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COVID-19 international travel advisories

If you plan to visit the U.S., you do not need to be tested or vaccinated for COVID-19. U.S. citizens going abroad, check with the Department of State for travel advisories.

COVID-19 testing and vaccine rules for entering the U.S.

  • As of May 12, 2023, noncitizen nonimmigrant visitors to the U.S.  arriving by air  or  arriving by land or sea  no longer need to show proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19. 
  • As of June 12, 2022,  people entering the U.S. no longer need to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test . 

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Find country-specific COVID-19 travel rules from the Department of State.

See the  CDC's COVID-19 guidance for safer international travel.

LAST UPDATED: December 6, 2023

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The Administration will end the COVID-19 vaccine requirements for international air travelers at the end of the day on May 11, the same day that the COVID-19 public health emergency ends. This means starting May 12, noncitizen nonimmigrant air passengers will no longer need to show proof of being fully vaccinated with an accepted COVID-19 vaccine to board a flight to the United States. CDC’s Amended Order Implementing Presidential Proclamation on Safe Resumption of Global Travel During the COVID-19 Pandemic will no longer be in effect when the Presidential Proclamation Advancing the Safe Resumption of Global Travel During the COVID-19 Pandemic is revoked .

Please see: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/05/01/the-biden-administration-will-end-covid-19-vaccination-requirements-for-federal-employees-contractors-international-travelers-head-start-educators-and-cms-certified-facilities/

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  • Fact Sheets

Frequently Asked Questions: Guidance for Travelers to Enter the U.S.

Updated Date: April 21, 2022

Since January 22, 2022, DHS has required non-U.S. individuals seeking to enter the United States via land ports of entry and ferry terminals at the U.S.-Mexico and U.S.-Canada borders to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and provide proof of vaccination upon request.  On April 21, 2022, DHS announced that it would extend these requirements. In determining whether and when to rescind this order, DHS anticipates that it will take account of whether the vaccination requirement for non-U.S. air travelers remains in place.

These requirements apply to non-U.S. individuals who are traveling for essential or non-essential reasons. They do not apply to U.S. citizens, Lawful Permanent Residents, or U.S. nationals.

Effective November 8, 2021, new air travel requirements applied to many noncitizens who are visiting the United States temporarily. These travelers are also required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination. All air travelers, including U.S. persons, must test negative for COVID-19 prior to departure. Limited exceptions apply. See  CDC guidance  for more details regarding air travel requirements.

Below is more information about what to know before you go, and answers to Frequently Asked Questions about cross-border travel.

Entering the U.S. Through a Land Port of Entry or Ferry Terminal

Q. what are the requirements for travelers entering the united states through land poes.

A:  Before embarking on a trip to the United States, non-U.S. travelers should be prepared for the following:

  • Possess proof of an approved COVID-19 vaccination as outlined on the  CDC  website.
  • During border inspection, verbally attest to their COVID-19 vaccination status. 
  • Bring a  Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative  compliant border crossing document, such as a valid passport (and visa if required), Trusted Traveler Program card, a Department of State-issued Border Crossing Card, Enhanced Driver’s License or Enhanced Tribal Card when entering the country. Travelers (including U.S. citizens) should be prepared to present the WHTI-compliant document and any other documents requested by the CBP officer.

 Q. What are the requirements to enter the United States for children under the age of 18 who can't be vaccinated?

A:  Children under 18 years of age are excepted from the vaccination requirement at land and ferry POEs.

Q: Which vaccines/combination of vaccines will be accepted?

A:  Per CDC guidelines, all Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved and authorized vaccines, as well as all vaccines that have an Emergency Use Listing (EUL) from the World Health Organization (WHO), will be accepted.

Accepted Vaccines:

  • More details are available in CDC guidance  here .
  • 2 weeks (14 days) after your dose of an accepted single-dose COVID-19 vaccine;
  • 2 weeks (14 days) after your second dose of an accepted 2-dose series;
  • 2 weeks (14 days) after you received the full series of an accepted COVID-19 vaccine (not placebo) in a clinical trial;
  • 2 weeks (14 days) after you received 2 doses of any “mix-and-match” combination of accepted COVID-19 vaccines administered at least 17 days apart.

Q. Is the United States requiring travelers to have a booster dose to be considered fully vaccinated for border entry purposes?

A:  No. The CDC guidance for “full vaccination” can be found here.

Q: Do U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents need proof of vaccination to return to the United States via land POEs and ferry terminals?

A:  No. Vaccination requirements do not apply to U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs). Travelers that exhibit signs or symptoms of illness will be referred to CDC for additional medical evaluation.

Q: Is pre- or at-arrival COVID testing required to enter the United States via land POEs or ferry terminals?

A: No, there is no COVID testing requirement to enter the United States via land POE or ferry terminals. In this respect, the requirement for entering by a land POE or ferry terminal differs from arrival via air, where there is a requirement to have a negative test result before departure.

Processing Changes Announced on January 22, 2022 

Q: new changes were recently announced. what changed on january 22.

A:  Since January 22, 2022, non-citizens who are not U.S. nationals or Lawful Permanent Residents have been required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to enter the United States at land ports of entry and ferry terminals, whether for essential or nonessential purposes. Previously, DHS required that non-U.S. persons be vaccinated against COVID-19 to enter the United States for nonessential purposes.  Effective January 22, all non-U.S. individuals, to include essential travelers, must be prepared to attest to vaccination status and present proof of vaccination to a CBP officer upon request. DHS announced an extension of this policy on April 21, 2022.

Q: Who is affected by the changes announced on January 22?

A: This requirement does not apply to U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents. It applies to other noncitizens, such as a citizen of Mexico, Canada, or any other country seeking to enter the United States through a land port of entry or ferry terminal.

Q: Do U.S. citizens need proof of vaccination to return to the United States via land port of entry or ferry terminals?

A: Vaccination requirements do not apply to U.S. Citizens, U.S. nationals or U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents. Travelers that exhibit signs or symptoms of illness will be referred to CDC for additional medical evaluation. 

Q: What is essential travel?

A:  Under the prior policy, there was an exception from temporary travel restrictions for “essential travel.” Essential travel included travel to attend educational institutions, travel to work in the United States, travel for emergency response and public health purposes, and travel for lawful cross-border trade (e.g., commercial truckers). Under current policy, there is no exception for essential travel.

Q: Will there be any exemptions? 

A: While most non-U.S. individuals seeking to enter the United States will need to be vaccinated, there is a narrow list of exemptions consistent with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Order in the air travel context.

  • Certain categories of individuals on diplomatic or official foreign government travel as specified in the CDC Order
  • Children under 18 years of age;
  • Certain participants in certain COVID-19 vaccine trials as specified in the CDC Order;   
  • Individuals with medical contraindications to receiving a COVID-19 vaccine as specified in the CDC Order;
  • Individuals issued a humanitarian or emergency exception by the Secretary of Homeland Security;
  • Individuals with valid nonimmigrant visas (excluding B-1 [business] or B-2 [tourism] visas) who are citizens of a country with limited COVID-19 vaccine availability, as specified in the CDC Order
  • Members of the U.S. Armed Forces or their spouses or children (under 18 years of age) as specified in the CDC Order; and
  • Individuals whose entry would be in the U.S. national interest, as determined by the Secretary of Homeland Security.

Q: What documentation will be required to show vaccination status?

A:  Non-U.S. individuals are required to be prepared to attest to vaccination status and present proof of vaccination to a CBP officer upon request regardless of the purpose of travel.

The current documentation requirement remains the same and is available on the CDC website . Documentation requirements for entry at land ports of entry and ferry terminals mirror those for entry by air.

Q: What happens if someone doesn’t have proof of vaccine status?

A: If non-U.S. individuals cannot present proof of vaccination upon request, they will not be admitted into the United States and will either be subject to removal or be allowed to withdraw their application for entry.

Q: Will incoming travelers be required to present COVID-19 test results?

A: There is no COVID-19 testing requirement for travelers at land border ports of entry, including ferry terminals.

Q: What does this mean for those who can't be vaccinated, either due to age or other health considerations? 

A: See CDC guidance for additional information on this topic. Note that the vaccine requirement does not apply to children under 18 years of age.

Q: Does this requirement apply to amateur and professional athletes?

A: Yes, unless they qualify for one of the narrow CDC exemptions.

Q: Are commercial truckers required to be vaccinated?

A: Yes, unless they qualify for one of the narrow CDC exemptions. These requirements also apply to bus drivers as well as rail and ferry operators.

Q. Do you expect border wait times to increase?

A:  As travelers navigate these new travel requirements, wait times may increase. Travelers should account for the possibility of longer than normal wait times and lines at U.S. land border crossings when planning their trip and are kindly encouraged to exercise patience.

To help reduce wait times and long lines, travelers can take advantage of innovative technology, such as facial biometrics and the CBP OneTM mobile application, which serves as a single portal for individuals to access CBP mobile applications and services.

Q: How is Customs and Border Protection staffing the ports of entry? 

A: CBP’s current staffing levels at ports of entry throughout the United States are commensurate with pre-pandemic levels. CBP has continued to hire and train new employees throughout the pandemic. CBP expects some travelers to be non-compliant with the proof of vaccination requirements, which may at times lead to an increase in border wait times. Although trade and travel facilitation remain a priority, we cannot compromise national security, which is our primary mission. CBP Office of Field Operations will continue to dedicate its finite resources to the processing of arriving traffic with emphasis on trade facilitation to ensure economic recovery.

Q: What happens if a vaccinated individual is traveling with an unvaccinated individual?  

A:  The unvaccinated individual (if 18 or over) would not be eligible for admission.

Q: If I am traveling for an essential reason but am not vaccinated can I still enter?

A:  No, if you are a non-U.S. individual. The policy announced on January 22, 2022 applies to both essential and non-essential travel by non-U.S. individual travelers. Since January 22, DHS has required that all inbound non-U.S. individuals crossing U.S. land or ferry POEs – whether for essential or non-essential reasons – be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and provide related proof of vaccination upon request.

Q: Are sea crew members on vessels required to have a COVID vaccine to disembark?

A:  Sea crew members traveling pursuant to a C-1 or D nonimmigrant visa are not excepted from COVID-19 vaccine requirements at the land border. This is a difference from the international air transportation context.

Entering the U.S. via Air Travel

Q: what are the covid vaccination requirements for air passengers to the united states  .

A:  According to CDC requirements [www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/noncitizens-US-air-travel.html | Link no longer valid], most noncitizens who are visiting the United States temporarily must be fully vaccinated prior to boarding a flight to the United States. These travelers are required to show proof of vaccination. A list of covered individuals is available on the CDC website.  

Q: What are the COVID testing requirements for air passengers to the United States?  

A:  Effective Sunday, June 12 at 12:01 a.m. ET, CDC will no longer require pre-departure COVID-19 testing for U.S.-bound air travelers.

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Explainer: Here's what we know about how U.S. will lift travel restrictions

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WHO CAN TRAVEL TO THE UNITED STATES?

What vaccines will be accepted, what roles will airlines play, what happens to unvaccinated american travelers.

Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Will Dunham

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america travel mandates

International Travel Vaccine Requirement

FPC Briefing

Douglass Benning, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Bureau of Consular Affairs

Dr. Cindy Friedman, Chief of CDC’s Travelers’ Health Branch

Tuesday, October 26, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern

Washington D.C.

October 26, 2021

Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs Douglas Benning and Chief of the Traveler’s Health Branch for the Centers for Disease Control Dr. Cindy Friedman discuss the October 25 presidential proclamation and how it changes requirements for foreign national travelers starting November 8, as well as the implementation of CDC’s orders regarding vaccines, testing, and contact tracing for international travelers.

THE WASHINGTON FOREIGN PRESS CENTER, WASHINGTON, D.C. (Virtual)

MODERATOR:   Okay, great.  Good morning and thank you for joining this Foreign Press Center virtual briefing on the international vaccine requirement.  Today’s briefing is on the record and will be recorded.  A transcript will be posted later today on the Foreign Press Center website at fpc.state.gov.    

My name is Doris Robinson, and I am pleased to introduce our briefers today.  Douglass Benning is the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Consular Affairs and Dr. Cindy Friedman is the Chief of the Travelers’ Health Branch at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  The briefers will make brief opening remarks and then we will open for your questions.  And I will turn it over to PDAS Benning.  

MR BENNING:   Thank you very much.  Good morning, everybody, and thank you so much for joining us today.  As mentioned, I’m Douglass Benning, the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Consular Affairs.  I’m very happy to be with you today to explain in a bit more detail the upcoming changes for foreign travelers to the United States.  I’m extremely glad to welcome my colleague from the CDC, Dr. Friedman, who’s here to answer questions about the science and public health framework behind these changes.  

So first, I want to reiterate what others have already said:  This new policy is based on public health principles; it’s consistent; and it’s very stringent.  The goal is the protection of everyone’s health and safety, whether they live here in the United States or whether they are traveling here to visit us.  So as of November the 8th, nonimmigrant foreign national air travelers to the United States will be required to be fully vaccinated and to provide proof of vaccination status prior to boarding an airplane to the United States.  I’ll let Dr. Friedman speak to the specific vaccines that will be accepted.  

This new policy replaces the previous presidential proclamations that limited travel from specific countries.  The proclamation issued yesterday applies to all foreign national nonimmigrant air travelers, making it more consistent.  We’ve updated the policy, but our commitment to combating the pandemic (inaudible) and make sure you understand the new requirements before making travel plans.  

Because we’re prioritizing public health, exceptions to this (inaudible) —  

MODERATOR:   I think we lost PDAS Benning.  I think we will ask him to relog in.  And Dr. Friedman, why don’t I turn it over to you?  

MS FRIEDMAN:   Sure.  That’s fine.  I can start.  So yesterday, CDC issued three orders to implement the presidential proclamation to operationalize the new international air travel system in accordance with appropriate public health protocols to ensure the safety of international travel.  And these orders include operational details and putting in place stringent and consistent international air travel policy that is guided by public health.  

So I’ll go over the three orders right now, and the first one that I’ll talk about is the vaccination requirement for non-U.S. citizens who are not immigrants.  So on November 8th, air travelers to the United States who are non-U.S. citizens who are not immigrants will be required to be fully vaccinated and to provide proof of their vaccination status before flying to the United States.  As a reminder, there are separate requirements for immigrants regarding vaccination and medical screenings.  The airlines will verify vaccination status in the same way they have been doing for a while with proof of pre-departure negative test results, and they will continue to do that.  

For the (inaudible) entry to the United States, vaccines accepted will include FDA-authorized and approved vaccines and WHO vaccines that are listed for emergency use, or EUL vaccines.  There will be very limited exceptions to the vaccine requirements for non-U.S. citizens who are non-immigrants.  CDC has determined the very narrow list of exemptions, which includes children under 18 and individuals on certain visas from countries with less than a 10 percent vaccination rate due to lack of vaccine availability.  

So I’ll move on to the next order, which is an amendment to our current testing requirement for all international air travelers, regardless of citizenship.  So fully (inaudible) passengers regardless of citizenship will require – will be required to show predeparture negative test results taken within three days of travel before boarding, and vaccinated air travelers will be required to show proof of vaccination to qualify for the three-day testing window.  Unvaccinated air passengers, including unvaccinated U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents, will now be required to show proof of a negative test taken within one day of departure to the United States.  Children under two will not need to do a test.  There will also be accommodations for people who have documented recovery from COVID-19 within the past 90 days.    

And finally, the last order is the collection of contact information.  So all air passengers to the United States will also be required to provide basic contact information to the airlines before boarding flights to the United States.  This will allow airlines to better coordinate with public health agencies to share information when needed to keep the public safe and informed, as well as to strengthen the ability of public health agencies to rapidly identify and contact people in the U.S. who may have been exposed to a communicable disease, including COVID-19.  

So in addition to these orders, all travelers really need to plan ahead before traveling and follow airline and destination requirements, including mask wearing, proof of vaccination, testing, or quarantine.  U.S. travelers need to be prepared to show proof of a negative test before they travel to the United States and should make arrangements for testing in advance of travel if possible.  Vaccinated U.S. travelers will need to carry and provide proof of vaccination to the airlines to qualify for the three-day testing window; otherwise one-day tests will be required.    

And so we know that the best way to slow transmission of COVID-19 and the emergence of new variants is to act quickly through vaccination, layered with additional mitigation measures, including timely case detection through testing, contract tracing, and public health follow-up of international travelers.  

And I hope Doug is back on.  Douglass?    

MR BENNING:   I think I’m back.   

MS FRIEDMAN:   Okay.  Great.  And maybe you can pick it up where you left off.  I’ll stop there.    

MR BENNING:   All right.  Thank you very much, Dr. Friedman.  My apologies to everyone for dropping out.  I’m not sure in my opening remarks where I dropped off, so I’m just going to sort of pick up, perhaps repeating things that I’ve said, and to reiterate a few things that Dr.  Friedman also said.  

So just basically talking about the new – with the new proclamation includes that as of November 8th nonimmigrant foreign national air travelers to the U.S. will be required to be fully vaccinated and to provide proof of vaccination status prior to boarding an airplane to the U.S.  This replaces the previous presidential proclamations that limited travel from specific countries.  The proclamation issued yesterday applies to all foreign national nonimmigrant air travelers, making it more consistent.    

So we’ve updated the policy, but our commitment to combating the pandemic remains the same.  Our message to potential travelers is: be fully vaccinated before you travel; get a COVID test before arriving here; comply with all public health measures, including masking and social distancing; and make sure you understand the new requirements before making travel plans.  

Because we’re prioritizing public health, as Dr. Friedman noted, exceptions to this policy will be extremely limited, to include children and certain individuals from countries where vaccines are not yet readily accessible.    

There have also been updates to the existing testing requirements for boarding a plane coming to the – to come to the United States.  For those who are vaccinated, the testing requirement remains at three days before their flight.  And for the rare foreign traveler who is eligible to travel but not yet vaccinated, that person will need to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test within one day before the flight’s departure.    

We know that the resumption of international travel for countries affected by the previous presidential proclamations has been highly anticipated, and we want to make sure that those who are making plans to visit us are fully informed about the new requirements.  So please make sure everybody visits travel.state.gov and cdc.gov to understand the new requirements, and make sure you’re ready to meet them so that you can have a safe and smooth trip.    

We would add that the new proclamation, unlike the previous proclamations, does not restrict the adjudication of visas overseas at our embassies and consulates.  Also I want to note that the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in, of course, profound reductions in the department’s visa processing capacity.  We continue to work very hard to find ways to safely and efficiently process visa applications around the world in a manner that’s consistent with science and public health.  We’re committed to reducing these visa backlogs as quickly and safely as possible.  

Thanks very much, and again, apologies for the interruption.    

MODERATOR:   Thank you.  And now we will open for questions to our journalists.  Please go to the participant link and raise your hand, and I will call on you in turn.  So for our first question we will go to James McCarten, and he is with the Canadian Press.  James, go ahead.  

QUESTION:   Hi there.  Can you hear me?  

MODERATOR:   Yes.  

QUESTION:   Perfect.  I’m curious about the testing requirements that have been added here.  When we were briefed on these measures when they were first announced, my recollection is that we were told that there would not be a testing requirement and that a testing requirement hadn’t been in place up until that point.  So I’m curious to know what has changed, if anything, in order to put that in place.  

And if I could very quickly also ask:  Can you speak to whether or not people traveling over the land border, in particular Canada-U.S., will also be required to submit test results prior to travel?  

MS FRIEDMAN:   Hi, I can take the question.  Is that okay, Douglass, or did you want to start?    

MR BENNING:   No, absolutely, absolutely.  Go right ahead.  

MS FRIEDMAN:   So I think the first question was about testing.  And so our testing requirement has been in place since January 2021, thereabouts.  I don’t recall any plans to ever change that.  I think what we’ve done here is to tighten up and make travel safer, allowing more people to enter the country, taking down travel bans from certain countries, and making it more equitable and requiring a layered approach, which includes vaccination, and if those who can’t be vaccinated or are unvaccinated at this point who are eligible to enter would have a shorter window to be tested before entry to the U.S.  And we know that testing, pre-departure testing, does reduce transmission risk, and the closer that test is done to the time of departure the more risk reduction that occurs.  So I hope that gets at your question, but I’m unaware of any plans to ever change that testing.  

And then the second question, can you repeat it?  I’m sorry, I lost my train of thought.  

QUESTION:   Sure.  I was asking about land borders.  

MS FRIEDMAN:   Right.  Those land details are coming soon from Customs and Border Protection and the Department of Homeland Security, so be on the lookout for that.    

QUESTION:   Thank you.  

MODERATOR:   Thank you.  Our next questioner is Dmytro Anopchenko from Inter TV Channel, Ukraine.  Dmytro, can you hear me?  

QUESTION:   Yeah, I hear you.  Thank you.  So just two short questions, please.  Douglass, the first is for you:  So not only the travel from the European countries was limited, but a transit of their citizens of the third countries through the European airports was not possible right now, and it’s not possible right now.  So for example, Ukrainians are not possible to travel through Paris, Amsterdam, or Frankfurt.  Could you confirm that starting from November 8th third-country citizens will be able to transit through European airport on their way to the United States?  

And Dr. Friedman, the question for you:  When the second shot should be done to be eligible to travel?  So for example, you told that people should be fully vaccinated, but should they wait 14 or 10 days after this, their second shot, or even on the date of their second shot?  If they got the proof, they will be eligible to travel?  Thank you.   

MR BENNING:   Yeah, so I’ll take the first part of the question, thank you.  The answer is yes, as of November 8th such travelers will be able to transit through third countries on the way to the United States.    

MS FRIEDMAN:   And the amount of time after the second dose would be 14 days.  So it’s not the day you get vaccinated.  And those details are laid out on our web page at CDC.  We have all the information about what constitutes fully vaccinated, and those time periods are there.  Thank you.  

MODERATOR:   Thank you.  And our next question goes to Karl Doemens.  He is with RND Berlin.  Karl.  

QUESTION:   Hi, thanks for doing this.  As far as I understand, CDC still demands that people who are not vaccinated and enter the country under one of these exemptions take a test here in the U.S. after arrival and self-quarantine for one week.  Does this also apply to children, which would basically mean that, let’s say, if a family from Germany comes to spend New Year’s Eve in New York or – the kids would basically have to stay at the hotel during that time?    

MS FRIEDMAN:   Right, so I think your question is about limited exceptions that are – enter the country unvaccinated, so if there’s a family with children, the parents are vaccinated but the children are unvaccinated.  They will still – children under 18 are exempted from the vaccination requirement for foreign national travelers, given both their ineligibility for some children for vaccination, and there’s global variability in access to vaccination for older children in some countries.  So they’re exempted from that.  They still would be required to test both in what – both pre-departure, as we’ve discussed, and post-arrival they would be required to test.    

QUESTION:   But my question was on the self-quarantine.  The – if —  

MS FRIEDMAN:   They would be – they would go with their parents.  They would be connected to their parents.  So if their parents are vaccinated, the children wouldn’t need to self-quarantine.  But they would need to test.    

QUESTION:   Okay.  Thank you.  

MODERATOR:   Thank you.  Our next question goes to Magdalena Sakowska with Polsat TV, Poland.  

QUESTION:   Hi, can you hear me?  

MODERATOR:   Yes, thank you.  

QUESTION:   Hello.  Thank you for doing this meeting.  I have two questions.  One is about children that are older than two years.  So they need to have a test, and when the child is unvaccinated and older than two, the test should be taken within one day or within three days?  How is this with children?  And the other also about children:  Dr. Friedman just said that after arrival to U.S., the children need to repeat the test.  When exactly?  

MS FRIEDMAN:   Okay, so the first question is for children, if they’re traveling with fully vaccinated parent or parents, then they have the three days to get that pre-departure test.  If they are traveling alone or they are traveling with an unvaccinated parent, then they have the one day to get the test pre-departure.  For the post-arrival test, that test – they require a test, that they will get that post-arrival test three to five days after arrival.    

QUESTION:   Okay, thank you.  And one more question.  What will be the procedure if someone traveling U.S. throughout the travel will get positive test?  Then when – and would like to travel to U.S. in the near future.  So when the person can re-take the test?  What documents such person needs to presented, and when?  

MS FRIEDMAN:   So I think you’re saying – so if someone’s positive they would be denied boarding, but I think what you – and we would recommend they isolate while they’re infected.  But I think what you’re asking about is someone who was recently infected and has recovered, and that they might still have a positive test result.  We have a process currently in our testing order, and it will continue, that if you have – can document proof of recent recovery from an infection within the 90 days, and – that you have a positive test, then you can – you would be able to board.  So it’s documented – documentation of recovery, like a doctor’s letter, and then within the past 90 days that you were infected.  Does that —  

QUESTION:   No, I was asking what – no, no, I was asking when someone is vaccinated and has no symptoms, and three days ago to travel is going to have a test, and the test is positive.  So I understand that the person needs to quarantine for how long – I mean, 10, 14 days – then retake the test to get a document for the doctor.  And then is the person eligible to travel to U.S.?  

MS FRIEDMAN:   Right.  So that person, if they are vaccinated or unvaccinated and they get a positive test, they need to be treated as if they were infected.  They need to then, when they want to travel – when they’re recovered, they would show that they have proof – a doctor’s letter or some proof that they have recovered, and they can travel.  But they may or may not still have a positive test at that point, but as long as they’ve – have proof of recovery, they would be able to board.  

QUESTION:   Okay, thank you so much.  

MODERATOR:   Thank you.  Thank you.  Our next question goes to Jahanzaib Ali with ARY News, Pakistan.  

QUESTION:   Thank you so much, Doris.  Thank you so much for doing that.  I have two questions.  There are many reports of fake vaccination cards all over the world.  We heard some reports in America.  So is there any system in place to check these fake vaccination cards?  Because if the people are coming here unvaccinated, there’s another problem.   

And secondly, I have seen that only U.S.-approved and WHO-approved vaccines are eligible.  So there are many people in the world who didn’t have – or have not got the WHO-approved vaccine.  So what are your recommendations for them?  Should they get a booster shot of J&J, Moderna, or Pfizer before coming to the U.S.?  Thank you.  

MS FRIEDMAN:   Okay, it takes me a minute to get off mute.    

So for each of the requirements, air passengers – to get at your first question, air passengers will have to sign an attestation certifying the validity of their vaccination, testing, and that the contact information, documentation is accurate.  And falsifying any information may result in penalties or fines.    

And then the second question about vaccines, right now we – CDC has approved the WHO EUL vaccines, and for the purposes of travel to the United States we would also include combinations of vaccines.  So this includes Pfizer, Moderna, J&J, AstraZeneca, and they all have been WHO EUL listed.  And as those lists get updated, our list will change as well.  

MODERATOR:   Thank you.  And it looks like we have time for two more questions.  I will go to Kasumi Abe with Cross FM Japan.  

QUESTION:   Yes, thank you.  I might miss some information, but I’d like to do a double check. So sometimes I have a question from my readers about some people have a allergy, so it’s a medical reason and they can’t take – they couldn’t get vaccinated.  So in this case, can they just take a test, a negative test, and then come to the U.S.?  Or they can’t, they are not allowed to come to the U.S.?  

MS FRIEDMAN:   Okay, I’m off mute.  Sorry.    

Yeah, so the presidential proclamation and CDC order include a very limited set of exceptions from the vaccination requirement for foreign nationals, and this includes those people with rare medical contraindications.  And so airlines will need to confirm that the passenger has written documentation from a licensed physician of – stating a medical contraindication to receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.    

QUESTION:   Is it part of waiver, so they need to maybe take a few hours to be verified?  

MS FRIEDMAN:   So they will need to have a letter to show to the airlines.  The airlines will be the ones checking whether they are vaccinated or not.  So if they come to the airport with no proof of vaccination but they have a medical contraindication, they need to show the airlines documentation from a physician that they could not be vaccinated because of a medical contraindication.  And CDC gives them instructions and will – to the airlines about how to check this.  

QUESTION:   I see.  Can —  

MODERATOR:   Thank you.    

QUESTION:   I have – sorry, I have one more question.   

MODERATOR:   Sure, go ahead.    

QUESTION:   Yeah.  And you said that maybe a low rate of vaccinate in some countries, like under 10 percent availability of vaccination, is exception.  How many countries are of this category?  

MS FRIEDMAN:   Right now there are 50 countries on the list of limited vaccine availability, but we will do an assessment regularly.  Every three months, CDC will be updating the list.  

QUESTION:   I see.  Thank you so much.  

MODERATOR:   Thank you.  And our last question goes to Alex Raufoglu with Turan News Agency, Azerbaijan.  

QUESTION:   Thank you so much for doing this, and thank you, Doris.  I appreciate the opportunity.  I have a very technical question, if I may.  It’s about the dose of J&J holders.  The CDC, as you know, recently changed requirement and reduced the time for them to get booster, which is I think two months after they got their first.  Will that mean, given the new update in your policy, that those of us who have – who have J&J shot between, like, April and, let’s say, September won’t be considered fully vaccinated as of November?  What is the policy on this?  Thank you so much.  

MS FRIEDMAN:   Right.  So currently, our policy does not include booster vaccinations.  So the primary series for J&J currently is one dose, and so – and that you would be – 14 days after that one dose you would be considered fully immunized.  Not to say that our guidance couldn’t change in the future, but right now we are not including boosters in the definition of fully vaccinated for purposes of travel.  

QUESTION:   Terrific.  Thank you so much.  

MODERATOR:   Thank you.  We are out of time, and I would like to ask our speakers if they have any final comments before we close.    

MR BENNING:   Not from me.  Thank you so much.  Really appreciate the opportunity.   

MODERATOR:   Great.  Dr. Friedman?  

MS FRIEDMAN:   No, I None from  me as well.  I thank you for asking such good, detailed questions, and I hope you can get this information out to your readers.  So thank you.   

MODERATOR:   Absolutely.  And I would like to thank our journalists for participating today, and I would like to thank Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Douglass Benning and Dr. Cindy Friedman with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention for taking the time to brief us today.  And with that, this briefing is concluded.  Thank you all.    

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FACT SHEET: Biden- ⁠ Harris Administration Takes Action to Accelerate America’s Clean Transportation Future

Leading U.S. Companies Join the Federal Government in Drive to Make Business Travel Cleaner, Save Taxpayer Dollars, Tackle the Climate Crisis, and Boost American Manufacturing

As part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts to build a clean transportation future, today the Administration is announcing new public and private commitments to boost access to electric vehicles (EVs), save taxpayer dollars, and tackle the climate crisis. This includes leading by example on climate with the release of new Federal employee travel guidelines that direct the use of sustainable transportation for official and local travel, both domestically and internationally. These new commitments will save taxpayers money by increasing the use of EVs and taking other cost-effective actions on clean transportation associated with business travel for the Federal workforce. In addition, the State of California, companies, and nonprofits are announcing new commitments through the Biden-Harris Administration’s EV Acceleration Challenge to expand EV fleets, increase consumer education, and grow the availability of EV charging and other clean transportation infrastructure. These commitments further advance President Biden’s  Investing in America  agenda, a key pillar of Bidenomics, to spur domestic manufacturing, strengthen supply chains, boost U.S. competitiveness, and create good-paying jobs and healthier communities. Under President Biden’s leadership, EV sales have tripled and the number of publicly available charging ports has grown by nearly 70 percent since he took office. Private companies have announced more than $150 billion in investments in the EV and battery supply chain in the same time period. There are now more than 166,000 public EV chargers across the country, and the U.S. has already set a new record by selling more than 1 million EVs so far this year.   Federal Commitments to Catalyze a Clean Transportation Future As the Nation’s largest employer and with an annual business travel purchasing power of $2.8 billion, the Federal Government is leading by example by shifting to cleaner transportation options, including American-made electric vehicles and charging infrastructure. In 2022 alone, Federal employees took more than 2.8 million flights, 2.3 million vehicle rentals, and 33,000 rail trips. These operational changes will accelerate the clean transportation transformation, increase good-paying union jobs and create healthier communities. President Biden’s Federal Sustainability Plan aims to reach net-zero emissions from overall Federal operations by 2050, including a 65 percent emissions reduction by 2030. Through new Federal employee travel guidelines issued today, the Biden-Harris Administration is advancing this goal by directing Federal agencies to prioritize the use of sustainable transportation for official and local travel, both domestically and internationally, including by:

  • Prioritizing electric vehicle use when traveling: Federal employees will rent an EV on official travel when the cost of the EV is less than or equal to the most affordable comparable vehicle available. Employees will also opt for cost-competitive EV options, where available, when using taxis and ride share platforms. This will save taxpayer money and reduce pollution that jeopardizes people’s health and fuels the climate crisis.
  • Expanding rail travel: Federal employees will use rail for trips less than 250 miles when cost-effective and available, instead of taking an airplane or vehicle.
  • Increasing public transit use: Federal employees will use public transit (e.g., subway, bus, light rail) when conducting local travel or upon arrival at the official travel location.

To support swift and successful whole-of-government implementation, Federal agencies are being directed through an Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Memorandum and U.S. General Services Administration Travel Bulletin to take a comprehensive series of steps to ensure sustainable travel options are easily accessible to employees when booking travel arrangements. Agencies will have 120 days from today’s announcement to report to OMB and the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) on the plans and actions they have taken to carry out the policy and goals of the OMB Memorandum. The State of California will join the Federal government by issuing guidance by June 2024 to state employees, encouraging the use of Zero Emission Vehicle commercial rentals on official travel where available and operationally feasible. Private Sector Commitments to Catalyze a Clean Transportation Future In order to grow sustainable travel options nationwide, the Federal government, the travel industry, major corporations, and state, local, and Tribal governments must collaborate. As part of President Biden’s goal of having at least 50% of all new vehicle sales be electric by 2030, the Biden-Harris Administration has issued an ongoing call to action through the EV Acceleration Challenge to all stakeholders in the private and public sectors, including advocacy and community groups, to dedicate resources and make independent commitments to boost EVs in America. In conjunction with today’s announcements from the Biden-Harris Administration, leading U.S. organizations across sectors are announcing new commitments to build America’s clean transportation future as the latest additions to President Biden’s  EV Acceleration Challenge : Travel & Hospitality Sector American Express Global Business Travel is today launching a new software solution that helps companies increase the adoption of EVs by prioritizing EVs over gasoline cars when travelers are booking trips and refining searches so hotels with EV charging points can be easily found. Amtrak commits to transitioning its fleet of highway vehicles to zero emissions by 2035, which will eliminate over 3 million gallons of fuel a year. Delta Air Lines commits to build on its achievement of over 30% Ground Service Equipment (GSE) electrification systemwide, with its BOS, LGA, and SLC hubs all over 75% electric in the core GSE fleets, by electrifying up to 50% of its GSE in 2025, including baggage tractors, belt loaders, aircraft tow tractors and other critical fleets necessary to turn an aircraft.

The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) and GBTA Foundation are committing to releasing new global and industry-wide sustainable procurement criteria for accommodation, as well as air travel, ground transport and rail by the end of 2024 to send a strong, consistent and meaningful market signal for sustainable business travel.

IHG Hotels & Resorts , a global hotel company, is committing to developing a new supplier partnership and providing an EV charging best practices Guidebook by the end of 2023 to help accelerate EV charging installation across its portfolio of nearly 4,000 U.S hotels.

Marriott International is committing to more than double the number of hotels and available chargers for guests by the end of 2027, building on the over 4,100 EV chargers in over 1,100 properties across the U.S. so far. Rental Car and Rideshare Companies Enterprise Mobility , a provider of mobility solutions, is making EVs available to reserve at select locations throughout the US, including at more than 50 neighborhood rental locations and all major airports throughout the state of California, and is committed to growing that availability in 2024 as well as working to evaluate power and charging needs at strategic locations that will be key to its operations. Hertz is committing to substantially increase its EV rentals to corporate travelers in North America in 2024, forecasting an eightfold increase in those rentals compared to 2022, which is expected to result in nearly 80 million electric miles driven and the avoidance of an estimated 17,800 metric tons of carbon emissions compared to gas-powered vehicles.

Lyft is committing to expand access to ‘Green Mode’ – through which riders can directly request a green vehicle on the Lyft app – for at least 20 of the largest airports in the U.S. by January 2024, and to pass along airport EV discounts directly to riders, through reduced fares, later in the year.

Uber is committing to expand its “Green Curb at Airports” initiative to 10 airports across the country by 2025, partnering with airports to provide riders with perks to go green and drivers with increased access to convenient, discounted or free EV charging and building on sustainable options, including Uber Green and Uber Comfort Electric, currently available to riders at 70+ U.S. airports.

Zipcar launched EVs in select cities in 2023 and is committing to increase its EV fleet in the U.S. up to double its current size in 2024. Private Sector bp’s EV charging arm, bp pulse , is committing to deploy more than 3,000 fast and reliable charging points by 2025 at high-demand locations in the US, such as airports, major metropolitan areas, and bp branded properties along Alternative Fueling Corridors. Deloitte US is committing to reduce its business travel emissions including hotel stays, air, rail, ridesharing, and rental car travel by 50% per full time equivalent by 2030 compared to 2019. EVgo is committed to having at least 1,800 EV fast charging stalls in operation or under construction in areas serving environmental justice communities as part of EVgo’s “Electric for All” initiative by the end of 2024. Siemens is enhancing its green mobility options and hotel program procurement process to prioritize hotels with EV charging facilities and car rental companies with EV options, which support the company’s commitment to expand its suite of sustainable travel options for employees and its goal of net zero operations by 2030. Non-profit Sector Environmental Defense Fund is committing today to update its travel policy to prioritize electric vehicles and further encourage train use effective immediately. The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is committing today to prioritize modes of travel with the lowest carbon footprint, requiring the use of EV car rentals, mass transit, and trains during business trips, whenever possible. Sierra Club , a grassroots environmental organization is committing to update its policy to encourage sustainable business travel by prioritizing utilization of regional rail service and rental of EVs for ground transportation in 2024. The EV Acceleration Challenge is accepting submissions on a rolling basis. The White House will be highlighting additional commitments in the future. Organizations can submit a commitment to the EV Acceleration Challenge here .

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US issues Mexico 'increased caution' warning for spring break travelers

america travel mandates

The U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Mexico has issued a spring break travel warning for Americans planning to visit the country. The message posted on Monday highlighted a range of potential safety threats in the popular destination like crime.

“U.S. citizens should exercise increased caution in the downtown areas of popular spring break locations including Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum, especially after dark,” the advisory said, though it noted that crime can occur anywhere in Mexico. The U.S. State Department's travel advisory for the country notes various warning levels for different states, ranging from Level 1 (“exercise normal precautions") through 4 (“do not travel”).

The message also warned of other potential hazards like unregulated alcohol and pharmaceuticals. “Unregulated alcohol may be contaminated, and U.S. citizens have reported losing consciousness or becoming injured after consuming alcohol that was possibly tainted,” the advisory said. 

The U.S. Embassy and Consulates noted that counterfeit medication is “common” and could be ineffective or an incorrect strength. Those products may also have dangerous ingredients. “Medication should be purchased in consultation with a medical professional and from reputable establishments,” the message said.

Why some travelers are skipping the US: 'You guys are not afraid of this?'

Learn more: Best travel insurance

The advisory warned of drowning and high private hospital prices, as well, among other risks. The message urged travelers to take precautions like keeping an eye on their drinks; staying with a group of friends in bars and clubs, while walking in dark areas or in taxis at night; and letting family and friends know about their travel plans.

Despite the warning, however, it noted that “the vast majority” of U.S. citizens visiting Mexico at spring break each year do so safely.

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email protected].

American Airlines Is Raising Bag Fees and Changing How Customers Earn Frequent-Flyer Points

American Airlines is raising bag fees and pushing customers to buy tickets directly from the airline if they want to earn frequent-flyer points

Seth Wenig

FILE - American Airlines planes sit on the tarmac at Terminal B at LaGuardia Airport, Jan. 11, 2023, in New York. American Airlines is raising bag fees and pushing customers to buy tickets directly from the airline if they want to earn frequent-flyer points. American said Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, that checking a bag on domestic flights will rise from $30 now to $35 online, and it'll be $40 if purchased at the airport. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)

DALLAS (AP) — American Airlines is raising the cost of checking bags and it is making other changes to push customers to buy tickets directly from the airline if they want to earn frequent-flyer points.

The airline said Tuesday that checking a bag on a domestic flight will rise from $30 now to $35 online and $40 if purchased at the airport. The fee for a second checked bag will rise from $40 to $45 both online and at the airport.

American last raised bag fees in 2018.

American, based in Fort Worth, Texas, introduced bag fees in 2008 — $15 back then — to cope with the rising cost of jet fuel. Since then, they have become a steady revenue source for most major U.S. carriers. American easily led the industry by raising $1.4 billion in bag fees in 2022, the last year for which U.S. Transportation Department figures are available.

The airline is also raising bag fees by $5 for short international flights including those to Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean — now $35 for the first bag and $45 for the second.

The airline will generally allow customers to check at least one bag free if they hold elite status in American's loyalty program, buy a premium-class ticket or use an American-branded credit card.

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A Maka Indigenous woman puts on make-up before protesting for the recovery of ancestral lands in Asuncion, Paraguay, Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024. Leader Mateo Martinez has denounced that the Paraguayan state has built a bridge on their land in El Chaco's Bartolome de las Casas, Presidente Hayes department. (AP Photo/Jorge Saenz)

In January, Alaska Airlines raised its checked-bag fees for most economy passengers from $30 to $35 for a first bag and from $40 to $45 for a second. JetBlue followed this month, raising its fees to $35 and $50.

“Airlines tend to move in herds, so when Alaska recently announced they would be upping their bag fee to $35, there was little doubt other airlines would soon follow,” said Scott Keyes, founder of the travel site Going. “It’s unlikely American will be the last.”

Keyes noted that American's decision to charge customers more if they pay bag fees at the airport instead of when they buy their ticket mimics a tactic used by budget airlines such as Spirit and Frontier.

American will give a break to customers whose bags are slightly overweight or oversized. Instead of being hit with the full extra fee — ranging from $100 to $650 — graduated fees will start at $30 for bags that are no more than 3 pounds (1.36 kg) or three linear inches over the limits.

And it is cutting the cost of transferring points between frequent-flyer accounts.

At the same time, American announced that starting with tickets issued on May 1, customers will have to buy tickets directly from the airline or its partner carriers or from preferred online travel agencies if they want to earn points in its AAdvantage loyalty program. The airline said it will list the preferred travel agencies in late April. Corporate travelers won’t be affected.

About 60% of American's ticket sales are already made directly through the airline, said Scott Chandler, vice president of revenue management.

The changes are part of a long shift by airlines away from using travel agents — and paying them commissions — and bringing ticket sales in-house.

“The old way of booking a ticket relied on agents having a ton of experience and understanding product attributes,” Chandler said in an interview. “The old technology doesn't let us explain things very well, and it is a little more confusing for customers when we introduce new products.”

Chandler likened it to the way that Amazon.com explains features that it sells on the site.

Copyright 2024 The  Associated Press . All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Tags: Associated Press , business , Texas

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American Airlines raises bag fees, won't allow some travel agency bookings to earn miles

thumbnail

  • American Airlines has raised the prices of checked baggage to $40 at the airport.
  • American Airlines is also reducing fees for slightly overweight bags.
  • The carrier said Tuesday it will start limiting which tickets purchased through a third party are eligible to earn AAdvantage frequent flyer miles.

In this article

American Airlines has raised the price to check a bag for the first time in more than five years and said it would limit which travel agency bookings are eligible to earn frequent flyer miles.

Passengers will pay $35 to check a first bag for domestic flights if the service is booked online in advance, or $40 if they purchase the option at the airport, the carrier said Tuesday. Both options previously cost $30. A second checked bag will cost $45, up from $40, whether purchased in advance or at the airport.

Travelers' first checked bag on flights between the U.S. and Canada, the Caribbean or Mexico will be $35 whether in advance or at the airport.

American Airlines last raised bag fees in September 2018 along with other major airlines. Carriers are looking for ways to increase revenue as airfare has declined over the past year. The last inflation report showed airfare fell more than 6% in January from a year earlier.

"Our cost of transporting bags is significantly higher" over the past few years, said Scott Chandler, American's senior vice president of revenue management and loyalty. "Fuel is a big component of it."

Airlines and other companies have been grappling with how to cover higher costs , such as new labor contracts, while pricing power has waned.

Other airlines have also recently raised bag fees. This year, Alaska Airlines increased the charge for economy passengers to check bags by $5 to $35 for a first piece and $45 for a second bag. JetBlue Airways started charging most coach travelers $45 to check a bag within 24 hours of departure, up from $40. In advance, JetBlue is now charging $35 for the first bag.

"While we don't like increasing fees, it's one step we are taking to get our company back to profitability and cover the increased costs of transporting bags," JetBlue said in a statement. "By adjusting fees for added services that only certain customers use, we can keep base fares low and ensure customer favorites like seatback TVs and high-speed Wi-Fi remain free for everyone."

United Airlines and Delta Air Lines  declined to comment Tuesday on potential changes to their policies. Southwest Airlines offers passengers two free checked bags.

In the first nine months of 2023, U.S. airlines brought in $5.5 billion from baggage fees — including more than $1 billion by American alone. The total was up 9% from the year-earlier period, and up more than 25% from the first nine months of 2019, according to the Transportation Department's latest data.

American's frequent flyer members with elite status and some American Airlines credit card holders will still receive a complimentary checked bag, it said Tuesday in announcing the changes.

The Forth Worth, Texas-based airline is also reducing fees for slightly overweight bags, so travelers will no longer have to frantically remove items from their suitcases at the check-in counter. For example, customers will pay a fee of $30 on checked bags that are as much as three pounds over a 50 pound limit, instead of the previous $100 fee.

American also said on Tuesday that it will start limiting which tickets purchased through a third party are eligible to earn AAdvantage frequent flyer miles, a move that aims to drive traffic to American's website and the latest in a series of changes to the program . It said it will provide a list in April of preferred travel agencies whose bookings will still be eligible for the rewards credits.

Customers who buy basic economy tickets will only earn frequent flyer miles if they book on American Airlines' website.

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Alabama justice who ruled embryos are people says American law should be rooted in the Bible

Photo illustration of embryos in petri dishes under a microscope, a paper cutout of a cross, and Alabama's Supreme Court Justice Tom Parker.

On the same day that Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Tom Parker handed down an opinion declaring that fertilized frozen embryos are people, imperiling women’s access to in vitro fertilization treatments, he espoused support for a once-fringe philosophy that calls on evangelical Christians to reshape society based on their interpretation of the Bible.

During an online broadcast hosted by Tennessee evangelist Johnny Enlow on Friday, Parker suggested America was founded explicitly as a Christian nation and discussed his embrace of the Seven Mountains Mandate — the belief that conservative Christians are meant to rule over seven key areas of American life, including media, business, education and government.

“God created government, and the fact that we have let it go into the possession of others, it’s heartbreaking,” Parker said in the interview, first reported this week by Media Matters for America , a liberal nonprofit media watchdog. “That’s why he is calling and equipping people to step back into these mountains right now.”

Hours before the interview was published, Parker issued a concurring opinion in a case in which he and his fellow justices ruled that frozen embryos have the same rights as living children under Alabama’s Wrongful Death of a Minor Act.

Parker wrote that Alabama had adopted a “theologically based view of the sanctity of life” and that “life cannot be wrongfully destroyed without incurring the wrath of a holy God.” To support his legal opinion, Parker repeatedly cited the book of Genesis, including a passage asserting that all people are created in God’s image.

“Even before birth, all human beings bear the image of God,” Parker wrote, “and their lives cannot be destroyed without effacing his glory.”

Parker did not respond to messages requesting comment. In a written statement, Enlow said, in his view, the Seven Mountains Mandate encourages Christians to fight for their values in government and elsewhere to aid “in the healing of society.”

“It is not sinister to desire a voice and relevance in political matters,” said Enlow, who in 2020 suggested that then-President Donald Trump could impose martial law to remain in office following his electoral defeat. “I am pretty sure that is why every citizen takes the time to vote.”

Parker’s statements — in his remarks to Enlow and in his written opinion — are the latest examples of Republican politicians and elected officials embracing the Christian nationalist view that America’s laws should be rooted in a fundamentalist reading of the Bible.

The Alabama chief justice’s embrace of the Seven Mountains Mandate, in particular, signaled the growing influence of a once-fringe political and religious theology that’s been spreading in recent years among certain segments of evangelical Christians, said Matthew D. Taylor, a senior scholar at the Institute for Islamic, Christian, and Jewish Studies in Maryland.

“The Seven Mountains is not about democracy,” said Taylor, who has studied the role Christian extremism played in efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election and the attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. “In fact, I would argue that the Seven Mountains itself is a vision that is antidemocratic.”

Adherents of the ideology have grown in prominence and power in the years since the 2016 election, when Trump became an unlikely hero of the Christian right and cultivated relationships with celebrity pastors who preach the Seven Mountains Mandate. Parker is the latest in a line of prominent Republicans to openly embrace the concept, Taylor said.

Charlie Kirk, the MAGA influencer and founder of Turning Point USA, celebrated the GOP’s shift under Trump when he told attendees at the Conservative Political Action Conference in 2020, “Finally we have a president that understands the seven mountains of cultural influence.”

In 2022, Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado called on attendees at a political conference hosted by a group with a mission to “reform the nation via the Seven Mountains” to “rise up” and place “God back at the center of our country.”

House Speaker Mike Johnson, the nation’s highest-ranking Republican, also has ties to pastors and activists who preach the Seven Mountains. Johnson, like Parker , has aligned himself with the evangelical activist and self-styled historian David Barton, a leading promoter of the idea that America was founded as a Christian nation whose laws should reflect biblical principles.

Barton and other Seven Mountains proponents argue that the idea of separation of church and state, regarded by many as a bedrock of American democracy, is a myth invented by progressives based on a misreading of Thomas Jefferson’s famous 1802 letter to the Danbury Baptists. And any laws or court rulings limiting the influence of religion in schools and government — such as the U.S. Supreme Court’s 1962 and 1963 decisions banning mandatory public school prayer and Bible readings — are an affront to America’s true founding.

These ideas aren’t only gaining influence among preachers and politicians, experts say. In a survey last year, Paul Djupe, a political scientist at Denison University, found that about 20% of American adults — and 30% of Christians — agreed with the statement that “God wants Christians to stand atop the ‘7 mountains of society,’ including the government, education, media, and others.”

Prior to conducting the survey, Djupe expected to discover only marginal support for the Seven Mountains concept. 

“It turns out,” he said, “a substantial number of Americans believe these things.”

Parker echoed Barton’s views about America’s founding during his interview with Enlow, after Enlow asked the chief justice to comment on the growing use of the phrase “Christian nationalism” among those who support the separation of church and state.

“This is an undefined term that’s being thrown around now to label people, and I have no idea what they mean by or what should be meant by it,” said Parker, who then defended his view that America’s “original form of government” was based on the Bible. 

“It’s constitutional,” Parker said. “It’s our foundation.”

The Alabama ruling dealing with in vitro fertilization, or IVF, offers a picture of what that worldview might look like in practice and how it might affect the lives of regular citizens, Taylor said. 

After Parker and his colleagues issued their ruling, the state’s largest hospital paused IVF treatments while it considered the legal repercussions of the decision.

Taylor said it was “jaw-dropping” to hear a state supreme court chief justice espousing a theology that he views as antidemocratic “while making very extreme decisions.”

But, he added, “this is the new reality of our politics.”

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Mike Hixenbaugh is a senior investigative reporter for NBC News, based in Maryland. 

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To Protect Your Miles, Be Careful How You Book

American Airlines recently announced new restrictions on point allocation based on how you book a flight. What does that mean for loyalty members?

A commercial airplane with red and blue stripes on its tail and the word "American" in large blue letters on the side of the aircraft, takes off from an airport runway.

By Elaine Glusac

Elaine Glusac is the Frugal Traveler columnist, focusing on budget-friendly tips and journeys.

Earlier this month, American Airlines announced that beginning May 1, it will require travelers to book directly with the airline, partner airlines or “preferred travel agencies” in order to receive points in its loyalty program.

The unprecedented move confused many travelers eager to protect their mileage currency, prompting posts like this one on X: “@AmericanAir your news about earning miles/loyalty points is a bit concerning — we’re loyal to you no matter who we book through!”

In an email, a representative of the airline said that the approved list of travel agencies would not be published until April.

While there is much to be determined about the new policy, a battle for customers between the airline and third-party ticket sellers, which includes online travel agencies like Orbitz, has emerged. Here’s what travelers should know before booking their next flight.

What are the new points rules at American?

Currently, the biggest domestic carriers — including Delta Air Lines , United Airlines , Southwest Airlines and American — award points and miles to members of their loyalty programs on most tickets regardless of where they are sold.

American’s new rules state that in order to receive miles and points, travelers must book through its website, a Oneworld partner airline or approved travel agencies (with exceptions for those enrolled in its business program, which targets small companies, or with a corporate contract).

Also beginning May 1, fliers booking basic economy fares, the airline’s cheapest fares, may only earn points by booking through American’s website or its airline partners.

What’s behind the switch?

According to analysts, this is largely a behind-the-scenes fight over technology.

Travel agencies have long used distribution systems like Sabre and Amadeus to sell airline tickets. But many airlines are interested in using an emerging channel developed by the International Air Transport Association called New Distribution Capability . It offers airlines a more direct means of communicating with passengers, whom they can target with personalized fares or bundled offers not available in the traditional systems, providing opportunities to sell more services.

The “preferred” agencies that American said it will announce in April will be those making a substantial number of bookings on the new platform.

“American is dead set on being a more efficient airline and reducing its cost of sales, so they have issued this new edict and travel agents who choose not to follow along will find themselves on the losing end of the battle,” said Henry Harteveldt, a travel industry analyst and the founder of the Atmosphere Research Group.

Many travel agents object to the speed of adopting a technology they say still has bugs. In a recent letter to the 18,000 member agencies of the American Society of Travel Advisors , the president and chief executive of the trade organization Zane Kerby called it “an underdeveloped technology,” with “basic servicing” issues that include problems with cancellations, booking multiple people on the same itinerary and rebooking.

Mr. Kerby cited a heightened risk to most business travelers using external agencies to make their bookings. “It feels like American Airlines is disenfranchising or willing to disenfranchise its most profitable and lucrative segment, which is the frequent business traveler,” he said.

In American’s new requirement that basic economy fliers book directly with the airline to earn miles, Brian Sumers, who writes the Airline Observer newsletter, sees a play for greater loyalty from thrifty travelers at a time when many airlines have abandoned them. Delta , for instance, no longer awards points to its basic economy passengers. United restricts basic economy fliers to one personal item carried aboard when flying domestically.

American wants those basic economy passengers, Mr. Sumers said. “The end goal is to get people so excited about having AAdvantage points and using them all the time, because that’s where they’re making money.”

How should I book to ensure I’m awarded miles for American flights?

If you are accustomed to booking online with the airline directly, earning miles is not endangered.

If you use a travel agency, including online sites like Expedia or Orbitz, check the list of approved agencies when it is published in April.

But even for travelers who are accustomed to D.I.Y. bookings, the new American policy poses some threat to earning miles. If you use a travel agent to plan a more complicated trip — say, an African safari or a trek to Machu Picchu in Peru — make sure the agent is approved by American or be prepared to make the booking yourself to earn miles.

“American is counting on the fact that travelers engaged with AAdvantage will want to remain engaged, so that if their travel agent is not onboard, the customer will find a different travel agent or opt to book directly,” Mr. Harteveldt said.

Will other airlines follow suit?

Experts say commercial aviation is a copycat industry; if a policy is successful, others are likely to follow. But it may not happen quickly in this case.

“There are some very expensive tickets that go through using the older system,” Mr. Sumers said, describing other airlines as “taking a watch-and-wait approach” to see if any defections from former American customers boost their business.

“By no means has this play reached its conclusions,” Mr. Harteveldt said. “We are in the first part of the first act.”

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram and sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to get expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places to Go in 2024 .

Open Up Your World

Considering a trip, or just some armchair traveling here are some ideas..

Italy :  Spend 36 hours in Florence , seeking out its lesser-known pockets.

Southern California :  Skip the freeways to explore the back roads between Los Angeles and Los Olivos , a 100-mile route that meanders through mountains, canyons and star-studded enclaves.

Mongolia : Some young people, searching for less curated travel experiences, are flocking to the open spaces of this East Asian nation .

Romania :  Timisoara  may be the most noteworthy city you’ve probably never heard of , offering just enough for visitors to fill two or three days.

India: A writer fulfilled a lifelong dream of visiting Darjeeling, in the Himalayan foothills , taking in the tea gardens and riding a train through the hills.

52 Places:  Why do we travel? For food, culture, adventure, natural beauty? Our 2024 list has all those elements, and more .

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