Airfares to US to drop?

[RSD]

Inbound U.S. tourism might increase if Canada turns the lights off in the U.S....

 

[DC3]

Yeah, they do. During the heady “Banana Republic” days (aka ~2000-2002 and thereabouts) …

That was probably about the time when they were getting two AUD for every one USD. Oz seemed to be full of US travellers.

 

[Ansett Nostalgic]

I'm looking forward to visiting the US now that Trump is making it safer by deporting all the criminals and illegal aliens. If her can clean up the streets of the filthy big cities then it might be a more attractive place for tourism.

 

[TWO+TWO]

I'm looking forward to visiting the US now that Trump is making it safer by deporting all the criminals and illegal aliens. If her can clean up the streets of the filthy big cities then it might be a more attractive place for tourism.

Yep - this is important for attracting tourists is having clean streets.

 

[DC3]

Yep - this is important for attracting tourists is having clean streets.

Welcome to AFF

 

[Quickstatus]

If her can clean up the streets of the filthy big cities then it might be a more attractive place for tourism.

Though the responsibility for cities ultimately do not rest with #47. Cue San Francisco (and others)

 

[DC3]

I'm looking forward to visiting the US now that Trump is making it safer by deporting all the criminals and illegal aliens. If her can clean up the streets of the filthy big cities then it might be a more attractive place for tourism.

I’m looking forward to my next US trip as well, although not planning on visiting the big cities this time.

 

[dajop]

Aaah the narrative that streets in US cities are unsafe. I guess a lot of people believe it. I guess it's advantageous to create that narrative and then demonstrate that you've fixed it.

Sure, if you go into certain parts of the cities, it can be, but it has always been that way. Generally speaking I've found US cities to be fine - and in the last 3 years I've visited San Francisco,, Denver, Milwaukee and Boston once each and multiple visits to Philadelphia, Chicago and New York. Can't say I saw anything of particular concern. But I didn't, for example, stray into the southsides of Philly or Chicago.

Even San Francisco - the narrative is that it's a hellhole, with lots of homeless. Yes, seemed to be lots of homeless right in the centre - not all homeless are a threat to personal security though. Union Square is a trainwreck, seems dodgy as the proverbial and basically deserted - a pale shadow of what it was 10 years ago. But other neighbourhoods- Chinatown, Fishermans Wharf, the Mission, Castro, Haight & Ashbury, and several others, all seemed vibrant as they used to be .

In any event, people are talking a lot in this thread about tourism type traffic - probably more important is what happens to business confidence and whether or not you see curtailed spending and reductions in business traffic across the Pacific. Remains to be seen.

 

[Forg]

In any event, people are talking a lot in this thread about tourism type traffic - probably more important is what happens to business confidence and whether or not you see curtailed spending and reductions in business traffic across the Pacific. Remains to be seen.

That's an interesting point ... does it matter what "category" of travel it is, are the airlines tweaking seat-numbers to match total traveler-numbers closely enough that even a relatively small percentage-drop in one category of traveller has enough effect to trigger discounts?

 

[dajop]

That's an interesting point ... does it matter what "category" of travel it is, are the airlines tweaking seat-numbers to match total traveler-numbers closely enough that even a relatively small percentage-drop in one category of traveller has enough effect to trigger discounts?

One possibility could be that if business (class) traffic holds up, then you maintain capacity which could lead to discounting in the economy cabin if leisure travel declines. However if business (class) traffic drops sufficiently then you start pulling capacity, which may not lead to as much discounting in economy, or even increases in price if leisure/economy travel holds up. (forgetting PE for the moment). Not sure how real these scenarios are.

 

[Katie]

I'm holding off booking a trip for one of two conferences in May due to the volatility in US immigration activities.
While I'm a white, middle-aged lady who speaks English as a first language and am not a criminal, it feels far more likely that US immigration agents could find any reason to consider my entry to the US for a conference as suspicious.

Maybe I'm being overly worried, but the situation seems more volatile than during the 45 administration. I was not at all worried then.

For leisure travel, my family is thinking much more about travelling to Asia and Europe than the US.

 

[SYD]

I'm holding off booking a trip for one of two conferences in May due to the volatility in US immigration activities.
While I'm a white, middle-aged lady who speaks English as a first language and am not a criminal, it feels far more likely that US immigration agents could find any reason to consider my entry to the US for a conference as suspicious.

Maybe I'm being overly worried, but the situation seems more volatile than during the 45 administration. I was not at all worried then.

For leisure travel, my family is thinking much more about travelling to Asia and Europe than the US.

If you’ve been to the US before, I wouldn’t be concerned at all.

We have two trips booked: HNL and then SFO and NYC.

 

[elanshin]

I'm holding off booking a trip for one of two conferences in May due to the volatility in US immigration activities.
While I'm a white, middle-aged lady who speaks English as a first language and am not a criminal, it feels far more likely that US immigration agents could find any reason to consider my entry to the US for a conference as suspicious.

Maybe I'm being overly worried, but the situation seems more volatile than during the 45 administration. I was not at all worried then.

For leisure travel, my family is thinking much more about travelling to Asia and Europe than the US.

I wouldn't be concerned about getting in past CBP at immigration if you've been before unless we see even bigger changes in geopolitics (in which case we would all know qnd be discussing it).

Whether you want to travel there for leisure is a different story.

 

[jrfsp]

They are looking at updated visa / country changes however....wont affect Australia

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/14/us/politics/trump-travel-ban.html

https://www.news.com.au/travel/trav...t/news-story/3dc533f2e96df0608b566eea8e0d8f8e (no paywall)

While it talks of citizens of said countries, I wonder if there may be increased scrutiny if you have visited such countries

 

[SYD]

They are looking at updated visa / country changes however....wont affect Australia

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/14/us/politics/trump-travel-ban.html

https://www.news.com.au/travel/trav...t/news-story/3dc533f2e96df0608b566eea8e0d8f8e (no paywall)

While it talks of citizens of said countries, I wonder if there may be increased scrutiny if you have visited such countries

Yes, that was my concern when I saw the list last week. I’ve been to several countries on those yellow and amber lists…. Hopefully any new additions won’t be retrospective but thinking of applying for a new ESTA sooner than later…

 

[RSD]

Yes, that was my concern when I saw the list last week. I’ve been to several countries on those yellow and amber lists…. Hopefully any new additions won’t be retrospective but thinking of applying for a new ESTA sooner than later…

I've got the same concerns.

 

[DC3]

While I'm a white, middle-aged lady who speaks English as a first language and am not a criminal, it feels far more likely that US immigration agents could find any reason to consider my entry to the US for a conference as suspicious.

So, you will stick out like a sore thumb?

 

[jrfsp]

Yes, that was my concern when I saw the list last week. I’ve been to several countries on those yellow and amber lists…. Hopefully any new additions won’t be retrospective but thinking of applying for a new ESTA sooner than later…

Not a bad idea......

 

[Quickstatus]

If prices are cheap enough I'll visit the US.

Spoiler: Dont read

Does wearing a Maga cap improve immigration experience?

 

[BCons]

This is getting a bit off-topic, which was the possibility of fares coming down if perceptions of the US as an unwelcoming destination increases.

Have entered the US maybe 40 times since I first went in 1975. The last time, arriving by air in Seattle in Sept 24 (under ESTA, pre-Trump) was the most confrontational ever. The full 20 questions without a trace of good humour, requests for accom paperwork, tours booked. This for a couple in thr 60s/70s.

Compare and contrast our departure. Many of you will hv exited at LAX simply by changing planes, Dom to Intl. Yes, you're on the departing plane's manifest but nobody asks to see yr passport when you leave..