The EU has zero authority to impose a travel ban on anybody, it is a sovereign matter for each member state to decide on. What the EU can do is issue a recommendation but, as always, when it comes to things EU the important nuances are left out in place of sensationalism.
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So are the rest of us. At this point, it's all politics and government inertia more than anything.Originally Posted by nycflyer222
Im still unclear why vaccinated Europeans are denied entry to the U.S.
It’s interesting and a bit concerning that more and more sites like the NYT which I just saw are reporting the upcoming changes but not mentioning the part that Reuters mentioned where it would only impact the unvaccinated. Starting to get worried that it will be an outright recommendation to ban all Americans
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Agreed. I don't understand why the US is allowing non vaccinated tourists from other parts of the world and not vaccinated tourists from Europe. I have heard of people from Central and South America coming to the US to get vaccinated.Originally Posted by LETTERBOY
So are the rest of us. At this point, it's all politics and government inertia more than anything.
So stressful waiting for the real story to come out. I've been planning this trip for months, and all of the restrictions and changes that have happened up to now have not affected my itinerary, other than differences in paperwork and scheduling tests, etc. Somehow I ordered my destinations perfectly so as to avoid problems, and if I had reversed legs I would have had issues! I'm going MIA-LHR-(AUH-DXB - immediate xfer)-IST-NAV-IST-BCN-MAD-MIA. BCN/MAD could be impacted by whatever comes out in the next few days. Leaving 6 Sep. Am reading up on CAI as a possible alternative to BCN/MAD. Would like to keep my MAD-MIA flight, so transit rules will also be particularly important if I end up not entering Spain.
Edit to add: (Fully vaxxed)
Edit to add: (Fully vaxxed)
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Edit to add: (Fully vaxxed)
You are indeed a brave person to try such complex routings in COVID times.Originally Posted by aviators99
I'm going MIA-LHR-(AUH-DXB - immediate xfer)-IST-NAV-IST-BCN-MAD-MIA. BCN/MAD could be impacted by whatever comes out in the next few days. Edit to add: (Fully vaxxed)
4 months ago I said anyone who was vaccinated was no danger to anyone else.
Anyone who says the same today, after the last few months of data, simply has his head in the sand. The best hope is that boosters get us back to that "harmless if vaxxed" place, but we're not there right now.
Anyone who says the same today, after the last few months of data, simply has his head in the sand. The best hope is that boosters get us back to that "harmless if vaxxed" place, but we're not there right now.
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I guess. I've been willing to be nimble. But certain things are now non-refundable (like Al Maha Resort, for example). Just need to make it a few more days! Another factor is that by the time I get to an EU country, I will have been out of the US for more than 14 days. So that could be a factor, too.Originally Posted by 36902BRF
You are indeed a brave person to try such complex routings in COVID times.
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More seriously, at this point we're likely in too deep to do anything reasonable w/regards reciprocity. The timing for that should have been before Delta took hold. Loosening any restrictions at all would seem to be lacking in justification right now, unless it was part of an overall package that strengthened protections. That would be ideal.
The biggest issue is how airlines and cruise lines will view this as a barometer of upcoming travel, and proactively cancel flights and cruises. My wife and I are doing a Greek Island Cruise on Norwegian Oct 31-Nov7. Thankfully, Norwegian is already 100% vaccinated, both crew and passenger requirement, so I think they're positioned well. The rest of the industry has to make a quick decision on whether it's time to embrace a two-class world (vaccinated vs not) and cater/optimize for those vaccinated and essentially write off/alienate those who are not. The time to do so is now.
I believe there is a huge marketing opportunity right now, catering to those vaccinated. Trying to mix both might be like bringing back a smoking section on a plane. How many non-smokers would choose to fly on an airline that still allowed smoking?
Like everything, it's political too. From the point of view of most Americans, I'm sure the optics of Biden welcoming in foreigners during a time like this doesn't look good. Remember, most Americans (at least the people around here), would be 'afraid' to go outside the US (and Caribbean) even before COVID let alone be able to locate these countries on a map.Originally Posted by Mike Jacoubowsky
Because they'd dilute our test results and make the US look better than it actually is? :-)More seriously, at this point we're likely in too deep to do anything reasonable w/regards reciprocity. The timing for that should have been before Delta took hold. Loosening any restrictions at all would seem to be lacking in justification right now, unless it was part of an overall package that strengthened protections. That would be ideal.
The biggest issue is how airlines and cruise lines will view this as a barometer of upcoming travel, and proactively cancel flights and cruises. My wife and I are doing a Greek Island Cruise on Norwegian Oct 31-Nov7. Thankfully, Norwegian is already 100% vaccinated, both crew and passenger requirement, so I think they're positioned well. The rest of the industry has to make a quick decision on whether it's time to embrace a two-class world (vaccinated vs not) and cater/optimize for those vaccinated and essentially write off/alienate those who are not. The time to do so is now.
I believe there is a huge marketing opportunity right now, catering to those vaccinated. Trying to mix both might be like bringing back a smoking section on a plane. How many non-smokers would choose to fly on an airline that still allowed smoking?
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Seems like optics aren't a factor, because some foreigners from outside of the EU are allowed in the US (even unvaccinated), but for some reason the EU is left out. I'm sure there is some political factor, but I can't figure it out.Originally Posted by eng3
Like everything, it's political too. From the point of view of most Americans, I'm sure the optics of Biden welcoming in foreigners during a time like this doesn't look good. Remember, most Americans (at least the people around here), would be 'afraid' to go outside the US (and Caribbean) even before COVID let alone be able to locate these countries on a map.
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I think an EU "ruling" also offers some political cover for individual countries to increase border restrictions. E.g. If a sizable contingent of their citizens want to keep the borders open, politicians can at least point to the EU-wide recommendation.Originally Posted by Sheikh Yerbooty
The EU has zero authority to impose a travel ban on anybody, it is a sovereign matter for each member state to decide on. What the EU can do is issue a recommendation but, as always, when it comes to things EU the important nuances are left out in place of sensationalism.
Then again, I'm not terribly attuned to the political dynamic of the continent, and whether countries even "need" cover for such things.
Lots of outlets are running the story now, including the WSJ and NYT but they don't actually have any info beyond what Reuters said last Friday. BUT the WSJ does say the diplomatic sources talked to them today, which implies to me there's no vaccination loophole and also that no member states objected. Which would be odd given I thought another article said Croatia would definitely object.
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Typical news. One posts a rumor, everyone else copies omitting or adding along the way. I guess we'll find out on MondayOriginally Posted by kac2138
Lots of outlets are running the story now, including the WSJ and NYT but they don't actually have any info beyond what Reuters said last Friday. BUT the WSJ does say the diplomatic sources talked to them today, which implies to me there's no vaccination loophole and also that no member states objected. Which would be odd given I thought another article said Croatia would definitely object.
I think it’s all super fluid but wonder if the WSJ has been updated since I just read it and it said Some countries may decide to keep permitting U.S. tourists if they can prove they have been vaccinated, but obviously that’s all up in the air
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Same issue here. My main intl flight and hotels are all cancelable. Internal flights are more difficult. A voucher from an airline I never fly is useless. There's also still plenty of tourist demand for some places which require you to buy tickets in advance that aren't refundable. Things like this just remind me not to delay and seize the opportunity to travel while you still can.Originally Posted by aviators99
I guess. I've been willing to be nimble. But certain things are now non-refundable (like Al Maha Resort, for example). Just need to make it a few more days! Another factor is that by the time I get to an EU country, I will have been out of the US for more than 14 days. So that could be a factor, too.