Travel Week in Review – December 11, 2020

Delta Air Lines and Alitalia will begin operating “Covid-tested” flights between Rome and the United States that allow select travelers to avoid quarantine requirements upon arrival in Italy. In the trial phase, approved by Italy’s Ministers of Health, Transportation, and Foreign Affairs, passengers arriving from New York’s JFK, Newark, and Atlanta will be tested for Covid-19 both prior to departure and upon arrival in Rome. Read More…

As the pandemic continues to surge, so are travelers’ concerns about sanitation protocols, according to a survey conducted by Vioguard, Inc., a healthcare solutions provider focusing on infection control through ultraviolet light (UV-C) technology. The survey, which polled more than 1,000 U.S. consumers in November, found that 79 percent of respondents “believe it is very important to understand a travel company’s sanitation protocols before a purchasing decision is made.” Read More… 

With the seventh most powerful passport in the world, Americans are used to the privilege of access to almost any country on demand. Before the pandemic, Americans could travel to 185 of the world’s 195 countries visa-free, or with a visa on arrival. But due to the high coronavirus rates in the U.S., dozens of destinations (including the European Union) have deemed the U.S. ‘high risk’ and closed their doors to Americans. So what countries can Americans visit right now? Read More…

American Airlines is expanding its coronavirus testing program to offer at-home testing kits to customers traveling to any U.S. city that has travel restrictions in place. Beginning Wednesday, American Airlines customers can order test kits that will enable them to collect their own samples and send them to a lab. The kits will cost $129 and will provide results within 48 hours after the sample is received. The results can be used for flights on or after Dec. 12. Read More…

United Airlines revealed it would eliminate change fees on all flights through March 31, 2021. According to Newsweek, the carrier said the cancelation of change fees would apply to all tickets purchased on domestic flights, including basic economy, as well as international service originating in the United States. Read More…