United’s Financial Forecast Rises and 3 Other Aviation Trends This Week

Throughout the week we post dozens of original stories, connecting the dots across the travel industry, and every weekend we sum it all up. This weekend roundup examines aviation.

For all of our weekend roundups, go here.

>>No, these special airline VIP lobbies are not new. But all three full-service U.S. airlines are investing in them, with each trying to one-up the other: U.S. Airlines Are Making Their VIP Lobbies Even More Posh

>>Here’s a prediction. The Trump administration may do little on the Open Skies debate. Yes, U.S. airlines probably suffer because of the agreements with Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. But plenty of other U.S. interests take advantage of the same agreements to make money: Pro-Open Skies Group Tries to Reach Trump Where it Matters — on Cable TV

>>Did customers book away from United Airlines after security officers called by the airline beat up a passenger in Chicago? Probably not, considering how well the airline performed financially in the second quarter: United Airlines Financial Forecast Rises Despite Dragging Incident

>>Yes, airline frequent flyer programs probably were more lucrative a decade ago. But savvy travelers can still get a lot of value out of the programs and their affiliated credit cards: Delta Says Travelers Still Love Airline Credit Cards Even Though Miles Are Worth Less