The big aviation stories keep rolling in as we edge closer to 2025.
First, it’s not your imagination: First-class upgrades aren’t clearing as often as they used to. That’s because U.S. carriers have dramatically increased how many first-class seats they actually sell. Previously, many went unsold — helping airlines hold space for complimentary elite upgrades. TPG’s Sean Cudahy has the full story on what it means for flyers — elite and otherwise — and how carriers were able to sell more premium seats. (Hint: They made them more affordable.)
Now, on to the week’s biggest story: Frontier Airlines is adding a first-class cabin — a huge shift at one of the nation’s big ultra-low-cost carriers. Perhaps that could begin a change in the image of ULCCs, currently known largely for no-frills, bare-bones service. However, one important detail that could affect that narrative is whether Frontier also adds meaningful service upgrades for first-class customers — not just new seat hardware. A new service standard there truly would mark a new day in the ULCC space.
And, over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, the Transportation Security Administration logged its busiest day ever for U.S. air travel. But as the airlines enjoy that surge in travel, they also face a grilling today on Capitol Hill, where five of the nation’s biggest airlines will be asked by Congress to justify an increasing menu of add-on fees.
That’s because an uptake in sales of first-class seats has made complimentary domestic first-class upgrades — a perk that elite frequent flyers have long counted as one of their most valuable — harder to come by. Couple that with long lines for airline lounges, mileage devaluations and ever-increasing thresholds for elite status, and there are rumblings from some corners wondering if chasing status is worth it anymore.
It all seems like part of a storyline we’ll hear more on come 2025.
We’ll leave it there this week. Safe travels, and I’ll see you here again in two weeks!
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