In this edition of the Direct Travel News Brief… Real ID deadline extended, US to reopen to fully vaccinated air travelers from 33 countries in November, Delta cut its Best Fare Guarantee program, United Airlines integrates with Apple Health, airlines restart services, complications in travel through Newark, TSA PreCheck reduces online renewal fee, TSA Cares program for travelers who need extra support, hotel news, CDC-approved COVID home tests for international travel, many traveler tips, and much more!
USA Today — If you somehow missed the latest deadline delay in the deluge of information about the pandemic and don't have a travel-compliant form of identification yet, know you now have until May 2023 to get a Real ID. Read More
Recommend Magazine — The United States will reopen in November to fully vaccinated air travelers from 33 countries, including most of Europe, as announced by White House Coronavirus response coordinator Jeff Zients. Read More
Afar Magazine — It’s about to get a bit tougher for unvaccinated U.S. travelers to re-enter the United States after traveling abroad. Read More
Meetings + Conventions Magazine — Canada doesn't mess around with Covid-19 — and isn't suffering from it like many parts of the U.S. are now. Read More
Travel Market Report — Qantas will now restart mid-November. Read More
The Points Guy — Over the weekend, the Atlanta-based carrier discreetly cut its Best Fare Guarantee program, which was originally introduced more than 13 years ago in March 2008. Read More
Business Travel News — United Airlines has integrated with Apple Health to enable travelers to upload Covid-19 vaccination records to the carrier's Travel Ready Center. Read More
Afar Magazine — As incidents of passengers refusing to wear masks and harassing flight crews persist, Delta Air Lines suggests that carriers unite to ban passengers from flying. Read More
Travel Weekly — The new software system will be used to decrease delays while making the national airspace system more efficient...Read More
BTN Europe — Emirates has announced it will restart flights to London Gatwick airport from Dec. 10 as international travel restrictions ease. Read More
Business Travel News — American Airlines will codeshare with Indian low-cost carrier IndiGo when it begins new routes to India later this year, the carrier announced. Read More
Afar Magazine — With the lifting of U.S. entry restrictions for vaccinated arrivals, suddenly travelers on both sides of the pond are chasing the same airline seats. Read More
Business Travel News — Singapore Airlines will restart two routes to the U.S. in November, which will bring its U.S. route network to just under two-thirds of pre-pandemic levels. Read More
Travel Pulse — The plan is to match frequent flyer incentives…Read More
Business Travel News — Air Canada has resumed nonstop service to India after the Canadian government loosened restrictions on flights from the country. Read More
Wheels Up Network — Flying through Newark Airport is about to get even more complicated…Read More
Travel Market Report — It's been about a year since the carrier last welcomed guests. Read More
Airline Weekly — British Airways, Latam Airlines Group, Lufthansa, Swiss and Virgin Atlantic are among the growing number of carriers seeing a surge in U.S. bookings since the Biden administration said it would ease entry restrictions for vaccinated travelers from November. Read More
Transportation Security Administration — Fee to go down by almost 20%. Read More
Smarter Travel — Residents of eight states will soon be able to board a plane using only their phone or Apple Watch. Read More
AZ Central — The Transportation Security Administration launched TSA Cares in 2012 for people who might need extra support through security, whether due to a disability, medical condition or other circumstance. Read More
TSA.gov — The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) launched a Spanish-language automated virtual assistant to answer routine traveler questions via social media. Read More
U.S. Department of State — Information on current government issued travel warnings and alerts. Read More
Business Travel News — The business travel and group meeting sector of the U.S. economy in 2020 missed out on $211 billion in revenue because of the pandemic and will miss out on plenty more in the coming years, according to a new U.S. Travel Association and Tourism Economics projection. Read More
Business Travel News — Choice Hotels International on Thursday announced a smaller prototype of its upscale Cambria brand, designed to launch the brand in secondary locations, according to the company. Read More
Insider Travel Report — MGM Resorts International said it has entered into a definitive agreement with investment firm Blackstone to acquire the operations of The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas for cash consideration of $1.625 billion, subject to customary working capital adjustments. Read More
Travel Market Report — Situated on France’s coastline, the collection of new properties bring three of IHG Hotels & Resorts’ brands to the region first time. Read More
The Real Deal — New York Hilton Midtown, Grand Hyatt will bring back staff by Oct. 11, thus exempting themselves from new law. Read More
Afar Magazine — A reporter based in Toronto breaks down the situation on the ground and what travelers who want to go should know. Read More
Smarter Travel — Did you know that cloth masks aren’t allowed on some airlines? Better know what types of masks aren’t accepted before you try to board. Read More
Travel + Leisure — The chance of an airline losing a suitcase — at least for a little while — is around 0.4 percent, according to LuggageHero. That's about one in every 250 bags…Read More
Smarter Travel — From an under-$20 inflatable footrest to a pricey pair of earbuds designed specifically for sleep, these items might just be the thing that actually lets you get some shut-eye on your next flight. Read More
Afar Magazine — The BINAXNow and Ellume COVID-19 home tests are among the options at travelers’ disposal. We road tested them to see how they actually fare while traveling. Read More
Smarter Travel — Check your passport’s expiration date and your vaccination date before your next trip. Two countries have announced that COVID-19 vaccinations will be considered “expired” and not valid for entry after a certain amount of time. Read More
Travel Pulse — J.D. Power has released its 2021 North America Airport Satisfaction Study, revealing that overall traveler satisfaction with North American airports reached a record high in the early part of the year (July 2020 to January 2021). Read More
Afar Magazine — Create your own travel capsule wardrobe with this easy formula from wardrobe expert Wendy Mak. Read More
PR Web — For the 15th consecutive year, Creative Group named to the MeetingsNet CMI 25 list of Largest U.S. Meeting and Incentive Travel Companies. Read More
Creative Group — YES, you can wear slippers to your next trade show! There are many surprising benefits to holding a trade show virtually. Here are just a few. Read More
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