Search Results for "ASIA".
Hong Kong has joined Singapore in not only banning foreign arrivals but banning transit passenger arrivals, too, after several foreigners arriving there tested positive for COVID-19. A doctor screening inbound passengers at the airport has tested positive as well there.
To crack down on intimacy as a source of spread, alcohol is being banned from bars though people can still get meals in restaurants.
A roundup of the most important stories of the day. I keep you up to date on the most interesting writings I find on other sites – the latest news and tips.
Today Emirates announced they would suspend all passenger flights. They have already walked that back, and flights to several countries including the U.S. will continue.
A reader asks about the safety of their miles, and if some of the smaller airline currencies they have aren’t as safe whether it would be a good idea to book travel now using those miles to fly on one of their partner airlines (that’ll still be flying)?
Here’s what you need to know.
As China recovers from COVID-19, and hopes to stave off a second wave of infections, they’re testing people entering the country. Even with a low volume of international flights that’s led to long delays and frustrations entering the country. As a result there’s a strong fear of foreigners.
Hyatt is offering 90 days of Explorist status and a fast track to either keep Explorist or top tier Globalist through February 22. The best thing is that you have until November 16 to register and start the 90 day clock. As a result you can use this once your travel is starting up again.
American Express is closing all Centurion Lounge locations starting Saturday, March 21. Here’s detail on the move.
Most coverage has been about passengers – being afraid to fly, not allowed to fly by their companies, being advised to avoid risk. The President of the United States is advising against discretionary travel that is still mostly permitted. Yet day in and day out airline crew continue to show up at airports, get on planes, and interact with passengers. They’ve continued to work flights to Europe and Asia that many passengers have been unwilling to take.
A lot of people are grounded right now. Most of us are going to travel again. And we’re sure going to be itching to do so.
No matter what happens with the business of any of the airlines, we’re going to have big airlines to take us where we want to go. They are going to have tons of empty seats for awhile – which means deep discounts, award availability, and aggressive mileage promotions.
American Airlines, slow off the dime in its moves to protect its business compared to United and Delta, already began major capacity cuts in response to the administration’s ban on non-U.S. residents entering the country if they’ve been to Schengen Area countries of Europe within the past 14 days.
With the government extending that restriction to the U.K. and Ireland, and with demanding drying up more and more each day, they’ve now taken things a step further. They are reduce international capacity by 75% year-over-year. Ostensibly this will apply March 16 to May 6, but many of these cuts will almost certainly last longer.
Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel -- a topic he has covered since 2002.
Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »
