Four things to know about travel right now 🧐 🌎 🏁

Sponsored by

If travel feels more complicated than ever, you’re not alone. Some Covid-era rules are changing and it can be hard to know what the rules are right now—let alone what they’ll be by the time your trip rolls around. Here’s a quick roundup of where things stand now, what you need to know for trips in the next few weeks, and how to plan with confidence.  Masks are off...for now...if you want...with some exceptions The federal mandate requiring masks on public transport was set to expire May 3 but on April 18, a judge ruled it unlawful, and within hours, all major airlines in the US said they would no longer require masks on planes. The Justice Department is appealing, but in the meantime masks are not required on domestic flights. However, some airports are still requiring them, including JFK, LGA, and LAX. Additionally, they may be required on some international flights, depending on the rules of the destination. The best way to get clarity: check the website of the airports you’re traveling through, and contact the airline if you’re not sure if masks will be required on the plane (and it’s a good idea to travel with an extra mask or two, just in case). For those who prefer to wear a mask, of course you’re still welcome to do so and it does provide benefits to the wearer—anecdotally, SCF team members observed a third to half of passengers masked on flights during the past week. If you don’t feel comfortable flying with those around you unmasked, you may be able to get a refund. Both Alaska Airlines and United have said they’ll work with customers who have booked nonrefundable flights if they are no longer willing to fly after the change in rules.  Testing is still required for entry to the US There are plenty of rumors flying about this requirement ending soon, but for now all US citizens returning to the US from another country must present a negative test result taken one day prior to departure, even if you’re fully vaccinated. (Here’s our guide to finding a test.)  Many flights are still changeable for free Tickets above basic economy are still changeable for free (though you may have to pay a fare difference) on all the major US airlines and on most international airlines—we’ve got a list here. So if you’re still not comfortable making plans set in stone, you can book in pencil and make changes if you’re not ready come trip time. On most airlines, this means when you cancel your flight, you get a credit to use within a particular period (usually one year). If you’re worried about being able to use the credit, try to book on an airline with more options for future trips. For example, if there’s a flight to France operated by Air France but bookable on Delta, book it on Delta. That way if you have to cancel your trip and take the credit, you won’t be limited to a future flight on Air France; you can use your credit on any Delta flight.  Want a refund? Wait for a flight change If you have a trip booked that you know you don’t want to or can’t take, don’t cancel it and take the credit right away. If the airline cancels it or significantly changes the schedule you’re entitled to a cash refund. What counts as a significant change varies by airline, but generally it can be around an hour or two. Here’s our guide with more details.