Bloomberg Reporting USA to open
Oct 16, 2021, 5:14 am
#181
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: London
Programs: BA, VS, HH, IHG, MB, MR
Posts: 26,871
It’s all about where the cut off for ‘fully vaccinated’ sits.
I have a 13 year old who can’t be fully vaccinated in the U.K. and a California holiday booked for Easter so no-one is keener than me to see these initial reports proven wrong. If this is the case we might start seeing pressure to allow U.K. tweens to voluntarily request a second dose.
Oct 16, 2021, 5:21 am
#184
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,964
I think if we believed every rumour circulated in the media and supposedly from good sources during the last few months the US would have been open in July.
Bear in mind people read your post, which lacks any qualification, and they will now be concerned they can’t take their children. Let’s try and focus on what we know for sure rather than turning rumour in to fact.
Bear in mind people read your post, which lacks any qualification, and they will now be concerned they can’t take their children. Let’s try and focus on what we know for sure rather than turning rumour in to fact.
Oct 16, 2021, 5:27 am
#185
Ambassador: Emirates Airlines
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 18,613
There's somebody I know who makes up Man Utd transfer rumours. One of his made up rumours actually turned out to be true a few years, and he's now followed by hundreds of thousand of people who think he's "in the know". I'm pretty sure some of these "travel experts" do the same (not Raffles of course!).
Oct 17, 2021, 6:02 am
#186
Join Date: Jul 2020
Posts: 147
Another thing is that there's a shortage of rental cars and prices are high.
The rental car companies got rid of their cars when demand was low and can't easily replace them
now because of microchip shortage that has cut production of new cars
https://www.latimes.com/business/sto...-at-least-2022
The rental car companies got rid of their cars when demand was low and can't easily replace them
now because of microchip shortage that has cut production of new cars
https://www.latimes.com/business/sto...-at-least-2022
Oct 17, 2021, 4:11 pm
#188
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Las Vegas
Programs: BA Gold; Hilton Honors Diamond
Posts: 3,228
The other point I'd make about travel in the US is that Uber / Lyft are also still somewhat hit and miss. Yesterday was the first occasion in a long time that I was able to get a reasonably priced Uber from LAS to home. The previous few trips all resulted in quoted fares between $80 and $120 for what should be a $20 trip. I ended up taking taxis instead.
I have also had multiple cases where drivers have accepted the trip and then subsequently canceled on me. Last occasion was in San Francisco where I had two drivers accept, then cancel, and the third driver was miles away. I ended up taking a bus!
Car hire is ludicrous. I was chatting with someone in the Centurion Lounge at LAS who was flying to Alaska. His car rental was $3000 for 7 days! I almost fell off my bar stool when he said that.
The other big point, as made above, is that a lot of places are still shut. For example, a lot of the bars and restaurants in downtown LA aren't open because the businesses around them are still closed. My firm has made no decision on when we'll revert to in-office working but, based on what I can surmise, it's most likely not going to be until early next year. Hotels are open but a lot of their amenities remain closed - so pools, gyms, room-service etc. Mask mandates vary of course, but a lot of places are expecting either proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test taken in the previous 72 hours.
I can understand people traveling to visit family whom they haven't seen for the best part of two years. That was the reasoning behind my most recent trip to the UK. If I lived in the UK with no ties to the US then I doubt very much I'd be traveling here purely for a holiday!
I have also had multiple cases where drivers have accepted the trip and then subsequently canceled on me. Last occasion was in San Francisco where I had two drivers accept, then cancel, and the third driver was miles away. I ended up taking a bus!
Car hire is ludicrous. I was chatting with someone in the Centurion Lounge at LAS who was flying to Alaska. His car rental was $3000 for 7 days! I almost fell off my bar stool when he said that.
The other big point, as made above, is that a lot of places are still shut. For example, a lot of the bars and restaurants in downtown LA aren't open because the businesses around them are still closed. My firm has made no decision on when we'll revert to in-office working but, based on what I can surmise, it's most likely not going to be until early next year. Hotels are open but a lot of their amenities remain closed - so pools, gyms, room-service etc. Mask mandates vary of course, but a lot of places are expecting either proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test taken in the previous 72 hours.
I can understand people traveling to visit family whom they haven't seen for the best part of two years. That was the reasoning behind my most recent trip to the UK. If I lived in the UK with no ties to the US then I doubt very much I'd be traveling here purely for a holiday!
Oct 18, 2021, 12:29 am
#189
Join Date: Jul 2009
Programs: BAEC Silver, IHG Diamond
Posts: 7,769
Did see some comments on a travel review site where people had mentioned $60 for the couple of miles or so, with Lyft, to get from say Burlingame to SFO when no hotel shuttles were running.
Hopefully the airport hotels I'm at have shuttles, and I'm planning on using public transport or walking a mile to where I might want to go.
Hopefully the airport hotels I'm at have shuttles, and I'm planning on using public transport or walking a mile to where I might want to go.
Oct 18, 2021, 3:12 am
#190
Join Date: Jul 2020
Posts: 147
Oct 18, 2021, 3:25 am
#191
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Sussex by the Sea
Programs: BA Silver, for now at least...
Posts: 580
I have a three day one-way rental (LAS - LAX) in mid-Nov for $350 for a mid-size. So slightly inflated but not to the degree that it would make me rethink a trip. This is Avis, BTW.
Oct 18, 2021, 4:30 am
#192
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: JER
Programs: BA Gold/OWE, several MUCCI, and assorted Pensions!
Posts: 32,145
Just had an exploratory look for November ... Avis @ PHX for 2 weeks, Medium SUV as usual. £1,800!!
Accustomed to have paid about £500 in the past at PHX and IAD. I hope things improve before our planned trip in Feb 2022!
Accustomed to have paid about £500 in the past at PHX and IAD. I hope things improve before our planned trip in Feb 2022!
Oct 18, 2021, 4:36 am
#193
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: London
Programs: BAEC GGL/CCR, HH Diamond
Posts: 1,916
Any recent stories on ESTA applications?
My understanding is that following a spate of cancellations in March 2020, the scheme remains open as we are currently allowed to spend two weeks in e.g. Mexico before crossing the border. But grateful for any recent experience.
My understanding is that following a spate of cancellations in March 2020, the scheme remains open as we are currently allowed to spend two weeks in e.g. Mexico before crossing the border. But grateful for any recent experience.
Oct 18, 2021, 4:39 am
#194
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club, easyJet and Ryanair
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: UK/Las Vegas
Programs: BA Gold (GGL/CCR)
Posts: 15,926
New UK applications are being processed within the hour.