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Travelers have every reason to be concerned. Airlines are clever and often find ways around new government rules. For example, if the government requires the disclosure of a junk fee like baggage charges, airlines will come up with a new charge not covered by the regulation to make up for it.
Pretty much every barometer of travel intent is up for the summer travel season. Inflation and unemployment are low, and consumer sentiment and curiosity are high, fueling an unprecedented interest in travel during the summer of 2024.
My son sat next to the world's worst tourist on a flight from Sydney to Denpasar, Indonesia. His seatmate nursed a bottle of sizzurp -- a potent mix of codeine and Sprite -- and the man twitched uncontrollably for the seven-hour flight to Bali. When the intoxicated tourist disembarked on the conservative Hindu island, he collapsed on the terminal floor. The last time I saw him, customs officials were trying in vain to revive him from an opiate-induced stupor.
Annette Johnson thinks the travel industry is taking self-service too far. She's watched airlines drop their phone support and add fees for airport check-ins that use a human agent. Some air carriers are even tearing out their kiosks and prodding passengers into using a phone app at the airport. "It feels like you're being punished if you need a little help," says Johnson, a travel advisor.
The Lafayette, which is in the middle of a top-to-bottom renovation, is restoring the bar just in time for the release of a “Top Gun” sequel in May. Hissin says the timing is right to bring ’80s-loving tourists back to the Lafayette. He’s not the only hotel general manager wondering how to get travelers back. “Hotels are getting creative,” says Jennifer Dohm, a spokesperson for Hotels.com. As resorts look to the summer travel season, they are adding new room experiences, introducing promotional rates and waiving fees.
When it comes to air travel, hotel stays and car rentals, Americans are prioritizing warm, tropical and entertainment-focused destinations, such as Hawaii, Las Vegas, Mexico and Orlando. Florida, in particular, is a traveler favorite right now. The Sunshine State dominates the top-10 destinations across all three categories with at least four cities on each list.
Southwest retreated 1 percent to 79, tied for second place with JetBlue (which was unchanged). Since 2012, the two airlines have taken the top spots in the ACSI ratings, joined by a steadily improving Alaska. "Recent deadly crashes of the Boeing 737 Max for Ethiopian Airlines and Air Lion have left Southwest particularly vulnerable to safety concerns," says VanAmburg. (Southwest operates an all-737 fleet.)