Traveling Blog: Airlines Hiking Fares + Trivago's TV Ad Pullback + 10 Essential Skift Reads

July 31, 2018

Editor's Note

Every time we come through an earnings season, we ask our beat editors to give us a smart takeaway from their industries. The news from the airlines this time around doesn't bode well for travelers. Airlines are constantly juggling supply and demand with dynamic pricing, under-performing routes versus winners — and all of this against the pressure-filled backdrop of Wall Street expectations. Now throw 40 percent fuel price increases into that mix and somebody has to emerge the loser.

As Aviation Business Editor Brian Sumers points out today, passengers are already seeing higher ticket prices as a way to help airlines offset costs, but the message from execs this earnings season is that those prices could go higher. Last time fuel costs went through the roof during the 2008 recession, airlines got very creative with new fees, too. Want more legroom? A fee. Want to check a second bag? A fee — a legacy that stays with us. Executives promise that this time around won't be like 2008. But let's see what happens in the next quarter or two, and we will be sure to let you know.

— Tom Lowry, Managing Editor

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Downtown Albuquerque Is a Meeting Planner Portal to the Future of Innovation

U.S. airlines got a little fat and happy when fuel prices were at historically low levels. Passengers loved it too, because prices on competitive routes came down. But that's ending now, and travelers should get used to the new normal.

Trivago and Booking Slash U.S. TV Ad Spending

Trivago and Booking.com have dramatically reduced their U.S. TV advertising. Trivago is doing so to try to stem losses, and Booking.com, which last year indicated it would lean into TV advertising, may be trying to tighten control of some marketing costs.

Skift Basics: 10 Essential Reads to Understand Global Travel, If You're New to It

Skift deciphers and defines the big trends for professionals in the global travel industry. If you're new to it or considering getting into it, you will be up to speed after reading these. We guarantee it!

UN Agency's Latest Endangered List Leaves Out Many Sites Plagued by Overtourism

UNESCO sites have to follow conservation and management criteria to maintain their designations, but many have slacked off over the years and put themselves at risk. Still, one area that still isn't raising a big red flag with UNESCO is the crush from overcrowding.

Air Canada Plans a Hostile Takeover of the Aeroplan Loyalty Program

Until last week, Air Canada's loyalty program members were on track to see Aeroplan split from the airline in 2020. Now, the program and miles are in jeopardy.

Who Will Be on Stage at Skift Global Forum?

As founder and CEO of VAWAA, Geetika Agrawal is on a mission to humanize travel, create opportunities for deep personal and creative growth, and revive the lost art of apprenticeship. Hear from Geetika this September at Skift Global Forum!

Going slow to go fast. Less is more. Less is human. Patience. Sound like crazy ideas to build a company around in today's world, right? But this is the culture that has brought Skift to its sixth anniversary this week. To recognize our achievement, we are proud to offer you this digital book we created on the business of longevity.

Amadeus Hospitality Is a Tough Sell Despite Progress With InterContinental Hotels Group

Amadeus hopes to clear some of the underbrush that's grown up in hotel technology. If it succeeds, it will likely reshape the costs and systems used for selling rooms industrywide.

Expedia Marketing Spend Levels May Reflect a Changing Advertising Environment

Has the worm turned? Have Expedia and Booking.com found a way to trim the growth of their bloated advertising spend? That would not be great news for some advertising platforms, and would be a significant change in the way the largest players conduct their marketing operations.

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