Travel to Canada

For a time over the past years US citizens were not allowed to visit Canada - the changes due to Covid were significant and rules were established that prevented non-essential travel across the northern border.  This affected leisure travel as well as commercial traffic related to commodities (including lumber).

Many countries eased restrictions earlier this year, and a quick review of current guidelines show that travel to Canada is once again possible for US citizens, the caveat being you should be fully vaccinated to avoid any additional requirements including quarantine for 14 days and isolation for 10 days.

Any travelers also need to create an ArriveCAN account to provide proof of vaccination and travel plans.

More information on current expectations can be found here.

Using PlusPoints for Partner flights

I always thought that PlusPoints were a United-only feature - learned something new today!  PlusPoints can also be used on select United partners per segment:

Star Alliance partners

You’ll be able to use PlusPoints for upgrade requests on eligible flights operated by Copa, Lufthansa, and ANA. Each upgrade request on a partner airline will be priced at 40 PlusPoints per flight segment. All PlusPoints upgrade requests on partner airlines will be deducted at the time the PlusPoints upgrade request is placed.

The following Copa fare classes are eligible for PlusPoints upgrades: A, B, E, H, K, L, M, O, Q, S, T, U, V, W, and Y. The following Lufthansa fare classes are eligible for PlusPoints upgrades: B, C, D, E, G, H, J, M, Q, U and Y. U.S. government fares are not eligible for upgrades on Lufthansa-operated flights. The following ANA fare classes are eligible for PlusPoints upgrades: B, C, D, E, G, J, M, U and Y. PlusPoints cannot be used to upgrade from Economy to Premium Economy on Lufthansa or ANA-operated flights.

Good to know this for future flight choices!  More info: link

Covid requirements lifted on return to US

This past week the CDC lifted the Covid testing requirement for passengers returning to the United States from overseas.  The past 20+ months of needed tests have not been awful in my opinion - in fact, it gave me peace of mind to know that passengers were negative prior to long flights.  

The Swiss notification is here: https://ch.usembassy.gov/visas/nonimmigrant-visas/covid-19-travel-to-the-united-states/

I may continue to do this anyway on future trips - the box doesn't take up much space and I'd prefer to know before I fly.  We'll see if availability for the tests changes. 

Going Home for Dad

I was lucky to get upgraded on my way back today from SFO to ORD - ever since our trip to Oslo when I was able to get dad and I seats in Business Class, he would always ask whether I was being upgraded on all my flights.  He was so happy on that trip - the ability to lay-flat to sleep, the food with real silverware, and the made to order drinks and ice cream cart...we had quite the time.  

These trips will no longer be the same. 

Infocomm 2022

I'm thrilled to be going back to InfoComm 2022 today - it's only a short flight from SFO though I'm looking forward to meeting with vendors and exploring new technologies.  There have been many changes over the past few years and I suspect the floor will be busy as usual.