People who travel will be affected by changes to foreign travel rules and rules about U.S. flight IDs starting in 2025. At the same time, good protections for customers are finally being put in place, and some airlines have revealed welcome changes to their cabins.
How to Obtain a REAL ID Before Your Next Flight
When the REAL ID goes into effect on May 7, 2025, it will change how people can fly within the United States. It looks like the new US federal law that lets people use driver’s licenses and government-issued official id card at airport security checks will finally go into effect, even though it has been put off several times since it was first presented in 2007.
How to Obtain a #REALID Before Your Next Flight.
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Most new id identification card are now REAL ID-compliant, but travelers with older state id card will need to check with the state office that issued them.
On the Department of Homeland Security page, you can find out more about REAL ID in all the states. The forms you need to apply depend on the state, but they usually include proof of who you are, that you live in or are a member of the united states states, your Social Security number, and proof of where you live now. Of course, valid IDs are still a legal way to prove your identity when traveling within the country or to another country.
ETA to get into the UK
When the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) program grows, it will bring about more changes for Americans who are going to the UK. From January 8, 2025, visitors coming from the U.S. and Europe will have to register their ETA.
The ETA system is based on the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) system in the United States. It lets UK officials check visitors’ documents before they arrive. The goal is to lower security risks and speed up border crossing. The ETA is not a visa and does not take the place of any other visa needs.
People from the United States who want to visit the UK on or after January 8 should apply through the ETA app or the official website of the UK government. An ETA in the UK costs £10, which is about $13. As soon as you get the ETA, you can enter the UK more than once in two years.
How to get around Europe’s new rules for entering and leaving the country
The European Union’s European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) will be used by 30 European countries in 2025, but no exact date has been set yet. With this new process, people from over 60 visa-exempt countries, including U.S. citizens, will need to have travel permission in order to enter 30 European countries. The ETIAS is similar to the UK’s ETA program in that it doesn’t get rid of the need for visas but does aim to make the Schengen Area safer.
People who are given ETIAS travel authorization can visit the involved countries more than once for short stays of up to 90 days in a 180-day period. If your passport ends, you’ll need a new ETIAS travel authorization. The old one is only good for three years.
This will work with the new Entry/Exit System (EES), which will record biometric information at passport check for both visa-free and visa-required short-stay travelers coming into Europe. Travelers don’t have to do anything to use the EES.
New safety measures for U.S. air travelers
It is now official that the last parts of the “final rule” from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) are being put into place. The “final rule,” which was made public in April 2024, says that U.S. flight companies can’t decide when refunds might be appropriate after big changes.
We now have a clearer idea of what this word means. It includes changes in departure or arrival times of more than three hours for domestic flights and six hours for international flights; changes in airports or the number of connections; cabin downgrades; or problems with accessibility for disabled travelers. There are also new rules about how to get paid for delayed luggage or extra services (like Wi-Fi) that were paid for but not provided.
Working with the FTC, the DOT has also stopped “junk fees” that families who want to sit together have to pay.
The new way to renew your U.S. visa online
People from the United States have been able to renew their visas online instead of in person since September 2024. As long as applicants meet some basic standards, the system is now fully functional.
Like, the holder must be over 25 years old and live in the United States. Their passport had to be good for 10 years and not have any changes to their name, gender, date of birth, or place of birth.
Prospective candidates are need to sign in to MyTravelGov and then click on the “Renew Your Passport” button in order to initiate the process. After one week, applicants will be able to get email updates on the progress of their applications. They will be told about any questions or approvals, as well as when the new passport will be sent.
What you need to know about airline news
Even though there isn’t a set date yet, American Airlines’ new Flagship Suites business class product is expected to come out in 2025. More comfort, privacy doors, wireless charging, and Bluetooth connectivity are some of the improved features that will be included.
Frontier Airlines is going to have a brand-new first class cabin that will open in late 2025. Also good news for Delta customers: the airline will be upgrading all of its rooms, starting with the Boeing 757 and moving on to the Airbus A350. The first JetBlue club will open at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) Terminal 5 in late 2025. The second will open soon after at Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) Terminal C.
Flying Laws
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) oversees all facets of aviation in the United States, encompassing:
Aircraft operation: Aviation law regulates the operation of aircraft and the maintenance of aviation facilities.
Drones: The FAA oversees the regulation of unmanned aircraft systems, commonly referred to as drones.
Aviation Traffic: Both state and federal governments have established regulatory agencies and adopted legislation to oversee aviation traffic.
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