Skift Business Traveler: More Premium Cabins Come to the Transcontinental Market

What to Know Now

Nobody likes taking redeye flights (my current running theory is that every single redeye takes a month off of your life), but for those of us who can’t avoid them, some solace is on the horizon. Premium transcontinental air travel has been on the rise, offering a more luxuriant and hopefully more restful journey for business and first class passengers.

American, Delta, United, and JetBlue are currently in a footrace to unroll the fanciest service at the highest frequency. With all now offering premium products at some level, service is now expanding up the east coast to ports like Boston. And with a little luck, that service will eventually expand to Chicago, Miami and Charlotte. To me, that sounds like a good night of sleep.

Social Quote of the Day

@jetblue is finally launching Mint service from Boston. I wonder how the other airlines are going to react (or not) https://shar.es/1qb2P

– @airlineflyer | Jason Rabinowitz, Routehappy Data Research Manager

 

@AirlineFlyer Might want to check that link. Broiled tomatoes might me a new Mint meal, but not the new.

– @WanderMe | Seth Miller

Airlines

Airline Bag and Change Fees Set a New Record First Quarter of 2015: U.S. airlines continue to collect record fees from passengers who check suitcases or make changes to their reservations. In the first three months of this year, airlines took in $1.6 billion in such fees, up 7.4 percent from the same period last year. Read more at Skift

JetBlue Adding Mint Class to West Coast Flights out of Boston: JetBlue Airways Corp.’s premium service, which includes lie-flat seats and customized menus, has proven popular enough with New York fliers that the airline will offer it on some Boston routes next year. Read more at Skift

Virgin Australia Escalates the Battle for Better Premium Economy: Virgin Australia has given the world its first glimpse of a new Premium Economy cabin which was designed to fit the needs of business and leisure travelers on long-haul routes. Read more at Skift

Airports

The TSA Has a New Leader to Fix Up Its Mess: The Senate was voting Monday to confirm a new leader for the Transportation Security Administration in the wake of reports of startling security gaps at U.S. airports. Read more at Skift

We’re Not Designing Airports for People, Dubai Airports CEO Suggests: If you’re tired of trudging through massive terminals to make your flight connections, you’re not alone. Even industry leaders agree that airports have become too big for most people. Read more at Skift

Delta CEO Proclaims Detroit Metropolitan Airport Best in the World: As he took his Open Skies rewind campaign to Detroit, Delta Air Lines CEO Richard Anderson may have let sentimentality get the best of him as he declared Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport “the best” in the world. Read more at Skift

Tech

The Era of Personalized Air Travel is Dawning, Thanks to Data: As aviation realizes that keeping passengers happy is profitable, this year’s SITA Air Transport IT Summit (ATIS) explored technology that lets airlines and airports put smiles on passengers’ faces by connecting with them as people. Read more at Skift

United Tries to Sharpen Tech Strategy to Improve Bond with Passengers: United Airlines wants to improve its connection to passengers. It aims to be better, sharper, faster, consistent, mobile. Read more at Skift

The On-Demand Economy Spotlights a Challenge for Workers: Regulators from California to Washington are trying to determine when a worker is an employee in an economy that increasingly relies on contractors and temporary hires. Read more at Skift

Hotels

Hotel Guests Say They Want Both Luxury and Sustainability: The hotels telling guests to reuse bath towels and not waste water are definitely on the right track: an estimated 52% of global travelers indicate they’re likely to choose a hotel and destination based on its social or environmental impact in 2015. Read more at Skift

Behind Freehand’s Second Hybrid Hotel and Hostel in Chicago: The new Freehand Chicago represents the most updated incarnation of the hybrid hotel/hostel segment, which has been popular in Europe for years, combining both regular hotel rooms and shared hostel rooms. Read more at Skift

The Rise of the Boutique Hostel in the U.S.: Who says hostels have to be full of backpackers sharing bunk beds? Read more at Conde Nast Traveler

Your Turn

Much congratulations to my old editor at Travel + Leisure Amy Farley, who just joined Fast Company. Enjoy the ride, Amy.

Tips and Comments

Can be sent to gm[at]skift[dot]com or to @grantkmartin

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