The Sunday Round-Up | September 12, 2021

Good morning. Yesterday, was a very emotional day for me and many around the world. I can't recall crying so much on any other 9/11 anniversary. It's hard to believe 20 years have passed. I was in New York City on that horrible day and lost a friend. 

All the stories I read and watched really hit home and I can't stop thinking about the lives that were cut too short, the grieving families and the empty voids. It's heart-wrenching. Watching The Man With The Red Bandana on ESPN (the video is embedded in this roundup of 12 Stories To Never Forget Those We Lost On September 11) had me bawling the moment the young man's father began speaking. Being a parent has really changed me, especially my emotional side. 

Speaking of parents ... I was going to surprise my dad with a visit this week but ended up canceling my ticket a couple of hours before since he's in a new rehab center and the COVID protocols are very strict. Besides, he still has a bad cough so I don't want to be locked in an unventilated room with him. I've begun updating this page about his status again since I've had many requests and he still has ups and downs post-COVID.

After reading the New York Times newsletter this week, it made me feel a bit better about traveling: “For children and vaccinated adults without other major health problems, there are a lot of reassuring signs. Covid appears to present less risk than some other daily activities. Among Americans under 17, fewer than 500 have died of Covid since the pandemic began; many more — a few thousand every year — die in vehicle crashes. As Wachter said about Covid this week, “Risk is low enough to live life, high enough to be careful.”

Travel Deal of the Day
If you want to travel, you should be able to snag some incredible deals to Europe for under $299 roundtrip. A reader emailed me this morning to say: I just booked a R/T flight from LAX to Madrid in the middle of Oct for $276! Iberia airlines, nonstop. I thought this was a great deal and wanted to share with you. I found it on Google Flights. Of course, I didn't get to pick my seat and will have to do carry-on only but I don't care. ~ Angel

What It's Like As An American Traveling In Europe During COVID-19
If you're wondering what it's like traveling around Europe during COVID-19, I interviewed Nomadic Matt yesterday who just returned from 80 days in Europe. He had lots to share. Click here to listen to the podcast or watch my interview on YouTube. 

TSA Checkpoint Numbers Just Dropped
If you flew yesterday, I'm guessing there was a good chance you had an empty seat next to you as security checkpoint numbers fell off a cliff. According to the TSA, officers screened 1,363,653 individuals at airport checkpoints nationwide yesterday, September 11. The day before: 1,792,979. I'm thinking the reason is people were scared to fly on the anniversary and it was a Saturday. We'll know tomorrow when the TSA reports today's numbers.

As per usual, there was a ton of travel news this week and I wrote a lot of travel tips so please scroll down to see it all.

12 Things 
— Yesterday's TSA checkpoint numbers
— JetBlue bans a husband and wife from using the airline for refusing to wear masks properly and swearing at staff
— How Europe's doors are slamming shut for Americans
— American Airlines' new contract is too ambiguous for stranded flyers: expert
— Wildfire forces closure of part of freeway in California
— Alitalia will keep flying after October 14, after all
— 9/11 changed air travel forever — will COVID-19 do the same?
— Retired flight attendant pushing beverage cart arrives at WTC after 200-mile trek
— Yankees/Mets honor 9/11 heroes 20 years later 
— More Americans are turning to travel agents
— You asked: Should we travel to a Level 4 country right now?
— Inside a hijack: The unheard stories of the Pan Am 73 crew
— Watch: Fantastic Four Deputies save toddler who fell into backyard pool
Read it all here in today's travel news round-up as well as the 84 other top travel news stories from this past week!