Since it’s a time for Christmas dreams — or for other holidays — here are six wishes for travelers, frequent and infrequent, for 2024.
Dear Santa…. Could you make these Christmas dreams come true?
Better communication from airlines.
Stuff happens, and sometimes things happen at the last minute that airlines don’t expect. But it’s absolutely maddening to rush to the gate as boarding time approaches and then see, for example, that the incoming flight hasn’t arrived, or has just arrived and is beginning to deplane. Or to find the crew isn’t arriving for a while.
Again, stuff happens! However, when an airline absolutely knows there will be a delay, why not tell passengers? Many of us may run through the concourse, leave a lounge or restaurant sooner than planned, or even skip buying food for fear of being late.
Discovering an airline hasn’t been honest makes a bad situation worse. It’s also maddening when it’s past departure time or a plane is sitting on the runway and it’s silence from the crew. Even, “We have a delay for fill-in-the-blank-reason and we aren’t sure but we’ll keep you posted,” makes a difference.
Honesty from airlines about upgrades, especially “complimentary upgrades.”
As in, most of the time they aren’t going to happen. Airlines love to tout upgrades as one of the benefits of elite status. However, even when frequent travelers cash in miles or points it’s a long shot, especially if any hub or popular route is involved. Personally, as a travel agent I know MANY 1k level fliers with United, from SFO, Dulles, Newark, Los Angeles and Chicago, and every one of them has been complaining about having their upgrades expire this year. And as for the “complimentary” upgrades, I can’t remember the last time I saw any of them get confirmed. (Travel agents get a message when their clients have been upgraded. Now, reportedly, if you fly out of an airport with very few United regular customers, like Sioux Falls or Bozeman, your chances are better. Maybe. And the same is true for other major carriers at their main airports.
I get that airlines want to maximize profits and would rather sell seats, but even at the airport they often play the game of selling discount upgrades last minute. This practice infuriates frequent travelers at the top of the waitlist.
Acknowledging that “no change fees” just means no penalty on top of a potential fare difference.
Frequent travelers often, but not always, know this. But airlines, now not just Southwest, proudly feature the lack of change fees in advertising, while not saying, even in fine print, that even with flights that aren’t full, that discount price you got may have doubled or tripled. You still have to pay the difference for a confirmed change. This puts airline employees and travel agents in the unfortunate position of being the bearer of bad news
Getting rid of “resort” fees.
This wish is one of the most bipartisan issues in America. Except maybe for people who work in accounting at hotel chains and casinos, nobody likes resort fees. And they seem to cover less and less. At the Venetian in Las Vegas this year the substantial fee, over $40 a day with tax, covered internet, the fitness center (does anyone USE a fitness center in Vegas?) and phone calls from the room — this last at the same time they want you to check in using your phone. No water, and not even coffee in the room. Now, with some hotels I’ve seen the fees include things travelers actually may appreciate, like free drinks, food credit, parking, water sports, but those cases seem to be in the minority. And if the fees are worth it, make them optional.
Eliminating “carrier surcharges.”
As I’ve written about, these surcharges — airlines don’t even pretend they are fuel surcharges any more — are in many ways even worse than resort fees. They are so substantial and non-discountable. For recent tickets issued from Europe for a family visiting parent/grandparents, the fare was $463, the surcharge $270. On business class tickets to/from Europe at time of writing, the surcharge is $1,900. Even children pay the same amount, and in some cases, airlines charge surcharges on “free” mileage awards.
We the travelers should be nicer to each other.
For all the stress of travel, and the increasing automation, human interaction can still be one of the best parts of travel — from the consumer side — whether it’s offering to help a fellow traveler stow a carry-on bag, or being nice to flight crews, travel agents, airline reservations and gate agents etc., plus hotel staff. Yes, sometimes you may leave a tip, or a larger tip, for hotel housekeepers. Being nice makes a difference.
Finally, merry everything! And thank you for reading my posts this year.
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Janice Hough is a California-based travel agent a travel blogger and a part-time comedy writer. A frequent flier herself, she’s been doing battle with airlines, hotels, and other travel companies for over three decades. Besides writing for Travelers United, Janice has a humor blog at Leftcoastsportsbabe.com (Warning, the political and sports humor therein does not represent the views of anyone but herself.)
