New CDC International Air Travel Requirements
This week the travel world was turned upside down…again. Tuesday evening, the CDC issued a press release that all international passengers entering into the United States, beginning January 26, 2021, will be required to show a negative Covid viral test within 3 days of traveling (or proof of Covid recovery in the last 90 days) to board their flight. This order is in effect until the earlier of the expiration of the HHS declaration that Covid is no longer a public health emergency, the CDC rescinds the order, or December 31, 2021.
Here is what we know:
Read the official CDC press release here: CDC Expands Negative COVID-19 Test Requirement to All Air Passengers Entering the United States
We know how quickly things have changed over this past year with the Covid pandemic and this is no exception. By Wednesday morning, we had reached out to those clients that are traveling in the the next 60 days to keep them informed about the change. We explained that information was still forthcoming and that we didn’t need to make a decision about their trip that day. We asked them to patiently wait while the travel world responds the new requirement.
And the travel world responded! I am so proud of how quickly some of my favorite destinations and resorts addressed the new requirement in just 24 to 48 hours. I was expecting to gather the details as to where my traveling clients were going to get the Covid test and how much this was going to cost them. But because we generally book the most preferred resort brands, I was able to tell all my clients traveling in the next 60 days that their Covid test would be completed at their resort and free of charge. Hurdle number one jumped.
The next hurdle was if the traveling client tests positive, how much will it cost them to stay at the resort in quarantine. These same preferred resorts stepped up to offer discounted room rates should a traveling client test positive for Covid and need to be in quarantine. Some resorts are even offering a complimentary stay up to 14 days. Mind blowing!
Here are the details from our favorite brands that made this new requirement a bit easier to digest. We will continue to book with them in the future because they helped take care of our clients.
There was another silver lining to this new challenge. Last year during the start of the pandemic, I had some clients that didn’t see the value of travel protection or cancel for any reason waivers. This year couldn’t be more opposite. All of my clients traveling in the next 60 days had some form of travel protection, either cancel for any reason protection or pre departure waivers. They now have options when it comes to cancelling for a refund, continuing as normal, or moving to a new date. Some of these waivers even let the client wait until right before they depart to cancel for a full refund.
We also want to give thanks to all of our clients. Not a single one of you panicked or immediately wanted to cancel your trips. Those traveling within the next 60 days trusted us when we said we just needed to be patient this week while we give resorts and suppliers time to respond to the situation. These travelers have now all been given their options and can make the decision that is right for them and their family. They will all weigh their responsibilities and risks when making this decision. Some will travel as normal and others will need to wait until things are less of a risk to them personally. We support either decision.
