Commentary

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Don’t Delay Your Travels Because Of Omicron

by Gary Leff on December 2, 2021

Dec 02 2021

The World Health Organization recommends those over 60 or with comorbidities postpone travel due to the Omicron variant of the virus. Many people are reconsidering travel, though United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby says he expects bookings won’t fall as much as they did from the Delta variant.

It goes almost without saying that the advice is different for someone who is immunocompromised and may be less protected by vaccines and less able to mount an immune response to the virus. However for most of us the right answer isn’t postponing travel, it’s boosters.

Europe Shuts Down Travel From Southern Africa Over Fears Of New Virus Mutation That Escapes Immunity

by Gary Leff on November 26, 2021

Nov 26 2021

While we’ve seen virus variants, we haven’t seen rapid mutation that escapes immunity and also involves greater fitness – so that the virus spreads faster and in vaccinated and previously infected populations.

This variant has multiple spike protein mutations that could help it become more transmissible and also evade immunity. Whether this variant becomes dominant or not, it’s suggestive that there are more mutations in the virus that are possible – countering prevailing wisdom that significant mutation wouldn’t be possible while continuing to infect humans.

Why No One Listens When The CDC Says ‘Don’t Go To Europe’

by Gary Leff on November 23, 2021

Nov 23 2021

Telling vaccinated and boosted people under 50 not to go to Europe is wasting credibility. We have failure of elites in this country, and that’s a shame, because we wind up with people who see themselves as sticking it to those elites when it really matters, on issues like vaccines.

The 9 Biggest Developments In U.S. Travel Over The Past Year

by Gary Leff on November 23, 2021

Nov 23 2021

Annual trend recap pieces usually wait until the end of the year but am I tempting fate too much to call it largely a wrap on 2021?

With travel frequently doubling last year’s levels each day, and approaching parity with 2019 around the leisure-heavy holiday period, we’re back in the skies and putting our heads down on hotel beds. With far more hassle like vaccine paperwork and testing, international travel is returning though much of Asia Pacific remains tough. And travel companies – and their bank partners – are hungry for your business.

Biden Administration Wants Consideration Of National No Fly List For Violent Passengers

by Gary Leff on October 31, 2021

Oct 31 2021

The Biden administration is getting behind a national no fly list though – at least to start – only for violent passengers. Remember that David Dao was accused by many of being violent when he was removed from a United Express plane. His face bloodied an officer’s hand.

Clever Solution To Federal Debt Limit Comes From Frequent Flyer Miles

by Gary Leff on October 3, 2021

Oct 03 2021

In the midst of the political skirmish of the federal debt limit, the idea has once again surfaced to have the Treasury mint a trillion dollar coin and deposit it at the Fed in order to avoid the need to borrow more money. So it’s worth remembering just where this idea originateed: one of the best frequent flyer miles deals.

Loyalty Programs Need To Do More For People Who Qualify “The Real Way”

by Gary Leff on September 25, 2021

Sep 25 2021

Customers who earned their status the hard way for next year, rather than just having it extended, have something of a legitimate beef with their brand. They’ve chosen their travel provider, trying to earn their status. They’ve selected less convenient flights, sometimes connections rather than non-stops. They’ve chosen less convenient hotels. They may have paid more than what competitors were pricing their products at. And they’ve done all of that all while accepting lower levels of service (fewer meals in airline cabins, limited housekeeping or breakfast benefits and closed club lounges at hotels).

With First U.S. Covid Deaths Traced To Earlier January 2020, Did Travelers Bring Virus Here In 2019?

by Gary Leff on August 23, 2021

Aug 23 2021

We now know that there were Covid-19 linked deaths in the U.S. as early as the week of January 5, 2020. That’s contemporaneous with China’s first reported death on January 9, 2020. And there were January deaths now attributed to Covid-19 in California, Georgia, Alabama, Wisconsin and Oklahoma.

Cases could have been brought here as early as November on flights from China.

$20 Per Month Free Sports Betting For Casino Elites

by Gary Leff on August 17, 2021

Aug 17 2021

Caesars Diamond members who live in a state that allows online gaming now receive $20 per month to wager on sports. Even Caesars Platinum members receive $10 per month. And there are many many Caesars Diamond members through status match.

Obama Homeland Security Official Wants Unvaxxed Put On No Fly List

by Gary Leff on August 5, 2021

Aug 05 2021

We won’t be able to impose national ‘no dine lists’ for restaurants, but the ex- Assistant Secretary for Homeland Security in the Obama administration Juliette Kayyem wants those who haven’t been vaccinated placed on the government’s ‘No Fly List’.