There are small signs of hope as the world grapples with the ongoing coronavirus outbreak. While the results of reopening countries and economies remain to be seen, optimistic travelers have found themselves cautiously looking at the prospect of booking future travel. For more TPG news delivered each morning to your inbox, sign up for our daily […]
Coronavirus is changing just about every aspect of the air travel experience. Airlines are beefing up their cleaning procedures, flight attendants are increasingly wearing masks and many airlines are changing their inflight food and beverage services. But the changes aren’t just happening onboard. Airports and even the Transportation Security Administration also are altering the way
Delta Air Lines plans to return to South Africa in October with new joint service to Cape Town and Johannesburg, giving the carrier one of the few new-route announcements to come since the coronavirus pandemic wreaked havoc on the industry. The Atlanta-based SkyTeam Alliance carrier aims for flights to begin with an Airbus A350-900 on
You’ll now have to wait until at least October for a getaway on what some have called the hottest new cruise ship of the year. Start-up cruise line Virgin Voyages on Wednesday pushed back the official debut of its first vessel, Scarlet Lady, by two more months, to Oct. 16. The Richard Branson-backed cruise operator
Editor’s note: At TPG, we paused traveling to help slow the spread of COVID-19. Local and national governments around the globe are now debating the appropriate levels of isolation and distancing. Before booking that next trip, we recommend you talk to your doctor, follow health officials’ guidance and research local travel restrictions. TPG is continuing
As the coronavirus pandemic continues to stymie international travel, we’ve seen most (but not all) major hotels and airlines make changes to their loyalty programs such as extending elite status and offering other promotions to incentivize business. One notable holdout had been Choice Privileges, but as of today the company has joined the trend by
If you are a USAA member, you know it offers competitive pricing for many of its financial services. For example, my husband and I haven’t found other car insurance, personal property insurance or renter’s insurance policies that offered a better value than what we could get through USAA. But, what about USAA credit cards? Today,
As Americans return to travel in the coming months, many industry watchers think they’ll be looking for destinations that are close to home and easy to reach. Driving trips will be popular. So will weekend getaways. More ambitious travel that involves long-distance flying will be out. But Frank Del Rio, the president and CEO of
For a couple of months, all Disney theme parks around the world were closed. And while the U.S. Disney theme parks remain closed with no announced reopening date, the magic has been turned back on in Shanghai, with the recent reopening of Shanghai Disneyland. Visit TPG’s guide to all coronavirus news and updates Based on
Editor’s note: At TPG, our top priority is providing our readers with the information you need to make educated decisions about travel and your rewards-earnings strategy. This is not the best time to travel, domestically or internationally, but we are sharing this content to help you plan for future travel once coronavirus concerns have subsided.
American Airlines has a new feather in its cap: the new shortest route in the U.S., and it has the federal government’s coronavirus aid package to thank for it. In order to meet the conditions of the CARES Act aid it received, the Fort Worth, Texas-based carrier is flying a circular route to destinations in
Hong Kong was part of the initial wave of countries impacted by the coronavirus, and has closed its borders to non-residents since March. However, locals are still allowed to enter — with a number of caveats, including an incredibly stringent health screening process. Related: A country-by-country guide to coronavirus recovery Hong Kong-based journalist Laurel Chor
Delta Air Lines has settled on a post-coronavirus pandemic plan for its fleet and map. The plan will see Airbus A350s coming to Los Angeles but also a goodbye to its long-time Cincinnati pilot base. In a memo to pilots on Thursday, the Atlanta-based carrier outlined numerous fleet — and subsequent staffing — changes that
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information. While many frequent flyer and hotel loyalty programs offer a wide array of redemption options, including many that aren’t related to travel, here at TPG we tend to focus primarily on the ones that get you the most bang for your buck. This almost
Do you suddenly find yourself in possession of something called a future cruise credit? If so, you’re not alone. By our back-of-the-envelope calculations, more than 5 million cruisers are now holding one of those credits, or soon will get one. Cruise lines have been offering the credits to customers on sailings that have been canceled
REGISTER NOW These are demanding times for small businesses. With the economic slowdown, owners can quickly find themselves facing stress and anxiety levels never experienced before. If you’re trying to balance your stress and keep your doors open for customers, join this week’s TPG Small Biz Webinar, and learn why taking care of your mental
On Thursday, Delta Air Lines announced that because of the drop in demand from the coronavirus crisis, it will retire its entire fleet of Boeing 777s by the end of the year. That will leave the Airbus A350 as the largest, longest-range airplane in the Delta fleet. To salute the exit from service of an
Editor’s note: At TPG, our top priority is providing our readers with the information needed to make educated decisions about travel and your rewards-earnings strategy. This is not the best time to travel, domestically or internationally, as airlines have cut significant parts of their route network. But we are sharing this information to provide value for
For the first time ever, passengers on virtually every U.S. airline will be required to wear face coverings beginning this week. Naturally, such a significant change brings with it many questions: Do you have to wear a mask on every flight? Yes. For the whole flight? Yes, except when eating or drinking. Even if you
Editor’s note: At TPG, our top priority is providing our readers with the information needed to make educated decisions about travel and rewards-earning strategy. This is not the best time to travel, domestically or internationally, as airlines have cut major parts of their route networks. But we are sharing this information to provide value for
