Much negativity has been written by ‘Travel Influencers’ and people calling themselves so called ‘Travel Bloggers’ on social media about visiting America and President Trump’s tightening of border controls and visas. From burner phones to social media history, the chat online is relentless. I’m here to tell you that for the large part, it’s puffery!

This blog post reaches you from sunny Los Angeles and a poolside bar at a hotel near Los Angeles International Airport. I arrived  on an Airbus A350 a few days ago from London Heathrow Airport. The jet wasn’t even half full. Great for me as I had three seats to myself, not so good for the airline and its profit margin.

I like to deal in facts and not hearsay. Tourism is as a whole down 21% year on year across the popular American destinations including Las Vegas. Many blame the President but fail to understand that there’s not only a a cost of living crisis in the UK, there’s an even greater one here in the America. I paid $9 for a latte in Starbucks today and $10 for a sachet of washing power to do laundry. Oh and then was the $14 pint of beer last night! You get the idea, people are spending less now on holidays which has a huge impact on tourism.

And the tourism industry as a whole has added to the drop in numbers by pricing themselves out of the market. It’s not only the room you now have to pay for, it’s the resort fee and on top of that parking too – a whopping $35 a night at the hotel where I am. Is it any wonder people are voting with their feet and staying away.

Now let’s deal with the ‘Elephant In The Room,’ entry into America and you encounter with Customs & Border Protection or CBP for short. Now here I need to declare an interest which is I have Global Entry which in essence means I get to beat the immigration line at airports. But here’s the thing, I still like you have to speak to a CBP Officer and answer questions about my stay. And fact, in over three decades of traveling to America, I’ve never been refused entry or had my iPhone searched. And here’s another fact for you. Fact – the American authorities already know about you as the airlines are required to provide full passenger lists ahead of departure.

To sum up, if lyou’re an average tourist like me, then there’s noting to worry about.nIf however, you’re an Influencer or Travel Blogger basing the authorities without doing your due diligence, then you might have something to worry about.

Happy traveling.

30th October, 2025.

The US Department of State updated its Travel Advisory for Mali on October 30, 2025 to reflect that the Department of State ordered non-emergency employees and their family members to leave Mali due to safety risks.  The Travel Advisory Level for Mali remains Level 4 – Do Not Travel.

In addition, the US Department of State ordered non-emergency employees and their family members to leave Mali due to safety risks.  The U.S. government cannot offer routine or emergency services to U.S. citizens outside of Bamako due to safety risks.  Do not travel to Mali for any reason.

Crime

Violent crime is common throughout Mali. Crimes include kidnapping, assault, armed robbery, home invasion, and carjacking.

Violent crime is a major concern in Bamako especially during local holidays and seasonal events.

•Roadblocks, including by armed groups, occur throughout the country.

•In cities, police checkpoints are possible, especially at night.

•Highways across the country often face attacks on government, civilian, and commercial targets.

Terrorism

There is risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks and other activity in Mali.  Visit the U.S. Department of State’s country reports on terrorism to learn more.

Terrorist and armed groups target foreigners to kidnap for ransom.

Terrorists may attack without warning:

•Spots frequented by foreigners anywhere in the country

•Night clubs

•Hotels

•Restaurants

•Places of worship

•International diplomatic missions

•Local security forces and civilians

Armed Conflict

Armed conflict between the Malian government and armed groups is common throughout Mali.  Many terrorist and separatist armed groups are active throughout the country.  These groups may plan and carry out deadly attacks against Malian government and military facilities, including in and around Bamako.  Conflict between these groups often results in civilian casualties.

America has faced air traffic control shortages for more than a decade with many controllers working mandatory overtime and six-day weeks even before the current Government shutdown.

The problem has got progressively worse since the COVID 19 pandemic with many furloughed Air Traffic Controllers (ATC) deciding not to return to work and opting for early retirement.

Add into the mix, a growing number of near misses, ground incidents, and other serious safety events point to a system that’s under increasing strain.

On January 29, 2025, American Airlines Flight 5342 and a United States Army helicopter operating as Priority Air Transport 25 collided mid-air over the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. All 67 people aboard both aircraft were killed in the crash, including 64 passengers and crew on the airliner and the three crew of the helicopter. 

On that night, the FAA reported they were 30% understaffed at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport – one person so was doing the job of 2 controlling both planes and helicopters who each use different radio frequencies!

Many ATC facilities are decades old and still using antiquated equipment such as floppy disks and paper flight strips. so you can understand the problem.

Now add in the current Government shutdown and you get this situation in California. On Monday 6th October, Hollywood Burbank Airport had no air traffic controllers at its tower from 4:15 p.m. to 10 p.m as it grappled with staff shortages.

Here’s a great explainer from the Los Angeles TV Station, KTLA.

I’ve had personal experience of Hollywood Burbank Airport, I flew in there from Las Vegas in 2022. It’s a bustling and extremely busy metro airport serving the Greater Los Angles area and used by big American carriers including Alaska Airlines, American Airlines and Southwest Airlines.

Are things likely to improve? Well in September, 2024, the  Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced that it exceeded its goal of hiring 1,800 air traffic controllers in 2024, with a final total of 1,811 for Fiscal Year 2024.

As the largest number of hires in nearly a decade, this marks important progress in the FAA’s work to reverse the decades-long air traffic controller staffing level decline.  

But it’s going to take time as the average time to train an Air Traffic Controller is between two and three years. Plus one-third of trainees wash out, according to former Transportation Department Inspector General Mary Schiavo, who described the process as “rigorous, costly, and mentally exhausting.” Those who succeed can earn a median salary of $144,580 per year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

It’s fast becoming the new way to travel in major American cities and the best bit – there’s no Trump chat! I’m talking about Waymo One, the driverless taxi.

Waymo is an American autonomous driving technology company and a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., Google’s parent company. It originated from the Google Self-Driving Car Project in 2009, with the mission of making transportation safer and more accessible for people and goods.

Waymo is an app based service so you’ll need a smartphone that’s compatible with their app. Once you’ve signed up and entered a payment card, booking a ride is exactly the same as booking an Uber or Lyft ride. Additionally you’ll get real time updates on when your car will arrive. I found this to be fairly accurate.

I took my first Waymo ride in San Francisco back in 2024, a short trip from the Golden Gate Bridge to Fisherman’s Wharf. It was an interesting experience with two main takeaways – it drives like your 80 year old granny and it won’t double park

Fast forward now to summer 2025 and Los Angeles and my latest Waymo experiences. I booked a Waymo to take me from the Cows End Cafe on Venice Beach to the the shopping complex at Marina Del Ray. Once you’ve placed your booking via the app, you’ll get realtime up dates on when it will arrive. On the whole this was fairly accurate although it did slip by a couple of minutes due to traffic. Of all the journey’s I’ve taken, I’ve been able to book a Waymo and then not wait any longer than 10 minutes for it to arrive. So broadly speaking, the same as Uber and Lyft. On pricing it’s compatatble with the latter and sometimes cheaper at peak times.

Once your taxi arrives and you’ll know it’s yours as it has your initails flashing on a revolving drome on its roof, you’ll need to unlock the doors using the button in the app on your smartphone.Once you’re inside and belted in, you’ll need to push the ‘Start Journey’ button on the mini display in the center console for the ride to begin. And that’s it.

You’ll be entertained enroute by Waymo’s playist of soft spa music – but you can change that on the center consiole for pretty much what ever you want. On reaching your destination, you’ll be prompted to open the doors and leaving to complete your trip.

One final though, I was highly impressed when it pulled over to let a host of 911 responder vehicles through. 

Happy travelling and let me know your experiences of using Waymo.

SAN FRANCISCO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT – November 8, 2023.

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) celebrated an announcement today from U.S. low fare airline Breeze Airways, detailing plans to launch new seasonal service to Grand Junction, Colorado on May 22, 2024. This latest service represents their sixth destination from SFO, having already launched service to Cincinnati, Louisville, Provo, Richmond (VA), and San Bernardino.

“We are thrilled to welcome new Breeze service from  San Francisco to Grand Junction next year,” said SFO Airport Director Ivar C. Satero. “Breeze continues to offer San Francisco Bay Area travelers great deals with the convenience of exclusive nonstop flights. We thank Breeze for their continued commitment to SFO and wish them success on their newest destination.”

Breeze Airways began service in May 2021 and has been ranked as one of the U.S.’ best domestic airlines for the last two years by Travel + Leisure magazine’s World’s Best Awards (#2 in 2022 and #4 in 2023).  Breeze offers a mix of more than 150 year-round and seasonal nonstop routes between 46 cities in 27 states.

Breeze Airways was founded by aviation entrepreneur David Neeleman, Breeze Airways operates a fleet of Embraer 190/195 and Airbus A220-300 aircraft, with a focus on providing efficient and affordable flights between secondary airports, bypassing hubs for shorter travel times.

SAN FRANCISCO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT – October 26, 2023.

San Francisco International Airport ( (SFO) celebrated an announcement today from Southwest Airlines detailing plans for a schedule expansion in 2024. The airline plans to resume nonstop service to Chicago-Midway and seasonal nonstop service to Dallas Love Field in June 2024, while adding more flights to Denver, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles.

“We are thrilled to welcome Southwest Airlines’ expanded service at SFO next year,” said Airport Director Ivar C. Satero. “With this announcement, travelers can look forward to enjoying more of Southwest’s fantastic value together with SFO’s award-winning, world-class airport experience. We thank Southwest for their continued commitment to SFO and know these additional flights will be a success.”

Southwest Airlines operates in Harvey Milk Terminal 1, SFO’s newest award-winning terminal. For more information and to book, please visit: sthe Soutwest Airlines website

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LONDON HEATHROW AIRPORT – July 20, 2023.

Virgin Atlantic and Rolls-Royce today confirm the successful Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) blend ground test on the Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engine. The test marks a key milestone in the project which will see the world’s first 100% SAF flight travel across the Atlantic from London Heathrow to New York JFK on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, set to take off on 28 November 2023.

In addition to the test, fuel suppliers Air bp and Virent have been announced to supply the 60 tonnes of SAF to be used in the world first, supporting consortium research, testing and the flight itself. The SAF will be produced through the Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids (HEFA) pathway as well as synthetic aromatic kerosene (SAK) SAF at an 88% and 12% blend ratio.

Virgin Atlantic is committed to finding more sustainable ways to fly on our mission to Net Zero 2050. Already operating one of the most fuel and carbon efficient fleets across the Atlantic, this flight builds on the airline’s 15-year track record for leading on SAF.   Demonstrating that through radical collaboration, industry can deliver 100% SAF in today’s engine, airframes and fuel infrastructure for long haul flight. But collectively the industry must go further, to develop a UK SAF industry and meet aviation’s 10% SAF by 2030.

SAF typically delivers CO2 lifecycle emissions savings of more than 70% whilst performing like the traditional jet fuel it replaces. SAF has a fundamental role to play in aviation’s decarbonisation and pathway to Net Zero 2050. Today, SAF represents less than 0.1% of jet fuel volumes and fuel standards allow for just a 50% SAF blend in commercial jet engines. The one-off Virgin Atlantic flight in November will demonstrate the potential of SAF as a 100% drop-in replacement for fossil fuel today.

The realisation of the 100% SAF transatlantic flight taking to the skies is a challenging task requiring cross industry collaboration and dedicated project teams working on the research, testing and operations to make it happen. The Virgin Atlantic led consortium, joint funded by the Department for Transport, includes Rolls Royce, Boeing, University of Sheffield, Imperial College London and Rocky Mountain Institute. The successful bench engine test is a key milestone, however further permissions and safety approvals are required for the flight to take off in November. 

Virgin Atlantic and the consortium will leverage the 100% SAF transatlantic flight to further SAF use, as well as addressing other environmental impacts of the sector. The project will demonstrate further reductions in CO2 from operational efficiencies, contribute to research and development into the non-CO2 effects of flying, and provide an end-to-end life cycle analysis of the flight. Any residual CO2 emissions from the flight will be mitigated using innovative carbon removals from biochar projects.

Shai Weiss, CEO, Virgin Atlantic, commented: “The 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel transatlantic flight will be a historic moment in aviation’s roadmap to decarbonisation. Alongside fleet transformation, SAF is the most readily available way for our industry to decarbonise, but currently there’s not enough supply and without it and the radical collaboration required to produce it, we can’t meet our 2030 targets. We need UK government support to create a UK SAF industry to allow for every single flight out of the UK to operate with 100% SAF – if we make it, we can fly it.”

Rob Watson, President – Civil Aerospace, Rolls-Royce, said: “We are incredibly proud that our Trent 1000 engines will power the first ever flight using 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel across the Atlantic. Confirming that we have successfully completed the ground test of the Trent 1000 engine today, using the chosen 100% SAF blend, gives us increased confidence for the engine’s performance and operation ahead of the flight this November. The flight will represent an incredible milestone for the entire aviation industry in its journey towards net zero carbon emissions.”

Aviation Minister, Baroness Vere of Norbiton, commented: “A year on from the launch of our Jet Zero Strategy, I’m delighted that Virgin Atlantic has confirmed the first ever transatlantic flight powered solely by Sustainable Aviation Fuel will take off this winter. Thanks to government funding, this flight will be a huge step towards net zero and showcase the potential of SAF – creating jobs and helping to grow our economy.”

Andreea Moyes, Global Aviation Sustainability Director, Air bp, said: “We are thrilled to be supplying Sustainable Aviation Fuel for the world’s first 100% SAF transatlantic flight. SAF is currently the most viable option to help us meet the industry’s net zero ambition and in the short and medium term it will be the only option for long-haul flights. Moving our industry and policy towards the use of 100% SAF is important as we work in collaboration with key stakeholders to help decarbonize aviation.”

Dave Kettner, President & General Counsel, Virent said: “With Virent’s plant-based Synthesized Aromatic Kerosene (SAK) providing essential fuel components, this test showed that 100% drop-in renewable fuel is cleaner burning and will work seamlessly in today’s commercial airline engines. We’re honored to collaborate with Virgin Atlantic, Rolls-Royce and Air bp as these forward-looking companies lead the way in sustainable aviation. Virent shares their commitment to finding sustainable ways to fly, and we’re excited about the pivotal role our BioForm® SAK plays in making that goal a reality.”

Sheila Remes, Vice President, Environmental Sustainability, Boeing said: “Boeing is proud to provide technical expertise and support for this testing as we gear-up for Virgin Atlantic’s flagship Boeing 787 Dreamliner to make the first 100% SAF transatlantic flight. We look forward to continuing to work with our project partners on this journey, taking one more step towards a sustainable future of flight.”

VIRGIN ATLANTIC  SkyTeam – LONDON – March 2nd, 2023.

Virgin Atlantic is formally joining SkyTeam, the global airline alliance, at a signing ceremony in London on March 2nd, 2023.

The move means Virgin Atlantic becomes SkyTeam’s first and only UK member airline, enhancing the alliance’s transatlantic network and services to and from Heathrow and Manchester airports.

Virgin Atlantic customers will now benefit from a consistent, seamless customer experience, across 1,000 global destinations in over 170 countries.  Customers can conveniently book every SkyTeam member flight on a single ticket, checking in with baggage just once through to their final destination.

Flying Club members have more opportunities to earn Virgin Points and Tier Points across all member airlines, accelerating both their rewards and tier status.  Additionally, Flying Club members will be able to redeem hard-earned points on SkyTeam member airlines. Alongside joint venture partners Delta & Air France-KLM, these include Aerolíneas Argentinas, Aeromexico, Air Europa, China Airlines, China Eastern*, Czech Airlines, Garuda Indonesia, ITA* Airways, Kenya Airways, Korean Air, MEA, Saudia, TAROM, Vietnam Airlines and XiamenAir.

The airline’s Flying Club members will receive host of benefits which will enhance their journeys across the SkyTeam network. Virgin Atlantic Silver Card holders are recognised as SkyTeam Elite Members, whilst the airline’s Gold Card members have become Elite Plus. SkyTeam Elite Plus, First and Business Class customers enjoy SkyPriority services including priority check in, baggage handling and boarding. Extra baggage allowance is offered to both Elite and Elite Plus members.

SkyTeam Elite Plus members travelling on Virgin Atlantic, Delta* or Aeromexico will have access to Virgin Atlantic’s renowned Clubhouse at London Heathrow, whilst other SkyTeam Elite Plus members can take advantage of their airline-designated lounge at Terminal 3.  Elite Plus members will also enjoy a network of 750  worldwide airport lounges to choose from*.

Virgin Atlantic’s entry into the alliance builds upon the success of its transatlantic joint venture with Delta and Air France-KLM, each already long-established SkyTeam members. Virgin Atlantic is co-located at London Heathrow’s Terminal 3, alongside Delta and existing SkyTeam members Aeromexico and China Eastern, providing customers with smooth airside transits and the most convenient connection times possible.

Shai Weiss, CEO Virgin Atlantic, commented,

“SkyTeam shares a customer first ethos that mirrors our own and our entry into the alliance today marks an important milestone in achieving our vision to become the most-loved travel company.

“We want to reward those who choose to fly with Virgin Atlantic and our Flying Club members deserve the very best loyalty proposition.  Our SkyTeam membership offers this through a global network of maximised reward opportunities, alongside enhanced services on the ground and in the skies.”

Patrick Roux, SkyTeam CEO and Managing Director, said: “We are delighted to welcome Virgin Atlantic into SkyTeam, taking an already close relationship to new heights and elevating our customer offering with more routes to exciting destinations and access to aspirational airport lounges – not to mention the airline’s world-famous flair.

“The U.K. is a key market for SkyTeam and with Virgin Atlantic on board, customers can look forward to more opportunities to earn and redeem miles as they fly, enjoying the iconic travel experience that makes our newest member a globally loved airline.”

Codeshare agreements are already in place with Aeromexico and Middle East Airlines, in addition to existing codeshares with Air France-KLM and Delta, with options for more codeshares to follow later this year.  Interline agreements with all SkyTeam members are already in place, providing one touch point for all customers, creating a seamless journey on one ticket.

Virgin Atlantic flies to 12 destinations throughout the USA in partnership with Delta and Air France-KLM including New York, Los Angeles, Miami, and San Francisco. Last year the airline launched services to two new US destinations, Austin and Tampa. Virgin Atlantic also operates an extensive Caribbean portfolio including Antigua, Barbados, Jamaica, The Bahamas and from November, Turks and Caicos. Virgin Atlantic also operates services to China, India, Israel, Nigeria and South Africa. A new service to the Maldives will begin from October.

LOS ANGELES – March 2nd, 2023.

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) has told Beyond The Boardwalk that it is anticipating a busy spring break travel period that is expected to draw more than 12 million passengers to the airport between March and April. The increase in passenger and vehicle traffic will make this spring break the most traveled at LAX since 2019, and guests are encouraged to plan their journey ahead of time for a smooth travel experience.

“With the demand for travel set to increase this season, we look forward to sharing all the ways in which LAX has implemented new technology to make the passenger experience more seamless,” said Justin Erbacci, Chief Executive Officer, Los Angeles World Airports. “From our award-winning smart parking system that allows you to pre-book a parking space, to our food and beverage online ordering with LAX Order Now, to pre-booking a window to go through security screening with LAX Fast Lane, we ask our passengers to take advantage of these offerings and more to help ensure a great start and end to your spring vacation.”

While the spring break period is spread out over two-months, the airport is expected to see an average of 195,000 passengers per day in March, which is 82% of the passenger volume compared to March 2019, and an average of 204,000 passengers per day in April, which is 85% of the passenger volume compared to April 2019.

Vehicle traffic in the Central Terminal Area also is expected to continue increasing during the travel period, with an estimated average of 78,500 vehicles per day in March and 81,000 vehicles per day in April. With heavy traffic around the airport and parking garages nearing full capacity, guests are highly encouraged to reserve a parking space online ahead of time at Parking.FLYLAX.com, which allows guests to book a space in the LAX Economy Parking facility, as well as the Central Terminal Area garages. Pre-booking is the only way travelers will have a guaranteed space at the airport.

Travelers also are asked to consider using alternative transportation including the LAX FlyAway, or get dropped off at the LAX Economy Parking Facility and use the free terminal shuttle there. LAX Economy Parking offers a 24-hour, frequent and free shuttle service from the facility to the terminals, and uses a dedicated lane within the Central Terminal Area to provide the fastest service possible.

Passengers traveling with United Airlines may also participate in the LAX Fast Lane program, which allows travelers using Terminals 7 and 8 to reserve a 15-minute window at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screening areas for the fastest service using a dedicated lane, at no cost.