Good morning. It's Thursday, Aug 13, 2026. Here’s what matters before your next trip:
👮 Europe’s new biometric border system is causing longer waits at some airports.
✈️ U.S. Bank finally launched airline and hotel transfer partners for its Altitude Reserve.
🚢 Repositioning cruises could offer cheaper fares and unusual itineraries.
❄️ Cruise lines are betting big on cooler Northern European summers.
👗 And if Italy is on your list, what you wear matters more than you might think.
Boarding Brief
Europe’s New Border System Is Still Causing Delays
If Europe is on your fall travel calendar, there’s a new airport headache to know about.
The EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) has replaced traditional passport stamping for many non-EU travelers entering the Schengen Area. The system records passport details along with facial images and fingerprints and tracks entries and exits digitally.
The goal is eventually faster, more accurate border processing. So far, however, technical problems, staffing shortages and lengthy biometric registration have caused delays at some crossings. European authorities have allowed temporary flexibility to suspend biometric collection in exceptional cases involving excessive waits.
For Americans, the biggest change is simple: your first trip through the system may take longer than a traditional passport check.
Travel Smarter: Build extra time into your first European arrival and don't schedule a tight connection immediately after immigration.
Travel Smarter
Going to Italy? Dress Like You're Going to Brunch
Italy doesn't require a designer wardrobe. But showing up in beachwear everywhere isn't exactly the best way to blend in.
A longtime Italy resident says one of the simplest etiquette upgrades is to dress neatly and appropriately for the setting.
That means leaving the flip-flops, gym clothes and overly casual outfits for the beach or hotel. Churches can have their own dress expectations, particularly around shoulders and legs.
You don't need expensive clothes. Think clean, comfortable and pulled together.
The payoff isn't just looking less touristy. Dressing appropriately can also help you avoid being turned away from places with dress expectations.
Travel Smarter: Pack at least one versatile outfit that works for restaurants, museums and churches. It takes up little space and can save you from an awkward wardrobe change.
Points & Miles
U.S. Bank Finally Has Transfer Partners
A rewards program many travelers had been waiting on has finally arrived.
U.S. Bank has added its first airline and hotel transfer partners to the Altitude Reserve card: Air France-KLM Flying Blue, Qantas Frequent Flyer, Ethiopian Airlines ShebaMiles and Accor Live Limitless. The airline programs transfer at 1:1, while Accor transfers at 2:1.
There's a catch: the Altitude Reserve is not currently open to new applicants.
Still, this is a meaningful development. Cardholders can now move points into airline and hotel programs instead of being limited to U.S. Bank's fixed redemption options.
And ShebaMiles is particularly interesting because U.S. Bank is currently its only major transferable-points partner.
Travel Smarter: If you already have the Altitude Reserve, it's worth checking these new transfer options before redeeming points at a fixed rate.
Today’s Deal
Breeze Is Offering Up to 35% Off Select Flights
Planning a fall or winter getaway? Breeze Airways is offering up to 35% off base fares on select round-trip routes with promo code TROPICAL.
The deal includes routes from Tampa (TPA) to destinations including Cancún, Montego Bay, Nassau, Punta Cana, San José and St. Thomas, among others.
You have until August 13 at 11:59 p.m. PT to book, with eligible travel from September 8, 2026, through February 9, 2027. Holiday blackout dates apply.
Travel Smarter: The discount applies to the base fare, not necessarily the full ticket price. Check the final total—including bags and other extras—before booking.
The Layover
Travelers Around the World Have Some Strange Preflight Rituals
Some travelers check their boarding pass three times. Others apparently need garlic.
Travel superstitions vary wildly around the world. Some people touch the outside of the aircraft before boarding, while others insist on stepping onto the plane with their right foot first.
Certain numbers can also make travelers uneasy: 13 in the U.S., 4 in China and 17 in Italy.
Whether you believe any of it is beside the point. Travel can be stressful, and little rituals can give people a sense of control before a flight.
So if you have a preflight habit that you refuse to skip, you're definitely not alone.
Travel Smarter: Keep the ritual if it calms you—but don't let superstition replace the things that actually matter, like checking your passport, gate and departure time.
The best HR advice comes from those in the trenches. That’s what this is: real-world HR insights delivered in a newsletter from Hebba Youssef, a Chief People Officer who’s been there. Practical, real strategies with a dash of humor. Because HR shouldn’t be thankless—and you shouldn’t be alone in it.
HOTELS & LUXURY
Amex Is Adding 350 More Luxury Hotels
Luxury travel isn't just about chandeliers and marble anymore.
American Express is marking the 35th anniversary of Fine Hotels + Resorts with more than 350 new properties across Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection, expanding the programs across more than 60 countries.
The additions reflect a shift toward experience-driven luxury, from countryside retreats and wellness stays to hotels located close to restaurants, museums and city attractions.
For eligible Amex cardholders, the attraction isn't just the hotel itself. FHR bookings can include benefits such as daily breakfast, a property credit and guaranteed 4 p.m. checkout.
Travel Smarter: If you already have an eligible Amex card, compare the FHR rate with the hotel's direct price. The extra perks can make the portal worthwhile when the base rate is competitive.
At The Sea
Repositioning Cruises Could Be a Hidden Cruise Bargain
Most cruises are designed around the destinations. Repositioning cruises are designed around the ship.
These one-way sailings happen when cruise lines move a ship from one region to another for a new season. Because the cruise isn't built around the usual popular itinerary, cabins can sometimes be considerably cheaper.
You may also get unusual ports that the ship doesn't regularly visit, plus several sea days.
The trade-off? You'll usually need to fly into one city and home from another, and the itineraries can be longer and less predictable.
For travelers who have flexible schedules and enjoy the ship as much as the destination, that's hardly a downside.
Travel Smarter: Compare the cruise fare and the cost of those one-way flights before booking. The cheapest cabin isn't necessarily the cheapest trip.
Smart Traveler Pick
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“A journey is best measured in friends, rather than miles.”
— Tim Cahill
| Until next boarding..
Travel smarter, Explore more. ✈️
Written by the Boarding Soon Editorial Team
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