January 6, 2022

Good afternoon from mild L.A. The photo above is from yesterday, a perfect beach day! This is my first weekly newsletter of the new year, so I hope you had a great New Year's Eve and more importantly, a better 2022. Unfortunately, so far, travelers aren't, thanks to bad weather and Omicron running rampant through travel industry staff.

If you're traveling, here are my tips to help with delays and cancelations.

Several friends of mine who are pilots and flight attendants have been sidelined by COVID and some of them are already back at work so hopefully things will start improving on the staffing issues. 

Omicron is Milder
Fortunately, all of my friends, family and neighbors who have been sick have had mild symptoms, if any at all, but they were all fully vaccinated. In the New York Times newsletter today, they say omicron is milder than earlier versions of the virus and that "Covid now appears to present less threat to most vaccinated elderly people than the annual flu does."

We Postponed Our Hawaii Trip
My family's big worry is our unvaccinated two-year-old since pediatric hospitalizations have jumped and worse, long haul Covid in kids "has doubled in 3 months & tripled in 6 months in kids 2-16 in Great Britain." This is one of the reasons we just postponed our Hawaii trip, which we were supposed to be departing for in 44 hours. 

Traveling? Doctor Recommends These Face Masks
One of today's news stories (scroll down to see them all) is about a passenger flying with Covid ... and you know there are tons of others purposely doing the same. In fact, one of my friend's friends did as well. This is one of the reasons you really need to upgrade your mask. So if you're traveling, a doctor we interviewed recommends these face masks for better protection against Omicron.

RELATED: The Only Face Mask Travelers Should Be Wearing, According to Experts

10 Items to Have in Case of an Emergency
After seeing the horrific images of people being stuck in their cars after a massive winter storm stopped traffic along I-95 in Virginia, I realized that it never hurts to be reminded about things to have in case of emergency, whether you're flying or taking a road trip. Here are 10 emergency items I highly recommend. 

12 Passport Tips that Will Save You Time, Money and Headaches
The first week of January is always a great time to track down your passport and find out when it expires. I know what you're thinking: But I'm not traveling internationally until the summer so it can wait. Well, according to the U.S. State Department, you need to apply for renewal at least 4-6 months before planned travel. Here are 11 other passport tips that will save you time, money and headaches. 

12 Things in Travel You Need to Know Today
— Near-empty flights crisscross Europe to secure landing slots
— Air Canada suspends flights to sun destinations because of COVID-19
— Norwegian and Royal Caribbean cancel further cruise sailings
— Partying passengers stuck in Mexico after airlines decline to fly them home
— Allegiant sets $2.5 billion Boeing Max order 
— Man, 75, dies after falling 100 feet from viewing platform into Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano
— Robert de Niro claims ex-assistant used his frequent flyer miles worth $300,000 
— Traveler caught texting about having Covid on flight
— Lufthansa cancels 33,000 flights as Omicron kills air travel demand
— Covid-19: Hundreds of maskless London Underground passengers fined
— Novak Djokovic: Australia cancels top tennis player's visa
— Ireland to drop Covid test requirement for vaccinated visitors
— Yesterday's TSA checkpoint numbers 
(Read it all here in today's travel news round-up as well as the 84 other top travel news stories from the past seven days!)

Today's Travel Tip
How To Save 22% Off NYC Hotels
January and early February have always been a slow period for New York City. Once the New Year’s Eve crowd heads home Big Apple hotel rooms usually sit vacant. Since it’s a downturn, NYC & Company, the tourism board for the city has just created a brilliant campaign with their first-ever NYC Hotel Week. Here's more info.  

This Travel Trend Isn't Going Anywhere in 2022
It goes without saying that Covid-19 has wreaked havoc for travelers. To deal with the uncertainty, many travelers are hedging their bets by doing this, a popular trend that's continuing into the new year. Read the story.

A United Flight Attendant Used a Fake Name and Passport for 23 Years
This lowlife stole the identity of a dead child and used the false name to work for United Airlines for 23 years. Read the story.  

Travel Quote of the Week
“Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine.” ~ Anthony J. D'Angelo 

Travel Tweet of the Day
@ABC7NY: "Preparing for snow: Tri-State under Winter Weather Advisory 

Credit Card News/Offers for Travelers
This card earns 4x points on dining and U.S. supermarkets. This one earns 2x miles on every purchase. Both of these cards have 60k bonus offers. Which do you prefer?
 
The Chase Pay Yourself Back feature allows you to get more benefits when redeeming points on select purchases. Points can have up to 50% more value when used to cover eligible purchases. Categories for this quarter include office supplies, Airbnb, and dining purchases. We find this redemption perk to be an easy way to get more out of your Chase credit cards—excellent for giving yourself a boost to start the new year. 

Travel Contests
-Win a trip to Iceland (Jan 12)
-Win a trip to Santorini, Greece (Jan 19)
-Win a free vacation at a luxury resort (March 31)
See all contests here.

Check out these virtual travel opportunities with PBS TV
Host Darley Newman is presenting three Livestreamed Zoom events in Jan and Feb with Smithsonian Associates. Darley will share insights into historic destinations along Alabama’s Civil Rights Trail and South Carolina’s new Liberty Trail, along with her recommendations for the best destinations of 2022. She covers the changes and trends in travel today and what travelers can do to best enjoy their adventures, along with sharing exclusive previews of her new PBS episodes on these topics. More at darley.link/smithsonian2022 

In Case You Missed It  
Air Travel Tips
-Warning to Travelers with Clear, TSA PreCheck and Elite Status
-How to Get Free Upgrades and Points on American Airlines
-A Brilliant Trick to Save Huge on Airfares
-A Simple and Genius iPhone Hack to Track Flights.
-Sorry T+L, You Got This One Wrong – Here’s How You Can Really Get Upgraded to First Class
-Which Trusted Traveler Program Is Right For You?
-Why You May Want To Avoid This Major U.S. Airport
-9 Tips For Avoiding COVID-19 On Planes and In Airports 
-8 Ways to Make Sure an Airline Doesn't Lose Your Bag ... And That You Don't Get Robbed or Stalked
-How to Speed Through Airport Security
-How To Reach an Airline's Reservations Agent Without Waiting
-My Number 1 and 2 Travel Tips

Road Trip Tips
If you're planning a road trip, then be sure to follow these tips:
-Two Great Things to Keep in the Car For Road Trips
-3 Ways To Save Money on Gas
-How to Prevent Road Trip Theft
-15 Tips For Renting A Car in 2022
-How To Prevent Car Rental Companies From Ripping You Off

International Travel
-A New Vaccination Requirement All International Travelers Must Consider
-The Must-Have App For Travel to Europe

Safety
-10 Things to Have in Case of an Emergency
-The Pocket Thermometer You Should Never Leave Home Without
-Life-Saving Car Emergency Tips 
-My Somewhat Freakish Travel Habit Might Just Save Your Life
-What I Keep In My Carry-On First Aid Kit
-The Most Dangerous Places to Be During a Lightning Storm
-Car Seat Tips For Keeping Your Children Safe
-Sadly, It's That Time Again: Where to Buy N95 and KN95 Masks