Airbnb's New Experiences, Southwest's Big Change and Lufthansa's Emissions Challenges
Skift Take
Key Points
- Airbnb's relaunched experiences offerings aim to compete with Viator and GetYourGuide by including mainstream attractions and encouraging professional tour guides.
- Southwest Airlines abandoned its 'bags fly free' policy to align with investor interests, potentially impacting customer loyalty.
- Lufthansa reported a 16% rise in total emissions for 2024, with passenger-related emissions decreasing due to more fuel-efficient aircraft.
Summary
Airbnb is revamping its experiences offerings to compete with platforms like Viator and GetYourGuide by incorporating mainstream attractions and professional guides. Southwest Airlines has dropped its 'bags fly free' policy, a significant shift driven by investor pressure that could affect customer loyalty. Meanwhile, Lufthansa reported a 16% increase in total emissions for 2024, although it noted a decrease in passenger-related emissions due to more efficient aircraft.
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Airbnb has rolled out a new vision for its relaunched experiences offerings, which indicates the short-term rental giant is looking to challenge Viator and GetYourGuide, reports Executive Editor Dennis Schaal.
Airbnb said in a sponsored post in an experiences newsletter that Airbnb Experiences would include mainstream landmarks and attractions. The company is also encouraging submissions from licensed tour guides and business operators. Leaning into popular attractions and professional tour guides is a shift from Airbnb’s initial vision for experiences, which emphasized niche tours and activities.
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Next, Southwest Airlines has made a stunning reversal to its business model. The carrier is scrapping its longtime “bags fly free” policy, write Airlines Reporter Meghna Maharishi and Airlines Editor Gordon Smith.
Southwest said the move would “support business objectives.” The company is changing its business model following a battle with Elliott Investment Management, one of Southwest’s largest investors. Elliott has long supported bag fees as a way for Southwest to increase its revenues.
Maharishi writes getting rid of the policy is a risk for Southwest, which has a loyal customer base and has long stressed the benefits of no bag fees.
Finally, the Lufthansa Group has reported mixed progress in its quest to cut emissions in half by 2030, writes Climate Reporter Darin Graham.
The company said in its annual report that total emissions rose by 16% in 2024. However, its passenger-related air travel emissions decreased by 1%. A Lufthansa Group spokesperson cited the use of more fuel-efficient aircraft as one factor in reducing passenger-related emissions.
The company said overall emissions were higher because non-flight emissions — including those from ground transportation, waste, and food production — increased.
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Photo Credit: The Airbnb app displayed on a smartphone screen. Adobe Stock / mariakray
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