Virtuoso Vice President of Global Public Relations Misty Belles delves into the details of the holiday travel season. It's that time again when holiday travel impacts household budgets, with costs on the rise due to increased demand. Airfare, car rentals, and other travel expenses typically see an upward trend during this period. Over Thanksgiving, AAA projected that nearly 80 million travelers will be on the move, 1.7 million more than last year and 2 million more than before the pandemic. Another crucial aspect for travelers is reaching the airport or train station.

Capitalizing on Ride-Share Demand

For ride-share services, this holiday season presents a significant opportunity. Their pitch is to offer affordable options for getting to and from the airport. Uber, for instance, will offer some of its most economical options starting Wednesday. UberX Share will be available at airports in Austin, Denver, New York, Washington, D.C., Miami, New Orleans, Phoenix, and San Francisco. It will also launch in certain international airports like Amsterdam and Madrid. Riders can get an upfront discount when using the pooling option, which was re-launched in 2022 after the company spent months enhancing it. Even if not matched with a rider, users can save up to 25% compared to the UberX fare.Uber Shuttle, which launched in New York City last month, will be available for travel to and from LaGuardia Airport. Starting Wednesday, there will be three routes with service every 30 minutes, seven days a week.

Lyft's Record Scheduled Rides

Uber's main competitor, Lyft, informed FOX Business that it has witnessed a record number of scheduled rides in the previous quarter. Most of these scheduled rides are to and from the airport. Lyft explained that when passengers schedule rides, they can lock in the price, potentially avoiding surge pricing closer to their trip.Rideshare and taxi services are often among the costlier ways to get to an airport as they offer private rides. As The Points Guy editorial director Nick Ewen told Fox Business, while public transportation is cheaper, many U.S. airports don't have the most user-friendly public transportation systems. However, the option to schedule rides in advance highlights a broader trend in the industry as demand continues to surge.

Managing Travel Demand

As travel demand rises, more providers are likely to focus on easing crowding and managing flow. According to Nick Ewen, planners will benefit the most from this. "That is really what we've seen about other aspects of the industry with a lot of tourist attractions now going to time tickets," he said. This shows how the travel industry is adapting to meet the increasing demands of holiday travelers.