You’ve probably heard of the Chase Sapphire Preferred—either because you have this credit card, or because you’ve traveled with someone who does.

For less than $100 a year, this travel card comes with an annual hotel credit, generous complimentary travel insurance, and neat rewards on dining, online groceries, and travel expenses.

If this wasn’t compelling enough, the Chase Sapphire Preferred actually just got better: As of June 10, 2026, new and existing cardholders will get even more benefits with no increase to the $95 annual fee. Here’s everything you need to know about the updates.

A $100 annual hotel credit more than covers the card fee

The Chase Sapphire Preferred hasn’t been updated in several years. Out of the new perks, the two best changes are the $100 annual hotel credit, and the bonus rewards on gas and EV charging expenses as well as vacation home rentals.

Cardholders also get a $100 annual credit toward hotels booked through Chase—double the previous amount—and statement credits worth up to $120 once every four years to cover the cost of Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS enrollment for expedited airport security screening. The $100 hotel credit alone gets you ahead of the card’s $95 annual fee, and goes much farther toward covering the cost of an average night’s stay than the previous $50. (If you’ve already used your Sapphire Preferred credit for 2026, you’ll receive an additional $50 to spend before your next card anniversary.)

Pay for your next vacation with elevated rewards

Starting June 15, 2026, new and existing Sapphire Preferred cardholders will earn 3 Chase Ultimate Rewards points per dollar on gas and EV charging purchases as well as vacation home rentals, including Airbnb and Vrbo. Earning 3 points per dollar on gas and EV charging also makes current fuel prices feel a little more bearable, while the same elevated rewards rate brings Airbnb and Vrbo purchases on par with hotel stays and other traditional housing.

Furthermore, cardholders will also get complimentary emergency evacuation and transportation travel insurance coverage on eligible claims, as well as a one-year Apple TV+ subscription if they activate this benefit by December 31, 2026.

All of these new perks are in addition to the Sapphire Preferred’s many existing benefits, which include earning 5 points per dollar on travel purchased through Chase; 3 points per dollar on dining and online groceries; no foreign transaction fees on purchases made internationally; and generous travel insurance protections on flights, hotels, and rental cars that you purchase with the credit card.

A no-brainer for families and casual travelers

With these new benefits, the Chase Sapphire Preferred becomes a no-brainer for families and casual travelers who need a credit card that works for both everyday expenses as well as travel. The bonus categories allow you to quickly rack up points on food, transportation, and other little expenses that add up in no time—funding your next big family vacation or getaway before you know it.

If you only take a big trip once or twice a year, the Chase Sapphire Preferred makes far more sense in your wallet than a pricy credit card with luxury travel perks. Premium travel credit cards like the Amex Platinum and the Chase Sapphire Reserve often focus heavily on rewards for airfare and hotel spending. However, infrequent travelers often turn to road trips when flight prices trend upward, especially when traveling with a family.

Two drawbacks primarily impact points and miles fans

There are, however, two major downsides to the Sapphire Preferred’s newest update: Chase to Hyatt transfer rates are decreasing, and the 10% anniversary bonus is going away. While this news is a bummer for points and miles aficionados, everyday travelers and cashback rewards fans will barely notice the change.

Let’s be honest: Some cities in this world refuse to let you go. Portugal is home to many of those cities, from Lisbon and Porto to the Algarve and more, boasting sun-drenched hills, blue coasts, late-night fado sessions, and pastéis de nata that ruin all other pastries forever. For me, a quick getaway to Lisbon spiraled into an extended love affair with the city. The last time I visited, I ended up changing my return flight three times because I simply was not ready to leave. Thankfully, TAP Air Portugal—the country’s flag carrier and the airline that has connected Portugal to Europe, the Americas, and Africa for decades—was there at the height of my impulsivity, making those changes completely seamless.

That flexibility is part of what makes TAP such a compelling option for travelers heading to Portugal and beyond. With hubs in Lisbon and Porto and an extensive route network spanning across the globe, the airline serves as a gateway not only to Portugal’s most beloved destinations but also to countless others across Europe. Add in a comfortable onboard experience and convenient connections, and it’s easy to see why the airline remains a favorite for travelers looking to maximize both their itineraries and budgets.

If you’re ready to script your own bucket-list Euro escape, these TAP Air Portugal discounts are a great way to start. Lock in your flights, leave room for spontaneity, and permit yourself to get fabulously lost among Portugal’s surf breaks, coastal towns, historic city streets, and memorable restaurants. You might just find yourself staying a little longer, too.

Keep an eye on TAP discount flights in 2026

Before you lock in any travel dates, check TAP’s 2026 discount hub to see if any special savings are available. Right now, for example, direct round-trip flights from several US cities to Lisbon and Porto start at just $629. If you want to push further into Europe, direct flights from the US to spots like Barcelona, Rome, and Madrid start at $531 round-trip. Just read the fine print before you book, because baggage is only included on select tiers.

Add an extra stop to your Europe trip for free with TAP Air Portugal Stopover benefits

If you are flying through Europe, sitting in a terminal during a layover can be a massive missed opportunity. TAP’s Portugal Stopover program lets you pause your trip in Lisbon or Porto for up to 10 days with no extra airfare cost. Instead of waiting at a gate, you can snag a free 48-hour Porto.Card or get a special rate on the Lisboa Card to unlock easy city transit. If you want to explore deeper, the airline also offers 25% off a second flight within Portugal, making it easy to see spots like Madeira or the Azores. Plus, you’ll get access to over 500 partner perks, like up to 50% off local hotels, tours, restaurants, and more (check the website to see what’s on offer!).

These tools will give a reliable indication of how full you can expect the flight to be. But remember, most airlines continue to assign seats throughout the check-in process, and seats might be shuffled by gate agents to accommodate families and other travelers who need special attention.

Use an upgrade tool like ExpertFlyer or AwardFares

Another method for checking how many seats have been booked on a plane—especially if you’re doing so in order to gauge the odds of an automatic upgrade—is to use online services like AwardFares or ExpertFlyer. Both websites help travelers track seat availability for upgrades and frequent flier award flights.

AwardFares provides a live seat map that shows travelers which seats on their flight are available, occupied, or being blocked by the airline (for elite status passengers or for other operational reasons). Users can create a free login to access the site. However, be aware that the number of passengers on your flight can still change before boarding. “A seat map is a strong indicator, but not a 100% guarantee of flight fullness,” AwardFares says. “The most accurate picture emerges within 24 hours of departure.”

Meanwhile, ExpertFlyer shows travelers which seats are occupied and which are still available on flights up to 11 months in advance across more than 100 global airlines. Paying premium users can set up to 200 simultaneous alerts to track seat availability across different routes.

Both companies offer flight availability search features, so travelers can search their specific flight or flights on their route of choice and see exactly how many seats are left in each fare class. The search features display the fare code and the number of seats left in that fare class, and travelers can view more details about each fare class by hovering over the search result.

Sneak a peek at check-in

Depending on your airline, you’re almost certainly able to get a peek at the seat map during the check-in process, which starts 24 hours before departure. This usually comes with the chance to select or purchase seats, and as such will show you how many open seats are available the day before your flight.

If the plane is looking too crowded for comfort, you’ll still have time to switch to a new flight. Many US airlines have eliminated change fees for most cabin classes, so there’s no penalty for swapping to a less full flight. (You will have to pay any difference in fare, though.)

American Airlines allows all domestic passengers to add their names to standby lists for other flights on their day of travel for free. If enough seats are available on the flight, you can change at no charge.

If you have elite status, you may have even more options. United Airlines, for instance, offers a same-day confirmation service on select flights for all passengers with elite status—that means they can make a guaranteed switch to an earlier flight in the same cabin class at no charge, without paying a difference in fare.

Contact your carrier’s customer service

When in doubt, call the carrier’s customer service line and ask an agent to check how full the flight is. It might not be the most convenient option, but it will yield an answer. If you dread the idea of waiting on hold, many airlines offer customer service chat features. Southwest Airlines, United, and Delta’s mobile apps all have live chat options, and JetBlue agents are available through Apple Business Chat. United also has a text option for customer service help. Passengers can text “UNITED” to 32050, and an airline representative will get in touch when it’s your turn in the queue—no waiting on hold required.

Other tips for avoiding crowded flights

While all of the above is certainly valuable, the best way to avoid a crowded plane is to be strategic during the booking process.

What are the UK’s eGates—and how do they work?

The UK’s eGates—officially called ePassport gates—are automated passport control checkpoints operated by Border Force at airports and international rail terminals across the country. To find them, simply follow the signs in passport control.

Instead of handing your passport to an immigration officer, eligible travelers can scan their passport themselves, step into a gate, and look into a camera that matches their face to the biometric photo stored in their passport chip. If everything checks out, the gates open automatically, and travelers can continue into the airport.

The gates first launched in the late 2000s for British and European travelers, but the program expanded significantly in 2019 when the UK added travelers from countries including the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Singapore, and South Korea.

When functioning normally, the process can take less than a minute and dramatically reduce wait times compared to traditional passport control lines. But the system is not flawless: Travelers are occasionally flagged for manual screening, and several nationwide outages in recent years have caused significant delays at UK airports.

Which airports have eGates?

The gates are available at many of the UK’s busiest international airports, including:

• Heathrow Airport
• Gatwick Airport
• Manchester Airport
• Edinburgh Airport
• Birmingham Airport
• Glasgow Airport
• London Stansted Airport
• London Luton Airport
• London City Airport
• Bristol Airport
• East Midlands Airport
• Newcastle Airport
• Cardiff Airport

They’re also available at Eurostar terminals in Paris and Brussels, where UK immigration checks happen before passengers board trains bound for London. All told, the UK now has nearly 300 eGates in operation.

Who can use the UK eGates?

Eligible users currently include citizens of:

• The United Kingdom
• European Union member states
• The United States
• Australia
• Canada
• Iceland
• Japan
• Liechtenstein
• New Zealand
• Norway
• Singapore
• South Korea
• Switzerland

Passengers generally must have a biometric passport—typically identified by the small camera-like chip symbol on the front cover—to use the gates.

Starting July 8, 2026, travelers ages 8 and older will also become eligible, provided they are traveling with an adult and are at least 120 centimeters (about 3 feet 11 inches) tall so the facial-recognition cameras can properly scan them. Children under 8 (and, typically, the parents or guardian they’re traveling with) will still need to use staffed immigration lanes.

The Transportation Security Administration is cutting the cost of TSA PreCheck for younger travelers in a new limited-time promotion timed to the start of the summer travel rush.

Through May 31, first-time applicants age 30 and under can receive $20 off a new five-year TSA PreCheck membership, lowering the enrollment cost to as little as $57 depending on which enrollment provider they use. TSA is calling the promotion “$20 Take Off,” and it marks the first broad age-based discount the agency has offered for the trusted traveler program.

The discount applies only to new enrollments completed by May 31 and is available through all three TSA-authorized enrollment providers: CLEAR, IDEMIA, and Telos Corporation. Travelers must complete both the online application and in-person interview before the deadline to qualify.

The deal comes as airports brace for another record-breaking summer. TSA screened more than 904 million passengers in 2025—the highest annual total in the agency’s history—and officials have warned travelers to expect especially heavy crowds this year as airlines continue ramping up schedules ahead of major events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup. TSA PreCheck also gives travelers access to the agency’s new Touchless ID lanes, which use facial recognition technology to further expedite wait times.

As to why the discount is targeting people under 30 years of age, TSA PreCheck program manager Denyse Wells says the organization “realized that young travelers are underrepresented in the TSA PreCheck population.”

“TSA wanted to offer this discounted membership to younger travelers who are just taking off into their travel journeys,” says Wells. “We hear from our members all the time how much TSA PreCheck changed their air travel experience for the better and wanted to give younger travelers a more accessible way to join.”

The promotion also signals a broader shift in how TSA appears to be positioning PreCheck. When the program launched nationally in 2013, it was primarily marketed toward frequent business travelers willing to pay for faster airport security. But as airports have become more crowded and security lines less predictable, expedited screening has increasingly become a mainstream travel expense rather than a road-warrior luxury.

“Gen Z tends to place value on experiences, which largely includes travel,” Wells says. “With more of this group joining the TSA PreCheck program, we are improving the passenger experience and security efficiency with more trusted travelers through TSA checkpoints.”

Today, more than 24.6 million travelers are enrolled in TSA PreCheck, according to Wells, which represents roughly 34% of all US travelers. The program allows passengers to access dedicated security lanes and typically avoid removing light jackets, belts, travel-sized liquids, laptops, and other electronics during screening.

TSA says 99% of PreCheck passengers wait less than 10 minutes at checkpoints nationwide. But growing enrollment numbers have also led to occasional congestion in PreCheck lanes themselves, particularly at large hubs like Denver International Airport, Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, and Chicago O’Hare International Airport during peak morning departure windows.

The enrollment for TSA PreCheck includes filling out an online application for a background check, plus in-person fingerprinting and identity verification. “Most people then get approved within three to five days, receive their Known Traveler Number, and can use that when booking their airline reservations to start getting access to their TSA PreCheck benefits,” Wells says.

Travelers interested in the promotion can begin the application process through TSA’s official website. There are now more than 1,300 enrollment locations nationwide, including airports, office buildings, retail storefronts, post offices, and some college campuses. To start, visit TSA’s website at tsa.gov/precheck.

Exciting news for Delta loyalists who love a good Airbnb: The two travel brands are teaming up to allow guests to earn Delta SkyMiles on stays, experiences, and services booked on the vacation rental platform. Points obsessives, rejoice.

As of May 5, travelers will be able to connect their Airbnb and Delta SkyMiles accounts to seamlessly earn 1 Delta mile for every $1 spent on eligible Airbnb Stays, and 3 Delta miles for every $1 spent on eligible Airbnb Experiences and Services. (In case you missed it, you can now book everything from walking tours to wheel-throwing workshops via Airbnb Experiences, and private chefs, makeup artists, and more using Airbnb Services.) That means you can splurge on a villa in the South of France this summer—plus a cooking class or in-home massage when you arrive—and use the Delta points you rack up to help you fly there (dare I suggest in business class, with the money you save?).

To start earning, you’ll need to link your Airbnb and Delta accounts via deltaairbnb.com. Once they’re connected, you’ll start receiving in-app messaging highlighting which Airbnb Stays, Experiences, and Services are eligible to earn miles, and estimates of how many miles you’ll gain for your bookings. It’s important to note, however, that accounts only stay linked for 10 days, after which you’ll need to visit deltaairbnb.com again to renew the connection for another 10 days. Be careful to book within the window to ensure you’re getting those sweet, sweet SkyMiles.

Ready to put the partnership to good use? Take a peek at some of our favorite Airbnb properties and Experiences below.

Editor-favorite Airbnb Stays:

Editor-favorite Airbnb Experiences:

• Salt Lake City to Toronto: suspension effective June 30, 2026, with plans to resume in 2027
• New York JFK to Toronto: suspension effective June 1, 2026, with plans to resume October 25, 2026
• New York JFK to Montreal: suspension effective June 1, 2026, with plans to resume October 25, 2026

The carrier is also trimming flight frequencies across its network. The total cuts will make up about 1% of its planned capacity for 2026.

KLM

Amsterdam-based KLM has canceled a limited number of flights within Europe that it says are “are currently no longer financially viable to operate” due to higher fuel costs. The carrier will operate 80 fewer roundtrip flights from its base at Schiphol Airport, which constitutes less than 1% of its European flight capacity.

Lufthansa

The German carrier is cutting 20,000 short-haul flights throughout Europe into October. The regional hops are no longer profitable to operate given the higher cost of jet fuel, according to the carrier. Affected routes include connecting flights to and from Heringsdorf, Cork, Gdańsk, Ljubljana, Rijeka, Sibiu, Stuttgart, Trondheim, Tivat, and Wrocław. The carrier says that the first 120 daily flight cancellations have been made through May 31. The cancellations will result in jet fuel savings of more than 40,000 metric tons.

What should I do if my flight is canceled?

Passengers with canceled flights can expect to be notified by their airline and offered alternate options to make it to their destination. “The airlines are incentivized to accommodate you if they change their flight schedule, and for most places in the world, there are more than one flight per day, and more than one airline operating,” Arnot says.

Don’t forget that if your flight is canceled, you are entitled to certain rights. “Travelers have to remember they are covered under US federal regulation if any part of the international flight, departing or coming into the US is canceled to receive a refund or a rebooked flight,” Nastro says.

If your airline automatically rebooks you on a new flight, you don’t have to accept it if it’s not an appealing alternative. Instead, you can ask for a full refund for any unused portions of your ticket.

What travelers should consider before booking summer flights

To help reduce the chances of a cancellation, try to prioritize direct flights that operate during peak travel times, Nastro advises. While this “doesn’t grant you immunity from schedule changes, it does help your odds,” she says.

If you’re still looking for affordable flights for summer, purchase your tickets as soon as possible. “The best protection you can do for yourself is not to wait, but book now, especially if you see something within your budget,” Nastro says.

Additionally, avoid basic economy fares. Instead, opt for main economy tickets, which offer more flexible flight change and cancellation policies. That way you can monitor price fluctuations on your route (by setting a Google Flights alert, for example). Then, if you notice a price drop, you can cancel your original booking and rebook the cheaper airfare. “Not many people know there usually is no limit to the amount of times you can take advantage of this,” Nastro says.

Last year, I spent Labor Day weekend booking 20-odd one-way flights in madcap pursuit of airline status: 25 years’ worth of JetBlue’s elite status, to be specific. A 2025 promotion promised JetBlue travelers the opportunity to earn up to 350,000 points and 25 years of elite status, and I saw an opportunity to maximize existing plans for personal and business travel.

Some of those flights brought me to Lady Gaga’s Mayhem Ball Tour at New York City’s Madison Square Garden the night she won Artist of the Year at the VMAs, helped me to visit family on the East Coast, and allowed me to try out JetBlue’s Mint lie-flat business seat on a work trip to Las Vegas. Others, like beachy overnights in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, were purely for leisure.

All in all, it was a hectic but thrilling season: Over three concerted “mileage runs” between September 2 and December 11, 2025, I flew a grand total of 40 flights to reach 25 unique JetBlue destinations, spending around $2,800 in points and cash to score 350,000 JetBlue points and 25 years of Mosaic 1 status, JetBlue’s entry-level loyalty tier.

But is earning JetBlue elite status worth that much effort? Here’s why it was for me—and why it might be worth it (or not) for you.

JetBlue’s challenge

In June 2025, JetBlue’s marketing team launched a creative campaign celebrating the airline’s 25 years in the travel and aviation business. The “25 for 25” challenge offered big rewards for travelers who visited 25 unique JetBlue destinations before the end of 2025.

The rules: Successful challengers earned 150,000 JetBlue TrueBlue points after landing in 15 unique airports; an additional 200,000 points upon reaching 20 total destinations; and 25 years of Mosaic I elite status after reaching that elusive 25th destination. All told, 2,370 people participated with a 90% completion rate, earning a cumulative 811.5 million TrueBlue points in the process, according to JetBlue.

JetBlue’s 25 for 25 challenge was a clever, eye-catching premise engineered by the company, perhaps more so than even they realized: More than 250 participants had never flown JetBlue before, and 730 travelers had flown with JetBlue 10 or less times before embarking on the challenge, according to the airline.

However, all the sudden attention may have brought JetBlue more scrutiny than intended, especially for an airline that’s floundered financially in recent years. The carrier spent several years trying to acquire Spirit Airlines as a way to quickly scale its competitive advantages. But the merger fell through in 2024 after the Department of Justice claimed it would violate aviation antitrust laws. Since then, JetBlue has struggled to effectively convert revenue into profit, struggling to balance rising operational costs against limited opportunities for growth and expansion.

Cost-cutting efforts haven’t been favorably met by loyalists, who are still adjusting to a recent decrease in elite benefits. In late 2025, JetBlue announced updates to their Mosaic loyalty program that went into effect in February 2026, removing or scaling back beloved perks including fewer free checked bags, fewer free drinks, and fewer premium seating choices for Mosaic members traveling with companions.

What’s JetBlue Mosaic status worth in 2026?

JetBlue offers four tiers of Mosaic status, with Mosaic 1 being the lowest and Mosaic 4 being the highest. All members get one free alcoholic drink per flight, enjoy same-day flight changes when available, and can choose their own seats within the standard seat map on the plane.

Benefits increase from Mosaic 2 up, with upgraded seating available at booking time instead of check-in time. Additional perks are marginal for Mosaic 3 and Mosaic 4, with the primary difference being dedicated phone support, upgrade certificates for premium seating, and access to JetBlue’s new airport lounge at New York-JFK Terminal 5 for Mosaic 4 members.

Every airline passenger knows flight attendants give critical safety guidance during their pre-takeoff briefings about seatbelts and emergency exits. But many observant passengers often watch cabin crew throughout the flight for unspoken safety cues, too.

If you’re one of these watchful fliers, you might have noticed a certain way that cabin crew sit during takeoff and landing: on their hands. If you’re a nervous—or simply curious—flier, you might be wondering why flight attendants sit in this peculiar way; whether it indicates a potential emergency; or if passengers should follow suit.

Fortunately, nervous fliers don’t need to worry when they see this, as it’s standard operating procedure for cabin crew that applies to every flight. “In aviation, we call this position the ‘brace position’ for flight attendants,” says Lia Ocampo, a former flight attendant and the author of the memoir Life, Love, and Lessons in the Sky. Brace positions are a safety protocol that flight attendants follow in case of accidents and sudden emergencies.

Assuming a brace position means strategically positioning parts of the body such as the head and arms, by flexing, bending, and leaning forward to help reduce any potential impacts that may occur. “The brace position for flight attendants depends on the direction their seats face, and the type of restraint system those seats are equipped with,” Ocampo says.

One of the most common brace positions involves flight attendants sitting on their hands to keep the arms secured to the body. “During the critical phases of flight, which are takeoff and landing, you see flight attendants sitting on their jumpseats in a brace position,” Ocampo says. “If passengers see flight attendants do this, it means they are doing the right thing and fulfilling their role in ensuring safety.”

This isn’t the only way flight attendants ensure safety during takeoff. While seated on their hands, cabin crew also conduct a silent review, or go over a mental checklist of key safety elements that might be needed during critical flight phases, according to Ocampo. These include reviewing the locations of the emergency exits and how to operate them, identifying passengers who could potentially assist crew in an emergency, going over the commands to use during an emergency, and checking the location of other evacuation equipment that would be needed in case of emergency.

Although fliers don’t necessarily need to sit on their hands during takeoff and landing, there are situations when passengers might be told to adopt a brace position to mitigate chances of injuries. Information on the correct position can be found on the safety card in the seatback pocket, which passengers should always read before takeoff. “In a planned emergency, flight attendants will brief passengers on what to do, including brace-for-impact positions,” says Ocampo. ‘However, during an unplanned emergency, they may not have time to do so.”

Reading the safety card every time you board a plane, as well as listening to the crew’s safety briefing, can help ensure fliers are prepared for an unexpected emergency. Flight attendants are highly trained safety professionals who know how to react in an emergency, and passengers should always pay close attention when they are speaking about safety matters.

Even frequent fliers should listen intently to every safety briefing, as there could be new information, depending on the type of aircraft or cabin class. “Traveling today has its challenges and setbacks,” Ocampo says. “But if we travel prepared and with a positive mindset, we can overcome some of those challenges and make our journey safer and more enjoyable.”

Which airlines have suspending flights to the Middle East?

Many international airlines are continuing to suspend or adjust services to the Middle East. Travelers should check their airline’s website or app for the latest information.

Cathay Pacific: Hong Kong-based carrier Cathay Pacific has cancelled all flights to and from Dubai and Riyadh until at least May 31. Customers booked to travel up until then may rebook, reroute, or refund their tickets as per the airline’s ticket waiver policy.

British Airways: Per an April 2 update, British Airways has cancelled all flights between London Heathrow and Amman, Bahrain, Dubai, and Tel Aviv up to and including May 31. Its Doha route will be reinstated at the end of April. Its daily flight between London and Abu Dhabi has been suspended until later this year.

Lufthansa: German carrier Lufthansa has ⁠suspended flights to Abu Dhabi, Amman, Beirut, Dammam, Riyadh, Erbil, Muscat, and Tehran, until Saturday, October 24, 2026. Its Dubai and Tel Aviv routes are on pause until Sunday, May 31.

KLM: According to a March 19 update, Dutch airline KLM has cancelled all flights to and from Dubai, Riyadh, and Dammam up until and including Sunday, May 17.

Air Canada: Air Canada has cancelled all flights to Dubai and Tel Aviv until September 7, 2026.

Singapore Airlines: Singapore Airlines has extended its suspension of flights between Singapore and Dubai until May 31, 2026.

Is airspace across the Middle East still closed?

As mentioned above, airspace across many parts of the Middle East is still closed or impacted, and as this ceasefire is temporary, that is likely to remain the case. Safe corridors continue to allow flights to operate through UAE and Qatari airspace, while large parts of Saudi Arabian airspace remain open. Airspace in Oman has been largely unaffected by the conflict.

However, airspace in Bahrain and Kuwait remains closed, with both countries currently operating a very limited number of flights from Dammam in Saudi Arabia. Airspace in Iran remains closed.

Have governments updated their travel advisories?

As of Wednesday morning, the temporary ceasefire has not caused international governments to alter their travel advice for countries impacted by the conflict, and until a permanent end to the conflict is agreed, they are likely to continue to warn against all but essential travel, as the situation could still change at very short notice.

United Kingdom: As of April 8, the United Kingdom is advising against all but essential travel to Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and the UAE, instructing British nationals in those countries to follow guidance from the local authorities.

United States: The US State Department’s advice for the region, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Israel, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates, remains at level three: reconsider travel. Level four (do not travel countries) are now Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Yemen. Travelers to Egypt, which remains ranked at level two, should “exercise increased caution.”