March 18, 2025 • 15 mins
Travel regulations are constantly evolving, with several significant changes coming in 2025 that will affect both domestic and international journeys. Understanding these new rules now will help you prepare and avoid unexpected complications during your future adventures.
• The European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) implementation has been delayed until late 2026
• An electronic entry/exit system (EES) will still begin in October 2025 for European travel
• UK travel now requires completing an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) form costing $13
• US travelers will need Real ID-compliant identification for domestic flights starting May 7, 2025
• Mexico is imposing a $42 per person fee on cruise passengers beginning July 1, 2025
• Biometric passport control with facial recognition is expanding (though US travelers can opt out)
• Southwest Airlines is ending free checked bags and introducing assigned seating
• Many airlines are revising their loyalty point systems and expiration policies
• Stay informed through travel newsletters like Daily Passport and Photos Travel
Sisters, get out there and have that adventure, and if you enjoyed the show, I encourage you to leave a review. The more reviews I get, the higher up and the more people will listen.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Do you remember having rules growing up like no
running in the halls, no talkingin class or church, no chewing
gum, and then, later in life,coming across the no smoking
seatbelt laws and, over time,more changes, more rules, more
(00:21):
laws.
Well, travel has evolved aswell and has developed a lot of
its own rules over the decades,and in today's episode, I will
talk about some of these newregulations or laws that are
coming in place in 2025 that mayaffect your travel.
(00:42):
Welcome to Solo TravelAdventures.
I'm Cheryl Esch, your host.
Well, if you're a frequenttraveler, you may already know
about some of these newregulations that may affect your
travel in 2025.
But let's go back and thinkabout if you are a regular
traveler or have been travelinga while.
I just remember those days Oneof the airlines that we used to
(01:07):
frequent was TWA or Eastern andI would get my little wings as a
child a little pin, and therewas.
You were allowed to smoke onthe plane at that point.
I remember that, and there werea lot of other things that were
.
Of course, you didn't have totake your shoes off to go
(01:27):
through security.
I think there was just a lotless security at that point in
travel and obviously, after 9-11, we have developed a lot of
security changes, but even moreso over the years, you might
have noticed an increasedchanges for many reasons.
(01:52):
Now, in 2025, there was and Isay was because I'm happy to
bring to you, maybe you heardabout that in 2025, if you were
a US citizen, we technically didnot need any kind of visa, so
to speak, to travel to Europe,and there may have been some
(02:16):
other countries that were sortof visa exempt citizens that
also didn't have to worry aboutthat.
Well, europe wanted toimplement what they call the
ETIAS system, so it meansEuropean Travel Information and
Authorization System and thatwas supposed to go into effect.
But as of March 7th just gotnews that it has been revised,
(02:42):
the rollout got news that it hasbeen revised, the rollout it
keeps getting pushed back.
They've been wanting to do thisfor a while, if you've kind of
listened to any kind of you know, travel news.
And so now, as of March 7th,which wasn't that long ago of
2025, it is being pushed to 2026.
(03:03):
It is being pushed to 2026,maybe even the later half of
2026.
Part of the reason is so manyEuropean nations have to be on
the same system and have toimplement it.
So I think that is part of thereason it's been delayed, but
(03:24):
they are still doing so.
As of October of 2025, it's notthe E-T-I-A-S that you have to
do.
That's, as I said, now has beenpushed back to later, half of
2026.
So, if you're traveling toEurope this summer, you are safe
(03:44):
, but as of October of 2025,there is another operational
system it's called an EES, whereyou do have to.
It's just an electronic entrysystem.
So it's just really an entryand exit system that they want
(04:06):
you to uh go online and do.
So.
That's not a huge, huge thing,um, but that's October of 2025
right now, and so just keep yourears.
If you plan to travel to Europe,um, sometime in 2026 or the
last, last quarter of 2025,things are always changing, as
(04:40):
we know right.
So that's a big, big thing-S.
And because I am going toIceland and although Iceland is
not it is a non-EU member it'sstill part it would be part of
that system.
So there is a list if you're,you know, curious as to what
(05:03):
those countries are.
There are 25 countries in theEU and then there are some
additional ones that are alsogoing to be joining this system,
but you don't have to worryabout it right now.
What you do have to worry about, though, is if you are flying
to the UK, as of January 8, youare required to file an ETA,
(05:30):
that's an electronic travelauthorization.
It's an online form.
It's 13 US dollars or 10 eurosapproximately, so make sure, if
you're going to the UK, you getthat taken care of online, and
then, beginning May 7, 2025, if,again, if you're a US traveler
(05:53):
again, this is another change inpolicy and regulation that
keeps getting pushed back.
I remember, several years ago,hearing about this and it's
finally, I guess I think it'struly going to happen is that
May 7th, you, as a US traveler,would need to have a real ID or
(06:16):
other acceptable ID, such as apassport, even for domestic
flights.
Okay, so this is, as I said, avalid US passport or passport
card, a valid government-issuedforeign passport, a DHS-trusted
traveler card, such as GlobalEntry we're all maybe familiar
(06:36):
with Global Entry A USDepartment of Defense ID or a
permanent resident card, butthese forms of ID for example,
the ID they have to have thisyellow star on it, like, for
example, if you have a license,driver's license, a compliant
(06:57):
driver's license it's going tohave sort of this little yellow
star on it that lets theauthorities know that this is an
acceptable real ID.
So it's going to be the upperportion of your card.
But if you have a passport andyou travel, like I do, that will
suffice to take care of thatrequired document.
(07:18):
And then do you like to cruise?
Well, again, this is, I wouldsay, mainly affects US citizens.
However, you could be cruisingfrom anywhere and find yourself
in Mexico.
Right, it is a highly soughtout cruise destination, mostly
(07:38):
for out of the US, but youcertainly could get there other
ways as well, like atransatlantic, possibly.
But beginning July 1st 2025,cruises to Mexico will impose a
$42 per person additional fee,so to speak.
So, granted, I think the cruiselines are trying to fight this
(08:00):
and you won't actually probablyhave to pay out of pocket.
I imagine the cruise lines willkind of put that in the pricing
or have it as a line itembefore you do your checkout of
when you purchase your cruise.
So just know that the pricingfor cruises will increase to
Mexico because of this imposedfee from Mexico.
(08:24):
And again, travel technology ison the rise and maybe you've
experienced it already.
We know that since 9-11, thatthere is, of course, more
security x-ray machines, allthat you know requirements of
limited liquids, taking shoesoff, right all that stuff.
(08:48):
We all know that is happening.
But travel technology is on therise.
As far as what they callbiometric passport control and
you probably have, maybe, ifyou've been to an airport
recently, you have noticed whenyou give them your passport or
whatever ID that you're using,they are doing facial
(09:08):
recognition.
Now at certain airports certaintimes of the day.
Um, in the U?
S, just by the way, you canrequest to bypass that if you
don't feel comfortable withfacial recognition and having
your face, uh, saved.
They say they only save it, Ithink, 24 to 48 hours in their
(09:31):
system.
Uh, but if I have have,actually you have to tell them
beforehand.
So, like, as you're handingthem your passport, before they
start putting your information,or before you stand in front of
that facial recognition camera,you need to let them know that
you, verbally, are declining thefacial recognition and they
(09:52):
could still process you just asthey would prior to having this
technology.
Now I have heard from someoneelse that in some countries it's
not an option.
Like you have to do it.
I believe maybe that countrythat I heard from was in the UK,
believe that is required.
I don't think you are allowedto bypass that, but just so you
(10:16):
are aware of that.
And then I'm going to get intosome more more US sort of
related travel changes.
These are some of these arerather disappointing.
It is pertaining to Southwest.
I am a big Southwest flyerbecause I live in Dallas and
this is one of their main hubsis here in Dallas and I've
(10:39):
always had pretty good luck withSouthwest.
As far as pricing, I love theirfree bags checked.
If I need to check a bag and Idon't mind the open seating,
especially as a solo traveler,I'm okay with that.
I understand that that could bean issue when you are traveling
with family, but Southwest hasjust announced they are no
(11:02):
longer offering free check bags.
I think maybe for their premiumbusiness class people or
certain advantage, certainmemberships, then yes, but us
regular folks then we have topay now or carry it on.
(11:25):
They're also later this yearthey're going to get rid of
assigned seating, so I don'tknow how I feel about that.
I mean, it could be good aslong as they're not going to
charge.
We haven't found that assignedseating, so I don't know how I
feel about that.
I mean, it could be good aslong as they're not going to
charge.
We haven't found that out yet,so they haven't set a date of
when that's going to roll out.
So just be aware, if you do flySouthwest, these are changes
that are coming into play thisyear.
(11:48):
The other thing to look out forregarding airlines the other
thing to look out for regardingairlines often many airlines are
starting to change their pointsystem.
So if you participate in somesort of airline miles point
system, you want to check to see.
You know, first of all, howlong are these points good for?
(12:09):
For example, I have AmericanAirlines and for them, 24 months
of inactivity makes you loseyour points.
And what is inactivity?
Well, that means you have toeither redeem your points or buy
a flight right, and so you wantto check to see, because you
(12:29):
don't want to lose those points.
There's opportunities where youcould possibly either use them
or even, depending on theairline, transfer them to
another points system.
Um and so just I would say, lotsof changes there with points.
I did notice like Delta alsorolled out some changes in their
point system.
(12:50):
So just look at what airlinesyou are regularly fly and see if
their point systems or theirmile systems have changed and
keep abreast of that.
So lots of changes in traveland it's constantly going to be
(13:10):
changing.
So one way to also stay up onthat if you'd like to possibly
be on their email list is I geta lot of my information
regarding these things, not justthrough news channels although
that the EU was not doing thisETIAS system I read that on USA
(13:41):
Today as something that theywere pushing back but two email
groups related to travel that Iget that has provided some of
this information to me and ifyou're interested in staying
abreast on this information isone is daily passport and the
other is photos, travel, and soboth of these will send you, you
(14:04):
know, probably, uh, could be aweekly daily email, possibly, um
, on things that are happeningin the travel world.
We'll keep abreast of thosechanges that are happening in
this world.
There's always changeshappening and some are good and
some we just have to accept and,you know, look forward to those
(14:27):
travel that we will have, thatwe have get, we get the
opportunity we get, we areblessed to be able to travel and
that is a, you know, an honor,and so we don't.
I don't take it lightly.
Even though there might be somemore hoops to jump through, um
once you get to the other side,it's always always worth it and
(14:47):
if we abide by these, it willalso make your travel much
smoother.
So, sisters, get out there andhave that adventure, and if you
enjoyed the show, I encourageyou to leave a review.
The more reviews I get, thehigher up and the more people
will listen.
So thank you for supporting myshow and I love that you're a
(15:10):
listener.
Do you remember having rules growing up like no
running in the halls, no talkingin class or church, no chewing
gum, and then, later in life,coming across the no smoking
seatbelt laws and, over time,more changes, more rules, more
(00:21):
laws.
Well, travel has evolved aswell and has developed a lot of
its own rules over the decades,and in today's episode, I will
talk about some of these newregulations or laws that are
coming in place in 2025 that mayaffect your travel.
(00:42):
Welcome to Solo TravelAdventures.
I'm Cheryl Esch, your host.
Well, if you're a frequenttraveler, you may already know
about some of these newregulations that may affect your
travel in 2025.
But let's go back and thinkabout if you are a regular
traveler or have been travelinga while.
I just remember those days Oneof the airlines that we used to
(01:07):
frequent was TWA or Eastern andI would get my little wings as a
child a little pin, and therewas.
You were allowed to smoke onthe plane at that point.
I remember that, and there werea lot of other things that were
.
Of course, you didn't have totake your shoes off to go
(01:27):
through security.
I think there was just a lotless security at that point in
travel and obviously, after 9-11, we have developed a lot of
security changes, but even moreso over the years, you might
have noticed an increasedchanges for many reasons.
(01:52):
Now, in 2025, there was and Isay was because I'm happy to
bring to you, maybe you heardabout that in 2025, if you were
a US citizen, we technically didnot need any kind of visa, so
to speak, to travel to Europe,and there may have been some
(02:16):
other countries that were sortof visa exempt citizens that
also didn't have to worry aboutthat.
Well, europe wanted toimplement what they call the
ETIAS system, so it meansEuropean Travel Information and
Authorization System and thatwas supposed to go into effect.
But as of March 7th just gotnews that it has been revised,
(02:42):
the rollout got news that it hasbeen revised, the rollout it
keeps getting pushed back.
They've been wanting to do thisfor a while, if you've kind of
listened to any kind of you know, travel news.
And so now, as of March 7th,which wasn't that long ago of
2025, it is being pushed to 2026.
(03:03):
It is being pushed to 2026,maybe even the later half of
2026.
Part of the reason is so manyEuropean nations have to be on
the same system and have toimplement it.
So I think that is part of thereason it's been delayed, but
(03:24):
they are still doing so.
As of October of 2025, it's notthe E-T-I-A-S that you have to
do.
That's, as I said, now has beenpushed back to later, half of
2026.
So, if you're traveling toEurope this summer, you are safe
(03:44):
, but as of October of 2025,there is another operational
system it's called an EES, whereyou do have to.
It's just an electronic entrysystem.
So it's just really an entryand exit system that they want
(04:06):
you to uh go online and do.
So.
That's not a huge, huge thing,um, but that's October of 2025
right now, and so just keep yourears.
If you plan to travel to Europe,um, sometime in 2026 or the
last, last quarter of 2025,things are always changing, as
(04:40):
we know right.
So that's a big, big thing-S.
And because I am going toIceland and although Iceland is
not it is a non-EU member it'sstill part it would be part of
that system.
So there is a list if you're,you know, curious as to what
(05:03):
those countries are.
There are 25 countries in theEU and then there are some
additional ones that are alsogoing to be joining this system,
but you don't have to worryabout it right now.
What you do have to worry about, though, is if you are flying
to the UK, as of January 8, youare required to file an ETA,
(05:30):
that's an electronic travelauthorization.
It's an online form.
It's 13 US dollars or 10 eurosapproximately, so make sure, if
you're going to the UK, you getthat taken care of online, and
then, beginning May 7, 2025, if,again, if you're a US traveler
(05:53):
again, this is another change inpolicy and regulation that
keeps getting pushed back.
I remember, several years ago,hearing about this and it's
finally, I guess I think it'struly going to happen is that
May 7th, you, as a US traveler,would need to have a real ID or
(06:16):
other acceptable ID, such as apassport, even for domestic
flights.
Okay, so this is, as I said, avalid US passport or passport
card, a valid government-issuedforeign passport, a DHS-trusted
traveler card, such as GlobalEntry we're all maybe familiar
(06:36):
with Global Entry A USDepartment of Defense ID or a
permanent resident card, butthese forms of ID for example,
the ID they have to have thisyellow star on it, like, for
example, if you have a license,driver's license, a compliant
(06:57):
driver's license it's going tohave sort of this little yellow
star on it that lets theauthorities know that this is an
acceptable real ID.
So it's going to be the upperportion of your card.
But if you have a passport andyou travel, like I do, that will
suffice to take care of thatrequired document.
(07:18):
And then do you like to cruise?
Well, again, this is, I wouldsay, mainly affects US citizens.
However, you could be cruisingfrom anywhere and find yourself
in Mexico.
Right, it is a highly soughtout cruise destination, mostly
(07:38):
for out of the US, but youcertainly could get there other
ways as well, like atransatlantic, possibly.
But beginning July 1st 2025,cruises to Mexico will impose a
$42 per person additional fee,so to speak.
So, granted, I think the cruiselines are trying to fight this
(08:00):
and you won't actually probablyhave to pay out of pocket.
I imagine the cruise lines willkind of put that in the pricing
or have it as a line itembefore you do your checkout of
when you purchase your cruise.
So just know that the pricingfor cruises will increase to
Mexico because of this imposedfee from Mexico.
(08:24):
And again, travel technology ison the rise and maybe you've
experienced it already.
We know that since 9-11, thatthere is, of course, more
security x-ray machines, allthat you know requirements of
limited liquids, taking shoesoff, right all that stuff.
(08:48):
We all know that is happening.
But travel technology is on therise.
As far as what they callbiometric passport control and
you probably have, maybe, ifyou've been to an airport
recently, you have noticed whenyou give them your passport or
whatever ID that you're using,they are doing facial
(09:08):
recognition.
Now at certain airports certaintimes of the day.
Um, in the U?
S, just by the way, you canrequest to bypass that if you
don't feel comfortable withfacial recognition and having
your face, uh, saved.
They say they only save it, Ithink, 24 to 48 hours in their
(09:31):
system.
Uh, but if I have have,actually you have to tell them
beforehand.
So, like, as you're handingthem your passport, before they
start putting your information,or before you stand in front of
that facial recognition camera,you need to let them know that
you, verbally, are declining thefacial recognition and they
(09:52):
could still process you just asthey would prior to having this
technology.
Now I have heard from someoneelse that in some countries it's
not an option.
Like you have to do it.
I believe maybe that countrythat I heard from was in the UK,
believe that is required.
I don't think you are allowedto bypass that, but just so you
(10:16):
are aware of that.
And then I'm going to get intosome more more US sort of
related travel changes.
These are some of these arerather disappointing.
It is pertaining to Southwest.
I am a big Southwest flyerbecause I live in Dallas and
this is one of their main hubsis here in Dallas and I've
(10:39):
always had pretty good luck withSouthwest.
As far as pricing, I love theirfree bags checked.
If I need to check a bag and Idon't mind the open seating,
especially as a solo traveler,I'm okay with that.
I understand that that could bean issue when you are traveling
with family, but Southwest hasjust announced they are no
(11:02):
longer offering free check bags.
I think maybe for their premiumbusiness class people or
certain advantage, certainmemberships, then yes, but us
regular folks then we have topay now or carry it on.
(11:25):
They're also later this yearthey're going to get rid of
assigned seating, so I don'tknow how I feel about that.
I mean, it could be good aslong as they're not going to
charge.
We haven't found that assignedseating, so I don't know how I
feel about that.
I mean, it could be good aslong as they're not going to
charge.
We haven't found that out yet,so they haven't set a date of
when that's going to roll out.
So just be aware, if you do flySouthwest, these are changes
that are coming into play thisyear.
(11:48):
The other thing to look out forregarding airlines the other
thing to look out for regardingairlines often many airlines are
starting to change their pointsystem.
So if you participate in somesort of airline miles point
system, you want to check to see.
You know, first of all, howlong are these points good for?
(12:09):
For example, I have AmericanAirlines and for them, 24 months
of inactivity makes you loseyour points.
And what is inactivity?
Well, that means you have toeither redeem your points or buy
a flight right, and so you wantto check to see, because you
(12:29):
don't want to lose those points.
There's opportunities where youcould possibly either use them
or even, depending on theairline, transfer them to
another points system.
Um and so just I would say, lotsof changes there with points.
I did notice like Delta alsorolled out some changes in their
point system.
(12:50):
So just look at what airlinesyou are regularly fly and see if
their point systems or theirmile systems have changed and
keep abreast of that.
So lots of changes in traveland it's constantly going to be
(13:10):
changing.
So one way to also stay up onthat if you'd like to possibly
be on their email list is I geta lot of my information
regarding these things, not justthrough news channels although
that the EU was not doing thisETIAS system I read that on USA
(13:41):
Today as something that theywere pushing back but two email
groups related to travel that Iget that has provided some of
this information to me and ifyou're interested in staying
abreast on this information isone is daily passport and the
other is photos, travel, and soboth of these will send you, you
(14:04):
know, probably, uh, could be aweekly daily email, possibly, um
, on things that are happeningin the travel world.
We'll keep abreast of thosechanges that are happening in
this world.
There's always changeshappening and some are good and
some we just have to accept and,you know, look forward to those
(14:27):
travel that we will have, thatwe have get, we get the
opportunity we get, we areblessed to be able to travel and
that is a, you know, an honor,and so we don't.
I don't take it lightly.
Even though there might be somemore hoops to jump through, um
once you get to the other side,it's always always worth it and
(14:47):
if we abide by these, it willalso make your travel much
smoother.
So, sisters, get out there andhave that adventure, and if you
enjoyed the show, I encourageyou to leave a review.
The more reviews I get, thehigher up and the more people
will listen.
So thank you for supporting myshow and I love that you're a
(15:10):
listener.
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