United pushed the launch of its basic economy fares out a few months, giving business travelers a few more months to enjoy the full perks of budget tickets. Slowly, however, the axeman cometh.
The state of travel bookings is already complex and it's only going to get worse, says SilverRail CEO Aaron Gowell. To keep up, the industry needs a more comprehensive booking system.
Google says it wants to provide users with the best answers and connect them to online travel agencies, airlines, and hotels. But Google could also provide greater booking functionality one day soon.
The Points Guy founder Brian Kelly and Airfare Watchdog founder George Hobica agree that the value of loyalty programs is eroding. But around the edges, there's still plenty of value to be found.
Loyalty members at Marriott and Starwood were in for a surprise last Friday when the hotels announced that it was possible to link the programs. Each group now has nearly double the volume of bookable hotels and partner programs with which they can use their points.