Wednesday, June 22, 2022

Greetings! My family and I are enjoying a couple of days in Niagara Falls, since the kids have never been and Natalie and I haven't been in years. Will share more details of this trip soon! It's officially summer and it feels like it ... it was 91F yesterday and the same is expected for today. We popped down here since I had a NEXUS/Global Entry appointment in nearby Buffalo. The drive from Toronto isn't long and we've had a productive visit. Not only did I get my Trusted Traveler card renewed but I was able to get my daughter approved so we all have our fast track cards. This will make traveling to/from the U.S. and Canada so much quicker and smoother. I took copious notes and will include them in Sunday's weekly round-up. 

Speaking of quicker and smoother ... I just finished writing my Summer 2022 Travel Survival Guide. If you're traveling this summer, you should read it and share it with your friends and family so they too can benefit from these tips and tricks that will help to make their travels smoother. As you probably know, the travel industry continues to suffer thanks to increased demand and staff shortages around the world. It's time for all travelers to level up their travel game to avoid the madness as much as possible.

Travel Product of the Week

How Expert Travelers Track Their Bags
Lost luggage numbers are up in the US due to the fact that more and more people are starting to travel and there are far fewer workers to handle the increase. Traveling with carry-on luggage is one way to make sure your bags never get lost but if you are checking bags, here's how to make sure you can find them if they ever get lost or stolen. Read the story here. PLUS: If you already have Apple AirTags or Samsung SmartTags, these handy keychains and holders will help protect them and make them easier to secure to your belongings.

Travel Tips 
7 Hacks For Getting the Best Coach Seat on a Plane
If you have econophobia like me, then you definitely dread getting stuck in a middle seat. I don’t know many people (except for my talkative dad) who like getting stuck between two strangers. Here are 7 hacks for getting the best coach seat possible.

Don't Pack This in Your Checked Luggage
When you're packing your bags, you really need to think carefully about what goes in your checked bags versus your carry-on bag. There are obvious things that should go in your carry-on bag like valuables and medication but you might not have thought of putting this thing in your carry-on bag. But it makes a lot of sense. Here's the story. 

Travel News
JetBlue upping their bid for Spirit Airlines
I think this offer is too good for Spirit's board to turn down. 

U.S. Northeast Thunderstorms
Expect delays and cancelations today. United Airlines sent out this warning and travel waiver to their agents stating travelers who are flying today and tomorrow can voluntary change their travel to, from or through the airports listed. 
Allentown, PA (ABE), Baltimore, MD (BWI), Charlottesville, VA (CHO), Harrisburg, PA (MDT), Ithaca, NY (ITH), Johnstown, PA (JST), New York/Kennedy, NY (JFK), New York/La Guardia, NY (LGA), New York/Newark, NJ (EWR), Philadelphia, PA (PHL), Richmond, VA (RIC), Shenandoah Valley, VA (SHD), State College, PA (SCE), Washington, DC - Dulles (IAD), Washington-National, DC (DCA), White Plains, NY (HPN) and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, PA (AVP). What to Do: Weather Delays and Flight Cancellations

U.S. Travel Association released its full biannual forecast for travel through 2026
U.S. Travel Association estimates that $1.05 trillion (in 2019 dollars, adjusted for inflation) will be spent on travel in the United States in 2022, but this is still 10% below 2019 levels and 16% below where it should have been in 2022 if not for the pandemic. The table below reflects annual spending estimates, adjusted for inflation, through 2026. The forecast, based on analysis from Tourism Economics, projects that domestic business travel volume will reach 81% of pre-pandemic levels in 2022 and 96% in 2023. However, domestic business travel spending, when adjusted for inflation, will not fully recover to pre-pandemic levels within the range of the forecast.  

-American Airlines Brings Back Change Fees and Southwest Airlines Throws Them Shade

12 Things in Travel You Need to Know Today
— 3 hospitalized after commercial plane landing gear collapsed at Miami International Airport 
— More than 1,300 Southwest Airlines pilots march on picket line
— Two Canadians found with their throats slit in Mexican resort city
— London Tube and train strike: Another day of chaos for commuters as union action rumbles on
— Airbnb guest says host threatened to send private investigator after them
— American Airlines drops service to another city as pilot shortage slams carrier
— US pools close, go without lifeguards amid labor shortage
— Broadway mask mandate to be lifted July 1
— Hong Kong's famed Jumbo Floating Restaurant sinks in South China Sea
— E-scooters were supposed to fix travel in Rome. Then they became 'death traps'
— Yesterday's TSA checkpoint numbers    
(Read it all here in today's travel news round-up as well as the 84 other top travel news stories from the past seven days!)


Travel Quote of the Week
"You catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar.” ~ Charlaine Harris

Travel Tweet of the Day
@LuxeTiffany: Big #luxury #travel #cruise news! A&K Travel Group Ltd., the pioneering travel company owned by @Geoffrey_Kent and Heritage (the industrial holding company chaired by Manfredi Lefebvre d'Ovidio), has acquired the luxury cruise vessels Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony. The two ships will resume service in 2023 after undergoing extensive refurbishment and will operate under the award-winning “Crystal Cruises” brand that has also been acquired by A&K Travel Group Ltd.

Travel Contests
-Travel Nevada Launches “Silver State Reset” Sweepstakes with Routes Highlighting Stress Relief 
-Win a free vacation at Sandals Resorts (June 30)
-Win a 5-Night Moon Palace Resort Vacation (July 18)
-Enter to Win a Classic Only-in-Nevada Road Trip (July 30)
-Travel to Korea Begins Again: Win One of Eight Sensational Trips (September 30) 
See all contests here.

My East Coast Trip Reports
-Trip Report: Los Angeles to New York
-Delamar in Greenwich
-Watch Hill Inn
-Hotel Review: Weekapaug Inn  
-Trip Report: New York to Toronto 
-My Wife Got Randomly Selected For Covid Testing on Arrival at YYZ

Credit Card News/Offers for Travelers
-This global hotel brand has a bunch of new, limited-time offers available on several of their cards, including on their no annual fee card. Get 5 Free Nights, earn up to 75,000 bonus points, or more.
-You can earn up to 150,000 points (worth several free nights!) with these new, limited-time offers from this hotel brand with over 2,300+ locations all around the world.
-These cardholders can earn more miles with their cards. Plus, there's a new 75,000 bonus miles offer and the opportunity to earn up to 10x miles on Turo.
-It's never a bad idea to start earning rewards for a trip abroad. Here are some of the best cards for international travel (that also earn rewards when staying close to home). 


Need A Cruise Agent?
Interested in going on a cruise? We have partnered with Cruise Planners which is a top rated travel agency to help plan your perfect trip.. Contact Mike Gelman (1-800-724-5868) and tell him Johnny Jet sent you.

New on My Podcast
Travel Host Tests Positive for COVID in Paris - Here's What He Learned
My buddy and travel show host just tested positive for COVID-19 two days after arriving in Paris. He was kind enough to share his experience and what he learned from his mistakes to help others when they travel internationally. He also shared a helpful website for those looking to find American medication equivalents in France (spoiler alert … they’re not the same). Here's the story.

Air Travel Tips
-If a Flight Attendant Asks You Not to Do This, Please Don't
-Here's how to get JetBlue and other airlines to extend your travel credits
-12 Ways to Save Money on Baggage Fees
-The Service That Makes Covid-19 Testing So Much Easier For Travelers
-FBI Says Sexual Assault on Planes is Increasing - Here's How to Protect Yourself
-How To Reach an Airline's Reservations Agent Without Waiting
-10 Ways to Find Cheap Flights This Summer
-Can You Travel With the Lithium Ion Batteries Found in Phones, Tablets and Chargers?
-How to Prevent In-Flight Thefts 
-How to Avoid Long Lines When You Travel ... And at Home
-Why American Travelers Should Book International Travel on US Carriers ✈ 
-How to Track Airfares by Signing Up for Fare Alerts
-Here’s How You Can Really Get Upgraded to First Class
-How to Speed Through Airport Security

Lodging
-The First Thing I Do When I Check into a Hotel Room
-3 Ways to Get a Refund on a Nonrefundable Hotel Room


Road Trip Tips
If you're planning a road trip, then be sure to follow these tips:
-Here Are 9 Ways to Save Money on Gas
-DON'T Do This When You're Driving Because It's Just Not Worth It
-One of the Worst Decisions Travelers Can Make
-Two Great Things to Keep in the Car For Road Trips
-3 Ways To Save Money on Gas
-How to Prevent Road Trip Theft
-15 Tips For Renting A Car in 2022
-How To Prevent Car Rental Companies From Ripping You Off

International Travel
-How to Avoid Being Ripped Off When Traveling Internationally  
-Rick Steves' Solid Advice About Travel This Spring and Summer  
-Can The US Government’s Free COVID Tests Be Used for Travel?
-The Sleep Hack Every Traveler Needs to Know 
-The Must-Have App for Travel to Europe

Safety
-ALWAYS Leave These at Home When You Travel
-Bet You Don't Know What an ATM Skimmer Looks Like.
-Don't Fall for These QR Code Scams
-How to Reuse your N95 and KN95 Masks
-10 Things to Have in Case of an Emergency
-Life-Saving Car Emergency Tips 
-My Somewhat Freakish Travel Habit Might Just Save Your Life
-What I Keep In My Carry-On First Aid Kit

Good to Know
-The Super Cool New iPhone Feature You Didn't Even Know You Had
-The Inflation Vacation: Read This If You Plan to Travel This Summer