Today in travel: Hyatt and American Airlines are winding down their loyalty partnership, the State Department warns against traveling internationally with cannabis products, United Airlines cancels a 9/11 commemorative flyover in Denver, and the UK may impose new tourist taxes.
U.S. State Department Warns Travelers Against Taking Cannabis Products Abroad
Americans traveling internationally are being reminded to leave marijuana and cannabis-derived products at home, regardless of whether those products are legal in their home state.
The State Department recently used its official X account to warn that travelers can face arrest or other criminal penalties for bringing marijuana, THC, CBD, edibles, oils, concentrates, vape cartridges, and similar products across international borders. A medical prescription does not necessarily make a cannabis product legal in another country.
What matters is the law of the country a traveler is entering. Some destinations impose severe penalties for cannabis possession or importation, including places where marijuana has been legalized or decriminalized in some circumstances.
Travelers also need to consider countries where they are only making a connection. State Department guidance notes that local laws can apply during an airport transit stop, and advises Americans to check the rules for every country on their itinerary before departure.
Hyatt and American Airlines Wind Down Loyalty Partnership as New Delta Alliance Takes Shape
Hyatt is reshuffling its airline loyalty relationships, phasing out its enhanced partnership with American Airlines while announcing a new collaboration with Delta Air Lines.
The American–Hyatt arrangement won’t disappear all at once. AAdvantage members whose accounts are linked with World of Hyatt by 11:59:59 p.m. Central Time on November 15 can continue qualifying for Hyatt awards through American’s Loyalty Point Rewards program until February 28, 2027. World of Hyatt members who link their accounts by November 15 can continue earning AAdvantage awards through Hyatt’s Milestone Rewards program through December 31, 2026.
One piece of the relationship will remain even after the broader partnership ends. AAdvantage members will still be able to choose 500 miles instead of World of Hyatt points on eligible Hyatt stays by providing their AAdvantage number at check-in.
Meanwhile, Hyatt and Delta have announced a new exclusive loyalty collaboration between World of Hyatt and Delta SkyMiles, expected to launch in the coming months.
The first announced benefit, called Dual Earn, will target eligible elite members of both programs. World of Hyatt elites will be able to earn Hyatt points on qualifying Delta airfare in eligible fare classes, while Delta Medallion members will be able to earn SkyMiles on qualifying stays at participating Hyatt hotels.
Neither company has released the full eligibility rules or an exact launch date, with additional details expected closer to the program’s debut.
Read the American Airlines announcement. Read the Delta announcement.
United Cancels 9/11 Memorial Flyover in Denver After Community Concerns
United Airlines has scrapped a planned Denver flyover commemorating the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks after concerns were raised about how the display might affect people on the ground.
The airline had planned to send a Boeing 777 into the air with four fighter jets on Friday morning. The formation was scheduled to appear at 9:03 a.m., matching the time United Flight 175 struck the South Tower of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.
Although the commemoration was intended as a private event, the aircraft would have been visible to the public. Denver officials had begun warning residents about the planned display in advance, acknowledging that the sight and sound of a passenger plane accompanied by military aircraft on the anniversary could be alarming to people who did not know it was a memorial.
United subsequently canceled the flyover, citing concerns raised within the community. Its other anniversary events will proceed, including the unveiling of a 9-foot-11-inch monument made with steel recovered from the World Trade Center at the airline’s Denver Flight Training Center.
