Qatar Airways Takes Off and Nowhere to Land? Italy says “GO HOME-YOU CAN’T LAND HERE!”

Something even more extreme happened to a large number of passengers on two separate Qatar Airways flights bound for Italy: restrictions changed while the passengers were on their way to the country, and they were forced to turn around once they had landed. Qatar Airways flights to Milan and Rome carried 152 passengers from Dhaka, Bangladesh on Wednesday. While they were in transit, Italy imposed restrictions on entry from Bangladesh based on increasing confirmed COVID-19 infections there. Qatar Airways flight QR131 from Doha to Rome returned 3 hours later back to Doha with 112 Bangladeshis on board, while flight QR127 from Doha to Milan returned carrying 40 of its passengers from Bangladesh. Other passengers who had arrived on those flights are being required to self-quarantine for 14 days as a precaution.

Japan Travel Hit Hard by COVID And Travel Ban

Worldwide travel to Japan is down a whooping 99%— the country has banned inbound travel from over 100 countries and regions — going to be a long, long, slow, slow travel recovery to Asia and the Middle East — and most countries in that part of the world have extensive arrival quarantine restrictions. Plan your travel carefully or maybe just go for that Airstream and see America???

Big Pilot Layoffs Onboard for Airline Pilots?

Gonna be a rough landing for thousands of airlines pilots in the coming months — with reduced flights, its looking like thousands of airline pilots will be laid off or terminated in the next 3 months. Southwest is asking over 1,000 of their pilots to take a long furlough with some paid benefits —with Delta planning on off-loading nearly 3,000 pilots!! It costs “aspiring” pilots over $100,000 to train to become an airline pilot — not including college costs if you include that as most do. The “Friendly Skies” aren’t so friendly anymore!!!

Really Dumb Move by Indonesian Air Carrier

GARUDA Indonesian Air Lines takes away the Travel Curmudgeon “stupid” award for the month with its new directive banning flight attendants from wear face masks — because customers complained about not being able to see their flight attendants faces? Face masks are gone and replaced by full face shields — uncomfortable and bulky to wear — as well as especially dangerous during inflight emergencies. Garuda needs to “face up” to using face masks — forget about how it looks but why it works!!!

Congress Introduces Bill to Incentivize Domestic Travel … maybe

The short story on this is — a bill will be presented from an Arizona congresswomen to provide an incentive for Americans to get back “in the travel saddle” — by offering tax deductions for assorted travel expenses like lodging, transportation and meals — hopefully targeted at “restarting” revenue for the much down and out travel industry — details on the bill, if it passes, to follow!!!

Commercial airplane landing behind waving flag

Reports from the field, a TC Highway Contributor shares tips from the road.

This new TC travel contributor recently loaded up for a National Lampoons-style road trip to Yellowstone. “This is crazy, this is crazy, this is crazy …” ran through our minds over 2,000+ miles, while our family of four, complete with camping gear and food supplies to eliminate all touch points beyond the handle of the gas pump, rolled through seven western states in 10 days. 
Can you make it halfway across the country without encountering COVID? The jury is still out on this group, but we’ve been home for nearly a week and thankfully have no symptoms. 

First tip for a summer 2020 road trip: Pick up a 5-gallon water jug. We found a couple on amazon before we left for $20-30, and you’ll get that back from not buying cases of water with unknown levels of contamination from previous package handling on your trip. Just make sure your big water jug has a spigot. (Water is heavy!!!) 

More to come from our family road trip experience. Remember: It’s the journey, not the destination, so get out there!!! (But wear a mask, and for goodness sakes, wash your hands.)

American and JetBlue Announce Partnership — is this Good News or Bad News for Travelers?

The TC says “BAD NEWS” — Not a good fit! Looks like once high flying Jet Blue now partnering with “low flying” American AirWays (used to be referred to as “Airways” before they grew up) and now, no doubt, Jet Blue will become a One World partner offering their customers sky high frequent flyer mile seats on American and other One World airline pals. American should concentrate on their “young” partnership with Alaska — a much better airline and “cleaner” frequent flyer buddy.

Looks like plenty of room on Jet Blue now!