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Today, Homeland Security finalized January 23, 2007, as the date ALL persons entering the U.S. by air from ANY other country must have a valid passport, other than the exceptions mentioned in the "Your Passport: Don't Leave Home Without It" post below.
This extension avoids impacting the peak holiday travel season, but remember that an airline will not allow you to fly out of the U.S. earlier without a passport if your return date is on or after January 23rd.
Wondering which is better: Hotwire or Priceline?
I discussed the pros and cons of Hotwire and Priceline in an interview with Rick Archer.
This information should help you make an informed travel decision.
You may be used to flying into the United States from Canada and Mexico without a passport, but that will change this winter.
Effective January 2007, U.S. citizens, as well as foreign nationals, must have a valid passport to travel by airplane into the U.S. from Bermuda, Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean (other than Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands). Exceptions include active duty members of the U.S. Armed Forces traveling on orders, sailors who hold the U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner document, and those who have the experimental Air Nexus card used at Vancouver International Airport.
Even if departing the U.S. by air prior to January, you may be refused boarding without a passport if your return date may come during January or later.
Expect this anti-terrorism measure to create much disruption, including loss of nonrefundable airline tickets and vacation payments, when travelers show up at airports without knowing the new rule. On the positive side, anticipate bargains in places like Jamaica as hotels and resorts attempt to deal with empty rooms due to a downturn in last-minute travel.
Although various tourist organizations have been lobbying for more time, you may also need a valid passport to enter the U.S. from Canada or Mexico by auto, bus, or train as early as January 2008.
In any case, apply for or, if needed, renew your passport now. Unless you pay steep last-minute fees, processing a passport takes some time. Applications may be picked up at many courthouses and post offices.
For more information, see the Department of State website.
Here's some great news.
By mid-2007, Air France, Delta, Emirates, KLM, and United Airlines plan to integrate Apple iPods into their in-flight entertainment systems. This means that you’ll be able to charge your iPod and watch iPod videos on seat back displays.
While this innovation applies to flights that offer seat-based in-flight entertainment, which are usually long flights, Delta plans to go one step further and offer iPod functionality on all its U.S. flights by 2008. On Delta, this will include on-demand movies and live satellite television.
Apple expects more airlines to sign up soon.