The department announced the formation of the Airline Passenger Protection Partnership on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, during a ceremony at Denver International Airport (DEN).   Partnership Opens Federal Data Books for States Investigating Airlines Under the new cooperative, the 18 states joining the partnership will get additional resources to investigate allegations of airline and ticket agent misconduct. Attorneys general who “uncover unfair or deceptive airline practices” will get a new fast-track system with the Transportation Department, who will in turn pressure stakeholders to ..read more

  Called Wyndham Rewards Business, the new “generous loyalty program” offers businesses the opportunity to directly earn points for room, group, and event spending.   Program Acts Similar to Personal Rewards Program on Bigger Scale Under the new program, companies earn one point per dollar spent on “business-qualified stays,” which are booked through Wyndham’s direct channels (the website, app, call centers, or direct with the property) when providing their corporate ID. Hotels booked through third-party websites do not qualify.   In turn, businesses have multiple ways to use th ..read more

  The Atlanta-based carrier announced a new numbered boarding zone lineup that will go into effect starting on Wednesday, May 1.   Diamond Medallion and Sky Priority Gives Way to Numbered Categories Under the current boarding order, flyers are categorized in one of nine different categories based on their booked service class or elite status with Delta Air Lines or another SkyTeam carrier. Diamond Medallions are currently allowed to board immediately after first class flyers and those who require preboarding.   When the new numbered boarding procedure begins, preboarding travele ..read more

  Bloomberg reports the new routes from Newark to Portugal and Tokyo to The Philippines will be delayed as the Federal Aviation Administration reviews the carrier’s performance record.   Faro and Cebu Put on Backburner Pending Review In an email to the news outlet, United confirmed that two routes planned for launch would be pushed far into the future. A planned route between Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and Faro International Airport (FAO) in Portugal will be delayed by at least a year. The carrier planned for the first flight to take place on May 24, 2024, but it will ..read more

  The Associated Press reports the Chicago-based aerospace giant paid $160 million to Alaska as “initial compensation” with more money on the way.   First Compensation Payment Covers Loss Related to Incident According to the Seattle-based airline, the $160 million payment is related to losses after an unsecured door plug fell off Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 in January 2024. This includes loss of revenue from not having the aircraft in service and the subsequent grounding of the 737 MAX 9, along with the cost of repairs for the aircraft.   While this is the first payment offered ..read more

  In an open letter to U.S.-based carriers, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is asking airlines to provide clear and consistent benefits detailed in public-facing customer service plans.   Enhanced Benefits Request Ahead of “Support Our Troops” Dashboard In his request to airlines, Buttigieg referenced his own service as a U.S. Navy Reserve officer, and his experience with the military benefits provided by airlines. However, he also noted that they are not necessarily communicated effectively to service members.   Most airlines offer early boarding and free baggage allowa ..read more

  The opportunity is part of the latest Hilton Honors Experiences drop, celebrating the three-time Super Bowl champion’s music festival, Kelce Jam   Experiences Include Football Toss and VIP Access to Kelce Jam The new experiences are in celebration of the music festival, taking place on May 18, 2024. Hilton Honors members will be able to bid on three packages currently up for auction.   The biggest package involves playing a football challenge with Kelce himself. For a bid starting at 200,000 points, one Hilton Honors member and their guest will get to meet Kelce, receive signe ..read more

  Published in Organizational Science, researchers discovered airlines increase the number of flights between the chair’s home district and the nation’s capital in a bid to gain political clout.   Seats to D.C. Increase by 4%; Departures from Home Increase by 5.5% The research was authored by Min-Seok Pang, an associate professor and research fellow at Temple’s Fox School of Business, along with Russell Funk from the University of Minnesota and Daniel Hirshman of Cornell University. Studying airline data from 1990 through 2019, the data revealed a significant increase in flights for ..read more

  The company announced the addition of a new brand in their portfolio, WaterWalk: An upscale extended stay hotel that becomes the 25th brand under their umbrella.   WaterWalk Expands on Brand Founded by Extended Stay Inventor WaterWalk was originally founded by Jack DeBoer, credited as an “extended-stay trailblazer” who founded two of the first successful extended stay hotels, including the Residence Inn (part of Marriott), and Candlewood Suites (part of IHG). The 11 hotels currently in brand include locations in Jacksonville, Florida; Tucson, Arizona; and Wichita, Kansas.   C ..read more

  FlyerTalkers who have visited the United promotion site report varying levels of bonus offers, with some cards not even qualifying for the additional challenge – and the reactions are mixed.   Flyers Offered Bonus Miles or Premier Qualifying Points FlyerTalker escapefromphl was the first to report their bonus offer on the forums, calling it “a downgrade compared to previous years somehow.” Their top-end offer is 50,000 bonus MileagePlus miles or 2,500 bonus Premier Qualifying Points, after a quarterly spend ranging from $29,000 to $50,000. As a result, escapefromphl says they will ..read more