The Pfizer Vaccine Looks 90% Effective, Great News For Travel!

by Gary Leff

Nov 09 2020

Pfizer reports their Covid-19 vaccine, in conjunction with BioNTech, so far appears 90% effective. With 94 people in the clinical trial having gotten Covid-19 so far, that means people in the control group receiving the placebo were about 10 times as likely to get the virus as someone who had received the vaccine.

The drug maker could reach milestone of 2 months since the second dose for half of trial participants in order to apply for Emergency Use Authorization next week. They report no ‘serious’ side effects in the trial. That’s great news, great progress. And it means we should have great optimism for travel.

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Air Canada Aeroplan Launches New Suite Of Credit Cards, Adds Redemption Partner

by Gary Leff

Nov 08 2020

As part of the launch of the new program Air Canada has just announced a new suite of credit cards. The airline re-acquired its program, after spinning it off 15 years ago, funding the deal by extending its relationship with its co-brand card issuers. Today we’ve learned about its new co-brand credit cards in Canada. Details on a U.S. program are still forthcoming. We also learn about a new airline redemption partnership.

Holding the cards make award pricing less expensive, and spending on the cards can help earn Aeroplan elite status.

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FAA Has Blocked Airport From Screening Passengers For Covid-19 For Months, Afraid It Might Work

by Gary Leff

Nov 08 2020

Pre-departure testing is a requirement to travel to Hawaii, New York, and even much of the world where borders are at least partially open. Airlines have been working to get clinics open inside of airports, and to coordinate rapid turnaround testing for their passengers.

Airlines previously advocated for the government to do temperature checks of all passengers. The airlines themselves require passengers to fill out a health checklist as part of check-in, and require masks in areas of airport terminals they control and on board their planes. Airlines and airports have new cleaning regimes to address potential surface transmission of SARS-CoV-2.

But did you know that some airports have been trying to spend CARES Act money to set up screening regimes, and the federal government hasn’t allowed them to do it?

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Four Seasons Philadelphia Hotel Denies They’re Hosting Trump Lawyer Event. Here’s What Happened.

by Gary Leff

Nov 07 2020

The best part of this has to be the phone call from the Trump campaign advance team, dialing up the Four Seasons in Philadelphia. “Hello, Four Seasons, how can we help you?” “Do you have availability for an event at 11:30 a.m.?” “Yes, we have space available.” “We won’t need catering, would you be willing to do it for a flat $10,000.00?”

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Family Flies Home After Hawaii Rejects Negative Covid Test. When They Landed, Hawaii Said Oops.

by Gary Leff

Nov 07 2020

CVS Pharmacy is a trusted partner for Hawaii, and one San Diego family got their CVS test prior to travel. They arrived in Hawaii, presented their negative results, and were sent to quarantine anyway.

Facing the prospect of 14 days of quarantine, they decided to fly home. Once the family arrived back in California they got an email from Hawaii acknowledging the mistake and inviting them to leave quarantine.

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Man Spends 15 Nights At Hotel, Charges Meals For Friends, Has No Money

by Gary Leff

Nov 07 2020

In the U.S. you generally check into a hotel, provide a credit card, and many guests don’t check out. It’s polite to let the hotel know you’re leaving so they can clean and turn over your room for the next guest as early as possible. However about the only selfish reason to check out usually is to make sure you get a copy of the bill.

In many parts of the world, including Asia, checking out is far more customary and can take a surprising amount of time. They’ll run your credit card again with you present and insist you sign before leaving.

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