How much should you expect to spend to visit each of the largest 100 U.S. cities? Business Travel News has released its 2016 Corporate Travel Index, computing realistic per diem amounts for 100 U.S. cities, based on prevailing prices for hotel and rental-car rates and restaurant prices. (While leisure travelers can expect to spend less,…
According to the just-released Airline Quality Rating study, Virgin America is the country’s best airline. Of the 13 airlines ranked in the study, Alaska Airlines was rated fifth. Only time will tell what happens when the best airline is folded into the fifth-best airline. What we do know, now, is how various interested parties—customers, owners,…
Airline quality. Quality airline. Either way, that combination of words will strike many flyers as an oxymoron. Still, there are higher- and lower-quality airlines. And for travelers, it’s worth knowing which are which. While there are any number of studies and surveys that attempt to provide clarity on the perennial best/worst-airline question, none have proved…
Enter the Expedia CruiseShipCenters “Dream Come True” sweepstakes by May 6, 2016, for a chance to win the grand prize: a four-night cruise for four aboard the Disney Dream ship, plus three nights at the Walt Disney World Resort, including air, hotel, onboard meals, and a $600 Disney gift card. To enter, provide the requested…
Thanks to the DOT, U.S. airlines are required to allow customers who book non-refundable tickets more than seven days in advance to either 1) hold the reservation for 24 hours before being charged for it, or 2) pay for the reservation but cancel within 24 hours and receive a refund. The industry-standard policy is the…
Alaska and Virgin America are two great airlines that consistently deliver low fares and an outstanding customer experience. By bringing them together, we are creating the premier airline for people who live anywhere on the West Coast. That’s Brad Tilden, Alaska Airlines CEO, announcing his airline’s acquisition of Virgin America. The Deal: Details As confirmed…
Although there’s no official confirmation from either airline, it’s being widely reported that Virgin America has agreed to be acquired by Alaska Airlines. Sources say an announcement could come as soon as Monday. According to a Wall Street Journal report (subscription required), Alaska will pay around $2 billion for Virgin America, a hefty premium over…
Following is our regular summary of the latest travel news and best frequent traveler promotions reviewed during the past week. If it was a good deal—or a notably bad deal—from an airline, hotel, or car rental loyalty program, you can read all about it here, and plan your travel accordingly. Marriott Wins Bidding War, Will…
In an industry that often seems intent on treating its customers with callous disregard, Alaska Airlines enjoys an enviable reputation for doing the opposite. Much of that acclaim is due to its loyalty program, Mileage Plan, which among other features boasts an outsized roster of airline partners available for earning and redeeming miles. This week,…
In the weeks-long bidding war for Starwood, Anbang’s latest offer was demonstrably superior to Marriott’s, at least in the short term. And it appeared that Marriott was standing pat, hoping that Starwood shareholders would buy the argument that a Marriott-Starwood tie-up could deliver better returns over the long term. As things stood, there was a…
This morning, my inbox and social-media feed were chock full of messages from and about Virgin America. And they had nothing to do with the airline’s rumored merger with JetBlue or Alaska Airlines, a developing story that concerns the company’s very existence. Rather, the breaking news concerned Virgin America’s new logo. In place of the…