The travel industry is bursting with excitement at the moment after the news on the 20th of September that US travel is open for European and UK travellers from early November. This includes EU and UK travellers that are double vaccinated.
Not only is this excellent news for all the travellers who have been waiting during covid to travel to the US again, to see family, friends, or have an all-around great holiday, but this is spectacular news for the travel industry as a whole. With a lot of airlines and travel companies relying on the gateway between the UK and US for their business, this is giving so many the ability to get off the ground and branch out into some great destinations.
“I am delighted that from November, @POTUS is reinstating transatlantic travel so fully vaccinated UK nationals can visit the USA. It’s a fantastic boost for business and trade, and great that family and friends on both sides of the pond can be reunited once again,” Boris Johnson tweeted.
This is particularly fantastic for airlines, which are already beginning to prepare for the great number of flight bookings we can expect following November. Lifting the US ban for UK travellers is already proving a huge boost for the industry as we wait for early November to bring more holidays. British Airways reported that after the ban lift was announced, they saw a 700% increase in searches for flights to the US.
Who Can Travel to The US When Travel is Open?
Starting in early November, if you are a fully vaccinated UK or EU national, there are a couple of simple steps that you’ll need to follow to travel to the US.
You’ll need proof of vaccination pre-departure; this will be checked before your board your flight. There is still discussion over whether the AstraZeneca Oxford vaccine will be accepted for travel to the US, but it is reported as looking hopeful. We recommend checking this with your travel business when you book. You can also check the government website for up-to-date entry requirements.
Fully vaccinated UK travellers to the US will also need to provide proof of a negative test taken within 72 hours pre-departure. There will not be any quarantine requirements.
Unvaccinated Americans returning to the US will face stricter requirements, The White House reported. With extra testing within 24 hours pre-departure and an extra test on their arrival in the US, however, these do not apply to EU or UK travellers.
What Are the Restrictions for Entering the UK from the US?
As of the 21st September, the US is treated as an amber list country, this will change on the 4th of October when the new two-tier system is put in place, you can check out our article to find out more about the removal of the traffic light system.
This means that there is not complete certainty presently as to what the requirements will be for returning to the UK from the US when the travel ban is lifted. However, it is hopeful that the US will be on the ‘clear’ list when that change comes about, and the US will still be as accessible for vaccinated travellers since the government decided to open our side of the US travel gateway in August.
Though there are still a few questions to be answered around US travel with the new system and the accepted vaccines, the US ban on EU and UK visitors being lifted is delightful news for travellers and the industry alike and we’re all looking forward to this new avenue opening to us.
So, when you’re ready to book an awesome holiday to the US ready for early November, don’t forget to get in touch with an excellent PTS member. Or, if you’d like assistance picking which PTS member to book with, you can call PTS directly at 0207 190 9988.
And if you’d like to learn more about how you are protected as a consumer with PTS, or how the Package Travel Regulations protect your holiday, don’t forget to check out our pages.
