Happy Friday! I don't know about you but I'm already sick of all the "don't let summer slip away" emails pitching last-minute trips. Stop reminding us August is almost in the rearview.
In travel news this week, Delta announced plans to start seasonal service between Austin, Texas, and Paris in late March. Delta has been growing in the bustling tech hub and is now the second-largest carrier there after Southwest. Delta also recently announced the resumption of service between Seattle and Tokyo Narita , an airport it hasn't served since 2020 given its focus on closer-in Haneda. The new Tokyo route begins in late March.
American Airlines is getting stingier with upgrades to business class .
Finally, here's a buyer beware hotel story from Las Vegas. Influencer Vegas Starfish shared a disturbing TikTok post from a traveler who booked a hotel named Palette and ended up at the poorly reviewed Oyo Hotel (formerly the Hooters hotel). Have you come across a hotel marketing itself under different names online in this AI age?
Thank you for the overwhelming response to the reader question about traveling solo after the loss of a spouse. I will share all of them with the reader and will feature some of your thoughtful comments in next week's newsletter.
Your Europe entry questions answered
I traveled to Paris, Lisbon and Rome to test out the European Union's new entry/exit program, or EES. It's given plenty of travelers, including many of you, fits this summer, with hourslong lines at times.
I had a relatively smooth experience, but still found a hodgepodge of policies and procedures with the new system, which replaces the booths-and-passport-stamp system. Here's my report in this week's column.
Readers wrote in with additional questions, so I'm going to answer them here.
Q: My passport doesn't have a biometric chip. Do I need to get a new one before my trip?
A: No, you can still enter Europe with your existing passport. But you won't be able to use the self-service kiosks, which are supposed to speed things. The key words are "supposed to." I had trouble with some of the kiosks, and at one airport they were shut off on my arrival.
Q: Why didn't you mention the Travel to Europe app?
A: The European Commission app is designed to eventually help travelers preregister for EES. For now, only Sweden and Portugal arrivals are supported.
Q: You said EES. Don't you mean ETIAS?
A: No, that is a different program. Rollout of the electronic travel authorization program, similar to the UK's ETA, has been repeatedly delayed. The EU says travelers will be given several months' advance notice before it takes effect.
Q: Is this new system just for those visiting multiple Schengen-zone countries?
A: No, you will encounter it if you are just going to say, Paris or Rome. The system applies to arrivals and departures.
Q: Does my Global Entry membership help?
A: Unfortunately, no. That only speeds your entry into the U.S. (I can't recommend Global Entry enough if you travel abroad even a couple of times a year. I landed in Seattle from Rome last week and cleared passport control in seconds without so much as pulling out my passport. Oh, and it comes with TSA PreCheck, too.)
Still confused? Check out the Travel Europe website.