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:
- EU Travel Authorization System Coming mid 2025
- Delta fixes come changes and adds new entertainment plane system
- Money transfer app pays huge fine
- Is Costa Rica too expensive?
- Is the Mexican Superpeso driving away people?
- And more Expat News
Photo Of The Week
I’ve really been enjoying my nearly daily morning sunrise beach walk
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Travel News
- EU plans to require travel authorization in mid-2025 – The EU’s long-delayed travel authorization system is now scheduled to go into effect in spring 2025, according to a new timeline adopted by the European Council. The program, called the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) would require visitors to Schengen Area countries to fill out a form ahead of travel that would be used to screen them for security or migration risks. It will apply to travelers between the ages of 18 and 70, will cost around $8 and be valid for two years.
- Delta starts rolling out personalized entertainment
- In the fight for frequent flyers, Delta pulls back SkyMiles changes, and rivals step in – Delta will go forward with its plan to eliminate flying as a metric for obtaining status and instead base Medallion accrual solely on spending with the company. And although less dramatic than previously planned, increases in status spending thresholds and curbs on lounge access will still be introduced in 2024 and 2025.
- Delta Has A New Way To Prioritize Who Gets Upgraded Starting In January – The airline says it now sells 75% of first class seats. That includes low yielding routes where first class rarely sells. On premium routes the percentage is much higher. That includes low yielding days and times. At peak travel times the percentage is much higher.
- Popular money transfer app ordered to pay hefty fine for deceiving consumers – Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and it’s why they’re stepping in. They say the mobile app has deceived consumers about the cost and speed of international money transfers by requiring consumers to waive their rights and protections.
Expat News
- Is Costa Rica Expensive? An Expats Point of View – somethings yes and others no
- Nicaragua Cracks Down on Catholic Groups – Nicaraguan authorities on Tuesday shuttered the local chapter of the Franciscan religious order as well as 16 NGOs, many with ties to Catholic and evangelical churches with which the government has been at loggerheads.
México Expat News
- Is the “Superpeso” scaring away foreign tourists? – The appreciation of the national currency against the dollar made the most popular destinations more expensive, according to Cicotur. The main Mexican beaches received fewer foreign tourists by air during this summer compared to the same season in 2022.
- Mayan Train will be financed by charging 38 dollars to each foreign tourist – residents will not be paying that extra fee
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