NTS News Updates
Personnel Announcement
National Travel is thrilled to announce the appointment of Jamie Messer to the Director of Independent Contractors Position. Jamie is a two-time graduate of West Virginia University with a Bachelor’s in Strategic Communications and a Masters in Integrated Marketing Communications. Jamie joined the company over two years ago and has advanced through more demanding responsibilities such as our leisure-travel marketing content, website administration and various marketing projects over the past year where she has familiarized herself with both sides of our client market.
Her educational background and 10 years in the customer service industry give her an overall understanding of how to communicate effectively with various people, improve customer satisfaction and motivate her team to meet all of their goals.
Jamie oversees National Travel’s Independent Contractors under our Travel Rewards Program. The Travel Rewards Program allows our clients to earn Travel Rewards Points for vacation packages, cruises and tours booked through our agency. Members may redeem points for a variety of vacation upgrades on air, car and hotel, as well as other amenities, merchandise and more!
In addition to our in-house travel experts, National Travel now has Travel Rewards Advisors in 21 cities across the U.S!
Trending Travel News
EU Considers Restrictions on U.S. Travelers
Today, EU officials are expected to discuss the possibility of reinstating travel restrictions on visitors from the U.S. With the rise of the Delta variant, the U.S. COVID-19 new-case rate is significantly higher than European guidelines allow. The decision reached will serve as a recommendation. The authority over what, if any, restrictions to impose on U.S. travelers lies with the individual member states.
Great Moments in Travel History – August
This August 28th, marks the 102nd year since the International Air Traffic association was formed, which later became the International Air Transport Association that today represents over 240 airlines. On August 2nd of 1911, Harriet Quimby became the first woman in the United State to be licensed as a qualified pilot and in August of 1908, Wilbur Wright made the first ever flight using stick controls. Many fascinating travel moments have happened in Augusts past.
Airline Updates
Check out our weekly airline updates below!
American Suspends Alcohol Sales through January
Aligning with the Transportation Security Administration’s federal mask mandate extending, American Airlines will continue to suspend alcohol sales in coach at least until 2022.
FAA Fines Now Over $1 Million
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration recently announced new fees against unruly airline passengers, bringing the running total of over $1 million across 3,889 incidents.
Phone in Flames, Evacuates Plane
A cell phone caught fire in the cabin of an Alaska Airlines flight on Monday, causing the plane to be evacuated. The Samsung Galaxy A21 phone was burned “beyond recognition.”
Alitalia Ceases Operations
The airline is stopping ticket sales and will end flight activities as of October 15th.
U.S. Airlines Help in Afghanistan
For only the third time in history, U.S., commercial airlines have been deployed by the military for assistance.
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Beginning November 2021, 2 weekly flights on Mondays Saturdays between Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Tenerife. From December 4th, 2021 to March 5th, 2022, 2 weekly flights will operate between Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Lapland, Finland. From Paris-Orly, daily flights to Berlin and Munich will operate from October 31. Beginning November 23, from Guadeloupe, 2 weekly flights will operate to Montreal, and on November 24th, 2 weekly flights will operate to New York.
Starting November 4th, service will operate three times a week from Philadelphia, PA to Kingston, Jamaica.
Starting November 3, nonstop flights will begin from New Haven, CT to Fort Lauderdale, FL, Fort Myers, FL and Tampa, FL and Orlando, FL.
Increasing non-stop routes to 15, including new service to Aruba, along with flights to Turks & Caicos.
Three times weekly seasonal service will operate between Kalispell, MT and JFK through September 7th.
Nonstop service will resume between Newark, NJ and Manchester, NH on October 5th, with two daily flights.
Nonstop service between Calgary and Orange County/Anaheim will begin on November 4. Service from Calgary to San Francisco will also increase from seasonal to year-round beginning on October 31st.
Travel Alerts and Updates
Destination Updates
As of September 3rd, cruise ships will not be allowed to enter ports in the Bahamas if there are unvaccinated passengers on board aged 12 and older without a medical excuse.
All visitors are required to be fully vaccinated beginning September 1st.
Remaining closed to non-essential travel through at least September 21st.
- As of August 20th, 15 counties have been moved to the “high risk” list, and the quarantine period has extended from 14 to 21days for vaccinated travelers arriving for those countries. Unvaccinated travelers are not permitted to enter if they have spent time in any of those countries 21 days prior to their arrival to Hong Kong.
As of August 25th, all travelers are required to have a negative COVID-19 molecular test result taken a maximum of 3 days before departure of the last leg of the trip to Aruba. Travelers must upload their test, no later than 12 hours before departure, in their travel form.
Supplier Updates
Beginning August 28th, all passengers over 12-years-old will be required to be vaccinated to board a sailing.
Travel Alert Center
State Department Alerts:
- Afghanistan Travel Advisory raised to Level 4: Do Not Travel
CDC Alerts:
- Haiti Travel Health Notice raised to Level 3: Avoid Non-Essential Travel
- Haiti COVID-19 notice raised to Level 4: Very High
- Kosovo COVID-19 notice raised to Level 4: Very High
- Lebanon COVID-19 notice raised to Level 4: Very High
- Morocco COVID-19 notice raised to Level 4: Very High
- Sint Maarten COVID-19 notice raised to Level 4: Very High
- The Bahamas COVID-19 noticed raised to Level 4: Very High
Travel Rewards
The world is opening back up! Are you ready to travel again? Why not earn a vacation while you’re on vacation!
National Travel clients earn Travel Rewards Points for vacation packages, cruises and tours booked through our agency. Members of Travel Rewards may redeem points for a variety of vacation upgrades on air, car and hotel, as well as other amenities, merchandise and more!
Our Travel Rewards Advisors have a wealth of knowledge in many different areas and are eager to help you plan your next great vacation!
You Deserve an Adventure!Lynn Hanlon is known to fly a yearly average of 100,000 miles, seeking adventures and cultural experiences. Lynn is certified in SCUBA and her love of diving has taken her all over the world, including Bonaire, Belize, and the Maldives. Give Lynn a call today to plan your next adventure! |
We Want to See Your Travel Photos!
They say “a picture is worth a thousand words.” In this case, a picture could be worth up to 55,000 Travel Rewards Points!
We are offering you the chance to win up to 55,000 Travel Rewards Points that can be applied toward the purchase of cruises, tour packages, vacation upgrades, and more!
Click here for the official contest rules and here to join the contest entry Facebook group!
Need to get a COVID test before your next trip?
Don't forget to call us at least three days before your trip to request your iFLYSmart Travel Kit!
Editor: Kelsey Morgan, Lead International Gold Star Agent and Public Relations Liaison
