Travel Week in Review – July 9th, 2021

The Chase Sapphire Preferred is offering a sign-up bonus of 100,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards, what most people consider the most valuable credit card points available. This is Chase’s best offer ever and has a minimum redemption value of $1,250 through the travel portal or to pay yourself back from your recent purchases. The value skyrockets if they are transferred to one of Chase’s 13 transfer partners. Learn More…

The Japanese government on Thursday announced that it would re-institute strict measures to counter COVID-19 surges in the capital. The measures will take effect next week, and last the duration of the Games, which officially begin July 23 and end Aug. 8. The games announced that there will be no fans at competitions held in Tokyo and other areas affected by the state of emergency. Read More…

Are you usually that person at the airport who’s sprinting to the departure gate, or are you the anxious flyer who lurks around the boarding area for hours before takeoff? If you’ve ever done either, you’ve probably asked yourself: How early should I get to the airport, really? Are domestic and international flights different for security? Does the airport I’m flying out of make a difference? Read More…

Travelers whose bags do not arrive in a timely manner could get the fees charged for those items refunded by the airlines. The Department of Transportation is finalizing the proposal and expects to announce the full details in the coming days. A department spokesperson said the plan would require a refund of any fees for luggage that does not arrive within 12 hours of a plane touching down on domestic flights and 25 hours on international flights. Read More…

Most U.S. fliers think of travel documents when checking their passport is valid. But as Real ID, a new federal law mandating which forms of identification will get passengers through airport security, takes effect, that mentality will need to shift. New rules set strict regulations on what identification will be accepted by the TSA at security checkpoints—domestic or international. Read More…