Everything You Need to Know About New Travel Rules Taking Effect in 2025

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

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Chapters

• 0:24 Evolution of Travel Regulations
• 1:25 EU Travel Authorization Updates
• 4:03 UK and US ID Requirements
• 8:07 Mexico Cruise Fees & Biometric Controls
• 10:40 Airline Policy Changes
• 13:36 Staying Informed and Final Thoughts

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

Do you remember having rules growing up like no running in the halls, no talking in 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 laws. Well, travel has evolved as well and has developed a lot of its own rules over the decades, and in today's episode, I will talk about some of these new regulations or laws that are coming in place in 2025 that may affect your travel. Welcome to Solo Travel Adventures. I'm Cheryl Esch, your host. Well, if you're a frequent traveler, you may already know about some of these new regulations that may affect your travel in 2025. But let's go back and think about if you are a regular traveler or have been traveling a while. I just remember those days One of the airlines that we used to frequent was TWA or Eastern and I would get my little wings as a child a little pin, and there was. You were allowed to smoke on the plane at that point. I remember that, and there were a lot of other things that were. Of course, you didn't have to take your shoes off to go through security. I think there was just a lot less security at that point in travel and obviously, after 9-11, we have developed a lot of security changes, but even more so over the years, you might have noticed an increased changes for many reasons.

Speaker 1: 1:52

Now, in 2025, there was and I say was because I'm happy to bring to you, maybe you heard about that in 2025, if you were a US citizen, we technically did not need any kind of visa, so to speak, to travel to Europe, and there may have been some other countries that were sort of visa exempt citizens that also didn't have to worry about that. Well, europe wanted to implement what they call the ETIAS system, so it means European Travel Information and Authorization System and that was supposed to go into effect. But as of March 7th just got news that it has been revised, the rollout got news that it has been revised, the rollout it keeps getting pushed back. They've been wanting to do this for 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. It is being pushed to 2026, maybe even the later half of 2026. Part of the reason is so many European nations have to be on the same system and have to implement it. So I think that is part of the reason it's been delayed, but they are still doing so.

Speaker 1: 3:26

As of October of 2025, it's not the E-T-I-A-S that you have to do. That's, as I said, now has been pushed back to later, half of 2026. So, if you're traveling to Europe this summer, you are safe, but as of October of 2025, there is another operational system it's called an EES, where you do have to. It's just an electronic entry system. So it's just really an entry and exit system that they want 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 your ears.

Speaker 1: 4:19

If you plan to travel to Europe, um, sometime in 2026 or the last, last quarter of 2025, things are always changing, as we know right. So that's a big, big thing-S. And because I am going to Iceland and although Iceland is not it is a non-EU member it's still part it would be part of that system. So there is a list if you're, you know, curious as to what those countries are. There are 25 countries in the EU and then there are some additional ones that are also going to be joining this system, but you don't have to worry about it right now. What you do have to worry about, though, is if you are flying to the UK, as of January 8, you are required to file an ETA, that's an electronic travel authorization. It's an online form. It's 13 US dollars or 10 euros approximately, so make sure, if you're going to the UK, you get that taken care of online, and then, beginning May 7, 2025, if, again, if you're a US traveler again, this is another change in policy and regulation that keeps getting pushed back.

Speaker 1: 6:00

I remember, several years ago, hearing about this and it's finally, I guess I think it's truly going to happen is that May 7th, you, as a US traveler, would need to have a real ID or other acceptable ID, such as a passport, even for domestic flights. Okay, so this is, as I said, a valid US passport or passport card, a valid government-issued foreign passport, a DHS-trusted traveler card, such as Global Entry we're all maybe familiar with Global Entry A US Department of Defense ID or a permanent resident card, but these forms of ID for example, the ID they have to have this yellow star on it, like, for example, if you have a license, driver's license, a compliant driver's license it's going to have sort of this little yellow star on it that lets the authorities know that this is an acceptable real ID. So it's going to be the upper portion of your card. But if you have a passport and you travel, like I do, that will suffice to take care of that required document.

Speaker 1: 7:18

And then do you like to cruise? Well, again, this is, I would say, mainly affects US citizens. However, you could be cruising from anywhere and find yourself in Mexico. Right, it is a highly sought out cruise destination, mostly for out of the US, but you certainly could get there other ways as well, like a transatlantic, 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 cruise lines are trying to fight this and you won't actually probably have to pay out of pocket. I imagine the cruise lines will kind of put that in the pricing or have it as a line item before you do your checkout of when you purchase your cruise. So just know that the pricing for cruises will increase to Mexico because of this imposed fee from Mexico.

Speaker 1: 8:24

And again, travel technology is on the rise and maybe you've experienced it already. We know that since 9-11, that there is, of course, more security x-ray machines, all that you know requirements of limited liquids, taking shoes off, right all that stuff. We all know that is happening. But travel technology is on the rise. As far as what they call biometric passport control and you probably have, maybe, if you've been to an airport recently, you have noticed when you give them your passport or whatever ID that you're using, they are doing facial recognition. Now at certain airports certain times of the day. Um, in the U? S, just by the way, you can request to bypass that if you don't feel comfortable with facial recognition and having your face, uh, saved. They say they only save it, I think, 24 to 48 hours in their system. Uh, but if I have have, actually you have to tell them beforehand. So, like, as you're handing them 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 the facial recognition and they could still process you just as they would prior to having this technology. Now I have heard from someone else that in some countries it's not an option. Like you have to do it. I believe maybe that country that I heard from was in the UK, believe that is required. I don't think you are allowed to bypass that, but just so you are aware of that.

Speaker 1: 10:17

And then I'm going to get into some more more US sort of related travel changes. These are some of these are rather disappointing. It is pertaining to Southwest. I am a big Southwest flyer because I live in Dallas and this is one of their main hubs is here in Dallas and I've always had pretty good luck with Southwest. As far as pricing, I love their free bags checked. If I need to check a bag and I don't mind the open seating, especially as a solo traveler, I'm okay with that. I understand that that could be an issue when you are traveling with family, but Southwest has just announced they are no longer offering free check bags. I think maybe for their premium business class people or certain advantage, certain memberships, then yes, but us regular folks then we have to pay now or carry it on. They're also later this year they're going to get rid of assigned seating, so I don't know how I feel about that. I mean, it could be good as long as they're not going to charge. We haven't found that assigned seating, so I don't know how I feel about that. I mean, it could be good as long 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 fly Southwest, these are changes that are coming into play this year.

Speaker 1: 11:48

The other thing to look out for regarding airlines the other thing to look out for regarding airlines often many airlines are starting to change their point system. So if you participate in some sort of airline miles point system, you want to check to see. You know, first of all, how long are these points good for? For example, I have American Airlines and for them, 24 months of inactivity makes you lose your points. And what is inactivity? Well, that means you have to either redeem your points or buy a flight right, and so you want to check to see, because you don't want to lose those points. There's opportunities where you could possibly either use them or even, depending on the airline, transfer them to another points system.

Speaker 1: 12:40

Um and so just I would say, lots of changes there with points. I did notice like Delta also rolled out some changes in their point system. So just look at what airlines you are regularly fly and see if their point systems or their mile systems have changed and keep abreast of that. So lots of changes in travel and it's constantly going to be changing. So one way to also stay up on that if you'd like to possibly be on their email list is I get a lot of my information regarding these things, not just through news channels although that the EU was not doing this ETIAS system I read that on USA Today as something that they were pushing back but two email groups related to travel that I get that has provided some of this information to me and if you're interested in staying abreast on this information is one is daily passport and the other is photos, travel, and so both of these will send you, you know, probably, uh, could be a weekly daily email, possibly, um, on things that are happening in the travel world.

Speaker 1: 14:15

We'll keep abreast of those changes that are happening in this world. There's always changes happening and some are good and some we just have to accept and, you know, look forward to those travel that we will have, that we have get, we get the opportunity we get, we are blessed 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 some more hoops to jump through, um once you get to the other side, it's always always worth it and if we abide by these, it will also make your travel much smoother. So, 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. So thank you for supporting my show and I love that you're a listener.