Will alarmist headlines keep holiday air travelers at home?
When it comes to travel, is the sky really falling? You might be forgiven for thinking so after reading headlines like Airline downsizing means U.S. holiday travel overhaul, above a story that predicts air travel is about to plummet off a cliff.
Or, Belts tighten on holiday air travel, which warns that, “if you’re only now trying to book a flight for Thanksgiving, your goose might be cooked.”
Well, here’s a headline you can print: The sky isn’t falling.
In fact, as I pointed out in a recent column on MSNBC, this could be the best holiday travel period since 2002. Expect lower prices on everything from air fares to hotel room rates, smaller crowds and a more pleasant overall experience.
So what’s with the doom-and-gloom headlines?
As someone who has worked in a newsroom and watched the news cycle ebb and flow, I can make an educated guess about what’s happening. Editors who only pay attention to travel a few times a year — Thanksgiving, Memorial Day and Fourth of July — are looking at the Wall Street meltdown, and thinking, “Well, this must be affecting travel.”
They’re right about that. A bad economy means the travel experience could actually improve.
Instead, these easily-distracted managers are sending their reporters out on assignment to write the opposite story. That record high prices will keep people at home for the holidays.
Too bad they’re wrong.
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Or, Belts tighten on holiday air travel, which warns that, “if you’re only now trying to book a flight for Thanksgiving, your goose might be cooked.”
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When these (holiday) flights become available for booking and ticketing, they do. That usually means by midsummer, these flights are sold out on high traffic days before and after the holiday. With the exception of seats blocked for last minute travelers willing to purchase premium fares. They are paying for the right to walk on the aircraft at the last minute.
The economy is cyclical, but Holiday travel generally never is.
Right on, Chris! Good point. I can see the early November headlines now… “Trade Group Predicts Holiday Travel Will Be Down 1.7% Due To Economic Concerns. Oh My God!”