Why part 2

David J. Danto

Travel thoughts in my own, personal opinion

eMail: ddanto@IMCCA.org Follow Industry News: @NJDavidD on all

Why Part 2? – November 2024

The number of times I shake my head as I travel is enormous. I never understand why some decisions are made despite their obvious insanity. I listed a number of these in a prior blog, but I’m not close to running out of entries, so here are a few more really stupid things us travelers are faced with on a regular basis.

· Stairs at Airports: Why do some airports around the world expect travelers to navigate staircases? They must realize that many, if not most travelers are rolling luggage with them. I’ve not seen a large number of modern suitcases without wheels so I don’t know where airport designers are getting this idea.

· Carpeting at Hotels: And for the same reason as above, carpeting at hotels is even less understandable. Have you ever tried to roll a four wheel bag (or even a two wheel bag) across a plush carpet? Sure, I understand that carpeted hallways reduce noise into the rooms, but one could easily carpet a middle swath of a hall and keep the sides a bare floor of wood or terrazzo so that luggage could easily be wheeled along the distance. Personally, I’d prefer no carpeting at all and better sound insulated room doors, but one way or the other, making guests struggle to drag a heavy bag to their room is insane.

· Inconsistent Flight Delay Updates: If airlines can send notifications confirming that my checked bag made it onto the plane, then surely, they can notify me of the actual delay time for my flight. Instead, we get strung along with ten-minute increments, as if we're kids who can’t handle the truth. It’s insulting to be treated like we can’t grasp the reality of a significant delay. Just give us the honest estimate upfront – travelers would much prefer to know they have an hour to grab a meal than to sit in the terminal, anxiously waiting for each new delay announcement.

· Mandatory Resort Fees at Non-Resort Hotels: It’s absurd to be hit with a “resort fee” at a hotel that’s anything but a resort. These fees supposedly cover amenities like a gym, pool, or “complimentary” Wi-Fi, but often the facilities are basic, not even used or don’t even exist at the property. (Is a motel a “resort?”) It’s clearly just a cash grab – tacking on extra charges for services that should be included in the room rate. If a hotel isn’t providing a true resort experience, it shouldn’t be pretending to be one by charging resort fees. It’s a deceptive practice that leaves travelers feeling swindled before they even unpack.

· Airline Fare Sales: Airline fare sales are often little more than a bait-and-switch tactic. Sure, they advertise irresistible prices, but with strict capacity controls, only a handful of seats are actually available at the sale rate. Meanwhile, everyone else searching for tickets is left staring at the usual sky-high fares. It’s a frustrating game of chance, where travelers who don’t snag those elusive sale seats feel duped by the airlines’ misleading promotions. If the vast majority of us are still paying “through the roof” prices, it’s hard to call it a sale at all.

I won’t even bother to mention the recent scrutiny that US airline frequent flyer programs have received from the government. These programs have been baiting and switching us travelers for decades and our officials have just noticed now? That in itself is insane.

What are your biggest complaints about things you can’t understand as a frequent traveler? Email them to me and I’ll put them in a subsequent blog.

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This article was written by David Danto and contains solely his own, personal opinions.

All image and links provided above as reference under prevailing fair use statutes.

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