Airfare Experts

03/23/2020

Air NewZealand transit restrictions as of March 23, 2020:

https://www.immigration.govt.nz/…/coronavirus-update-inz-re…

1. Transiting Australian citizens, residents and immediate family (partner or spouse, legal guardian and dependent children under the age of 24) are able to transit New Zealand to Australia. Transiting travelers must remain airside and cannot enter New Zealand.
2. New Zealand citizens, residents and immediate family (partner, legal guardian and dependent children) who normally live in Australia are able to transit New Zealand to return to Australia. If you want to transit, you need to remain airside and not enter New Zealand. If you enter New Zealand, you will be required to self-isolate.
3. New Zealand citizens, permanent residents who normally live in New Zealand and immediate family (partner, legal guardian and dependent children) are able to transit Australia to New Zealand. Transiting travelers must remain airside and cannot enter Australia.
4. The Government has decided that for a time-limited period people who meet certain requirements (described below) will be able to transit New Zealand:
• Up until 15:00 (New Zealand time) on Tuesday 24 March 2020 third-country nationals can transit via New Zealand to Australia on flights from the Pacific
• Up until 15:00 (New Zealand time) on Tuesday 24 March 2020 third-country nationals can transit via New Zealand to and from South America.
• Up until 23:59 (New Zealand time) on Sunday 29 March 2020 nationals of the United States and Canada can transit via New Zealand from Australia on flights to the United States and Canada (respectively)
• Up until 23:59 (New Zealand time) on Sunday 29 March 2020 people travelling from the Pacific who do not need to transit through Australia can transit via New Zealand to their home countries.
Please do not contact Immigration New Zealand to register your wish to transit during this period.
The transit of passengers will only be allowed if the following conditions are met in order to manage health risks to New Zealand.
• no COVID-19 test result that is positive or for which the results have not been received in the previous 14 days
• no close contact with a suspected or confirmed case in the previous 14 days
• no symptoms, especially no fever (temperature check undertaken) in the previous 14 days
• an assurance that airlines will permit boarding for the full journey
• an assurance received that the destination country will permit arrival
• an assurance that passengers can meet any entry requirements of the destination country (including measures required in transit, such as temperature checking)
• the airline does not allow unwell passengers on board.

To submit an expression of interest, you will first need to create an account. Once you have done this, you can then log in and submit an EOI. You can also use your log in to check the status of your EOI.

03/20/2020

Update regarding Air France's policy

03/17/2020

DHS Outlines New Processes for Americans Returning from Abroad

In order to help prevent the spread of travel-related cases of coronavirus in the United States, today the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Acting Secretary Chad F. Wolf issued a Notice of Arrival Restrictions outlining the process for American citizens, legal permanent residents, and their immediate families who are returning home after recently visiting certain European countries (listed below), China, and Iran.

Effective for flights taking off at 11:59 PM EDT on Friday, March 13th, Americans returning from all restricted countries will now be required to travel through the following 13 airports:

Boston-Logan International Airport (BOS), Massachusetts
Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD), Illinois
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), Texas
Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW), Michigan
Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL), Hawaii
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), Georgia
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), New York
Los Angeles International Airport, (LAX), California
Miami International Airport (MIA), Florida
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), New Jersey
San Francisco International Airport (SFO), California
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), Washington
Washington-Dulles International Airport (IAD), Virginia

Upon arrival, travelers will proceed to standard customs processing. They will then continue to enhanced entry screening where the passenger will be asked about their medical history, current condition, and asked for contact information for local health authorities. Passengers will then be given written guidance about COVID-19 and directed to proceed to their final destination, and immediately home-quarantine in accordance with CDC best practices.

Fact Sheet: DHS Notice of Arrival Restrictions on China, Iran and Schengen Countries of Europe

“While the overall risk of serious infection from the coronavirus to the general public remains low at this time, the Trump administration is taking these aggressive measures to keep the risk low, requiring all Americans returning from affected areas in Europe to be funneled through 13 airports for screening upon their return to the U.S.,” said Acting Secretary Wolf. “To minimize disruptions to travelers, TSA, CBP, and air carriers are working to identify qualifying passengers before their scheduled flights. These passengers will be rerouted to one of the 13 airports by their airline at no cost to them.”

Wolf continued: “I understand this new process will be disruptive to some travelers, however this action is needed to protect the general public from further exposure and spread of the coronavirus. Once back in the U.S. it is imperative that individuals honor self-quarantine directives to help protect their loved-ones and communities.”

President Trump determined that the potential for widespread transmission of the coronavirus by infected individuals seeking to enter the United States threatens the security of the homeland. Therefore, the Department is taking action in furtherance of the public health interests advanced by the March 11thpresidential proclamation which suspends entry to nearly all foreign nationals who have been in certain European countries, China and Iran at any point during the 14 days prior to their scheduled travel to the U.S.

These European countries, known as the Schengen Area, include: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. This Presidential Proclamation does not apply to U.S. citizens, legal permanent residents, nor their family members under the age of 21, and other individuals who are identified in the proclamation. Nor does it apply to cargo and economic shipping.

03/17/2020

Update:
Due to the virus, United Airlines has updated their cancellation policy. Please see below