What 2022 actions will stick?
Every year as we look back and add up what happened in the past 12 months, we can easily tally a whole bunch of actions and developments that took place. What’s tougher — but more important — is what happened that will stick around for a while and influence your future travel experience. These days, the buzz word is “transformative,” and transformative events are often relatively rare. Here’s my take on 2022 events that will have ongoing impact.
Travel overall: Almost everyone has indicated some surprise at how strong the urge to travel is among the general population. Pandemic? Staff shortages? Inflation? War? None of it seemed to dampen the desire of folks to go somewhere. I think we can safely conclude that future calamities are likely to be overcome or ignored as readily.
Airline: 2022 is likely to be remembered as the year when frequent flyer programs nosedived.
Yes, people are still using charge cards that rack up the miles and a few still go on mileage runs, but to me, it’s a new ball game. Airlines have raised the mileage “price” of award tickets so much that the incentive is no longer there. My recent trip to Europe is an example. When I first booked it in 2020, a business class round-trip from my home airport in Medford, Oregon, to Germany cost 120,000 miles with a good itinerary. When I was finally able to take it, I paid something like 160,000 miles for a less desirable itinerary. And to book it today, I’d probably have to pay more than 200,000 miles for an undesirable itinerary.
So far, I haven’t seen the busy frequent flyer blogosphere take up the issue of mileage inflation and the declining value of points. But many of you will want to consider switching from earning miles to earning a cash rebate as your best credit card option.
On another front, recent startup airlines — Avelo and Breeze — seem to have weathered the early year woes. We can expect both to be around for a while, adding new routes rather than innovative services.
Hotels: Another year gone by and still no action against widespread deceptive price advertising: Resort fees are still the rule of the day. Yes, the Federal Trade Commission finally decided to take another look at the problem, but that agency’s track record for quick, decisive action is, at best, terrible.
2022 also saw an increase in the number of instances where hotel owners/operators ignored chain policies in treatment of award travel and traveler status. I don’t see any change coming. Chains are very reluctant to take action against owners/ operators under franchise agreements.
Rail: Three transformative urban rail projects were completed in 2022 — sort of. Washington’s Metro did start operating to Dulles Airport and London’s Crossrail (or Elizabeth Line) did open with through service across central London from Heathrow. Both systems will have a big long-term impact on visitors to those important centers for years to come. The “sort of ” is for the extension of Long Island Rail Road service from Jamaica into Grand Central. It was promised by the “end of 2022.” If and when, it will be a big deal for travelers to/from JFK Airport.
Otherwise, the rail picture is frustrating. The government has lavished big bucks on rail infrastructure and innovative services, but we haven’t seen much of anything concrete to show for it.
The problem is simple: Before we see results, we have to see consultants’ reports, studies and plans that can take years. Yes, you will see results eventually — but 2022 was largely a bust.
Car rentals: I’m puzzled that nothing much happened. The country is heading toward electric vehicles and the rental companies are going to have to respond. They will, obviously, but they didn’t in 2022.
Let’s hope we see more progress in 2023 as the year 2022 didn’t set a very high bar.