The airline industry is a competitive business and companies are constantly striving to innovate to get a ‘wing up’ on their rivals. In recent months, the nation’s top 5 carriers have all introduced a variety of improvements all designed to make them your number 1 choice when booking air travel. From in-flight entertainment upgrades to renovated lounges and clubs, here’s a look at some of the latest changes from the top 5 U.S. airlines that will enhance your travel experience in 2016…

1. DELTA

• Comfort Plus seating: Delta recently added Comfort Plus seating to its fleet, which provides passengers Sky Priority boarding, extra leg room, premium snacks, complimentary beer, wine and spirits as well as complete access to the new Delta Studio. This upgrade can now be purchased as its own fare on flights departing on or after May 16, 2016.

 

• New & improved in-flight entertainment:    Delta passengers no longer have to book long haul flights to enjoy their favorite shows and movies. The airline recently introduced Delta Studio, which allows passengers to enjoy both free and paid premium entertainment selections from their own devices without having to purchase a wi-fi package. The entire selection is complimentary for first class and Comfort Plus passengers.

 

• Sky Club upgrades: Whether you’re a member or just want to indulge for the day, the new features at Delta’s ATL and JFK Sky Clubs include open air seating, shower suites and gourmet dining options. You might want to arrive extra early for your flight just to take advantage of these new amenaties!

 

• “Rebook Me” option on kiosks, Delta.com and the Fly Delta app: Delays and cancellations are an inevitable part of travel, but Delta is helping to ease the inconvenience by implementing the “rebook me” feature on its kiosks, website and app. Passengers will now enjoy more control over their re-bookings, better routing options and the ability to rebook on Joint Venture, Sky Team and codeshare carriers.

Source: delta.com

2. SOUTHWEST

• Increased service to the Caribbean: Southwest continues to expand its reach by adding more international routes to Caribbean destinations. The latest installment came a few weeks ago with direct flights now being offered between LAX and Liberia, Costa Rica.

 

• Priority boarding upgrades: Southwest is known for its low fares and unique first come, first served boarding system. Instead of having to be one of the first to check in to guarantee priority boarding, passengers can now pay to guarantee themselves a spot in the A1-A15 boarding group. This upgrade costs $30-$40 depending on your itinerary and can be purchased at the gate prior to boarding.

 

• Direct routes added: 2016 will mark a surge in direct flight options on Southwest. Passengers will enjoy low fares and non-stop flights to a variety of popular spring break and summer vacation destinations including Orlando, Las Vegas and Tahoe. Direct routes can be booked for travel from January 6^th through August 5^th 2016.

Source: southwest.com

3. JetBlue

• Partnership with Amazon: JetBlue announced its partnership with Amazon this past November. The airline will now offer a wide array of in-flight TV and movie options on over 150 of its aircraft. Amazon Prime members can log into their accounts and stream for free, while non-members can either rent or purchase from the selection. All passengers can access the entertainment portal via JetBlue’s free Fly-Fi service, which will be available on the airline’s entire fleet by the end of 2016.

 

• New routes to Puerto Rico: Beginning May 5, 2016, JetBlue will offer non-stop flights from Fort Lauderdale to Aguadilla, Puerto Rico as well as increased service between Fort Lauderdale and Boston. For a limited time, the airline is offering one-way fares to Aguadilla for $59! As an added perk, all passengers will be guaranteed a window or aisle seat, premium snacks and beverages, and free in-flight entertainment.

 

• Mobile app improvements: JetBlue recently made their app even more  user friendly by making it accessible on all Apple products including iPhones, iPads and Apple watches. Passengers can now book flights, access the Best Fare Finder and Hot Deals page as well as change seats and check in. The app has been fully integrated with the Apple watch, allowing flight updates to appear automatically without having to access the app.

 

• Additional charter flight to Cuba: Last month, JetBlue added an additional direct charter flight from JFK to Havana, Cuba. The airline now offers 6 roundtrip charters between the U.S. and Cuba, making it the island’s leading airline. As travel restrictions gradually ease, JetBlue aims to expand its service to this increasingly popular destination.

Source: jetblue.com

4. UNITED

• Added route from New York to Brussels: Beginning in the Spring of 2016, United will introduce an additional direct flight from its hub in Newark to Brussels, Belgium.  Passengers can enjoy the added travel flexibility to this popular European destination starting May 5th, 2016.

 

• Seasonal craft beers and free snacks: United now offers free snacks including pastries for early morning flights and a variety of savory snack mixes. The airline also recently introduced complimentary seasonal craft beers and house wines on Latin America and Caribbean routes as well as specialty meal options.

 

• Top rated frequent flyer program: Just last week, United’s frequent flyer program was named the best overall for the 12th consecutive year by Global Traveler.  United Mileage Plus offers the most award seat availability among the top U.S. global airlines.  Members can also spend their miles in a variety of ways from booking flights and hotels to purchasing merchandise.

   Source: united.com

5. AMERICAN

• Launch of Premium Economy Seating:  American Airlines will be adding new Premium Economy seating on long haul international flights in late 2016.  This new class of service provides passengers with priority check-in and boarding, more legroom, wider seats, greater baggage allowances, on-demand entertainment, amenity kits, enhanced meal service and complimentary wine, beer and spirits.

 

• New non-stop routes: American will introduce several new non-stop routes throughout 2016.  They include service between LAX and Tokyo’s Haneda Airport beginning February 2016, Dallas Fort Worth and Merida, Mexico in March 2016, LAX and Auckland in June 2016 and seasonal non-stop routes to Cancun.  The airline will also expand its charter flight between LAX and Havana, Cuba.

 

• Re-designed Admirals Club Lounges:  American Airlines passengers will soon see big changes to club lounges. Complete reconstruction is taking place in Phoenix and São Paulo, while all other lounges will be renovated over the next several years. Improvements include sleek interior designs and expanded seating options as well as a variety of upgraded sweet, savory and healthy food options.

 

• Added charter service to Cuba: In response to the recent agreement between the U.S. and Cuba, American Airlines will expand its current charter service to 1200 flights.  American is the leading U.S. airline in the region and has already submitted proposals to the D.O.T so that it may offer scheduled routes as soon as travel restrictions are completely lifted.

Source: aa.com

 

What destinations are on your itinerary for 2016? Do you have a preferred airline? Share your comments below!