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U.S. Government Shutdown - October 1 - 2025
On October 1, 2025 the U.S. government shut down. See what it means to travel… GO>>
What is the ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization)?
The UK ETA is a digital authorization linked to your passport. It costs £10 (about $13) and is valid for two years. The ETA allows you to make multiple trips to the UK during that period.
Who Needs an ETA?
If you are from a visa-exempt country (such as the U.S. or Canada), you’ll need an ETA for short-term visits (under six months). This includes travelers connecting through UK airports, even if you’re continuing to another destination.
How to Apply:
You can apply online or via the ETA app. You will need your passport, a photo, and payment details (credit/debit card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay). The application process is straightforward and typically takes only a few minutes. Click here to apply.
United Kingdom ETA Requirement
Important change for travelers planning to visit or transit through the United Kingdom
Starting January 8, 2025, all travelers from visa-exempt countries, including the United States, Canada, and many others, will need to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before their trip.
What is the ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization)?
The UK ETA is a digital authorization linked to your passport. It costs £10 (about $13) and is valid for two years. The ETA allows you to make multiple trips to the UK during that period.
Who Needs an ETA?
If you are from a visa-exempt country (such as the U.S. or Canada), you’ll need an ETA for short-term visits (under six months). This includes travelers connecting through UK airports, even if you’re continuing to another destination.
How to Apply:
You can apply online or via the ETA app. You will need your passport, a photo, and payment details (credit/debit card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay). The application process is straightforward and typically takes only a few minutes. Click here to apply.
New European Union Entry Requirements
New travel requirements for travel to European Union Nations
Traveling to the any member country of the European Union? You will need to apply for an Entry/Exit visa. Though the exact timeline for the new requirement has not been set, travelers who travel to any EU country should plan on the new visa requirements to start around May 1, 2025.
The Entry/Exit System (EES) is an automated system for registering non-EU nationals travelling for a short stay, each time they cross the borders of European countries using the system. The main advantage of the EES is to save time when processing through customs and immigration. The EES replaces passport stamping and automates border control procedures, making travelling to European Union countries more efficient for the traveler.
The EES will also make it easier to identify travelers who have no right to enter or who have stayed in an EU country too long. The new system will also be able to detect fake passports and identities.
The EES will apply to you if you are a non-EU national travelling to a European country for a short stay of up to 90 days within any 180-day period. It is important to remember that the period of 90 days in any 180 days is calculated as a single period for ALL European countries.
What happens if you refuse to have fingerprints or photo taken?
As a non-EU national travelling for a short stay, if you refuse to provide your biometric data, you will be denied entry into the territory of the European Union.
Your passport
If you are a non-EU national using the EES, you need to have a biometric passport. This is a passport containing a chip with your biometric information collected from you at the time you applied for the passport. This will be required to use the automated systems throughout Europe.
European Union Countries Using EES
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland*
* Not a member of the EU, Switzerland will still require non-EU nationals to comply to the new regulations.
** Although Cyprus and Ireland are members of the European Union, they will continue to stamp passports manually.
Brazilian Visa Program
Brazil has officially launched the platform through which citizens of the United States, Canada and Australia can obtain their electronic visa (eVisa) to enter the country. Travelers from these countries will need the visa to enter Brazil by air starting January 10, 2024.
The electronic visa will allow multiple entries and will have the same validity period as conventional visas. For Americans, this means a validity of 10 years (five years each for Canadians and Australians).
Travelers will have to input their personal information and confirmation of a flight reservation and pay a fee of $80 to secure the visa—all of which is done online. Once approved, a PDF file containing your eVisa will be emailed to you. Download and print this eVisa for presentation during boarding and upon landing in Brazil.
Mexico's Anti-Smoking Law
Mexico Anti-Smoking Law
Planning a trip to Mexico? Travelers should be aware that as of January 15, 2023, Mexico’s anti-smoking law went into effect country-wide. The law, endorsed by the World Health Organization, mad it illegal to smoke everywhere with the exception of a private residence. Smoking is banned in all public areas including parks, beaches, squares, hotels, restaurants, resorts, schools, shopping centers, stores, entertainment venues, public streets, sightseeing venues and any place that is not a private residence. Hotel and resort rooms are considered public places according to this law.
Other countries such as Spain, Costa Rica, and Hungary have implemented new anti-smoking laws but are not as strict as the new law in Mexico.
FBI Charging Station Warning
The FBI is reminding travelers to beware of free, public charging stations that offer a seemingly convenient solution to a dead phone battery or device.
“Avoid using free charging stations in airports, hotels or shopping centers. Bad actors have figured out ways to use public USB ports to introduce malware and monitoring software onto devices,” the FBI Denver office shared on social media.
For travelers looking to charge up when on the go, the FBI recommends that individuals bring their own charger with a USB cable, and plug it directly into an electrical outlet instead of using a charging station.
This trend of hacking has been called “Juice Jacking” by the Federal Communications Commission. The FCC has additional recommendations for travelers to purchase charging only cables that cannot transfer data, and to be aware of prompts saying “share data” or “charge only” when using a USB port.
“Malware installed through a corrupted USB port can lock a device or export personal data and passwords directly to the perpetrator,” the FCC warns in their alert.
In addition to the “Juice Jacking” trend, the FBI has published previous alerts for digital safety when traveling. The FBI discourages the use of hotel wi-fi for work related projects, and has published tips for travelers who have to use open internet networks. The guidance includes using a phone’s wireless hotspot instead of hotel Wi-Fi, and confirming all devices are up to date with the latest software & firmware.
For students traveling abroad, the FBI has published a “Student Travel Safety Brochure” which includes helpful safety tips such as changing sensitive passwords after traveling, and staying vigilant for online phishing attempts that aim to steal data.
United Airlines Moves Up Check-In Time for Domestic Travelers
Beginning June 3, all domestic travelers without checked bags must check in at least 45 minutes prior to their scheduled departure time. That’s a change from the previous 30-minute window and now matches the cutoff time for those flying domestically with checked baggage.
The additional 15 minutes will allow United’s gate agents more time to clear stand-by passengers and upgrades, and to make final decisions about baggage based on available space. Check-in cutoff times for international flights remain unchanged.
American Airlines Launches First Touchless ID Lanes
This week, the airline unveiled plans to debut the first lanes at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). The lanes allow eligible travelers to pass through airport security using facial recognition technology, eliminating the need to present a physical ID.
Flyers need a valid passport and a Known Traveler Number (KTN), which they get with PreCheck or another Known Traveler Program, and can opt-in through the American Airlines app. Once they do, their boarding passes will indicate access to the Digital ID lanes.
American will next add the Touchless ID lanes at Atlanta (ATL), New York LaGuardia (LGA), and Salt Lake City (SLC), with plans to expand to Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW), Chicago O’Hare (ORD), and Miami (MIA) also on deck.
When American announced plans to add the lanes—already in use by Delta Air Lines and United Airlines—it said the goal was to help members “move more seamlessly from the airport lobby through TSA security to enjoy the next step in their travel.” The lanes are often the fastest option at TSA checkpoints, reducing the average transaction time with an agent from 20–25 seconds to just 7–10 seconds, according to Delta.
United Airlines Adds Touchless ID to Reagan National Airport
United Airlines is expanding its touchless ID program, adding the service this week to Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) in Washington, D.C. This marks the second addition in two weeks for United, which also introduced the option at Salt Lake City International (SLC) last week.
With the latest expansion, United now offers touchless ID at seven airports, including Chicago O’Hare (ORD), Atlanta Hartsfield (ATL), Los Angeles International (LAX), LaGuardia (LGA), and Newark Liberty (EWR).
Touchless ID allows travelers to pass through a separate line at security without presenting a physical ID. Instead, TSA officers verify a traveler’s identity by matching their image with the passport photo on file.
Travelers need a Known Traveler Number (KTN), available through TSA PreCheck or other Known Traveler Programs, and can opt in via the United app. Once enrolled, a logo on their boarding pass grants them access to the touchless lanes—similar to the systems used by Delta and American.
American Airlines Sets Free Wi-Fi Launch for January 2026
The airline will offer complimentary Wi-Fi on most flights—about 90% of its network—starting in January 2026. American has been testing free Wi-Fi on select domestic routes since early March and is on pace to equip the majority of its regional fleet with the service by the end of 2025.
The service will be free for all American passengers who sign up for AAdvantage, the airline’s loyalty program. Most other airlines that offer free Wi-Fi have a similar requirement. Delta Air Lines, for example, requires a SkyMiles login to access its free onboard Wi-Fi.
The move will make American the last of the major U.S. airlines to offer free Wi-Fi. Nearly every other major U.S. carrier, including Delta, Hawaiian and United, already offers complimentary Wi-Fi. Hawaiian launched its service in September 2024, while United, through a partnership with Starlink, will begin rolling it out on its mainline fleet next month.
Delta Air Lines Is Dropping Its ‘Basic Economy’ Label
Delta Air Lines is moving on from “Basic Economy”. All flights booked now for travel after Oct. 1, 2025 will no longer feature a Basic Economy option.
The fare class will still exist, but under a new label. Starting in October, that fare type will be folded into a broader category called Delta Main, which will include three tiers:
- Delta Main Basic, which essentially replaces Basic Economy. This will always be the lowest-cost option and comes with familiar restrictions: seats are assigned after check-in, boarding is in Zone 8, cancellation is allowed with a fee for partial eCredit, and no mileage or Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) can be earned.
- Delta Main Classic, which offers more flexibility. Passengers can choose their seats, earn miles, board earlier than Main Basic flyers, and cancel for an eCredit.
- Delta Main Extra, which comes with higher boarding priority than Classic, same-day standby privileges, the ability to refund to the original form of payment, and base mileage earning at 7 miles per dollar.
Delta will continue offering “Classic” and “Extra” experiences across other fare types as well, with “Refundable” replacing “Extra” in some premium cabins.
Delta says the change is simply part of its “evolution” as it celebrates its 100-year anniversary this year. The airline said the goal is “to provide travel experiences that can be customized to your personal preferences.”
JetBlue and United Link Loyalty Programs in New ‘Blue Sky’ Partnership
After several weeks of speculation, United and JetBlue on Thursday morning announced they had entered into an official collaboration called Blue Sky—a partnership the two carriers say “gives customers of both airlines even more options to find flights that fit their plans, as well as new opportunities to earn and use MileagePlus® miles and TrueBlue points across both airlines.”
The news means that members of United’s MileagePlus loyalty program will be able to earn and redeem miles on JetBlue flights, and JetBlue’s TrueBlue members will be able to do the same on United flights.
Status reciprocity is included, too—frequent flyers with elite status on United who enjoy perks like priority boarding, extra legroom, and same-day standby or flight changes will get the same when flying JetBlue, and vice versa. Here’s how that shakes out:
The two said they will share more details about the timing of the reciprocal benefits later this year.
The agreement also includes an interline arrangement, which means travelers will be able to book flights on either airline through each other’s websites and apps. However, because the partnership is not a codeshare, each airline will continue to publish, market, and price its flights independently under its own brand.
Spirit Airlines Adds Flights to Tennessee’s Chattanooga Airport
Ultra-low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines will launch new service to Tennessee’s Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (CHA) from three U.S. cities starting June 4, 2025.
The airline will offer nonstop flights from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), and Orlando International Airport (MCO). Service will operate three times weekly from Fort Lauderdale and four times weekly from both Newark and Orlando.
Chattanooga will be Spirit’s third Tennessee destination, following Nashville, where it began service in 2019, and Memphis, which it added in 2022.
American Airlines Updates Boarding Process with New Preboarding Rules
Effective May 1, American will begin pre-boarding with First and Business Class customers, along with those who need additional time to board. That includes travelers with children age 2 and younger, as well as wheelchair users.
Everything else about the boarding process remains the same, including priority for ConciergeKey members, who will continue to pre-board. Here’s the rest of the boarding order:
Preboarding: ConciergeKey members, First/Business Class passengers, families with children age 2 and under
Group 1: AAdvantage Executive Platinum members, active duty U.S. military with military ID
Group 2: AAdvantage Platinum Pro members, oneworld Emerald members
Group 3: AAdvantage Platinum members, oneworld Sapphire members
Group 4: AAdvantage Gold members, oneworld Ruby members, AirPass members, Citi / AAdvantage Executive cardmembers
Group 5: Main Cabin Extra passengers (excluding Basic Economy), AAdvantage members with 15,000+ Loyalty Points
Group 6: AAdvantage members
Groups 7–8: Main Cabin
Group 9: Basic Economy
The only other change is that American is allotting an additional five minutes for boarding—something it announced earlier this year as a way to make the process less hectic and stressful.
Passengers flying on Airbus A319 and A320 aircraft will now begin boarding 35 minutes prior to departure. Those flying on Boeing 737s, Airbus A321s, and all widebody aircraft will begin boarding 40 minutes before departure.
The goal, the airline said, is to create “a better paced boarding process and better management of overhead bin space.” These changes, coupled with stricter enforcement of boarding by group, have effectively overhauled the way American boards passengers over the past year.