Travel Week in Review – May 13th, 2022

The chief of the Transportation Security Administration said Tuesday that his agency has quadrupled the number of employees who could bolster screening operations at airports that become too crowded this summer. TSA Administrator David Pekoske said nearly 1,000 employees have volunteered to be sent to other airports if needed. It’s part of the agency’s plan for handling what is projected to be a frenetic vacation-travel season. “We expect this to be a busy summer, and we are as ready as we possibly can be.” Read More…

The European Union will no longer require masks to be worn at airports and on planes starting next week amid the easing of coronavirus restrictions across the bloc, authorities said Wednesday. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency said it hoped the joint decision, made with the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, would mark “a big step forward in the normalization of air travel” for passengers and crews. Read More…

With preflight COVID-19 tests required to visit many destinations (and to return to the United States), there’s a chance you could get a positive result before your next flight. If that happens, the first question on your mind will be, “When can I travel after testing positive for COVID?” The answer will depend on three things: the country you’re currently in, your destination country, and the airline you’re flying. Read More…

The CDC relaxed a key pandemic-era cruise regulation Thursday, allowing more unvaccinated adults and children to cruise on ships designated as “highly vaccinated.” The regulation now requires 90% of cruise ship passengers to be vaccinated for a sailing to be considered “highly vaccinated.” That’s down from 95%, according to the CDC’s Covid-19 Program for Cruise Ships Operating in U.S. Waters. That 90% threshold applies to passengers who are 5 years of age and older. Read More…

The pandemic delayed the requirement of Real IDs for nearly 2 years but the deadline to get one for travel is officially less than a year away. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Department of Homeland Security are reminding travelers that starting May 3, 2023, those 18 and older will need a Real ID to pass through airport security. Real IDs are enhanced state-issued driver’s licenses and ID cards, typically with a star located in the upper right-hand or left-hand corner. Read More…