US could establish a travel corridor with London by the end of the year
Your winter travel plans to the U.K. may be possible after all.
According to a report from the Wall Street Journal, U.S. officials hope to reopen travel between New York City and London by the end of the year. No specifics have been announced yet, but WSJ notes that the "growing availability of Covid-19 tests in the U.S." may allow for "shortened traveler quarantine periods" when traveling between the two cities.
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The report states the White House’s National Security Council has already approved the corridor plan, so it may make more headway over the coming weeks. It's not yet known if the U.K. has already approved these plans.
WSJ's source said that travelers would be tested before boarding their flight to the U.K. and upon arrival in the country to reduce quarantine time. It's not clear how short quarantine would be for these travelers, but it's safe to say it will be shorter than the current 14-day quarantine U.S. citizens are subject to upon arrival.
New York to London could be the first of many "COVID-free" travel corridors we see over the coming months. WSJ also noted that the U.S. and Germany have been in similar talks, but no route specifics were mentioned. There's no word if other European nations — or the European Union — have been in similar talks.
Further, U.K. citizens are currently barred from entering the U.S. if they've spent time in the U.K. within the last 14 days. I think it's safe to assume that this ban would be lifted if the New York to London corridor was put into place, though it wasn't specifically mentioned in the article.
Related: These are the 45 countries Americans can visit
Will this actually happen?
It's interesting to see the U.S. and U.K. start talks on a travel corridor now — especially when you consider new coronavirus case counts. The U.S. continues to see days with more than 50,000 new infections. Likewise, the U.K. broke records with just under 23,000 new cases on Oct. 4.
Both New York and London have seen a rise in new cases over the past two weeks as well. At the same time, however, New York's case count has remained extremely low when compared to other parts of the U.S.
That said, I think it's still likely that we could see this travel corridor come to fruition by the holidays.
Mortality rates have continued to stay low in both countries. Mandatory testing before and after arrival would also ensure that no new cases are introduced from either side of the pond too.
Additionally, the U.K. has been one of the few European countries admitting American tourists and travelers throughout the coronavirus pandemic, albeit with quarantine. New York to London is an extremely important route for business, leisure and family travel, so reopening the routes would be great news for U.S. and U.K. airlines, businesses and tourism — something badly needed in both countries.
If implemented, we will likely see this spur other travel corridors worldwide, especially in countries that rely heavily on tourism.
Related: The 5 best high-end international flights you can book with miles this winter
Bottom line
Reopening travel between New York and London would be a huge step forward for the airline industry. It's the most profitable airline route in the world, bringing over $1 billion in revenue to British Airways every year. In addition, other industry heavyweights like American, Delta, United and Virgin Atlantic operate the route on a near-hourly basis during normal travel times.
These types of travel corridors might be the key to reopening international travel until there's a widely available vaccine. We'll keep an eye out for an official announcement from the U.S. or U.K. government.
Feature photo by DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP/Getty Images
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
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Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.