Written by Sebastian Powell @ LoyaltyLobby
New Zealand has established itself as a prime example for completely losing the plot when it comes to handling Covid and the associated travel rules allowing citizens to come home, even beating Australia (and that’s saying something). The NZ government got totally humiliated this week, showcasing their insanity as a journalist in Afghanistan who is […]
Category: Travel – Other
Long Lines, Full Lounges, No Upgrades – Did Loyalty Programs Push The Envelope Too Much By Continuing To Extend Status?
Written by Sebastian Powell @ LoyaltyLobby
When the pandemic hit it was clear the travel industry would be severely disrupted and 2020, as well as the first half of 2021, was very light on travel but the tide appears to have turned as evident by the frustrating experiences of many status customers. Pretty much all programs have extended the validity of […]
Confirmed: International Travelers To The U.S. Require Covid Test Within One Day Prior To Their Flight From Early Next Week
Written by Sebastian Powell @ LoyaltyLobby
Two days ago news broke that the Biden administration will modify travel requirements for international arrivals into the United States and the President just gave a speech confirming that from “early next week” a Covid test within one day of your departure will be required. Further actions previously speculated about (mandatory self-test requirement, self-isolation) were […]
Happy Holidays: Biden Administration Mulls Harsher Measures For International Travel To The U.S.
Written by Sebastian Powell @ LoyaltyLobby
According to a draft proposal that’s circulating the administration under President Biden is considering putting new testing requirements in place as far as international arrivals to the U.S. are concerned which will be announced Thursday. Measures that are under consideration include a max 24-hour test before departure (currently 72 hrs), a follow-up test within 3-5 […]
The U.S. Has Finally Lifted Their Wide Reaching Travel Ban. So What Has Changed?
Written by Sebastian Powell @ LoyaltyLobby
Back in March of 2020 the U.S. Government instituted a travel ban that affected most of Europe, including the UK and EU/EEA which has finally been lifted since Monday, November 8th. This travel ban only affected certain countries/regions while others (with very high Covid numbers) remained untouched and able to send travelers to the U.S. […]
Chinese Authorities Lock Up 30,000 People Inside Disneyland Shanghai After One Visitor Tested Positive For CoV19
Written by Sebastian Powell @ LoyaltyLobby
Authorities in China have temporarily locked up 30,000 people inside Disneyland Shanghai on Sunday after one visitor from the nearby city of Hangzhou tested positive for Covid. The individual in question got tested arriving from his hometown after he ventured to Disneyland and a positive test result returned once he got back home. China is […]
New Regulations, Testing Requirements Concerning Upcoming U.S. Air Travel From November 8, 2021
Written by Sebastian Powell @ LoyaltyLobby
Starting on November 8, foreign national air travelers to the United States will be required to be fully vaccinated and to provide proof of vaccination status prior to boarding an airplane to fly to the United States, with only limited exceptions. Fully vaccinated air travelers regardless of nationality (including U.S. citizens) will continue to be […]
Police Says Antisemitism Accusations Against Westin Leipzig Employees Can’t Be Corroborated
Written by Sebastian Powell @ LoyaltyLobby
There is a new twist in the rather shocking accusations a German, Jewish singer made in early October against staff of The Westin Leipzig as a thorough police investigation of the incident came back without results that would prove the original version of events. After checking CCTV footage and taking numerous statements German police has […]
Malaysia Has Opened It’s Borders For Citizens & Residents Overseas Travel Without Pre-Clearance Effective Today
Written by Sebastian Powell @ LoyaltyLobby
Leaving from and returning to Malaysia has previously been subject to prior government approval which was highly restricted but this has ended today and the limitations were lifted, allowing for regular travel again. As a condition, travellers must be fully vaccinated and also do a swab test three days before returning to Malaysia plus another […]
Official: Australia To Lift International Travel Ban In November, Allowing Citizens To Leave Their Country Once Again
Written by Sebastian Powell @ LoyaltyLobby
The Australian government has announced that from November citizens will be allowed to leave the country again for purposes of international travel after holding them hostage for 18 months. The prime minister provided details in an elaborate presentation this morning, making promises to Australians to “get their freedoms back” ahead of the federal election next […]
Japanese Travel Agencies JTB & HIS Have To Sell Their Headquarters To Survive
Written by Sebastian Powell @ LoyaltyLobby
Japan is a country where customers still heavily frequent travel agencies and the nations biggest ones are JTB as well as HIS which are both bleeding cash due to the ongoing pandemic and lack of business. The companies are now taking drastic steps and JTB announced today they have sold their Headquarter in Tokyo, prime […]
20th Anniversary Of 9/11: Reflecting On 20 Years After The Day That Changed Everything
Written by Sebastian Powell @ LoyaltyLobby
Today marks the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks that downed the World Trade Center in NYC and saw two more planes crash, resulting in thousands of victims on that tragic day. On that day the world has changed forever in many aspects as security was beefed up worldwide, wars were started and the […]
The Times: Australia is a “Covid Prison” With Endless Lockdowns & Border Closures
Written by Sebastian Powell @ LoyaltyLobby
Reputable international press such as The Times is now jumping on the bandwagon to call out Australia for it’s draconian border closure and lockdown policies, calling the country a Covid Prison. These policies have impacted business and personal relationships as well as tens of thousands of Australian citizens stranded abroad, unable to return due to […]
Elephant In The Room: It’s About Time People STOP Booking Flights To Australia and New Zealand
Written by Sebastian Powell @ LoyaltyLobby
Over the last couple of days I’ve seen an increasing number of emails and posts about various airlines sending out new cancellation emails for their Australia and New Zealand routes and I think it’s well beyond time we talk about the obvious: Stop booking these flights! For some reason people felt compelled to continue booking […]
Canada Is Gradually Opening To Vaccinated U.S. Visitors Starting Aug 9th, International Arrivals From Sep 7, 2021
Written by Sebastian Powell @ LoyaltyLobby
Breaking news coming from Canada as the government has just released their plan to allow vaccinated U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents into the country starting August 9, 2021. Additionally fully vaccinated International visitors are scheduled to be allowed back into Canada from September 7, 2021 and all entries will be subject to certain control measures. […]
What’s Going To Happen To The U.S. Canadian Border Next Week Once The Closure Term Expires?
Written by Sebastian Powell @ LoyaltyLobby
The land border between the U.S. and Canada has now been locked down for regular crossing since March of 2020, always extended on a monthly basis and July 21st is the next time a decision has to be made. Political pressure mounts on both sides of the border to find a solution but Canada’s government […]
Boom: Australia – New Zealand Travel Bubble Has Burst (Again)!
Written by Sebastian Powell @ LoyaltyLobby
New Zealand has just announced the immediate pause to the trans-Tasman COVID-19 travel bubble with Australia, bringing this to a burst just shortly after it was started. The NZ government has announced it will pause the travel bubble between all Australian states and territories for three days beginning from 8:30PM AEST on Saturday. While this […]
Canadian Corruption: Lobbyists Influenced CTA Decision, Allowing Airlines To Deny Billions In Refunds?
Written by Sebastian Powell @ LoyaltyLobby
A Canadian MP has just charged that the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) might have based their decision allowing airlines to deny customers Billions of dollars in refunds on the advise of a lobbyist. While Canada maintains a rather clean bill of health on the Corruption Perception Index a lot of this dirty business takes place […]
The Canada – U.S. Border Will Not Reopen This Month Despite Earlier Positive Signs
Written by Sebastian Powell @ LoyaltyLobby
Despite positive signs in the past few weeks that the land border crossings between Canada and the U.S. would reopen following the most recent extension of the closure, these hopes have now evaporated. Government officials in Canada have confirmed to the media that the border won’t reopen despite a hard push by local politicians and […]
The U.S. – Canada Border Could Finally Open On June 22 As Political Pressure Mounts On Both Sides
Written by Sebastian Powell @ LoyaltyLobby
Since April of 2020 when the U.S. – Canada land border effectively shut down, only letting their respective citizens in but this could finally change after the current extension period ends on June 21st. According to news reports the political pressure both in the U.S. as well as in Canada has grown to a level […]