Welcome to The Morning Shave. We read a ton of travel articles each day for our research to share the best travel tips, tricks, and news with you. Here are the articles for Wednesday, October 4, 2023, that we think you should read.
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The Morning Shave
U.S. Passport Renewal Wait Time Drops: Now 8 to 11 Weeks.
Excellent news for travelers who need to renew their passports (like my wife). Depending on when you plan on traveling, you may no longer need to pay the $60 fee for expedited processing. If the previous wait times had you putting off your passport application, now is the time to get a new passport and book an international trip.
Aeromexico plans big U.S. route expansion.
After restoring its Category 1 safety rating from the FAA, Aeromexico announced a major expansion in the number of flights to the U.S. By July 2024, the airline will operate 60 daily flights to the U.S., which is a 35% increase over this year. The new routes will focus on Delta hubs inside the U.S. and include a combined six from Mexico City‘s two airports, four from Monterrey, two from Guadalajara, two from Leon, two from Queretaro and one from the Yucatan capital of Merida. (Links are to our podcast episodes on these cities.)
Time could be running out to see pandas at American zoos.
If you can’t travel to China, at least you can see some of its wonderful pandas at zoos across America. For several decades, China has lent some of its pandas to zoos in the U.S. and other countries as part of its outreach efforts. However, in recent years, many U.S. zoos have sent their pandas home, and more may be going home soon. So, take advantage of this opportunity to visit your local zoo before it’s too late.
New Amex, Chase Offers can save you as much as $200 on Hyatt, Hilton and IHG hotel stays.
If you have Chase or American Express credit cards, check your offers for money-saving deals at participating hotels. Depending on your card, you may be able to double-dip to earn bonus points on your reservation AND a nice statement credit on next month’s bill.
You May Get an Uber Voucher If Your Next JetBlue Flight Is Delayed.
Flight delays happen. And while many airlines say that you’re on your own, JetBlue will start offering Uber vouchers for eligible passengers of canceled or delayed flights. When your flight is canceled or delayed more than three hours due to something within JetBlue’s control, you’ll receive an Uber voucher via email. If you don’t already have an Uber account, please use our referral link to sign up. And consider booking your flight with a travel credit card that offers flight delay and cancellation benefits to cover other costs you may experience.
Thinking of getting a new credit card?
To see the best credit card offers available, go to our credit card marketplace to find your next card.
