Welcome back to Expat News by Expat Rebel. Here’s a weekly digest to keep you updated on the Expat World. If you were forwarded this message, you can get the free weekly email here.
In this issue:
- Will Flying Become Only For The Rich
- US Flight Attendants May Strike
- The Future Is No Passports
- Hidden Resort Fees May Be Gone Soon
- International Tourism In México Increased Again
- And more Expat News
Eclipse In México
The eclipse here in Yucatán México gave me a weird feeling. Like a sci-fi movie and a big star ship was blocking the sun spookyness.
My photos of the sun directly didn’t come out, but the shadows were very cool looking.
Flamingos
This last week on one of my sunrise beach walks I saw flying flamingos. Probably the closest I’ve seen them flying.
I have an Instagram Reel video of these flamingos flying by.
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Travel News
- Airfares are affordable, relatively speaking. Is that era ending? – flying may get so expensive that only the rich will fly and more people will rely on ground transportation more
- Window Seat Passengers Will Now Get Priority Boarding on United Airlines – it’s a faster procedure, shaving the extra two minutes off of boarding times. Those two minutes are crucial for both the airline and for passengers, as a departure running behind by even that amount of time can cause tarmac delays that throw off passengers’ travel plans and become costly for carriers.
- Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship Evacuates Americans from Israel
- Princess Cruises says it has eliminated last-minute discounts – Princess Cruises says it will no longer discount cruises booked close to departure, saying that customers who book the earliest will get the best deals. Princess called it a “dramatic shift in its pricing strategy.”
- Flight Attendants Ready To Strike If Labor Contract Negotiations Stall – Even in the absence of federal authorization to strike, airline workers will sometimes quietly take action on their own, calling out sick more often and being less willing to accept shifts, which can disrupt flight schedules and make life harder for their employers.
- Hidden Resort Fees Could Soon Be a Thing of the Past – Federal officials are proposing a ban on one of the most frustrating aspects of hotel stays: being charged misleading resort fees at checkout.
- The Future of International Travel Is Passport-Free – In September, Singapore announced that its Changi airport will be the first international hub to go completely passport-free in early 2024 when it implements an automated immigration checkpoint that uses passengers’ biometric data. Instead of presenting a passport to an immigration officer at a kiosk, passengers will simply step up to the automated checkpoint for a facial scan that verifies their identity without needing an exit stamp. All travelers will be able to use the technology, including visitors. “75% of passengers want to use biometric data instead of passports and boarding passes.”
- Delta dials back some changes to loyalty program and lounge access – some changes still going to happen, it’s complicated, if you got Delta miles or cards read all the details
Expat News
- Crime Hotspots of 2023: The Seven Countries Consistently Ranked Highest in Global Crime Rates – Venezuela, South Africa, Honduras, Trinidad and Tobago, El Salvador, Guyana, and Jamaica—known for their high crime rates. Not Expat friendly.
México Expat News
- Delta will fly to Tulum’s new airport & Vacation in Mexico this spring with direct-to-Tulum service on Delta | Delta News Hub
- Why are Motorola and Samsung blocking certain types of cell phones in Mexico? – “at least one out of every five Samsung devices purchased in Mexico are obtained from these unauthorized distributors.” “From October 11 we will begin to block those smartphones that come from the gray market, and that have been activated from September 21, 2023 in Mexico.” So, be careful where you buy your phone
- International Tourism in Mexico increased by 5.3% in August
- The International Monetary Fund says Mexico is one of the leading economies on the global scene – just a sign that México is economically fairly stable, make it easier to live here as an Expat.
- Why Americans are relocating to Mexico City for a better life – This growing number of digital nomads draws attention to a larger housing issue in Mexico City, including the prevalence of short-term rentals. It is estimated that the entire country of Mexico needs more than 800,000 new housing units a year for the next 20 years to accommodate the population growth, according to a recent study by MIT.
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