Michelle Meyer, main U.S. economist at Mastercard Economics Institute, joins CNBC’s ‘The Exchange’ to focus on vacation paying traits, what new Mastercard data demonstrates about the power of the shopper, and more.
Vacation spending not slowing down anytime shortly, says Michelle Meyer
Travel
Southwest Airlines forecasts surge in 2026 profits after new seat, bag fees take hold
A Southwest Airlines aircraft parks at Gate B33 while its tail sticks into the sunlight at Boston Logan International Airport in Boston, MA, on December 22, 2025. Austin DeSisto | Nurphoto | Getty Images Southwest Airlines on Wednesday forecast a surge in 2026 profits well above analysts’ expectations as the carrier overhauls its half-century-old business […]
Read More
Travel
Southwest ends open seating after 54 years. Here’s what the last flight was like
OVER THE PACIFIC OCEAN — The 112 passengers on this Southwest Airlines red-eye flight from Honolulu to Los Angeles were the last in the airline’s more than 54-year history to scramble for a seat on board. Before dawn on Tuesday, Southwest ended its quirky (or anxiety-inducing, depending on the traveler) open-seating policy in favor of […]
Read More
Travel
Boeing’s quarterly sales jump 57% as CEO says there’s ‘a lot to be optimistic about’
A Boeing Co. 737 Max airplane at the company’s manufacturing facility in Renton, Washington, US, on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025. David Ryder | Bloomberg | Getty Images Boeing reported revenue ahead of Wall Street expectations for the fourth quarter as the company’s turnaround picked up steam following years of crises. The company’s airplane deliveries last […]
Read More