Tag Archives for coronavirus.
We need to practice social distancing, focus on science-based evaluations of risk, and focus public policy accordingly. Flights from Europe are less of a risk than concerts. Many countries of the world are less of a risk than the U.S. is. And we need flights for cargo, including for the chemicals needed to process COVID-19 tests.
On the heels of the confusing statement by the President ostensibly banning flights from Europe other than the U.K. for 30 days, but really banning entry by non-U.S. residents who have been to the Schengen area of Europe in the past 14 days, the State Department is now warning against all global travel.
My recommendation: It would be a good idea, if you’re an American traveling abroad, for you to arrange to return home as quickly as possible before it becomes more difficult to do so.
President Trump, speaking from the Oval Office, announced that the U.S. would suspend travel from Europe for 30 days effective Friday. Right now there are more questions about that than answers, since all that has actually been released on paper is a ban on non-U.S. residents entering the country who have been in Schengen Area countries within the last 14 days.
The U.S. is discussing banning travel to and from Europe, though they may also opt to warn against all European travel and to impose a quarantine on European arrivals.
I’d avoid European travel at this time simply because it may be more difficult to get back in the event of potential extreme policy responses.
Effective March 13th all Visas for India are suspended until April 15th. This applies to point of departure, which means that passengers leaving their home country prior to March 13th should have their visas honored. Visa-free travel for Overseas Citizenship of India cardholders is also suspended until April 15
A Milwaukee man arrived at the airport in a full hazmat suit and took a flight to Fort Myers on Saturday. This was the man’s spring break trip. He does not plan to wear protective gear on the beach.
We keep hearing about doom and gloom in the travel industry – people aren’t flying, but mostly that forward bookings are down. Airlines are cutting flights and offering relaxed restrictions so that people are more comfortable buying travel. We’ve already seen Alaska Airlines come out with bonus elie qualifying miles for travel now.
But if things are so bad in the travel industry why aren’t we seeing more travel deals?
Dr. Scott Gottlieb, FDA administrator from 2017-2019, has been a helpful source on coronavirus. He was one of the first people with a real microphone sounding the alarm about lack of testing in the United States.
He says airlines aren’t doing enough to prevent spread of the virus, focusing on three things he’s seen in his own travels.
At an investor conference this morning, after first talking about coronavirus, American Airlines CEO Doug Parker pivoted to talk about the airline’s operational performance, and growth plans including from new gates coming online in Charlotte and upgauging regional jets next year at Washington National airport.
American just has a real difference in perspective. Parker said they are “not breaking out the distress playbook..that’s not where we are.” I hope he’s right of course. They talked about the effect of sales on bookings, their cash balance as a cushion, and the possible accelerated retirement of the Boeing 757.
United Airlines President and soon-to-be CEO Scott Kirby keynoted the J.P. Morgan 2020 Industrials Conference today. He took a far more aggressive stance on how deep to cut, how bad things can get, than other airline executives. And he was more willing to share specific data on how bad things already are.
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 »
