Where's Johnny Jet? Greetings! I didn’t travel this week but I felt like I did! I went to LAX last night to get a sneak peek of the new American Express Centurion Lounge in TBIT. Here are my photos but I have to tell you, with this whole coronavirus situation, it was a stressful event and not just for me. It seemed like most were on edge. From the woman who escorted me and pressed the elevator button with her elbow and my journalist friends who didn’t want to shake hands (I was one of them), to the guest or employee who was coughing and to whom everyone was giving the evil eye. When everyone was huddled around for the ribbon cutting and welcome speeches, it just wasn’t a pleasant experience. It got a lot better once people started roaming around.
I told my wife when I returned home that I don’t know how we're going to get on a plane with the kids in a few weeks because if an airport event was stressful without kids or actually flying, imagine how it’s going to with them on a long flight. You try keeping a toddler's hands away from their face! But the situation is so fluid that it could all change in a couple of weeks or we could all be quarantined. No one knows and I think that’s part of the problem.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resource for Travelers
I’m still planning on traveling but I’m keeping a close eye on the situation, which is why I created this Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resource for Travelers. There is so much information out there it’s difficult to find it all. So I gathered all the airline, hotel, cruise, ground transportation links and change policies on one page. You'll also find some the latest news, including Lufthansa slashing half of their flights!
I’ve also included some travel deals for those who think this is the best time to travel, as prices are being slashed (you can fly NYC to Rome in the next couple of months for $300 R/T and from L.A. it’s just $70 more!) Most planes are not going out full so you have a chance of getting a seat open next to you or better yet, your upgrade clearing since most business travel has come to a halt. The best part is that most passengers are practicing proper hygiene like washing their hands for 20 seconds, not touching their faces and covering their mouth and nose when they cough and sneeze. Yes, shocking, I’ve seen passengers not do the latter on past flights. If it wasn’t for the unknown about who would be sitting next to you on the plane, I would say it’s the best time to travel but you just don’t know.
If you like the resource page, please help me get the word out and forward to your friends and colleagues.
Half Off Shipt Annual Membership
My wife recently got a Shipt membership and she loves it. This same-day delivery service makes life so much easier when she's too busy to run errands. Whether you need it for day-to-day errands or whether you're stocking up on essentials, Shipt can really help deliver whatever you need straight to your door within an hour. The annual membership is $99/year but with Natalie's referral code, you'll score a membership for just $49/year.
What to Know Before Wearing a Face Mask on a Plane
Using just any face mask (also called a respirator) that’s not fitted to your face by a professional will not give you the full protection you might expect. Here's what you need to know before you wear a face mask on a plane.
Best credit cards for new parents
Parenting is one of the most rewarding yet interesting journeys you can take in life. If you're a new or expecting parent (or you know someone who is), you may not know what to expect from your new lifestyle, and that's okay. The credit cards in this post can help, including by maximizing those purchases you (perhaps) never thought about even a few months ago.
Companies I work with and recommend
Allianz (travel insurance), Amazon (travel gadgets and supplies), Blacklane (reliable car service), Bluffworks (wrinkle-free clothing), Booking.com (hotel deals), Hotspot Shield (VPN to protect your data and get cheaper travel deals), Medjet (medical evacuation and transport), Rail Europe (trains in Europe), Scottevest (travel clothes).
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