Sunwing Airlines Inc. says the network-wide system outage that has grounded travellers and delayed flights to and from sun destinations is still not resolved. The crisis is now stretching into its fifth day. Canadian Press and the Toronto Star report that Sunwing continues to advise customers travelling over the next few days to check their flight status before heading to the airport. Sunwing has apologized for the ongoing delays, which it says are the result of a data security breach affecting its third-party provider of passenger handling systems. The Toronto-based airline/travel company says it has been forced to write out Read more

This was a day that held out considerable hope for many in the travel business in the United States and Canada. No such luck. Reuters reports that The Biden administration on Thursday said it was extending a requirement that non-U.S. citizens crossing land or ferry terminals at the U.S.-Mexico and U.S.-Canada borders must be vaccinated against COVID-19. The requirements were first adopted in November as part of reopening the United States to land crossings by foreign tourists after the borders had been closed to most visitors since March 2020. The rules were set to expire tonight, April 21. There’s no Read more

Meredith Vieira has been all over the world in her role as a reporter, but her visit on the Avalon View from Avalon Waterways was her first trip on a cruise ship.  Vieira (see my ship christening story) said she’s a little frightened of water, but loved being on a river where she could clearly see land. “I would definitely do this again,” she told a group of journalists the day after the christening. “You can make it whatever you want, and they help make it whatever you want.” “I didn’t realize how emotional I would get,” Vieira said. “I Read more

Air Canada today said it is donating 100 million Aeroplan points to support the Canadian government’s initiative to bring Ukrainians to Canada. The points will contribute towards facilitating transportation and can be used on flights operated by Air Canada and its Star Alliance partners including Lufthansa, LOT Polish Airlines, SWISS, United Airlines and other carriers. The Shapiro Foundation is also contributing to this effort and Miles4Migrants, a non-profit charity will manage and facilitate the flight bookings. “Together with our employees, we are ready and prepared to assist and support the Canadian Government’s plans to bring Ukrainian people to Canada. With our Read more

Amazing history. Glorious outdoor adventures. Stunnning architecture. Lively art galleries. And terrific food and drinks. St. Augustine, Florida has been entertaining visitors for half a century, and it shows no signs of slowing down. Here’s a way to spend a great couple of days in the city. DAY ONE A CITY TROLLEY TOUR A ride with Old Town Trolley Tours is a delightful way to get to know the city, and get your bearings. You can hop on and off as you like, and there are nearly two dozen stops, including the Castillo de San Marco, the Fountain of Youth, Read more

The latest modest increase in coronavirus cases in the U.S. is not deterring travel planning in 2022. According to the latest Longwoods International tracking study of American travelers, only 19% of travelers say that COVID-19 will greatly impact their travel decisions in the next six months. That’s the lowest level since the beginning of the pandemic more than two years ago.  “Barring a major reversal in the course of the pandemic, COVID-19’s impact on the travel and tourism industry appears to be tailing off,” said Amir Eylon, President and CEO of Longwoods International. “Concerns about gas prices and other inflationary Read more