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Khaleej Times
11-07-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
US visa cost hike: What is Integrity fee; what UAE residents need to know
Last week, on July 4, US President Donald Trump signed the 'one big beautiful bill' act into law. With it, he also passed multiple changes in visa-related fees. The bill included a 'Visa Integrity Fee,' which is now making headlines around the world as travelers try to understand how much it will cost them. Khaleej Times read the act and here is everything you need to know about it: What is the Visa Integrity Fee? On top of regular fees, any person applying for a non-immigrant visa — tourist, student or work — must pay this charge. Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels. How much is it? The fee will be at least $250. However, if the Secretary of Homeland Security decides to raise the amount, he can do so. From 2026, the fee will be adjusted every year, on the basis of inflation which will be calculated using the Consumer Price Index. Can it be waived? No, the charge cannot be waived. It can, however, be reimbursed in some cases. How does reimbursement work? To be eligible for fee reimbursement, one must meet certain criteria. Here's the criteria: - The person should have followed all visa rules, including not working illegally; and, or - The person should have left the US in 5 days after their visa expired without requesting an extension. - The person must have received an extension or become a green card holder during the visa's validity.
Skift
18-06-2025
- Business
- Skift
A Google Hotels Threat, JetBlue Cost Cutting and Dual-Brand Hotels
For today's episode we look at threats to Google Travel, more hotels with a dual identity, and JetBlue's money woes. Skift Daily Briefing Podcast Listen to the day's top travel stories in under four minutes every weekday. Listen to the day's top travel stories in under four minutes every weekday. Skift Travel Podcasts Good morning from Skift. It's Wednesday, June 18. Here's what you need to know about the business of travel today. Google Hotels may not be losing relevance in search results, but it's facing growing pressure from the likes of Expedia, Tripadvisor, and Trivago, writes Executive Editor Dennis Schaal. Bernstein said in a research note that the Google Hotels might be bruised, citing two developments that are putting pressure on it. The European Union's Digital Markets Act forced Google Hotels to a lower position on the Google search results page, and Google's AI Overviews are slowly becoming the answer to hotel searches. Bernstein added Expedia is making improvements on price and marketing while Tripadvisor and Trivago have benefitted from the market share losses of Google Hotels. Google Hotels has an 80% market share in Europe, down 6 percentage points from last year. Listen to This Podcast Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Youtube | RSS Next, hotel designers are increasingly pairing two brands in a single building, an approach that can provide a faster route to profitability, writes Hospitality Reporter Luke Martin. Martin notes dual-brand hotels allow developers to share expensive infrastructure and reduce upfront construction costs and long-term operational overhead. In addition to cutting costs, developers say the dual-brand model broadens market reach, enabling companies to tap into multiple guest segments without building separate properties. Marriott has more than 400 co-branded properties open while Hilton has more than 125 dual-brand properties globally and 100 in development. In addition, an executive at a dual-branded Mercure and Ibis in London said having one front-desk team for two brands creates a much more seamless experience for customers. Finally, JetBlue is looking to cut costs in response to soft demand, writes Airlines Reporter Meghna Maharishi. CEO Joanna Geraghty told staff in a memo seen by Skift that it was unlikely that JetBlue would break even this year, adding the airline is relying on borrowed cash to keep running. JetBlue's moves could include cutting underperforming routes and reducing off-peak flying. Maharishi adds the carrier is also reconsidering hiring plans and could combine some leadership roles. The airline industry has been grappling with declining consumer confidence, which has hit domestic travel demand particularly hard. Legacy carriers like Delta and United reported a profitable first quarter in part due to high demand for international and premium travel.
CNN
31-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- CNN
Stand up on the plane too early? You could be risking a fine
This week in travel news: A park that's home to the real Batcave, Asia's underrated adventure destination, and a Canadian-American romance that happened in Mexico. We all want to get off the plane as soon as it lands, but that can become a disorderly scramble, even before the aircraft has come to halt. Now the Turkish government has decided enough is enough. A memo from the country's Directorate General of Civil Aviation says that passengers can be fined if they 'stand up, go to the corridor, open the overhead bins and proceed along the aisles … despite the announcements about the rules during taxi after landing, when the aircraft has not yet reached the parking position and the seat belt warning lights have not turned off.' The amount of the fine was not mentioned, and it's unclear if anyone has actually been given one. But considering that IGA Istanbul Airport is the best connected airport in the world and this rule applies to all commercial flights entering the country, there are a lot of travelers who could potentially come under scrutiny. Besides the people who stand up before the plane is safely at the gate, fines can also be issued to 'passengers who use or attempt to use smoke-producing devices or products (aka vapes) on the aircraft.' Even if you live in an urban area, there are still ways to get out and enjoy the great outdoors this summer. CNN's Sara Sidner finds happiness on horseback in LA's Griffith Park, which might just be the greatest city park in the US. Among the highlights: a Merry-Go-Round that inspired a guy named Walt Disney to think about building a theme park, various hiking and biking trails, Griffith Observatory, the Los Angeles Zoo, and any number of spots where your favorite movies and TV shows were filmed — including the real Batcave from the original '60s TV show. If your summer travel dreams take you farther afield, one Asian destination is becoming a major hub for wellness and outdoor pursuits. Taiwan is home to an inviting mix of different landscapes. Locals flock to Sun Moon Lake and Taroko Gorge, but there are also 260 peaks over 3,000 meters (9,800 feet), plus beaches, campsites, hiking trails and scenic train rides to choose from. Planning to get in the water this summer? Our friends at CNN Underscored, a product reviews and recommendations guide owned by CNN, have tried and tested the best one-piece swimsuits for women of all body types. It sounds like the plot of a romcom: a Canadian librarian ran off with an American yacht captain during the heady summer of 1968. But it's all true. Beverly Carriveau and Bob Parsons met in Mazatlan, Mexico. She says that it was like 'a thunderbolt' when she first glimpsed Parsons through a window in the hotel gift shop. Later, he sent a bottle of white wine over to the table where she was dining with her friend. From there, it was history. The couple were married for 52 years until Parsons' death five years ago. This is just one of the many stories of how travel can build lifelong connections. Check out Chance Encounters for more — or to submit one of your own. A man lost an AirPod under his train seat. It took 11 firefighters to rescue him — and the AirPod. This Japanese airport got a Sanrio makeover. Now landing at Hello Kitty International. Southwest will start charging for checked bags. Prices begin at $35. New Zealand has named its 'bug of the year.' It's an ancient worm that spits poison goo.
The Sun
22-05-2025
- The Sun
Budget airlines have finally hit rock bottom – cheap standing seats on flights would be a disaster
IT'S time to take a stand against budget airlines - although we might soon not have a choice. Terrifying travel news this week, that a handful of unnamed airlines are considering introducing standing-only seats on planes. 4 4 Despite looking better suited to a death-defying rollercoaster than a two-hour plane journey, it's been suggested that they could become be the norm for cheap flights, with it becoming a 'privilege' to get a proper seat. The uncomfortable-looking designs by Aviointeriors have a slanted, saddle-like base that allows the passengers to still be strapped in, while standing upright. it's the third version of the design, which was first revealed by Aviointeriors as far back as 2010 and has since gone through a number of 'improvements.' They claim to take up much less space than a standard economy seat, with just just 23 inches compared to 31 inches. That'll be music to low-cost airlines ears, who presumably are envisioning more crammed passengers to squeeze cash from - after repeatedly shrinking legroom, chair width and luggage allowances over the last 20 years. I love to walk around a cabin to stretch my legs, but I hardly want to be standing the whole time. Standing might even be preferable over this bizarre, half leaning situation. It reminds me of that awkward perch against a pub garden fence when you run out of seats - something never comfortable but acceptable after a few pints. Maybe these are the seats for those passengers enjoying some Wetherspoon beers before a flight, who will barely notice whether they are upright when boarding. I am all for a cheap flight - notoriously never checking in a suitcase to avoid any extra fees - but there are some things that I think are a necessity on a flight. Plane seats of the future – with no tray tables, TV screens or seat pockets and full screen dividers between each row And one of them? Being allowed to sit down. The rollercoaster like seat certainly would be just as uncomfortable during turbulence as a rollercoaster seat is when being spun and flung around corners. And I don't expect them to be a 'cheaper' option despite Ryanair's Michael O'Leary previously touting the idea of £1 standing seats in 2012. After all, Ryanair and easyJet's cheapest fares are now around £15 - but this comes without any luggage, unlike good old days when it had a free suitcase. Low-cost airlines ditched these back in 2018 - but this has hardly been passed onto the consumer in the way of price, seeing as flights back then could be found for £4.99. So with free luggage gone, and it appears cheap sit-down seats to be next, who knows what' else could gone. else is around the corner. 4 It was Ryanair who once suggested they would charge passengers to use the bathroom. Perhaps we'll have to pay to have a back to our seats, after a bizarre back-less easyJet seat went viral back in 2019. Thankfully we seem to be a way off from them being rolled out. Aviointeriors confirmed that while there has been "interest" in the seat, no airlines have actually bought them. Don't expect to see them on long-haul flights either, as it's suggested it will only be on flights less than two hours. But who knows, it's one step closer to removing seats all together, making the term "cattle class" that bit more apt. The only upside? Don't expect someone wanting to take the seat next to you if it's empty. Hey, it could be the latest plane hack to getting a row to yourself.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Yahoo
Delays as south Essex High Street is CLOSED amid emergency water works
DRIVERS are facing delays this morning as a High Street has been shut off for emergency works. Essex and Suffolk Water is carrying out emergency water works in Wickford High Street, between Market Road and London Road. ONGOING - Wickford – High Street CLOSED in both ways due to emergency works being carried out by Essex & Suffolk Water – (28-30 High Street) — Essex Travel News (@Essex_Travel) May 19, 2025 As a result of the work at 28-30 High Street, the road is closed both ways. This has been in place since 12.20am today. AA traffic maps shows delays around London Road and Golden Jubilee Way due to the closure. The closure is scheduled to be in place until May 29 according to however the works could finish earlier.
