As 1997 ticks away, many travelers are girding themselves for 1998’s travel challenges. Travel, it seems, always offers challenges–to enjoy great vacations and weekend getaways, perfect suntans, safe trips, low air fares, great cruise bargains and economical but charming hotel rooms.
With a lot of perseverance and some luck, travelers should find what they’re looking for. For example, airline traffic is expected to grow by 2.6 percent in 1998 so planes will fly, on average, with more than 70 percent of their seats filled. Expect fewer fare wars. Some 5.5 million people are expected to take a cruise in 1998. While the cruise lines are adding 14,000 new berths to their capacity, prime cabins may be hard to find during peak periods. There’s been little new hotel development but a strong demand for rooms. Don’t expect to find bargains in major business or tourist cities.
Perhaps the biggest challenge to consumers will come from the airlines, who constantly play games with fares, offer less service and jam passengers into planes like sardines.
In the year ahead, travelers may scream in unison that they are mad as hell and aren’t going to take any more abuse in return for their hard-earned dollars. People can rage at airlines for their bewildering array of now-you-see-them, now-you-don’t fares. And at travel agents who charge fees for their services to stay afloat, but don’t provide any services except printing out a ticket.
Travelers should firmly demand the service they deserve–from reservations people, gate agents, travel agents, front desk clerks and the like, all of whom are there to serve the public. Please note, serve.
Here’s a closer look at what travelers should expect in 1998.
Airlines: The big question is: “When can I get the lowest fares?” Tom Parsons, editor of Best Fares Magazine, said travelers should not expect to see as many fare sales as they did in 1997, especially in markets outside the domains of low-fare carriers such as Southwest Airlines. “You may want to start thinking about vacation and family reunion plans now so you know your dates of travel and can act when a sale comes about,” said Parsons, who constantly tracks air fares and other travel deals.
“We’ll probably see some big discounts between now and March, as much as 45 percent off in some niche (competitive) markets,” he said. “But in non-niche markets, probably only 20 to 30 percent when it (a sale) happens. If you’re flying between two heavy markets where Southwest or some of these other low-fare airlines compete head-to-head, I think you’ll see great competitive fares for ’98.”
For Europe-bound travelers, Parsons said, “we’ll probably continue to see fare sales all the way up to April, and we’ll definitely see them again in late August and into the fall” as carriers try to sell seats for slack winter periods. For travelers who want to fly the North Atlantic in June, July or August, Parsons suggested flying into the least expensive gateway (out of Chicago, it’s London) and traveling on from there.
In other airline happenings that could have consumer repercussions in 1998, the Departments of Justice and Transportation said they were investigating allegations that major airlines were trying to squeeze low-fare competitors out of business. Congress has proposed legislation to reallocate landing slots at busy airports that could provide travelers with more flight options and competitive fares.
In November, Lawton Roberts, a suburban Atlanta travel agency owner, launched his own revolution against the airlines with a book titled “Unfair at Any Fare,” which levels a blast at the major carriers, charging them with everything from restraint of trade to consumer fraud.
“Passengers think that a guaranteed reservation and ticket assures them they will get on a particular flight,” Roberts said in a telephone interview. “They can no longer count on that.” He cited a Delta Air Lines letter to its top-level frequent fliers. It stated: “You can also get a confirmed Coach reservation on sold-out flights when you make your reservation at least 24 hours ahead of time.” The end result, said Roberts, is that another passenger with a low-fare, advance-purchase ticket will be bumped.
Cruises: During 1998, seven new ships, with capacities from 312 to 2,600 passengers, will enter service. In addition, three newly chartered ships will be added to the cruise fleet, and two existing ships will be lengthened and renamed, according to Cruise Lines International Association, a marketing group. The net result: more than 14,000 new berths.
While it is still possible to cruise on the new ships, would-be passengers may encounter higher prices, warned Larry Fishkin, a senior partner of Cruise Line, a Miami-based discount cruise agency. “The era of cruise ship over-capacity has ended, at least temporarily,” he said. “This means it’s a seller’s market predominantly controlled by the cruise lines.”
But, he noted, there are still good discounts to be had, and he advised consumers to book early and grab a good deal when they see one.
Hotels: There may be good hotel deals in the marketplace, but it depends on what market. “In New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago and San Francisco, you may have trouble finding a room any day of the week and almost any time of the year,” said Chuck Ross, vice president of Smith Travel Research. “It’s primarily because there has been very little development of new hotels and a very strong demand for rooms.”
As elementary as it seems, travelers must know that they’ll find better bargains in the off-season, no matter where they go. But remember, it takes perseverance and research to find what you’re looking for.
