Tag: Passengers

U.S. Reinstates Travel Restrictions – Now Requiring Tests For Passengers From China

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If you thought COVID tests and traveler entry requirements were long over, you were thinking too soon because the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) just announced today that as of January 5, any traveler from the People’s Republic of China (PRC), and regions Hong Kong, and Macau will need a negative COVID test before boarding flights to the U.S.

This news comes on the heels of reports that China’s COVID case numbers are surging, with hospitals being overwhelmed with not having enough ER staff or beds to meet the demand of cases. China has been rolling back many of its strictest rules such as mass testing, lockdowns, and mandatory quarantines in the past month and announced earlier this week that it would be removing the requirement for overseas travelers to quarantine upon arrival. This move came as a surprise to some since the country has been struggling to contain the virus and has traditionally followed a Zero-Covid approach.

China has stopped reporting daily data on infections pointing to a lack of reliability over the data, but it has been estimated by a UK-based health data firm that the country is averaging around 5,000 deaths and more than one million infections per day.

Countries have pointed to new variants and slowing the spread of the virus as their reasoning for reinstating travel testing again, with the CDC pointing out that variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus are continuing to show up in countries around the world. The CDC explains that China has been specifically targeted due to its “reduced testing and case reporting” and that “minimal sharing of viral genomic sequence data could delay the identification of new variants of concern if they arise,” according to a CDC press release.

Following the CDC’s announcement, Italy revealed a few hours later it would require all passengers from China to provide a negative COVID test. Italy had been testing passengers arriving from China this week and had found almost 50% of passengers had tested positive on a flight to Milan.

Earlier this week, India announced that it would require travelers to have a negative COVID test before boarding, while Japan and Taiwan have implemented testing upon arrival, and Malaysia has increased tracking and surveillance measures.

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Italy’s Health Minister Orazio Schillaci reflected a similar sentiment saying “the measure is essential to ensure surveillance and detection of possible variants of the virus in order to protect the Italian population.”

Starting on January 5, passengers with direct flights from the PRC, as well as passengers using South Korea’s Incheon International Airport, and Canada’s Toronto Pearson International Airport and Vancouver International Airport as transits to the U.S. will need to provide a negative COVID-19 test if they have been in PRC for the past 10 days. This is regardless of nationality and vaccination status.

The CDC will also be expanding its Traveler-based Genomic Surveillance program (TGS), where it will test for new and rare variants with nasal swabs from voluntary passengers arriving at international U.S. airports. The program is currently in place at 5 major airports and is now being added to Los Angeles and Seattle, where collectively, it will test approximately 500 flights from 30 different countries per week to determine any new variants.

Other countries such as the UK and Germany have said they will be monitoring the situation closely, while some experts predict that the U.K. and other countries will soon follow suit.

As the world continues to monitor the COVID situation closely, certain areas are taking precautionary measures to curb the spread, such as bringing back mask mandates. Los Cabos has created mask mandates for indoor public settings and transportation, while other officials in cities like New York and Los Angeles are calling again for mask wearing in public spaces.

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December 29, 2022
Survey Reveals The Most Annoying Passengers On Flights

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If you have never had another passenger annoy you during one of your flights, count yourself lucky! Most travelers have run into a passenger that irritated them at some point during a flight. The more you fly, the more often you see (or smell) passengers that clearly aren’t the rest of the flight’s favorite character. In a recent survey, travelers were asked which behaviors from other passengers annoyed them.

Below are the top 10 most annoying passengers on flights, as well as the percentage of respondents who found their behaviors annoying.

1) Passengers Who Kick the Seat

Percentage of Respondents: 59.11%

Unsurprisingly, passengers found those who kicked the back of their seats to be one of the most annoying things a fellow passenger can do. As a direct physical attack on travelers’ personal space and comfort, it makes sense that this is at the top of the list.

2) Passengers Who Get Drunk and Unruly

Percentage of Respondents: 59.11%

Drunk and unruly passengers tied with seat kicking for 1^st place, and it’s no surprise why. Once you are thousands of feet in the air in a metal tube, there’s no way to walk away from a situation. Unfortunately, some passengers can’t handle their alcohol, leading to highly uncomfortable and even dangerous situations like the one below.

@disgruntled_trini Drunk airline passenger🥴 #🇹🇹🇹🇹🇹🇹 #trinitiktokers🇹🇹🆙️🔥 #trinidad #trini_tiktoks #fypシ #foryou #foryourpage #you #disgruntled_trini #PNM #for ♬ original sound – disgruntled_trini

In the best case, you’ll have to put up with snoring from someone who had a few too many. In the worst case, threats of physical violence have occurred. This particular behavior can go from annoying to dangerous quite quickly.

3) Passengers Who Smell Bad (or too Good)

Percentage of Respondents: 48%

Nearly half of respondents said passengers who smell bad from poor hygiene or wear too much cologne annoy them. Being stuck in a giant flying tube with hundreds of other people is bad enough. Add in unpleasant smells, and it becomes a whole different experience.

4) Passengers Who Are Negligent Parents

Percentage of Respondents: 46.81%

Trailing behind bad-smelling passengers are parents who aren’t attentive during flights. Almost half of the respondents said parents who don’t attend to their children annoy them on flights. Unfortunately, this behavior often coincides with the #1 most annoying thing – seat kicking.

5) Passengers Who Eat Strong-Smelling Foods

Percentage of Respondents: 39.8%

Similar to #3, passengers who eat foods with a pungent smell can annoy the people around them. However, these smells aren’t quite as annoying as passengers who smell bad.

6) Passengers Who Hog the Armrest

Percentage of Respondents: 39.07%

Nearly two out of five respondents thought passengers who hog the armrest are annoying. You probably understand what they mean if you’ve been stuck in the middle seat with two armrest hogs.

7) Passengers Who Recline the Seat All the Way

Percentage of Respondents: 38.25%

Reclining the seat on an airplane has been a debate among travelers for years. Still, about 38% of respondents agreed that this was annoying behavior.

8) Passengers Who Talk to You Too Much

Percentage of Respondents: 29.87%

Getting stuck in a conversation is a nightmare for many travelers, but at least while on land, the option of walking away is available. Thousands of feet in the air, there’s no getting away from a talkative passenger. However, beginning the flight with headphones may help avoid getting caught in unwanted conversation.

9) Passengers Who Board or Deplane Out of Turn

Percentage of Respondents: 29.60%

Everyone has witnessed the eager passengers who jump out of their seats and dash down the aisle only to wait for the plane doors to open. Maybe they are afraid of missing a connecting flight, or perhaps that’s just how they are. Either way, nearly 3 in 10 respondents found this annoying.

10) Passengers Who Listen Have Their Headphones Turned Up Too Loud

Percentage of Respondents: 28.96%

Planes are loud as it is and often drown out a lot of background noise. If someone’s music is so loud that you can hear it, it’s probably too loud. This trailed just behind passengers who skip their turn boarding, with just under 3 in 10 saying loud music or movies annoy them.

Noteworthy Extras

Several more annoying passengers that didn’t make the top 10 were passengers who take off their shoes, passengers who use overhead space far in front of their seat, and passengers who practice too much PDA. One thing remains clear. Packing a few hundred people together in an enclosed space for a few hours can certainly bring out some behaviors that annoy fellow passengers.

This article originally appeared on Travel Off Path. For the latest breaking news that will affect your next trip, please visit: Traveloffpath.com

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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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September 23, 2022
US Government Launching Platform That Will Enable Passengers To Compare Airline Services
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With the ongoing chaos affecting air travel lately, have you ever wondered which airline would be ‘safer’ to book with, based on what benefits they offer in the event of a delay or cancelation? Pretty soon, the U.S. Government will launch an online platform enabling Americans to do just that, and make better informed decisions when planning a trip.

As the world reopened following Covid and millions flocked into airports, especially after the U.S. dropped the controversial inbound testing requirement, industry operators finally realized, perhaps a little too late, they were not prepared for dealing with a pent-up travel demand amid a crippling worker shortage and other operational issues.

Consequently, throughout summer, thousands of flights were either axed or did not depart as scheduled, with some carriers even blatantly denying customers refunds. Now, the Government is finally stepping in:

Buttigieg Wants To Increase Customer Protection Amid The Travel Chaos

After being personally affected by the spate of cancelations dragging down the aviation sector’s recovery, U.S. Transport Secretary Pete Buttigieg decided to take matters into his own hands and called out airlines out on their behavior. According to Buttigieg himself, this flight cancelation wave is ‘unacceptable’ and carriers should take responsibility.

Reuters reports that the Transport Secretary sent a letter of reprimand to airline executives, from those on a regional level all the way to the top of the chain, warning the U.S. Government is mulling over a new set of laws that would ‘expand the rights of airline passengers‘. In essence, Buttigieg wants travelers to be able to access:
- Clear information concerning an airline’s flight cancelation policies
- Food vouchers when flights are delayed for 3 hours or more
- Lodging when staying at the airport overnight due to delays within an airline’s control
Should any such law be implemented, this would be a landmark event in U.S. aviation History. At present, U.S. carriers are not required to provide passengers with complimentary meals, or hotel rooms, when unable to fulfill their own schedule. Despite not being legally bound to do so, a majority of them offers compensation out of common decency.

This does not change the fact that this isn’t a right, and thus, it can be refused at an airlines’ discretion. That’s a scary thought, and Buttigieg agrees air passengers need more protection urgently. This year, roughly 24 per cent of flights operated by U.S. carriers were delayed, giving rise to concerns airlines could eventually cease honoring their part of the deal.

A deal that does not exist in paper, for that matter. Additionally, the Transport Secretary has confirmed the U.S. Government is launching a new dashboard on September 2, right before Labor Day weekend, allowing Americans to verify how exactly each carrier plans on reimbursing their cancelation costs in a worst-case scenario:

All We Know So Far About The New Interactive Platform Launching

As Buttigieg shared, the ‘interactive’ dashboard would compile ‘easy-to-read’, comparative information on the services every large U.S. airline provide upon delaying or canceling a flight in a single online venue. He has not shared in detail how the information will be displayed, or how exactly users can go about viewing it.

All we know so far is it will be based off ‘airlines’ customer service plans’, since Buttigieg expressly told CEOs on his letter that this is their opportunity to ensure their Customer Service Plan ‘guarantees adequate amenities and services’ to help passengers through inconveniences. Interestingly, as far as we’re concerned, this is the first initiative of the sort by the Government.

Previously, airlines were able to operate free from Washington’s watchful gaze, though their current underperformance has led to increased scrutiny. The fact that the Transport Secretary is actively advocating for passenger rights, as well as debuting a promising comparative dashboard, are both indications the Government is siding with customers for once.

It remains to be seen whether the novelty will live up to expectations, and actually prove useful with time. This is the first time we hear of a national government gathering data to assist citizens in planning trips, and certainly an unusual move for the Department of Transportation. What’s more: Washington is not alone in its clash against the aviation giants.

North of the border, Ottawa had a few tricks up its sleeve as well:

North American Governments Come To Their Citizens’ Aid

The Canadian Government drafted its own laws requiring airlines to refund passengers in the event of any cancelation, including those outside their control, after Canada came under fire for being, at the time, an epicenter for the summer travel chaos. Of course, Washington has not gone as far, yet, but it is certainly closing in on what’s a poorly-regulated market.

Lastly, Buttigieg is developing other rules that would require carriers to refund travelers when their baggage is delayed or lost, and prohibit them from charging extra when families request to sit together in planes. Besides the interactive dashboard, coming this September, the remaining proposals are just that: proposals.

They need to be appraised and they may either be enshrined into law, or completely discarded. We will keep you updated once more information is shared by the Department of Transport.

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This article originally appeared on Travel Off Path. For the latest breaking news that will affect your next trip, please visit: Traveloffpath.com

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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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August 22, 2022
Emirates Will Spend 2 Billion Dollars Improving Its Onboard Experience For Passengers
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Emirates has big plans to ramp up its services for travelers.

Earlier this month, the airline announced that it is investing over 2 billion U.S. dollars for onboard improvements such as revamping its aircraft with the latest designs, technology, and other amenities in order to enhance its passengers in-flight experience. We’ve got all the details below.

New Passengers Services Will Launch This Month

“While others respond to industry pressures with cost cuts, Emirates is flying against the grain and investing to deliver ever better experiences to our customers. Through the pandemic we’ve continued to launch new services and initiatives to ensure our customers travel with assurance and ease, including digital initiatives to improve customer experiences on the ground,” said Sir Tim Clark, President of Emirates Airlines following the news.

“Now we’re rolling out a series of intensive programs to take Emirates’ signature inflight experiences to the next level,” he continued.

According to the airline’s press release, some of the new passenger services onboard on Emirates are scheduled to launch this August.

Sourced from: Emirates Media Centre

What Can Travelers Expect On Emirates?

From a new vegan menu to a “Cinema in the Sky” experience for First Class passengers, here’s an overview of the new services soon to be available on board Emirates’ flights:
- New Inspirations, New Menus: Upgraded menus for all passengers on Emirates
- Purposefully Vegan Choices: Newly curated plant-based menu available for all passengers.
- The Champagne and Caviar Experience: Unique to First Class passengers on board Emirates.
- Cinema in the Sky: New service available to Emirates’ First Class passengers.
- Farm to Fork – Sustainable Supply Chain: Menu with food sourced from a local farm for passengers traveling on flights departing from Dubai.
- Specialized Hospitality Training for Cabin Crew: New cabin crew training with Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne.
- Upgraded Cabin Interiors in all Classes: Investment in improvements such as new or reupholstered seating and new Premium Economy cabins.
Sourced from: Emirates Media Centre

Improved In-Flight Services For All Passengers

While Economy Class passengers may not be getting champagne and caviar, all passengers on Emirates flights in 2022 will be able to enjoy services like new and improved menus, upgraded seats, and flight attendants who’ve just completed world-class hospitality training.

Among the new services for travelers on Emirates is ‘New Inspirations, New Menus’, which will be introduced for Business and Economy Class passengers starting September 1, 2022.

Sourced from: Emirates Media Centre

Emirates’ New Vegan And Sustainable Menus

The airline announced its new plant-based meals for its vegan passengers or to anyone else who’d like to sample vegan food on board.

The dinner menu includes pan-roasted king oyster mushrooms, a jackfruit biryani, as well as sliced kohlrabi garnished with burnt orange. For dessert, travelers can choose between a vegan truffle cake with hazelnut, pistachio, and gold leaf, or a green grape tart with candied rose petals, vanilla custard, and berry compote with yuzu pearls.

For travelers on Emirates flights departing from Dubai, the airline has launched a sustainable food menu initiative. Menu items will include fresh greens from Bustanica, which is currently the world’s largest vertical farm and located in Dubai.

Sourced from: Emirates Media Centre

Emirates’ Upgraded Cabin Interiors

According to Emirates, the biggest investment is an upgrade of its aircraft fleet interiors. Airline cabins will be “retrofitted with new or reupholstered seats, new panelling, flooring and other cabin features.”

Refurbishments will happen for all cabin classes and new Premium Economy cabins will also be installed on a total of 120 of Emirates’ aircraft.

Plans to refurbish the cabins is scheduled to begin this November.

Sourced from: Emirates Media Centre

Emirates’ ‘Cinema in the Sky’

First Class passengers will soon be treated to Emirates’ new and unique “Cinema in the Sky” experience. These passengers will get to choose between 5,000 channels on the airline’s ice in-flight entertainment system to make their very own movie day on-board, including snacks available on demand. The impressive snack menu will include lobster rolls, edamame, juicy sliders, and of course, salted popcorn.

Sourced from: Emirates Media Centre

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This article originally appeared on Travel Off Path. For the latest breaking news that will affect your next trip, please visit: Traveloffpath.com

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August 17, 2022
Miami Airport Will Verify Every Passenger’s Identity Through New Biometric Scanners

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Travelers will just have to show their faces instead of the boarding passes to get authorized to board within seconds

The future is arriving at Miami International Airport (MIA) Airport authorities recently announced that they would soon have the largest biometric boarding technology implementation in the United States. The new installation will allow passengers to quickly board international flights with a touchless click of a camera.

According to the official information, the deployment of the technology in over 130 gates is expected to be finished by 2023. The project is part of an alliance with multinational technology company SITA and the collaboration and authorization of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

Miami-Dade County Mayor, Daniella Levine Cava, said: “The launch of biometric boarding at MIA is the latest way that Miami-Dade County is leveraging technology to improve customer service and simplify operations. I am proud to see our airport lead the nation with this cutting-edge innovation that will streamline the boarding process for our passengers.”

The new technology will use the passenger’s picture to confirm identity and authorize travel within seconds. It was first tested with selected airlines during a pilot program in 2019, and the boarding time significantly improved.

Ralph Cutié, MIA Director and CEO, said: “We look forward to elevating our passenger experience with this state-of-the-art boarding solution. MIA is now the busiest U.S. airport for international travel and continues to set new records each month for passenger growth. Biometric boarding is one of the major steps we are taking to pave the way for additional growth in the years to come.”

This news comes to counter the airport’s bad reputation since Miami’s airport has the longest wait time at security in the United States. Airport authorities hope that the new technology speeds up processes and allows passengers to board faster than ever.

More About Miami’s New Installation

The implementation of this new technology that quickly recognized individual traits comes as a response to passengers’ needs —according to the information shared by the airport— and also to follow a program of expansion and process enhancement set in 2020 by the CBP to use facial biometrics for admission into the US.

Matthys Serfontein, President of Americas at SITA, said: “Globally we see that passengers want a faster journey through the airport where key steps in the journey are automated. Our Smart Path biometric solution will enable future expansion to other touchpoints at MIA as well as the use of multiple forms of digital identity.”

However, Miami’s airport isn’t the first to use the Biometric Facial Comparison in the United States. According to the information shared on Phocus Wired, in 2018, Orlando International Airport became the first to use SITA’s system—at 30 boarding gates— for international flights.

In a video, the airport shows travelers how biometric boarding works: Travelers just have to stand for a few seconds in front of the camera and wait for the approval sign to keep walking and board the plane. Passengers should soon start seeing this system at their international boarding gates at Miami’s airport.

Traveler’s Faces Are The New Boarding Passes

Other airports around the world have already started using similar technology during the past few years. These biometric systems are already being used in international airports in Beijing, Rome, Athens, Istanbul, and Kuala Lumpur.

Recently, Singapore announced that it will be deploying iris and facial biometric verification by the end of 2022 at the Changi Airport. The Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) authorities also announced a recent investment in biometrics for air travel, and Brazil has also been deploying the technology at Congonhas (São Paulo) and Santos Dumont (Rio de Janeiro) airports.

Travelers in the United States who do not feel comfortable with biometric facial recognition can refuse—as reported by PCMag— and the airline should offer the traditional method.

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May 21, 2022