by Danielle Garrett of PlanIt Itineraries for The Aha! Connection
The travel world seems to be exploding with changes and updates every week, so it was really difficult to determine what to focus on for Travel Tuesday this week. Airlines, ski resorts, hotels all seem to be regularly unfolding new plans for the Covid era to strike a balance between getting back to some normalcy while keeping us all safe. Do I think this is possible? My opinion is absolutely, but not without our help! So wear that mask and prepare to ease into the new normal. Below are just some of the new normals. Feel free to reach out to me with any questions!
- Three major airlines (Delta, United and American) have announced this week to permanently get rid of change fees! This is a direct effort to get Americans flying again. What does that mean for travel during the Covid era? It means if you book a flight for a future trip and someone in your group tests positive or you become concerned about your travel destination (or whatever the reason), you can change your flight to another date without paying the normal change fee of $200 per ticket!! This applies to mostly domestic flights, but check each airline for the details. This is a big decision, as US airlines for 2019 brought in $2.8 billion in just change fees!!!!
- Delta, the airline hoping to be known as the cleanest and safest, is adding sanitizing stations on each plane (up to 5 stations depending on the size of the plane). They will also be located at the door as you board.
- What is the WTTC Safe Travels Stamp? It is the world’s first ever global safety and hygiene stamp developed by the World Travel & Tourism Council. The WTTC developed the health & safety certification to help travelers identify destinations and businesses around the world that have adopted global standardized health and hygiene protocols. The new protocols take into account current WHO and CDC guidelines and will be updated as new information becomes available regarding Covid-19. Click here for a recent article about the WTTC Safe Travels Stamp.
- Vail Resorts, which owns & operates 10 major ski resorts and 3 urban ski areas announced that their ski resorts will require advanced reservations. This is new this year with the purpose of limiting the number of skiers on each mountain due to Covid. Vail Resorts is a leader in their industry, so look for other major ski resorts to possibly follow suit.
- The Epic Pass, which is the lift ticket option for all the Vail Resorts, is available at its current lowest price of the season until September 17. The Epic Pass is always cheaper than buying a regular lift ticket closer to your travel dates and this year it will give you priority access to book your required advance reservation starting November 6. If you do not buy an Epic Pass, you are not able to book your reservation until December 8. This is risky for securing dates during the holiday season.
- EXTRA TIP: As I mentioned in a previous Travel Tuesday, one option in being a responsible traveler is getting tested before and maybe even after your travels. A rapid test is the best option but has been difficult to locate. The Piedmont Urgent Care in Dunwoody on Mt. Vernon is now offering rapid tests. Their website says you need an appointment, but a representative told me yesterday it is available for walk-ins as well!
As a reminder, do not travel unnecessarily if you are elderly or immune-compromised!
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