The $1.7 trillion omnibus spending bill contains big perks for the travel industry
After all the politics and posturing associated with the $1.7 trillion government funding package, it can be easy to miss some of the budget line items in the 4,155-page bill. We're happy to report that the omnibus spending bill includes big wins for both travelers and the travel industry.
Among the highlights is a new assistant secretary of travel and tourism position within the U.S. Department of Commerce that will focus on the country's $1.1 trillion travel industry.
"This is a tremendous win for travelers, the travel industry, and America’s economy," U.S. Travel Association president and CEO Geoff Freeman says. “Thanks to a bipartisan and bicameral group of Congressional leaders, the United States will now join all G20 countries with a senior federal official focused on travel."
The new position "will play an important role as we partner with government to lower visitor visa wait times, modernize security screening, and leverage new technologies to make travel more seamless and secure," Freeman added.
The USTA has been a leading advocate for this new federal position — which the association says will underscore the industry’s positive impact on the U.S. economy and help America rebuild its global competitiveness.
The travel industry developments are part of the bipartisan Omnibus Travel and Tourism Act introduced by Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., and Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss.
Rosen's office outlined the additional legislation travel features as formally authorizing a U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board, collecting data on domestic travel and tourism, mandating the development of a national travel and tourism strategy every 10 years, and reporting on the effects of the pandemic on the travel and tourism industry. Rosen's office further noted that before now, there hadn't been anyone in the federal government responsible for developing and coordinating a national tourism strategy. The bill will now establish this for the first time.
The travel component of the spending bill will also provide congressional oversight to address excessive visa wait times that are now averaging more than 400 days for visitor visa appointments. The U.S. Travel Association forecasts that in 2023, U.S. businesses will attract 6.6 million fewer international visitors and lose $11.6 billion in spending; this is because international travelers cannot obtain visitor visas in time to travel to the U.S. due to these excessive wait times.
Related: Legislation that could gut credit card rewards set to move through Congress
The bill just passed in the Senate ahead of the Friday deadline and is expected to pass in the House of Representatives as soon as tonight; it will then be sent to President Joe Biden for his approval. The president is expected to sign it soon after it arrives on his desk.
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| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. |
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Why We Chose It
Build your loyalty to Delta by applying for the carrier's mid-tier card option, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card. The annual fee is quickly recouped by the card's travel perks, such as an application credit to Global Entry or TSA Precheck, annual companion certificate and so much more. Plus you can fast-track to elite status simply through card spend.Pros
- Earn bonus Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) and an Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) waiver when you hit specific spending thresholds with your card within a calendar year
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year
- Statement credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry fee (up to $100)
- First checked bag free
Cons
- Doesn't make sense if you don't fly Delta
- SkyMiles aren't the most valuable airline currency
- Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
- New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
- Enjoy a per-visit rate of $50 per person for Card Members and up to two guests to enter the Delta Sky Club when traveling on a Delta flight.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
- Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees