TSA Trusted Traveler Program: Finally, Something the TSA does RIGHT

I'm not usually a big fan of the TSA. In fact, quite the opposite. As a heavy business (and leisure!) traveler, I've found many of the TSA's tactics silly or simply pure theater over the years.

However, today, upon leaving Las Vegas, I got sent to the Trusted Traveler line after the agent up front scanned my boarding pass. I'm an Elite flyer with both Delta and American, the two pilot airlines for the program but hadn't yet seen anything special. The last place I expected anything was certainly Las Vegas.

But, get this! First, there was NO line. Next, I didnt take off my shoes. Really. I didnt have to yank my computer out of the laptop (I did buy one of those Tumi bags that allows you just to unzip awhile back but I didn't even have to do that!) And, I may jacket stayed on. So did my belt. And I didn't have the nudie scan - just walked through the metal detector old school - like clearing security in 1972.

Finally, something done right by the TSA! Bravo. Now lets just get it to more airports.

Allegiant tries 757s - Aloha Hawaii

Late on Friday afternoon, Allegiant announced they would purchase six 757s. These 757s are Allegiant's first stray from the venerable MD-80s which now make up the fleet.

Allegiant plans to begin flying them later this year from West Coast cities to Hawaii which currently lack nonstop service to the islands. Don't expect to see Allegiant announcing LAX-HNL service - while LAX is a focus city for Allegiant, we expect them to enter the Hawaiian market from smaller cities with less than daily service as is their trademark. We'd expect new service from places like Bellingham, Fresno, Eugene and the like.

This is clearly wonderful news for the Hawaiian hotel market given the massive over-capacity that currently exists. And we expect Allegiant to do well - given the softness in the market, they will be able to negotiate significant discounts on hotels and attractions which will translate into better prices for their consumers and better margins for ALGT.

Clearly, a new market and fleet type is not without risk but this is a company that knows the leisure business better than anyway. It is more of the same formula, albeit with a new aircraft type, that has served them so well in Las Vegas, Orlando and other key leisure destinations.

Anyone who thinks of ALGT as an airline has it all wrong - this is a leisure powerhouse that just happens to be required to file monthly statistics with the DOT.....

Jetsetter Speaks Out at HEDNA on Marketing and Distribution

Jetsetter CEO Drew Patterson was a panelist at this week's HEDNA convention in Las Vegas and had some great insights into marketing, distribution and revenue management.

Drew began his remarks with an observations that what is really missing in the online travel industry today is inspiration. Paraphrasing, the major OTAs are not really about exciting people to travel or getting them to book an incremental trip - they are largely order takers. (My words, not Drew's!)

Drew's comments are similar (but not as blunt) to Harrah's CEO and President Gary Loveman's remarks at this year's PhoCusWright conference during which he lamented that the OTA industry has done little to actually drive tourism and increase trips - most energy (in his opinion) is spent on beating up one another (OTA vs. OTA as well as OTA vs. supplier) vs. actually driving and inspiring consumers to travel (and stay in his hotels, obviously.)

Drew also commented on the often difficult relationship between Revenue Management and Marketing within the hotel industry. In Drew's words, "RM and marketing have to work in partnership to stimulate activity. Lowering rates without communicating the price change just dilutes an existing customer base. At the same time, marketing communication without value or a reason is a waste of money because consumers will see through it. The two have to be integrated to have an impact." Sage advice for hoteliers and distribution partners.

Clearly, Jetsetter aims to solve for these issues, but they alone can't be the total answer for what ails the industry today. (Drew has big plans but it is a big world out there.) Will anyone step up in 2010?