ETC Travel News
Latest Travel News by ETCtravel.com
-
JetBlue says goodbye for good to change fees — for most flyers
JetBlue has become the last of the six largest U.S. airlines to do away with change fees long term. The move will apply to all JetBlue fares except its basic economy tickets, called Blue Basic. Like other airlines, JetBlue hasn’t imposed change fees since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. Blue Extra ticket holders willRead More…
25% Off Radisson Hotel Group
The Radisson Hotel Group is offering ETC clients 25% off the best available rates for bookings through March 31, 2021. These rates are last-room availability and include all standard amenities at over 600 hotels in North and South America. This discount is available on ETC’s online booking tools and when utilizing our full-service/travel agent assistRead More…
Now Arriving: COVID-19 Travel Guidance in TripIt
For our clients that utilize our online booking tool, Concur and have downloaded the TripIt app, TripIt now shows you the latest COVID-19 travel guidelines, restrictions, and requirements—alongside infection rates—for the destinations you’re visiting. This new feature will help you stay as informed as possible, with the latest information all in one place. How doesRead More…
Fully Vaccinated People Can Skip Mandatory Quarantines After Being Exposed
Those Americans who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 will be able to skip quarantines if they are exposed to someone infected with the virus, according to a new update from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). “Fully vaccinated persons who meet criteria will no longer be required to quarantine following anRead More…
Horizon Air Now Flies from Seattle to Monterey Carmel, CA
Horizon Air, Alaska Airlines sister carrier is now flying daily nonstop service between Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and Monterey Regional Airport (MRY) in central California. The new, year-round service is the only nonstop flight offered between these two cities. The all-jet service between Seattle and Monterey will be provided by Alaska’s sister carrier, Horizon Air, flying the Embraer 175 aircraft featuring firstRead More…
Delta Air Lines Will Block Middle Seats through April 2021
Delta Air Lines announced that it will extend its policy of blocking the middle seat through at least April 2021, making it the last major U.S. airline to keep the policy in place. Delta first started the policy in April 2020 and most major airlines matched it. However, over the last few months, most ofRead More…
How to Find Local Testing Facilities for COVID-19
To look for the latest local information on testing, visit your state or local health department’s website. NACCHO has created a tool to help you search for local health departments in your area. Find contact information for local health departments using the map, and than select “COVID-19 Testing”. Note: When traveling, keep in mind thatRead More…
U.S. Citizens Flying Out of the Country Will Need a Negative COVID-19 Test to Return to the U.S. and Self-Quarantine
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) on January 12, 2021 issued a new ruling that air passengers flying to the U.S. from a foreign country will be required to show proof of a negative COVID-19 viral test (PCR or Antigen test) taken no more than three days prior to the flight. The regulation willRead More…
Alaska Airlines will continue to block middle seats in premium economy class only
Alaska Airlines premium economy class travelers receive four extra inches of legroom, a complimentary drink, and priority boarding. Plus, the middle seat is blocked through May 31, 2021. Upgrades to Premium Economy Class start as low as $15 one-way, with some transcontinental flights more than $100. The next time you travel, ask your ETC advisorRead More…
Southwest Airlines Celebrates Anniversary With $50 Flight Sale
Southwest Airlines is celebrating its 50th year in operation with one-way flight deals starting at $50 this winter. You have until February 8, 2021, to book the low fares, which require a 21-day advance purchase. The discounted seats are valid for travel within the continental U.S. from February 9 through May 26, 2021. Meanwhile, travelRead More…
Alaska Airlines is Adding a New Top Elite Status in 2022
Alaska Airlines has revealed that it will be offering a new top tier of elite status beginning in 2022. Here’s what we know so far about Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan MVP Gold 100K. Qualifying for Alaska MVP Gold 100K As of now, Alaska Airlines has just three tiers of elite status that are earned withRead More…
First Domestic and now International…Delta Air Lines Eliminates Change Fees on Tickets Originating from North America.
Delta Air Lines is permanently eliminating change fees for tickets when flying from North America to the rest of the world (except for basic economy tickets, which are excluded), including those operated by its joint venture and codeshare partners. At the same time, Delta said it would be extending its existing waiver of no changeRead More…
Business Travelers Are Itching To Get Back On The Road
News of effective vaccines renews optimism for a return to travel and in-person events in 2021. The Global Business Travel Association, GBTA conducted a poll of its members across the globe from November 9-16, 2020. A total of 822 responses were received and below are the results. Alexandria, VA (November 19, 2020) – Half (50%) ofRead More…
Hyatt to Cut Elite Status Requirements for 2021
World of Hyatt, the hotel company’s loyalty program, will reduce its requirements for elite status by 50% for the 2021 calendar year. Additionally, World of Hyatt is extending several reward offers through the beginning of 2021, giving members more time to accelerate point earnings and boost tier status when they are ready to travel. ForRead More…
Research Shows Business Travel Will Return ‘In Full Force’
For every $1 invested in business travel, firms realized $12.50 in incremental revenue. When business travel resumes, it will do so “in full force,” according to a report from CBRE Hotels Research called “The Future for the Lodging Industry: When Will Convention and Group Demand Come Back?” The study showed that business travel may lookRead More…
Boeing 737 MAX Cleared by the FAA to Return to Service
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced that it has approved the Boeing 737 MAX to fly again, bringing an end to a 20 month grounding that started in March 2019. The jets won’t start flying right away as the flight software will need to be updated, pilots will need to undergo extra training, and internationalRead More…
New Marriott Tacoma Downtown has Opened
The 304-room Marriott Tacoma Downtown, managed by Aimbridge Hospitality, the leading, global, third-party hotel management company, opened its doors on November 18th in downtown Tacoma, Washington. The 22-story hotel located at 1538 Commerce Street is the latest addition to Marriott Hotels , the signature brand of Marriott International. Located in the heart of Tacoma’s financialRead More…
Hilton Extends Loyalty Program Status Through 2021
Hilton Hotels Corp. has made several adjustments to its Hilton Honors loyalty program, including point extensions and lowered status milestones. No Hilton Honors points will expire until Dec. 31, 2021. Previously, points could expire if a member did not show activity in their account for at least 15 months, according to the program’s terms andRead More…
IATA Released COVID-19 Air Travel Statistics
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has reported 1.2 billion passengers have travelled on airplanes since the start of 2020, with 44 confirmed cases of COVID-19 reported, probable or potential transmission associated with a flight…this equates to 1 in 27 million. IATA also reports that most of these 44 cases happened before mask-wearing or biosafetyRead More…
When Will Blocking Middle Seats End?
Delta Air Lines will block middle seats until March 30, 2021. Delta is the airline who has left the policy in place the longest—United and American have already begun doing so, Southwest said they will stop at the end of November. Alaska Airlines extended its blocking of middle seats on mainline jets — Airbus 320s,Read More…
U.S.-Canada Border will Stay Closed Until Further Notice
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he expects to keep the U.S.-Canada border closed for the foreseeable future, as both countries continue to try and combat COVID-19 spread. Trudeau said that the “U.S. is not in a place where we would feel comfortable reopening those borders” and that as cases rise in the U.S. andRead More…
New International Corridor Doubles SEA’s International-Gates in 2021
International flights will soon be cleared for arrival at Concourse A with the International Arrival Facility’s (IAF’s) new International Corridor. Located along the west side of Concourse A, this elevated one-way corridor leads arriving international passengers at A Gates directly to the Grand Hall, for baggage claim and customs processing. This is a major elementRead More…
Lotte Hotel Seattle Grand Opening
The Lotte Hotel Seattle opened on September 24, 2020. The opening marked Lotte Hotels & Resorts’ 31st branch in the world and its second in the United States. The hotel is located in the F5 Tower, 801 Fifth Avenue in downtown Seattle. The 44-story hotel has 189 guest rooms, including 31 suites. The hotel offersRead More…
How Delta is Improving Air Quality on Aircraft and Jetbridges
Delta will replace the current filtering systems that pump air into jetbridges and parked aircraft with LEED Platinum MERV14 filters that will result in a 40% reduction in air particles. By mid-September, Delta will replace the current air filtering systems that pump outside air into our jetbridges and parked aircraft with LEED Platinum MERV14 filtersRead More…
Why You Should Renew Your Global Entry Membership Now
Global Entry is about to get more expensive. On September 9, U.S. Customs and Border Protection shared plans to implement changes to the Global Entry program. The proposed changes are intended to “harmonize the fees and application procedures” of three expedited entry programs, including Global Entry, the Secure Electronic Network for Travelers Rapid Inspection program (better knownRead More…
How Alaska, American, Delta, and United no-change-fee policies compare
Following United’s news that it’s eliminating most domestic change fees, Alaska Airlines, American and Delta also made similar announcements 24 hours later. Even though other airlines have now joined the no-change-fee party, there are still some significant differences in each carrier’s policy. Let’s take a look at how the policies stack up against each other.Read More…
Alaska Airlines Eliminates Change Fees Permanently
On September 1, 2020, Alaska Airlines joined other major carriers announcing that they would be eliminating change fees on most of their tickets, a move made as the industry continues to battle its way through the COVID-19 pandemic. Alaska made the announcement on September 1st, shortly after United, American and Delta did the same thingRead More…
Wave Goodbye to Change Fees
American Airlines is making travel easier and less complicated for customers. No more change fees. Change fees for all domestic and short-haul international flying on Premium Cabin fares and most Main Cabin fares will be eliminated Fly standby for free. All customers will have the ability to fly standby on earlier flights for the same destination onRead More…
United Airlines Change Fees are Gone
United Airlines is making a big change…for the better. To support you during your U.S. travels, they’ve decided to get rid of change fees for good, effective immediately. You can say goodbye to change fees on most Economy¹ and all premium cabin tickets when you travel within the U.S., Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands.Read More…
Delta Air Lines Joins United, and Permanently Eliminates Change Fees
Delta Air Lines on August 31, 2020 announced that it would be making its change fee policy, which had gone to free change fees in March 2020 because of the impact of COVID-19, permanent for all domestic tickets within the U.S. Delta’s announcement comes a day after United announced a similar policy, waiving its $200Read More…
What You Need to Know About Alaska’s New Travel Rules
Alaska State officials, to continue to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, have released a set of new travel entry restrictions, which went into effect on August 11, 2020. With the new rules, non-residents will no longer have the option for a five-day pretest or the option to self-quarantine for 14 days after arriving into the state.Read More…
U.S. State Department Lifts Global Travel Advisory
August 9, 2020 The U.S. State Department has lifted the global travel ban put in place more than four months ago in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The Department is returning to the previous system of country-specific levels of travel advice “in order to give travelers detailed and actionable information to make informed travel decisions,”Read More…
Paine Field Reopened
Paine Field in Everett, reopened August 1, 2020 with daily Alaska Airlines service to Phoenix and Las Vegas and a United flight to Denver. The airport completed a ramp rehabilitation project while it was closed for 10 weeks. Share this post…FacebookTwitterLinkedin
Update ETC Travel Profile Information
Even though many of us are not traveling right now, we will again and ETC wants you to be ready. Please take a moment to update your traveler profile, and verify that all contact information is up to date. Concur Users: Log into Concur, select Profile (upper-right-hand-corner), Profile Settings, and Personal Information (including emergency contact).Read More…
Which Airlines Are Enforcing Face Mask and Middle Seat Rules?
As major airlines around the world continue to adjust their health and safety policies and requirements, here is an updated guide for how major North American airlines are handling face mask policies and seat distancing at airports and onboard aircrafts. Share this post…FacebookTwitterLinkedin
Temperature Screening at SEA
In partnership with Alaska Airlines, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) is conducting a voluntary proof of concept to screen domesticdeparting passengers for elevated temperatures above 100.4 degrees. This work builds on voluntary temperature equipment testing they conducted in June. In that three-day study, no high temperatures were detected among approximately 1,400 international arriving passengers. No singleRead More…
ETC has the COVID-19 Plugin
The COVID-19 Plugin provides our Travel Assistants with the ability to click on an icon and get a full worldwide map with up-to-date COVID information, policies, closures, etc. The interactive map allows the selection of any country/state. Icons on the map (differently colored to indicate the level of restrictions) provide the ability to click deeperRead More…
Concur Displays COVID-19 Airline Information and TripIt has a COVID-19 Resource Center
Concur Travel has added information regarding COVID-19-related reassurances provided by certain airlines are now displayed. The information is available in the More Details section of the Benefits/Services link for each itinerary option. The following points provide additional details: • This information is provided directly from the airline to Concur Travel. As such, each airline isRead More…
Major U.S. Airlines Announce Health Acknowledgement Requirement
WASHINGTON, June 29, 2020 – Today, Airlines for America (A4A), the industry trade organization representing the leading U.S. airlines, announced that its member carriers are voluntarily implementing temporary health acknowledgment policies and procedures for passenger travel as an additional level of protection during the pandemic. Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue Airways,Read More…
Americans Barred from the European Union, Except for Ireland and the U.K.
The European Union on Tuesday confirmed earlier reports that Americans will be barred from entering its member nations when borders open up for travel on July 1. The decision reportedly comes after rounds of negotiating between E.U. who weighed both COVID-19 risks with the impact that the ban would have on its tourism industries (sevenRead More…
Alaska Airlines Next-Level Care Safety Measures
Alaska Airlines will require a new flyer health agreement at check-in beginning June 30 as part of a Next-Level Care program, which includes 100 measures to ensure the safety and well-being of travelers and employees. The agreement will verify that passengers haven’t exhibited COVID-19 symptoms during the past 72 hours or come into contact withRead More…
Concur Travel Profile Bug
May 29, 2020 Concur is returning a passport place of issue error when updating traveler profiles. This is a bug Concur created with the latest release. Development has been engaged to correct the issue. Removing the comma between the city and state is a temporary work around for now. Share this post…FacebookTwitterLinkedin
Hertz Car Rental Files Chapter 11
May 22, 2020 Hertz Global Holdings, Inc. announced today it and certain of its U.S. and Canadian subsidiaries have filed voluntary petitions for reorganization under Chapter 11 in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. The impact of COVID-19 on travel demand was sudden and dramatic, causing an abrupt decline in the Company’s revenue andRead More…
Paine Field Passenger Terminal Suspends Service Until August 1st
SEATTLE (May 15, 2020) – After a successful first year in operation, serving more than one million passengers, Propeller Airports and Snohomish County announced that passenger service at Paine Field will be temporarily suspended from May 22, thru July 31, 2020. Share this post…FacebookTwitterLinkedin
TSA Updated Security Procedures
TSA has updated security procedures, including keeping possession of your boarding passes. Instead of handing the boarding pass to a TSA officer at the travel document podium, travelers should now place their boarding pass (paper or electronic) on the boarding pass reader themselves. After scanning, travelers should hold their boarding pass toward the TSA officerRead More…
Is International Travel Allowed Yet?
Iceland set to re-open on June 15th and it is expected they will give travelers the choice between a test for the virus on arrival or a two-week quarantine, or otherwise proving that they are free of coronavirus infection. Exact requirements are still being developed but travelers will likely be required to download and use the official tracing app already in useRead More…
Face Masks are Required on Airplanes and in Airports
May 5, 2020 All major airlines and airports require passengers to wear a face mask from checking-in at the airport, to departing the airport at your destination, in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 at airports and on airplanes. Travelers are expected to bring their own face covering which may include a cloth mask,Read More…
How to Receive International Travel Advisories
If you are not traveling now, but are interested in monitoring safety conditions for specific destination(s) overseas, sign up for email advisories to receive the latest Travel Advisories when they are posted on travel.state.gov. The State Department issues Travel Advisories for every country in the world. These advisories provide one of four standard levels ofRead More…
Safety and Security Information for Overseas Travel
This site provides safety and security information for every country of the world to help you assess for yourself the risks of travel. Each country information page contains a Travel Advisory, Alerts, and other important details specific to that country that could affect you. Pay close attention to the entry and exit requirements, local lawsRead More…
Are Overseas Flights Still Suspended?
May 7, 2020 ETC utilizes a Timatic system to determine a countries entry requirements through our Global Distribution System (GDS). Timatic is used by airlines and travel agents to verify passenger travel document requirements for their destination and any transit points. We use various Timatic solutions to ensure our customers are compliant with border controlRead More…
When You Travel Overseas Stay Informed, Stay Connected, Stay Safe!
The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) is a free service to allow U.S. citizens and nationals traveling and living abroad to enroll their trip with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Receive important information from the Embassy about safety conditions in your destination country, helping you make informed decisions about your travel plans. Help theRead More…
The U.S. and Canada Extended Cross-Border Travel Restrictions
April 22, 2020 The U.S. and Canadian governments agreed to extend cross-border travel restrictions to non-essential travel for an additional 30 days from April 21. Non-essential travel includes tourism, recreation, and entertainment. Essential travel still permitted includes: work and study, critical infrastructure support, economic services and supply chains, health, immediate medical care, and safety andRead More…
Making Masks for Seattle Children’s Hospital
Kelli is using her spare time at home to help make masks and face shields for Seattle Children’s Hospital. Right now, she is working on filling an order for 3000 face shields. Thank you Kelli! Share this post…FacebookTwitterLinkedin
Are Air Travel Health Regulations Here to Stay?
The coronavirus outbreak has caused historic shifts in the air travel industry, including sweeping new health and safety measures in airports and on planes. Airlines are blocking middle seats, altering in-flight food and beverage services, and sanitizing their planes more deeply than ever before, while fliers are having their temperatures checked multiple times in someRead More…
Delta Air Lines Extends Rebooking Window and Applies Social Distancing Changes
April 17, 2020 Delta Air Lines announced it is extending its change fee waiver policy to include existing bookings or canceled travel through September 2020, as well as extending the expiration date for tickets into September 2022. Delta customers who have upcoming travel already booked between now and Sept. 30, or those who have canceled travelRead More…
Alaska Airlines is Blocking Center Seats and Reducing Onboard Service
April 21, 2020 Alaska Airlines is taking additional precautions to help create extra space on board aircraft—now through May 31, 2020—they are blocking all middle seats on large aircraft and aisle seats on smaller aircraft. If you’re a family or large group who wants to sit together, we can make a request with reservations orRead More…
United Airlines Extends Ticket Validity to 24 Months
April 20, 2020 United announced it is extending the window for flyers to use travel credits from one to two years. Any tickets issued between May 1, 2019 and March 31, 2020 will now have a 24-month validity for reissue and tickets issued between April 1, 2020 through April 30, 2020 will have a 12-month validity forRead More…
Is COVID-19 Instant Testing Coming to Airports?
April 15, 2020 No country was able to do it, but Emirates Airlines is beating airlines and countries in the race to re-open travel and aviation and make it safe. The future in travel may be for countries immigration and health authorities to require a health certificate from airline passengers, so they can show thereRead More…
Air Canada Requires Face Masks
Air Canada requires all customers at check-in, during the boarding process and during flight to wear cloth coverings or masks over their mouth and nose, beginning April 20, 2020. The coverings do not need to be medical masks – any face covering including a scarf or similar item is acceptable. Customers must bring their ownRead More…
Delta Extends Medallion Status, SkyMiles Benefits and Expands Travel Waiver Amid COVID-19
Delta flyers now have the flexibility to change their flights for up to two years without paying a change fee. Tickets normally expire after one year, but Delta announced it is extending its policy for travel through May 31, 2022. The two-year window applies to customers who were due to fly in April or May and booked by April 3, asRead More…
Alaska Airlines is Extending Status Through 12/31/21
Your current Mileage Plan status will be extended through December 31, 2021. Elite status updates & frequently asked questions related to COVID-19 Share this post…FacebookTwitterLinkedin
REAL ID Deadline Pushed Back to 2021
The enforcement deadline for REAL ID has been pushed back to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on Thursday. DHS said there will be a 12-month delay, extending the deadline for states to comply until Oct. 1, 2021, as states across the country are temporarily closing or restricting accessRead More…
TSA is allowing 12 ounce liquid hand sanitizer in carry-on bags
Until further notice, TSA is allowing passengers to bring liquid hand sanitizer containers up to 12 ounces in their carry-on bags. Please be aware that these larger containers will need to be screened separately, which may add some time to your checkpoint screening. All other liquids, gels and aerosols brought to a checkpoint continue toRead More…
U.S. Expands Travel Ban to Include UK and Ireland
President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence on Saturday said the government is considering domestic travel restrictions amid the coronavirus pandemic and added United Kingdom and Ireland to the Europe travel restrictions that went into effect late Friday. They did not offer specifics on domestic flight restrictions but Trump said earlier in the week that they would be considered if “anRead More…
Suppliers Issue New Cancellation, Change Policies Due to Coronavirus (COVID-19) Impact
Updated 3/16/2020 AirlinesAlaska Airlines will waive fees for tickets purchased on or before Feb. 26, for travel through the end of March, as well as new bookings made between Feb. 27 and March 31, for travel through Feb. 28, 2021. American Airlines has no change fee on tickets booked on or before March 10, as wellRead More…
Coronavirus Factsheet: What Travelers Need to Know About COVID-19
Updated 3/24/2020 What is coronavirus? The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a “new virus that causes respiratory illness in people and can spread from person to person,” according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The virus first appeared in Wuhan, China, and has been detected in some countries outside China, including the U.S.Read More…
U.S. Suspends All Travel from Europe to U.S. for Non-Citizens
All travel from Europe to the U.S. is being suspended for 30 days, President Trump announced late March 11, 2020, “to keep new [COVID-19] cases from entering our shores.” During an Oval Office address, Trump said the new rules will go into effect on Friday at 11:59 pm. The restrictions won’t apply to the United Kingdom norRead More…
President Trump Announces Travel Ban from Europe to the US
US President Donald Trump has announced a ban on travelers to the United States from Europe during a televised address to the nation. The ban will be in place for the next 30 days in an attempt to slow the spread of the coronavirus The ban on travel from Europe will go into effect Friday,Read More…
Alaska Airlines to Launch Daily Nonstop Service Between Seattle and Cincinnati
Alaska Airlines will launch daily nonstop service between Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) and Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) on August 18.The daily flights will be operated by a Boeing 737 aircraft, with the first departing SEA at 9:20 a.m. and arriving at CVG at 4:50 p.m. The return flight from CVG will depart one hourRead More…
Delta to Launch Seattle-DFW Service
Delta Air Lines will launch daily service between Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and Sea-Tac Airport in Seattle on June 8. The service includes three daily flights from DFW to Seattle and three more from Seattle to DFW each day. Its DFW-Seattle flights will be serviced by new Airbus A220 aircraft. Delta’s move follows on AmericanRead More…
Alaska Airlines Peace of Mind Waiver
Don’t worry about booking your ticket. A waiver is currently in place for new tickets booked February 27 – March 12, for travel through June 1, 2020. Alaska Airlines will waive the change fee on tickets purchased between February 27 and March 12, 2020, with original travel between February 27 and June 1, 2020. Any differenceRead More…
United Airlines Ups Bag Fees to $35 for First Checked Bag
Starting in March 2020, United Airlines will begin charging $35 for the first checked bag and $45 for the second on domestic and short-haul flights, up $5 from the previous charge and matching JetBlue’s January increase. The pricing will take effect for bookings made March 6 and anyone making bookings beforehand can prepay at theRead More…
Alaska Airlines to expand American Airlines relationship and join oneworld.
Starting Spring 2020: Earn Alaska Mileage Plan miles on any American Airlines flights, domestically and internationally. Alaska Airlines is expanding their relationship with American Airlines and announcing plans to join oneworld, the highly rated global airline network. They see this as an exciting West Coast international alliance. See the details and available benefits here. Share thisRead More…
Here’s How Airlines Have Responded to the Coronavirus
In the few short weeks that it has been spreading, the coronavirus has made an impact across the travel industry, forcing hotel closures, tour cancellations, and cruise changes. Airlines, already having to deal with recommending U.S.-bound travelers arrive at airports earlier than usual because of new enhanced screenings that will apply to tens of thousandsRead More…
ETC is discontinuing local 800#
ETC has been inundated with Robocalls through our 800-786-7892 number. We’ve reviewed the origination of these calls and determined that 99% of the calls are Robocalls. Most travelers contact us on our (425) 453-8200 number. Therefore, as of January 30th we’re doing away with our local 800#. We will continue to print our after-hours internationalRead More…
State Department Issues Level 4 Warning to China’s Hubei Province
The U.S. State Department issued its highest travel advisory, Level 4, to the Hubei province in China due to an outbreak of the deadly coronavirus, which was first identified in the capital city of Wuhan. Level 4 advisories urge travelers “Do not travel,” the strongest terms the system employs, ahead of the Level 3 “Reconsider travel,” Level 2Read More…
Alaska Airlines is launching new flights between Seattle and Monterey
Alaska Airlines is launching new daily nonstop flights between Seattle and Monterey, California, starting June 18, 2020.The 2 hour and 25 minute flights will be operated by Alaska’s Horizon Airlines affiliate, using an Embraer 175 regional jet. The Seattle flight will depart daily at 11:10 a.m. and arrive Monterey at 1:35 p.m. The Monterey flightRead More…
Hilton Adds New Brand in Lifestyle Space
Hilton introduced its 18th brand, Tempo by Hilton, described as an “approachable lifestyle brand” serving the “modern achiever.” The limited-service concept will target a more upscale crowd than some of the hotelier’s existing lifestyle brands, such as Motto (an affordable micro-hotel concept that launched in October 2018). Tempo by Hilton rooms will range from $150-250Read More…
Sea-Tac Airport Holiday Travel Tips to Keep you Merry and Bright
The Port of Seattle’s Five Tips to Keep you Merry and Bright. For a more efficient experience, download (or update!) the Sea-Tac App. See checkpoint waits in real time, locate restaurants and shops to explore, water bottle refill stations, and use the interactive map to navigate the airport. Give yourself the gift of time. ArriveRead More…
LAX to End Curbside Pickup by Rideshare Companies and Taxis
Los Angeles International Airport will soon ban rideshare companies and taxis from picking up passengers outside its terminals. Starting on or about Oct. 29, travelers wanting to use Uber or Lyft or a taxi will be taken by shuttle to a parking lot next to Terminal 1, where they can book their rides. Drop-offs atRead More…
Singapore Airlines Launched New Service From Seattle to Singapore
Singapore Airlines now flies nonstop between Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and Singapore. Singapore flies nonstop three days per week with the airline’s Airbus A350-900 aircraft. Service will expand to four days per week beginning in October. Singapore’s hub at Changi Airport provides travelers with connecting options to Australia, Southeast Asia, and India. Here in Seattle, SingaporeRead More…
Love TSA PreCheck and Global Entry? Check your expiration date.
Global Entry, a trusted traveler program from U.S. Customs and Border Protection that provides travelers with a speedier trip through customs when returning from international flights, also includes TSA PreCheck, a sister trusted traveler program. PreCheck allows passengers to go through a dedicated, usually quicker, security lane where they can keep shoes and coats onRead More…