The EU postpones the ETIAS. The European Travel Information and Authorisation System to be required for travel in Schengen countries in Europe has been postponed until the last quarter of 2026. So if you’re going to Europe this year (and most of next year), you no longer have to worry about it. Yay!
Air New Zealand enters the wine business. In collaboration with Villa Maria, Air New Zealand has launched its own wine label called Thirteen Forty Five. Its first two wines are sauvignon blanc and pinot noir, and they’re only available in the airline’s lounges, the Airpoints Store, and in Premium Economy cabins on international flights.
SpaceX aircraft breaks apart in the air. After one of Elon Musk’s SpaceX aircrafts broke apart over Texas on March 6th, traffic at four Florida airports had to be temporarily grounded to safeguard against falling debris. (Our eyes are rolling.)
World War II bomb found in Paris. On March 7th, an unexploded WWII bomb was found near Gare du Nord train station, which is the world’s third busiest. Nearly 500 trains were canceled to make sure the bomb wasn’t a threat. Yikes!
Travel alert for Turks and Caicos. The U.S. State Department has issued a Level 2 travel advisory for the British territory due to crime but said that most offenses happen in Providenciales. So if you travel there, just be cautious!
American Airlines plane catches fire. On March 13th, a flight from Colorado Springs to Dallas-Fort Worth was diverted to Denver when the grew noticed the engine was vibrating. As the plane was taxiing to the gate in Denver, the engine caught fire. No one was seriously hurt, but 12 people on board were taken to the hospital with minor injuries.
The EU has sanctioned airlines with flights to Russia if they also have domestic flights within Russia.
Possible tourist tax in Bali. The government in Bali is considering a daily tourist fee similar to Bhutan’s charge, which could be as high as $100. The decision isn’t yet final, but it’s a possibility, as the island tries to curb overtourism.
Southwest Airlines to charge bag fees. One of the things that has made travelers loyal to Southwest Airlines is its free checked baggage policy. But in its quest to become just like every other airline, it’s going to start charging most passengers for checked bags. No word yet on how much, but we assume it will be like most airlines at $35-$50. Boo! In other news, the airline will also reduce Wanna Get Away fare earnings from 6 points to 2 points per dollar. Yet another boo!
Melanie Votaw is the Publisher and Executive Travel Writer of LuxuryWeb Magazine. She has visited more than 50 countries on 6 continents and written for such magazines as Executive Travel, Just Luxe, Business Insider, South China Morning Post, Travel Mindset, and more. She is a member of the International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association, New York Travel Writers Association, and International Travel Writers Alliance. Melanie's photography has won awards, and she has also written 43 nonfiction books as either the author or ghostwriter.
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