Tag: launches

American Airlines Launches Flights To Barcelona As Spain Reopens For All U.S. Travelers

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Following a 32-month pause, American Airlines is finally reinstating its seasonal flights to Barcelona for summer 2022. Since June 3, U.S. citizens have been able to fly nonstop between Chicago and Spain’s leading tourist destination, as the American carrier opens up yet another route for Europe-bound vacationers.

A metropolitan city extremely rich in History and ideal for sightseeing, Barcelona sits on Spain’s eastern coast, being the gateway to the autonomous region of Catalonia. Even though Madrid is the number one city in Spain, Barcelona houses some of its most iconic landmarks, including La Sagrada Familia and several Gaudi monuments.

Travel Demand Is Back Now That Most Covid Rules Are Scrapped

Tourism in Europe may have come to a standstill throughout the Covid crisis, but now that the continent is opening its borders once more and dropping most entry requirements, demand for travel is shooting up dramatically. Similarly to other European nations, Spain has also eased its travel rules recently.

Once the Mediterranean hotspot signaled it was moving away from its once-strict Covid policies, American Airlines was quick to relaunch service between two of the busiest airports in the United States and Spain. This means nonstop flights to Barcelona are officially back to Chicago O’Hare International (ORD), just in time for summer.

The last time American offered service on this route had been October 2019, prior to Covid being declared a pandemic in early 2020. While the virus was yet to be controlled, and more disruptive variants kept surging, the route remained unavailable. For two consecutive summers, American Airlines customers based in Chicago were unable to reach Barcelona directly.

That is no longer the case.

American Airlines Ends Two Year Hiatus As Barcelona Route Is Relaunched

The hiatus ended last Friday (3) when American resumed operations on its Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners, carrying 234 passengers. Similarly to pre-pandemic summers, the Chicago-Barcelona flights will run through October 29, 2022, when the summer/fall tourist season ends in Spain and Europe on an extent.

The AA40 flight leaves Chicago (ORD) at 17:35, arriving to Barcelona (BCN) the following day at 9:00, on a daily frequency. Returning to America, the AA41 flight departs from BCN at 11:35, landing in ORD at 14:35 local time, also daily. Depending on date selection and seating, one-way Economy tickets can range between USD 823.59 and USD 2.819,25.

Besides Chicago, American is also offering flights to Barcelona from 3 other U.S. hubs, including Miami (MIA), New York (JFK), and Philadelphia (PHL). On top of that, the carrier operates on five other routes to Madrid, Spain’s capital: those flights leave from Charlotte (CLT), Dallas (DFW), MIA, JFK and PHL. Frequency is daily in all of them.

Can Americans Visit Spain Restriction-Free?

All Americans are eligible to visit Spain, albeit with different requirements based on vaccination.

The fully immunized are no longer subject to pre-departure testing when boarding a flight to Spain, but the non-vaccinated remain subject to presenting either a negative PCR test result issued less than 72 hours before arrival, or a negative Rapid Antigen (24 hours).

Irrespective of vaccination, U.S. citizens do not have to enter mandatory quarantine or undergo further testing when arriving to Spain. Additionally, Spanish authorities no longer require proof of vaccination to enter enclosed spaces, such as restaurants, travel on public transportation, or visit cultural venues.

Once they are in, all are welcome to explore the Iberian Peninsula’s leading nation hassle-free.

While it has eased its strict Covid-era entry protocols, now allowing the unvaccinated to enter again by presenting negative tests, Spain has refused to drop the mask rule across public transport, including planes. This means mask usage is still necessary when riding on city buses, intercity trains, and when flying within Spain.

What Are Some Of Barcelona’s Main Attractions?

Barcelona is an open air museum and one of Europe’s oldest cities. An intricate maze of narrow streets full of color and countless historical monuments. Housing the impressive Sagrada Familia, which will soon be finished after 144 years, the 13th century Barcelona Cathedral, and the picturesque Latin Quarter, it has enough sights to keep tourists busy for days on end.

Close to Barcelona, popular day trips include visits to the Costa Brava, where charming seaside towns can be found along Catalonia’s Mediterranean coast, the medieval cities of Girona and Lleida, and even the small Catalan-speaking nation of Andorra, which borders Spain and France.

Luckily, all these wonders are now only an 8-hour flight away from the U.S. with American Airlines.

Read More:

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Passengers Missing Flights Across Europe After Travel Chaos At Airports Continue

Delta Says Flights Will See Record Breaking Price Increases This Summer Up To 30 Percent

U.S. State Department Updates Travel Advisories For 10 Countries

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June 10, 2022
Wyndham Launches New App Feature To Help Travelers Plan Road Trips
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After staying at home during the pandemic for two years, travelers want to go out and explore the world. They have been planning more road trips than ever and many businesses in the travel industry know it. This is why the American hotel company Wyndham Hotels & Resorts is launching a new feature called “Road Trip Planner”.

The new mobile app feature, integrated with Wyndham Hotels & Resorts app, helps travelers plan their next road trip and includes interactive tools that allow users to book hotels, choose from different itineraries and discover new travel opportunities.

According to the information provided by the company in the press release, recent research for their American Road Trip Index revealed that 80% of Americans are planning to take a road trip in 2022, but 66% feel overwhelmed and don’t know how to plan it.

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts —considered the largest hotel franchise in the world with hotels in more than 95 countries and over 6,000 in the United States— wants to provide a technological solution for travelers.

Jessica Davidson, senior vice president, digital, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts said: “With thousands of hotels across our country’s highways and byways and 22 trusted brands, there is no company better positioned to help travelers experience the road trip of their dreams.”

And added: “With Road Trip Planner, travelers enter a few details about the trip and instantly get an itinerary with all their hotel stops, bookable in one single transaction. It not only eases the stresses of travel planning but ensures the journey is as exciting as the destination.”

It is not the only business that considered Americans’ increasing interest in road trip travel. Even Oscar-winning actor Kevin Costner recently launched an app called HearHere to reproduce audio with historical information related to the user’s current geolocation.

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts proposes an option that includes their popular brands —such as Days Inn, Super 8, Microtel, Baymont, La Quinta, Howard Johnson, and Travelodge— to provide “The Easiest Way to Book & Go” as their service mark states.

More About Road Trip Planner

The new digital platform will allow travelers to plan, create and book trips and multiple hotel stays at once. It offers features for different kinds of travel, from coastal road trips to national parks road trips to long-haul truckers’ itineraries.

Road Trip Planner will be integrated into Wyndham Hotels & Resorts app, created two years ago —which allows users to quickly book rooms in nearby hotels with the feature Lightning Book and check-in and check-out from the phone.

“Built upon the success and strong adoption of our mobile app, Road Trip Planner is the perfect complement to Lightning Book, which is our fastest way to book direct and enables guests to reserve a hotel in just a few taps. Now, whatever your travel preferences—be it booking last minute or planning far ahead—Wyndham has you covered. Summer, here we come!”, said Davidson.

These are the main features included in the platform:
- Custom itineraries: Travelers can discover itinerary alternatives from location A to destination B and filter search considering the driving distance, pet-friendly locations, or preferred brands and amenities.
- Recommended routes: after mapping a route, the app intelligence can recommend the best itinerary according to the user’s travel preferences.
- Reservations details: travelers can view multiple reservations and make requests or lock up amenities before arriving.
- Pay your way: the app offers different payment options, including cash and Wyndham Rewards points.
This new feature can be a great alternative for different kinds of travelers —from those who prefer carefully planned itineraries to more spontaneous voyagers—, considering that it also offers different kinds of hotel experiences. But, it is especially useful for those looking to stay at economy and midscale hotels in the United States.

During summer, road trippers will have more options to plan, book, schedule, and take advantage of technology on their next adventure.

Read More:

Summer Travel 2022: 5 Epic Road Trips In The U.S. To Take This Year

Travel Insurance That Covers Covid-19 For 2022

All You Need To Know About The Travel App Created By Kevin Costner

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Disclaimer: Current travel rules and restrictions can change without notice. The decision to travel is ultimately your responsibility. Contact your consulate and/or local authorities to confirm your nationality’s entry and/or any changes to travel requirements before traveling. Travel Off Path does not endorse traveling against government advisories
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May 26, 2022
Flair Airlines Launches 2 New Low Cost Flights To Puerto Vallarta

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Great news for those who enjoy taking a break from the Canadian winter! The Canadian low-cost carrier Flair Airlines recently announced two new routes to the popular Mexican coastal city Puerto Vallarta. Services will begin in winter 2022.

The company wants to offer Canadian travelers the possibility to experience the warm weather and sandy beaches of Puerto Vallarta by the end of the year, just like the American low-cost carrier JetBlue is doing at the moment.

According to the information shared in a press release, Flair Airlines will allow more Canadian travelers to escape winter and enjoy this sunny destination with affordable tickets. Non-stop flights will connect Edmonton and Vancouver to Puerto Vallarta International Airport (PVR).

Flair Airlines’ Chief Executive Officer, Stephen Jones said: “We’re here to offer affordable options to Canadians, and growing our network in Mexico is an exciting step forward as we continue our international expansion.”

Jones also mentioned weather conditions: “We are looking forward to partnering with Puerto Vallarta International Airport to bring another sunny destination to our passengers. We know it will be a hot destination this winter, with temperatures averaging 30 degrees in November.”

The new services will begin on November 3 from Edmonton and November 5 from Vancouver. One-way fares will start at $99.

The company wants to position itself as Canada’s main ultra-low-cost carrier and is also currently offering travelers a special promo—until May 5— with domestic flights for $39 per service.

More Affordable Vacation Options For Canadian Travelers

Canadian families will have more affordable options to fly to Mexico. Now, along with other low-cost Canadian carriers such as Swoop—also offering flights to the Dominican Republic— Flair will be offering passengers the possibility to explore popular and exotic destinations at prices surprisingly low.

Starting in November, from Edmonton and Vancouver, Canadians can take direct flights into paradise with Flair Airlines. Myron Keehn, Vice President Air Service, Business Development, ESG and Government Relations, Edmonton International Airport, said: “Flair is bringing the fun with another non-stop Mexican destination from Edmonton International Airport.”

Keehn also added: “Puerto Vallarta and its beautiful beaches are a popular destination from Edmonton with plenty of ways to relax and enjoy a great vacation. We’re glad to have Flair headquartered at EIA and helping bring more options for low-cost travel to our communities.”

The new non-stop flights to Puerto Vallarta will operate on Wednesdays and Saturdays, twice a week from Edmonton and prices start at $109. From Vancouver, the carrier announced weekly flights on Saturdays and one-way fares begin at $99.

Canadians will be able to enjoy one of the most beautiful Mexican cities in the Pacific for just about $200 round trip. They can explore the traditional villages, swim in the warm crystal clear waters of beaches like Playa Los Muertos or Playa de Oro, and have exciting adventures diving or water skiing.

Flair Airlines’ Expansion

The Canadian airline, headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta, currently operates in Canada, the United States, and Mexico. Flair Airlines was launched in 2017 and, according to data provided by FlightConnections they currently serve direct flights to over 50 destinations.

In Canada, the carrier’s top destinations are Toronto, Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Halifax, Ottawa, and Victoria, but also serves other cities like Montreal, Abbotsford, Waterloo, Kelowna, Victoria, and Grand Prairie.

In the United States, Flair serves big cities such as New York, Fort Lauderdale, Las Vegas, Chicago, Denver, San Francisco, and recently became the first Canadian airline with services to Burbank airport in Los Angeles.

Flair Airlines states on its website its intention “to disrupt the monopolistic practices of Canadian airlines” and has been rapidly expanding to fulfill its mission: “We will liberate the lives of Canadians by providing affordable air travel that connects them to the people and experiences they love.”

Read More:

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Travel Insurance That Covers Covid-19 For 2022

Frontier Adds 4 New Non Stop Flights From The U.S. To Popular Caribbean Destinations

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May 5, 2022
Southwest Airlines Launches New Fare Class With Various Benefits For Travelers
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Southwest Airlines will add a fourth category fare to attract more business travelers and revenue this year.

The new fare will cost slightly more than Southwest Airlines’ cheapest tickets but below the airline’s top two fare categories. Southwest Airlines hopes the fare will offer more flexibility to travelers.

The airline will call the new fare category “Wanna Get Away Plus.” It will sit above the “Wanna Get Away” fares, and it will go on sale in the second quarter.

It’s Southwest’s first major fare change in 15 years.

The Details Of The New Fare Class

The “Wanna Get Away Plus” fares will allow travelers to make same-day changes to their tickets without paying the difference in fares that the lowest tier demands. Customers who select the new fare class—or classes above the fare class—will earn 33% more frequent flyer miles than the lowest tier.

Passengers can transfer flight credits to another RapidRewards member, a new feature for the airline.

Passengers also have the option to check two bags for free.

The new fare class is the latest effort by the airline to boost revenue after two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. The airline hopes it will help to bring back pre-pandemic passenger levels to Southwest Airlines.

Southwest Airlines hinted at the fresh changes before Christmas, but they didn’t give any details. The new fare class is among various moves—including a brand new credit card deal with Chase Bank—that the Texas-based airline hopes will boost revenue by over $1 billion to $1.5 billion next year.

However, executives refused to comment on how much more “Wanna Get Away Plus” seats will cost compared to their cheaper alternative. But they said it would vary by flight.

In recent years, various airlines—such as Delta, JetBlue, and United Airlines—have rolled out no-frills basic economy tickets. These tickets don’t include perks that were once free, such as advanced seat selection.

The Current State Of U.S. Airlines

Air travel demand—especially for domestic travel in the United States—and growing fuel prices from the increasing energy crisis have already pushed up fares. Unfortunately, airfares in the Department of Labor’s inflation index rose 12.7% last month from a year ago. However, the overall consumer price index rose 7.9%.

In February, bookings by both number and value on U.S. airline websites surpassed pre-pandemic levels for the first time. As a result, many of the cheap flight deals during the COVID-19 pandemic are over.

The Current Travel Rules In the U.S. Airlines

Although U.S air travel is coming back to pre-pandemic levels, airlines haven’t removed all COVID-19 restrictions. There’s still a mask mandate on all U.S. airlines until at least April 18, 2022.

However, in a letter sent to U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday, leaders of various major U.S. airlines demanded the government end the mask mandate along with the testing requirement for all incoming travelers to take a COVID-19 test within 24 hours of departure.

Various major airline heads signed the letter, including:
- Ed Bastian: Delta Airlines CEO
- Scott Kirby: United Airlines CEO
- Gary Kelly: Southwest Airlines executive chairman
- Robin Hayes: JetBlue Airways CEO
- Ben Minicucci: Alaska Airlines CEO
- Peter Ingram: Hawaiian Airlines CEO
- Robin Hayes: JetBlue Airways CEO
The airlines wrote: “At the outset, we voluntarily implemented policies and procedures — mandating face coverings; requiring passenger health acknowledgments and contact tracing information; and enhancing cleaning protocols – to form a multi-layered approach to mitigate risk and prioritize the wellbeing of passengers and employees,”

“However, much has changed since these measures were imposed and they no longer make sense in the current public health context.”

The airlines hope the U.S. will end the mask mandate in April and U.S. air travel will return to full normality.

Read More:

TSA Extends Mask Mandate For Flights And Airports Until April 18

Travel Insurance That Covers Covid-19 For 2021

U.S. Issues New Travel Advisories For 14 Countries

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Disclaimer: Current travel rules and restrictions can change without notice. The decision to travel is ultimately your responsibility. Contact your consulate and/or local authorities to confirm your nationality’s entry and/or any changes to travel requirements before traveling. Travel Off Path does not endorse traveling against government advisories
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March 26, 2022
Aer Lingus launches new route to Newark from Dublin

Irish airline Aer Lingus has launched a new each-day service from Dublin to Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey.

The new year-round route marks the newest addition to the provider’s fast-growing transatlantic community.

Only 40 minutes from downtown Manhattan, Newark represents one other nice choice for these eager to go to the Big Apple, complementing Aer Lingus’ current double-daily companies to New York JFK through Dublin and six-times weekly flights through Shannon.

Guests from a spread of UK departure factors together with Manchester, Newcastle and Edinburgh have already taken benefit of the new route thanks to Aer Lingus’ straightforward transatlantic connections from 19 key UK airports.

When connecting in Dublin, Aer Lingus visitors from the UK can pre-clear US Customs and Immigration permitting them to go by means of home channels upon touchdown for a clean and swift arrival within the USA.

Newark is the second of three new transatlantic routes to start this summer time, marking the only largest growth of Aer Lingus’ transatlantic community in its historical past.

A direct new service to Los Angeles started in May and in late September a new four-times weekly service will launch from Dublin to Hartford, Connecticut.

Declan Kearney, director of communications, Aer Lingus, mentioned: “We are delighted to commence our new direct service from Dublin to Newark, New Jersey, offering our guests from the UK even more options when visiting the Big Apple with Aer Lingus. With Hartford to follow in just a few weeks’ time, we will be operating 28 daily services across the Atlantic by the end of this month.”

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August 6, 2021