While its success is based principally on attractive pricing and ease of use, Uber’s business model critically depends on a ready supply of available and motivated workers. While there’s no sign that the pool of potential drivers is drying up, yet, the enthusiasm of Uber drivers seems to be eroding. According to a new survey…
Virgin America thinks its new “Flights with Bennies” campaign is cheeky. In name, perhaps. But really, it’s just another refer-a-friend bonus promotion. Which isn’t a bad thing. (Warning: The landing page for this promotion, perhaps in an effort to achieve cheekiness, has an annoying auto-enabled soundtrack. You may wish to mute your speakers.) Offer Details…
Is the state of air travel improving? Not according to the DOT, which just released its Air Travel Consumer Report for 2015. Airline passengers filed 20,170 complaints with the DOT in 2015, up 30 percent over 2014. That was for all airlines, foreign and domestic, and travel agents. For U.S. airlines, the picture was even…
American’s AAdvantage program isn’t the only loyalty scheme converting to spend-based accrual later this year. Starbucks, the world’s largest purveyor of coffee-based beverages, has announced plans to make a similar change to its Rewards program, effective some time in April. According to the company: It’s an exciting new program that reflects the #1 request we…
Enter the Cupcake Vineyards “Treat Today” sweepstakes by March 15, 2016, for a chance to win the grand prize: a five-day trip for two to the 2016 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, including air, hotel, airport transfers, and event passes. Runner-up prizes include $100 and $50 gift cards. To enter, provide the requested contact…
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. Tipping Uber Drivers: Yea or…
With Marriott’s pending acquisition of Starwood, there’s reason to expect that as the former goes, so will go the latter. Marriott announced its award-price changes for 2016 earlier this week; the next day, Starwood announced its changes. Marriott’s were a significant downgrade, with 13 percent of its properties rising in price. Starwood’s are less significant,…
In its latest effort to capture the hearts, minds, and expense accounts of the travel universe’s most privileged 1 percent, American is raising the bar for airport lounges. The airline has two types of lounge: the Admirals Club lounges, available to anyone willing to pay for access, and to holders of the Citi AAdvantage Elite…
Marriott has just published its list of award-price changes for 2016. As Marriott Rewards members have come to expect from these annual pronouncements, the news amounts to yet another decrease in the value of their points. Around 18 percent of Marriott’s properties will be reassigned to higher or lower award categories, with 560 hotels requiring…
Tired of slow, expensive inflight WiFi? So is American, and it’s suing Gogo, the industry’s largest supplier of inflight WiFi, demanding that Gogo either up its game or allow American to switch providers for 200 of its planes. The Gogo service on the aircraft in question uses the old air-to-ground technology, which has been superseded…
“Stop Clicking Around. Start Saving.” That’s the headline of Hilton’s new ad campaign, and the nub of its latest marketing push. The “stop clicking” piece of the proposition is Hilton’s way of saying that qualifying bookings must be made direct with Hilton, via its website or smartphone app or by phone. As do all hotels…