On the Go – October 31, 2024

Industry News – Click on the title to read the full article. Many of the sources below require a free registration to gain access to the article. If a paid registration is required, the individual source will be noted.

Airlines

United Increases Premier Status Requirements (Source: Travel Market Report)
United is upping the qualifying thresholds for its Premier status levels, making it harder for its frequent fliers to qualify starting next year.  United sets its status levels on a combination of Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs) and Premier Qualifying Flights (PQFs). PQPs are based on how much travelers spend on flights, while PQFs are based on the number of flight segments taken.

U.S. Airlines Now Required To Refund Cancelled Flights (Source: CNN)
Airlines in the United States are now required to give passengers cash refunds if their flight is significantly delayed or canceled, even if that person does not explicitly ask for a refund.  The Department of Transportation says the final federal rule requiring that airlines dole out refunds — not vouchers — went into effect Monday. The major change is being implemented only a month before the start of what is likely to be a huge holiday travel season.

United To Expand Winter Schedule (Source: Business Travel News)
United Airlines has launched a winter schedule with new routes and expanded service, including inaugural flights between Newark and Marrakesh, Morocco.  With expanded schedules at more than 140 U.S. airports, United plans to operate an average of 4,600 flights per day during peak season, marking the “largest winter schedule in company history.”

Security

TSA And AAA’s Tips On How To Handle Thanksgiving Travel (Source: AFAR)
If you’re traveling for Thanksgiving, you’re not alone—so are more than 55 million other people. Here’s what to know before heading out.  Whether you’re going to your cousin’s house for Thanksgiving or using the long weekend for a beach getaway, one thing is certain: You will not be alone. In 2023, nearly 3 million people traveled through airports in the United States the Sunday after Thanksgiving, according to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Its estimate for the number of people traveling between November 17 and 27, 2023, was 29.9 million, an increase of 9 percent from 2022.

Hotels

Miami Beach To Add Convention Center Hotel By 2027 (Source: Connect CRE)
The Miami Beach Convention Center Headquarters Hotel, also known as the Grand Hyatt Miami Beach, is set to open by 2027. The hotel will have a skybridge to the convention center, 100,000 square feet of meeting space, five food stations, two pools and 320 parking spaces.

The 8 Scariest Haunted Hotels In The World (Source: SmarterTravel)
You’ve just settled down for a good night’s sleep in a cozy old hotel when a child’s laughter penetrates the stillness.  Could it be that you are now laying awake in a hotel where guests may have checked out, but never really left?  There’s no better time to celebrate the world’s most haunted hotels than Halloween.

New Kimpton Secret Password To Unlock Bonus Treats At Hotels This Winter (Source: The Points Guy)
Kimpton is back with its secret password, and let’s just say it’s giving.  In case you missed it, a few times per year, IHG’s most social and playful brand issues a secret password for guests to earn freebies during their hotel stays. All you have to do is say the secret password “It’s giving” during Kimpton stays between Nov. 1, 2024, and Jan. 31, 2025.

Leisure Travel

12 Unforgettable Train Rides Operating This Holiday Season (Source: Travel Market Report)
Getting into the holiday spirit is as easy as hopping aboard a festive train, and we’ve rounded up a bunch of options to do just that.  Some are full-fledged railway tours that could serve as an actual “12 Days of Christmas” trip if you book pre- and post-nights. Many are one-off attractions, perfect to add to a family’s winter weekend or daytripper itinerary. All offer magical experiences for all ages.

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