In this edition of the Travel News Brief: Delta and American add routes, United adds Clear at O’Hare, Brazil testing Global Entry, security improvements at Midway, Rail Europe growth forecast, Uber loses London license, hotel trends in 2020, should you lock your luggage, traveler rights at the airport, juice jacking, and more!
Delta Air Lines Announces Aircraft Changes for Several Key Routes
Travel Pulse — Delta Air Lines announced it is enhancing the onboard customer experience on several of its most popular routes this fall. Read More
U.S. Grants Final Approval for Expanded Delta, Air France, Virgin, KLM JV
New York Times — U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao on Thursday granted final approval for an expanded trans-Atlantic joint venture for Delta Air Lines Inc, Air France KLM SA and Virgin Atlantic. Read More
American Adds Eight Summer Routes for 2020
USA Today — American Airlines is adding eight new summer routes next year, including flights to Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket, two islands off of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, that are popular weekend and vacation destinations for East Coast residents, including celebrities and politicians. Read More
TAP Plans Additional Expansion from Montreal
Business Travel News — Next summer, TAP Air Portugal will add new service between Montreal and Lisbon, operating six times per week on Airbus A321LR aircraft, as part of its operations growth in North America. Read More
United Opens Clear Lanes in Chicago O'Hare
Business Travel News — Last week, expedited security program Clear opened new lanes in Chicago O'Hare International Airport's Terminal 1 in partnership with United Airlines. Read More
Brazil to Test Global Entry Participation with Small Traveler Group
Business Travel News — Brazil and the United States soon will conduct a pilot program for Brazil's participation in the Global Entry program. Read More
TSA Predicts Busiest Holiday Travel Season Ever. Here’s How to Survive it.
Afar — Some 26.8 million travelers are expected to pass through the country’s airports this Thanksgiving holiday travel period between November 22 and December 2, 2019, up from 25.6 million passengers last year. Read More
U.S. Visas Now Require Social Media Details from Applicants
Afar — A new rule from the U.S. State Department demands that visa applicants submit their social media account information as part of an updated vetting process. Read More
What is the Process for Getting a REAL ID?
Travel Market Report — The Department of Homeland Security is investigating an automation process to simplify the process for getting a Real ID that will be a required state ID to board an aircraft as of October 1, 2020. Read More
Facial Recognition is Coming to Sea-Tac Airport; Delta Air Lines Will Be First to Use It
Seattle Times — An unregulated, controversial technology is coming to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport: Facial recognition. Read More
Midway Airport Travelers Now Getting New and Upgraded TSA Experience
Chicago Business Journal — The Transportation Security Administration has opened a new $104 million, 12-lane security checkpoint on the southwest side of Chicago's Midway International Airport. Read More
Government Travel Warnings & Alerts
U.S. Department of State — Information on current government issued travel warnings and alerts. Read More
Rail Europe Forecasts Significant Train Demand Growth Over Next Decade
Business Travel News — Rail Europe president and CEO Dau-Khoi Nguyen recently spoke with BTN about his company's new booking platform for travel professionals, Easy Rail Access, and plans to eventually target more of the corporate travel market. Read More
Uber Loses License in London Over Safety, Vows to Appeal
SF Gate — London’s transit authority on Monday refused to renew Uber’s operating license over concerns about impostor drivers, with the ride-hailing company vowing to appeal the decision as it struggles to secure its future in the British capital. Read More
SuperShuttle Suspends Service to and from LAX Over Insurance Problems
Los Angeles Times — SuperShuttle suspended operations Thursday at this and other California sites for being out of compliance with state insurance requirements. Read More
Via Introduces Flat-rate Shared Rides from LGA
The Points Guy — Travelers can now get from LaGuardia to Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens for as little as $15 round-trip in a shared vehicle, thanks to Via. Read More
Lyft Threatens to Leave Phoenix Airport Over Ride-share Fee Increase
USA Today — Ahead of a Dec. 18 meeting where the Phoenix City Council will, after a clerical mishap, again vote on whether to raise fees on ride-share companies using the airport, Lyft has written a letter saying it will leave Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport if the vote passes. Read More
How One Hotel Group Is Reinventing Itself For The Modern Business Traveler
Forbes — Crowne Plaza is pushing to reinvent itself as the go-to hotel brand for the modern business traveler. Read More
Hyatt Joins Other Big Hotel Chains by Pledging to Eliminate Small Plastic Bottles
Skift — Hyatt joins Marriott and IHG by promising to get rid of single-use plastic bottles of shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, and lotion with large-format bathroom amenities. Read More
Here are the Hotel Trends That We’ll See in 2020
Travel Market Report — Hotels are moving towards having such offerings as panic buttons and breakfast wars, and then there’s the disappearance of carpeting in rooms. Read More
Jersey City's Vote a Reflection of Rising Challenges for Airbnb
Travel Weekly — With a Nov. 5 plebiscite, Jersey City, N.J., became the latest municipality to join Airbnb's loss column, another setback in the company's war with cities over short-term vacation rental regulations. Read More
After a $1 Billion Renovation, the Waldorf Astoria Is Reopening—and You Can Now Live There
Robb Report — For the first time, you can take up residency in one of Manhattan's most iconic properties. Read More
Should You Lock Your Luggage When You Fly?
Smarter Travel — We examine the benefits—and limitations—of luggage locks. Read More
Beware: Airport Charging Ports May Be Hacking Travelers’ Phones
Smarter Travel — Everything you need to know about "juice jacking." Read More
Airport Rights You Need to Know
Afar — Travelers can decline certain procedures and should have certain options at their disposal when at the airport and during security screenings. Read More
How to Disinfect Your Airplane Seat
Smarter Travel — Take heart, germaphobes! There's an easy way to keep your airplane seat from becoming a petri dish of squirming bacteria. Read More
How to Improve Sales: Don’t Treat All Reps the Same
Creative Group — Not every territory is created equal. Nor is every sales rep. So why would every sales rep in every territory get the same growth goal? Read More
Incentives Are NOT the Answer When It Comes to Retaining Top Performers
Creative Group — Learn why incentives should be used to reward more than top performers. Why leave results on the table? Read More
New Memphis Convention Center Name Revealed
Fox 13 — Formerly known as the Memphis Cook Convention Center, the 51-year-old building will have more meeting rooms, exhibit halls and ballrooms for events…Read More
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