Get Started

Learn more about Credit Cards, Travel Programs, Deals, and more.

Mayors Urge White House to End Testing for Inbound Air Travel

This post may contain affiliate links - Advertiser Disclosure. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Mayors Urge White House to End Testing

Mayors Urge White House to End Testing for Inbound Air Travel

Covid-19 restrictions have been removed in most cities around the country. Even when flying, you no longer need to wear a mask. But for Americans traveling abroad, and those looking to visit the U.S., there’s still a testing requirement regardless of vaccination status.

Many countries with similar infection, vaccination and hospitalization rates have already eliminated pre-departure testing, and now a bipartisan group of mayors is asking the White House to do the same.

38 mayors representing American cities and counties, sent a letter to the Biden administration asking for the removal of pre-departure testing as a requirement for U.S. entry by air for vaccinated individuals. Mayors of Houston, Atlanta, Minneapolis and Philadelphia also sent separate letters to the administration with the same request, for a total of 42 mayors.

“We strongly urge you to repeal the federal inbound testing requirement for vaccinated air travelers to the United States,” the letter says. “This requirement makes little sense considering that nearly all other sectors of the U.S. economy are operating without a testing requirement”

The mayors note that vaccinations, boosters and prior infections, as well as effective treatments to prevent the worst outcomes of COVID-19, have enabled Americans to safely return to work, schools and public activities, all without the needing a Covid-19 test. They also highlight the importance of foreign spending for the local economies.

“American cities are still struggling to regain international visitors after more than two years of pandemic-related restrictions,” the letter says.

In 2021, international visitation was a staggering 78% below pre-pandemic levels. A new survey of vaccinated international travelers in France, Germany, the United Kingdom, South Korea, Japan and India found that the pre-departure testing requirement is a deterrent to travel. More than half of international travelers (54%) said the added uncertainty of having to cancel a trip due to U.S. pre-departure testing requirements would significantly impact their likelihood to visit the U.S.; and a large majority of adults surveyed (71%) agreed that they prioritize traveling to destinations without cumbersome entry requirements.

“It’s time to repeal these requirements and to return power back to our people,” the letter concludes.

Last month, 260 travel industry and business organizations sent a similar letter to White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha.

Disclosure: Miles to Memories has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Miles to Memories and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.

Lower Spend - Chase Ink Business Preferred® 100K!

Chase Ink Business Preferred® is a powerful card that earns 3X Ultimate Rewards points in a broad range of business categories on the first $150K in spend per year. Right now earn 100K Chase Ultimate Rewards points after $15K $8K spend in the first 3 months with a $95 annual fee.

Learn more about this card and its features!


Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.
DDG
DDGhttp://dannydealguru.com
Based in NYC. Points/miles enthusiast for years and actively writing about it for the last 6+ years at Danny the Deal Guru. I'm always looking out for deals. Making a few bucks is always nice, but the traveling is by far the best part of this business.

Responses are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.

2 COMMENTS

  1. I love the fact that the government will send me free covid tests, but I can’t even use them to satisfy the government testing requirement.

  2. Came back from Italy last week. I had to pay $32 +/- for a test and it was a COMPLETE SCAM. I go in, guy runs the swab, rubs it on a thing-ee and less than 30 SECONDS later, signs off on a pre-printed Negative document. Had a stack of them ready to go. Got the charge for it and on my statement, it was run by some company/person, “The Tour Guy”.

    Worthless and stupid requirement.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Related

7,703FansLike
9,903FollowersFollow
16,444FollowersFollow