President Prefers Foreign Travelers Self-Quarantine Upon U.S. Arrival
Despite numerous reports to the contrary, President Biden has not made quarantine upon arrival a mandatory requirement on a federal level for international travelers arriving in the United States. While some states do have arrival requirements that involve quarantines, the federal government has not done so.
The executive order signed by the president this week states that those flying into the U.S. should have a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of departure, but there are enough loopholes that it may be more of a suggestion than a request. For example, visitors coming from countries where PCR tests are considered inaccessible are exempt from the tests, especially if the requirement prevents U.S. citizens from returning home. How they determine that seems unclear.
As for quarantine, the executive order calls for the HHS secretary to coordinate a plan to present to the president that includes “CDC-recommended periods of self-quarantine or self-isolation after a flight to the United States from a foreign country, as [the secretary] deems appropriate and consistent with applicable law.”
What the president did require, however, was for all airlines — domestic and international — when on approach to landing in the United States on an international flight to play Katy Perry’s rockin’ performance of Firework at Wednesday’s Inaugural Celebration.
WestJet Doesn’t Care for Air Canada Takeover of Air Transat
Air Canada’s chief domestic rival, WestJet, has very respectfully and politely requested that the Canadian government reject AC’s planned takeover of Air Transat. In its filing, WestJet stated “A fundamental element of Canada’s national transportation policy is to have at least two strong national airlines,” apparently suggesting that the merger will make WestJet either not strong or not national. We’ll go with the former.
WestJet wants modifications to the deal if it cannot get it quashed altogether, including the new combined airline divesting itself of slots across the country and denying Air Transat customers access to Aeroplan, Air Canada’s loyalty program. WestJet singled out three airports where the new combined airline should be forced to divest itself of slots: Toronto/Pearson domestically and then Amsterdam and London/Heathrow in Europe.
Both the Canadian government and EU are expected to rule on the merger within weeks. Both sides are hopeful to receive a ruling from both governments by the February 15 deadline and close the deal, because no one wants to have to return to the negotiating table just as the race for the Stanley Cup Playoffs heats up.
Spirit’s New Loyalty Program Goes Live
Spirit Airlines’ new pyramid scheme loyalty program is live with perks that many Spirit customers never thought they’d live to see. Free checked bags, free seat assignments, less harsh mileage expiration, and actual elite status — it’s real, and it’s spectacular.
The airline had known for years that a reboot of its loyalty program was needed, as its original program had barely changed since its launch in 2006. The new program is revenue-based, just as everything is with Spirit, and gives very frequent fliers a legitimate opportunity to receive many of Spirit’s bevy of paid add-ons for free.
The new program comes with two levels of Elite status – Free Spirit Silver & Free Spirit Gold. Silver members must earn 2,000 qualifying points which equates to $2,000 spend in a year, while gold members need 5,000. Silver members can select a non-premium (not exit row or Big Front Seat) seat at check-in and exit rows at three hours before departure. Silver members also receive free same-day standby, shortcut boarding, and the opportunity to perform one flight attendant beverage service per flight, with the right to keep 10% of what they sell.
Free Spirit gold members really pull in the perks, which anyone who spends $5,000 in a year on Spirit really deserves anyway. In addition to all the silver perks, gold members receive a free checked bag and a free carry-on bag. Revolutionary stuff. Gold members can also select any seat except a Big Front seat at booking for free, free snack and drink on-board, and one free change to their itinerary up to 24 hours before departure. Gold members receive unfettered cockpit access and can land one flight per month at their most visited airport.
Qatar Returns to Atlanta; Adds U.S. Frequencies
In spite of many of the world’s airlines reducing service levels to the United States this summer as the pandemic continues, Qatar Airways will ramp up its offerings to the United States, led by a return of its flight from Doha to Atlanta. Qatar, which began flying to Atlanta in the summer of 2016, seemingly just to annoy Delta, will resume the suspended route with 4x weekly service on June 1.
Qatar will also increase its frequencies on six other routes from sea to shining sea:
- Chicago/O’Hare: 9x weekly to 10x weekly on March 4
- Dallas/Fort Worth: daily to 10x weekly on March 2
- Houston/Intercontinental 4x weekly to daily on March 14
- Miami: 2x weekly to 3x weekly on July 3
- San Francisco: 4x weekly to 5x weekly on July 2
- Seattle: 4x weekly to daily
All new frequencies are loaded up and available for sale on Qatar’s website and will remain so as long as Qatar CEO His Excellency Akbar Al Baker doesn’t wake up one morning and change his mind.
American Announces Plans for Athens & Tel Aviv
We’ve known for quite some time that American Airlines planned to fly to both Athens, Greece and Tel Aviv from New York/JFK in 2021 but had little details beyond that fact. American has now released its plans for the two destinations, expecting to begin flying both this spring.
Up first will be Tel Aviv, with service beginning on May 6. The year-round flight will operate daily, departing JFK at 11:10 p.m. and arriving the next afternoon in Tel Aviv. The aircraft will hang out on the ground for a few hours in Israel, departing back from TLV at 12:50 a.m., arriving in New York at 6 a.m. the same day. American is still currently in negotiations with Manhattan’s 2nd Avenue Deli to cater the outbound flight with traditional Jewish fare including matzah ball soup, bagels & lox, and corned beef sandwiches. Dr. Brown’s soda better be available both inbound and outbound in all classes of service or there might be an uproar.
AA’s flight to Athens will begin on June 2, as daily service for summer only. The route will conclude on October 30, to prevent passengers from dressing up as Greek Gods in toga outfits on the flight for Halloween. The flight to Athens will leave JFK at 4:20 p.m. arriving in Greece at 8:50 a.m. the next day; the plane turns right around to New York at 11 a.m., arriving at 3:05 p.m.
Airline Potpourri
- American will begin painting its aircraft in a new kind of paint that it says is “less expensive, lighter, more fuel efficient and better for the environment.” Unfortunately, the tail will still be ugly.
- Brussels will cancel up to an additional 900 flights in February and March due to increasing international travel restrictions.
- flyDubai will reinstate service to Doha for the first time since the Gulf Blockade, flying twice-daily beginning January 26.
- JSX will continue to operate from Orange County (SNA) indefinitely despite the airport’s attempt to block it from operating.
- Malaysia received approval from a UK Court to continue ahead with its restructuring.
- Qatar will continue to fly to Brisbane through at least 2022, extending the route in its schedule through next January.
Andrew’s Moment of Levity
My boss confronted me this past Monday asking why I only ever get sick on weekdays. I told him that it wasn’t my fault, but it was my weekend immune system.