I’ve been at the travel business, one way or another, for a very long time. And I can’t think of a year that I’ve been happier to see end than 2020. The year’s travel news oxygen was consumed almost entirely by two major disasters, either of which would have been enough to consign the year to a bottom rating: COVID and the Boeing MAX fiasco. So my usual “the year that was” summary for 2020 is more a random list of developments you might have missed. Some of the news was actually good.
Good News (1): Alaska, American, Delta, and United dropped the ticket change fees on most international tickets, including most “nonrefundables.” This follows earlier moves on domestic tickets. Airlines say these changes are “permanent,” but in the airline business, “permanent” can mean as little as a month or two. Of course, Southwest has never assessed change fees. At least so far, I haven’t seen any announcements from lines based outside the U.S. The no-fee policy does not apply to the lowest “basic” fare level, where tickets remain “use it or lose it.”
This change doesn’t mean that if you cancel your flight, you can get your money back. The airline keeps your money — it just allows you to re-use the money toward a future ticket. And if you cancel a $500 ticket and rebook a $400 ticket, some airlines keep the $100 difference. Normally, airlines wind up matching each other regarding fees and charges, so you can expect a few tweaks next year.
Good News (2). COVID vaccines are here! Coupled with widespread testing, that means most travel — domestic and international — can return to something like normal by mid- or late 2021. Nevertheless, you can expect mask requirements to last well into 2021. Because most industry mavens believe that leisure travel will rebound faster than business travel, they expect to see lots of frequent-flyer availability in business class next year. My 2021 take remains cautious: No matter how rosy your expectations, pay as little up front as you possibly can. You don’t want to lend money to any airlines, hotels, and cruise lines, and I suspect you’ll continue to find good promotions throughout the year.
Good News (3). Albeit at a snail’s pace, the online travel agencies are starting to provide hotel price comparisons based on the actual price you have to pay, not a lowball price that excludes mandatory “resort” fees, other scams, and taxes. So far, Kayak has the best system, but others are slowly adopting.
Good News or Not. MAX is back. A few airlines are already flying the ill-fated Boeing 737 MAX, and you’ll see a lot of flights next year. My take is that the updated MAX will be as safe as any other jet, but some disagree. In any event, I don’t expect FlyersRights to succeed in having the FAA reground the plane — unless there’s another crash. Meanwhile, Boeing has lost worldwide leadership in jet transports to Airbus, a situation that could last for a decade or more.
Bad News (1) Citi removed most travel benefits from most of its credit cards. The move actually happened in late 2019, but its effect will be felt mostly in 2020. I’m sure than many of you Citi cardholders have been relying on your card to cover collision damage on rented cars, so if you want to keep avoiding the CDW rip-off from rental companies, get another credit card. So far, I haven’t seen matching moves from other giant card issuers, but, as I’ve often said, in the travel business, nothing catches on as quickly as a bad idea. Be sure to check your card’s current benefits before your next trip.
Bad News (2). The blogosphere reports that American Airlines recently challenged a boarding passenger who was about to use a “point beyond” or “hidden city” ticket not to do so. Although “point beyond” violates airline rules, this is the first case I’ve seen of an airline’s proactively trying to enforce those rules. I think that means be careful if you use this fare-reduction trick.
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(c)2020 Ed Perkins.
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