Thrifty Traveler: "The Department of Transportation (DOT) unveiled the nuts and bolts of what a family seating rule would look like in proposed federal rulemaking Thursday. If enacted, it would require airlines to place all children under 13 next to at least one accompanying adult within 48 hours of booking – even on the cheapest basic economy fares that don't allow free seat selection. And if they can't, airlines would be forced to move families to another flight where it's possible … or offer a full refund."
Thrifty Traveler: "With little warning, CLEAR raised its annual fee from $189 to $199 a year effective Aug. 1. It's the second price increase in just over two years – annual fees last went up in May 2022."
"It gets worse for traveling families. CLEAR offers a little-known Family Plan, allowing you to add adult friends and family members to your membership at a discounted rate. But that cost jumped from $70 apiece to $99 just last fall … and now, it increased again to $119 per adult. Children under 18 can still join members in the CLEAR® Plus lane for free."
Points Wire Note:
Fortunately, American Express cards that offer a statement credit for paying for a CLEAR membership will continue to cover the entire cost.
The Mile Lion: "Singapore Airlines has reopened its SilverKris Lounge at London Heathrow Airport following a six-month-long renovation."
"This continues the trend of upgrading the airlines’ overseas SilverKris Lounges."
If you're flying out of Heathrow's Terminal 2 on a Star Alliance carrier, you'll now have another lounge option. This could be a good option if you're flying back to the US or to another European destination after visiting London.
View From The Wing: "Twenty years ago front cabins domestically were about full with about 10% paid fares. Delta was first to drive sales of domestic first class up over 70% using a variety of pricing tactics including small dollar upgrades. That’s the biggest reason upgrades have been so hard to come by for elite frequent flyers. Your loyalty isn’t worth $59 to your preferred airline – even if you’re spending $20,000 or more per year with them."
"One reasonable strategy is to just lean into discounted first class buy up offers. Pay for coach, even if you want first. Then wait for an upgrade offer. If you don’t get one, cancel the ticket and as long as you didn’t buy a basic economy fare just use the flight credit to buy the first class seat you wanted. But you’ll often wind up sitting up front for much less."
The Bulkhead Seat: "On October 27th, Spirit will no longer just sell the BIG FRONT SEATS® as an add on, but will classify them as an entirely new offering. The seats will be sold as “Go Big” fares and will be the equivalent of Spirit’s First Class."
Go Big fares will include:
Thrifty Traveler: "Delta is bracing for a $500 million financial hit from its historic meltdown, CEO Ed Bastian said on Wednesday. But even after canceling more than 5,000 flights long after other carriers resumed flying smoothly, Bastian continued to pin the blame squarely on the global CrowdStrike outage earlier this month."
"The goal is clear: Delta wants CrowdStrike to foot that $500 million bill. Bastian confirmed that Delta is preparing to sue the cybersecurity provider."
Hyatt: "Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE:H) in collaboration with Maya Rio Development announced today plans for the first Hyatt-branded hotel in Belize with The Placencia Resort, which is entering the Hyatt portfolio as an affiliated hotel before joining the Destination by Hyatt brand and World of Hyatt loyalty program late next year. Nestled south of Mexico, east of Guatemala, and next to the Caribbean Sea, The Placencia Resort is located on the Placencia Peninsula, a verdant, 13-mile long beach in southern Belize near the largest barrier reef in the western hemisphere."
"By late 2025, The Placencia Resort is expected to offer 90 reimagined guestrooms, suites and beachfront villas following a $10 million dollar renovation including an enhanced arrival experience with playfully refined public areas. Shortly after, guests can expect a new dynamic three-meal restaurant, indoor/outdoor event space perfect for social gatherings, an overwater signature restaurant and bar, and a refreshed pool and pool bar experience."
The Points Guy: "A U.S. Department of Transportation regulation requiring airlines to more transparently disclose add-on fees appears to be in peril."
"On Monday, a panel of federal judges temporarily halted the Biden administration's new regulation, noting that they felt the rule 'likely exceeds DOT's authority and will irreparably harm airlines.'"
"The decision, made by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, means airlines can hold off on making sweeping changes in how they display prices, fees and fare rules — at least until the case is resolved."
View From The Wing notes that Hyatt has been franchising more and more to grow their footprint in the last few years. This means Hyatt isn't managing the properties itself. Instead, hotel owners are hiring hotel management companies to run the show.
As we've seen at Marriott and Hilton properties, this often leads to service standards not being met and properties failing to deliver on promised elite status benefits. VFTW notes that Hyatt has traditionally been a more high-end brand than either of those and falling short on service standards poses a risk for Hyatt.
"The trick is offering more than a place to sleep, eat and shower – it’s offering guests an overall experience, helping them tell stories not just about their stays but about themselves, and making their lives fuller when they’re away. That’s also why cutbacks on things like housekeeping make no sense at the premium end, while some guests say ‘I re-use towels at home’ or ‘I don’t make my bed every day’ that misses the point. This is all part of the experience that is more than the sum of each feature, that guests will pay more for and why they choose a premium property over a short-term rental."
Chris Dong (Washington Post): "Grumpy security agents, the threat of flight delays, crowds massing at the gate: Together, they’re a recipe for traveler stress. If you have access, airport lounges can be a serene haven in which to counter it."
"Lounges have become easier to access and, at times, overcrowded. As airports open more of them, travelers should recognize the major do’s and don’ts."
The article digs into several points:
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