How Air Travel Will Change in 2017

[Guest Nicole]

In 2017, experts predict that low-cost, long-haul flights will become ever more available.

There's good news and bad news.

As soon as travelers adjust to the new way of flying, it seems airlines mess with the rules. This past year brought plenty of changes to the air travel experience and, for better or worse, passengers should expect plenty more in 2017.

'Basic Economy' Becomes a Buzzword

In 2016 Delta, Alaska Air, United, and American airlines all revealed new airfare classes in an attempt to capture a wider range of travelers. Expect to see an expansion of basic economy, which appeals to price-sensitive fliers (but bums the rest of us out with overhead bin charges), in 2017. What you won't see is a separate seating area on the plane for basic economy, said Henry Harteveldt, a travel industry analyst with Atmosphere Research Group. “They will be assigned within the same main cabin and receive the same service as everyone else.”

At the other end of the spectrum, premium economy will grow more popular and become a mainstay as airlines receive their newest aircraft, say airline analysts. (Premium economy aims to be the happy medium between a 30-inch economy seat and a $5,000 business class seat.) Airlines will get better at explaining what's included with each branded fare, and the customer will increasingly just pay for what they want, and nothing more. “Basically what we are seeing is a more transparent way: the you-get-what-you-pay-for experience,” says Harteveldt.

Frequent Flier Points Will Be Devalued (Sorry)

Travelers will have a harder time redeeming frequent flier points for dream vacations. Over the last several years, U.S. airlines have slowly devalued what the miles—now called “points”—are worth; in some cases, miles are now based on money spent, not miles flown. The airlines are packing their planes to capacity and don’t want to give up a seat for free anymore. So expect to see the value of your points continue to drop, while airlines roll out various “perks” that can be during bought during travel with your points, such as a bottle of champagne.

More Cheap Transatlantic Flights

Despite the consolidation of the industry, we will likely continue to see lower airfares, especially on international routes like New York to Paris, says George Hobica, founder of Airfare Watchdog. New competition among low-cost, long-haul carriers—remember the names Norwegian Air, Wow Air, and WestJet—will keep price pressure on legacy U.S. airlines. Harteveldt expects a few more long-haul budget airlines to surface in 2017—though it's up for debate whether these new carriers can stay profitable by offering flights to Europe for $69. The introduction of more fuel-efficient aircraft, like the Boeing 787 and Airbus A350, does mean airlines can spend less on fuel. “We are seeing some competition, and competition is always good for the consumer,” Harteveldt says.

Even More Crowded Airports...

Cheap airfare also means more fliers, which means more crowded airports, says Hobica. Unless passengers start signing up for TSA PreCheck in droves, expect even longer security lines in 2017.

...But More Comfortable Airplanes

“Air travel will become more comfortable, and I know that is a little counterintuitive,” Hobica says. That doesn’t mean the roomy, plush seats are coming back to coach. But several new aircraft models—the Airbus A350, for one—are now being made out of composite material, which can be pressurized at 6,000 feet rather than the traditional 8,000 feet. Those 2,000 feet make all the difference in how a passenger feels. “Eight thousand feet is like climbing a mountain. Studies show that if you go over 6,000 feet, people get headaches and start to get cranky,” Hobica says. The lower pressurization level should leave passengers feeling better rested when they land. (So long, jet lag.)

Phone Calls on Planes? Ugh.

The federal government appears poised to take on two key issues related to commercial air travel in 2017. First, President-Elect Donald Trump has expressed interest in privatizing the nation’s Air Traffic Control; some factions strongly support the idea while others, including airlines like Delta, are passionately opposed. (Delta notes that air traffic control costs in Britain and Canada have increased since both countries privatized.) Secondly, the Transportation Department may considerletting passengers make phone calls in-flight if they use Wi-Fi-based technology rather than radio frequencies. While a decision is likely years away, expect this conversation to heat up in 2017.

http://www.cntraveler.com/story/how-air-travel-will-change-in-2017