaska Airlines is adding 40 additional flights to Las Vegas from west coast tech hubs in Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Jose for people traveling to CES 2019 (the Consumer Electronics Show) next year.
The extra flights are scheduled from January 7 to January 12 and represent approximately 6,000 additional seats to and from these cities for that week.
While hotels will be very full and hotel room rates may will surely spike during the CES 2019 week, you don’t need to be attending the show to take advantage of these extra flights to and from Las Vegas.
But since these flights just got loaded into Alaska’s system, you might want to book them soon.
Other airlines are adding temporary flights for these days as well. American Airlines and Japan Airlines recently announces extra CES flights between Tokyo and Las Vegas. Delta Air Lines, which has added CES flighs in the past, will likely announce this year’s batch shortly.
Heading to Las Vegas for CES 2019 or some other event? Be sure to make some time to visit the Neon Museum.
The museum tells the history of Las Vegas through classic, cast-off neon signs and is a great place to visit in the evening when many signs are lit.
Delta Air Lines’ 64,0000 uniformed employees will look different.
It is the new uniforms created by fashion designer Zac Posen and produced by Lands’ End that we’ve been hearing about and now get to see in the sky and in airport terminals being worn by Airport Customer Service, Delta Cargo, In-Flight Service, Ground Support Equipment Maintenance and TechOps employees.
Delta didn’t just give Zac Posen the contract and say “Come back when you’re done.” Here’s the process the airline says it used to get from the old uniforms to here:
A Cross Divisional Uniform Committee made up of 24 employees from each frontline division helped guide the three-year uniform creation and development process
80+ employee focus groups that Zac Posen and Lands’ End teams attended
165+ changes made based on direct employee feedback
73 hours spent collecting data via job shadows by Zac Posen and his design team
52 stations across the globe involved in focus groups and job shadows
1,000 employee wear testers who put the uniform to the test over 3 months and across 5 continents
30,000+ survey responses and emails from employees
64,000 uniformed employees across 300+ stations around the globe
60,000+ Wings and Name Bard handmade in the U.S. by Engage2Excel
200+ show options available via Zappos at Work
3+ years in the making
25,000+ employees fitted
1.2M items were produced for the May 29 launch
Delta’s uniforms used to be navy and red. Now they’re Passport Plum – a shade said to flatter every skin tone – Cruising Cardinal, Groundspeed Graphite, Traveling Thistle and Skyline Slate – and have signature details incorporated such as a collar on the women’s blouse that is inspired by the wing of an airplane, and pockets for passports and pens.
Here’s Delta’s new in-flight safey video, with special appearances by – the new uniforms:
Delta Air Lines is expanding the places where flyers can use itheir fingerprints as their ID.
Starting this week, Delta Sky Club members who are already signed up for the airline’s CLEAR biometric program – and those who get signed up now – can use their fingerprints instead of a paper or mobile boarding pass to gain entry to any of the 50 any of the U.S. Delta Sky Club locations – making it even easier and faster to get to all those snacks and free drinks.
Now, qualified CLEAR members can just put two fingers on the designated fingerprint reader and they’re in.
Delta Sky Club members who already have CLEAR and are using it to at the security checkpoints can start using their fingprints at the club rooms now.
Delta Sky Club members without a CLEAR membership who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, can sign up for the program for free at CLEAR enrollment kiosk located in 14 Delta Sky Club locations across the country.
For those who have had trouble using the scanners in the past, it looks like they’ve been improved.
