Airline Lobby Group IATA Starts Charging For COVID-19 Travel Map

International Air Transport Association (IATA, an airline lobby group) offers a COVID-19 travel map powered by Timatic. Previously this map was free but IATA is now providing three free entry requirement searches before trying to charge $199 per year. You’d think that an airline lobby group would be trying to encourage as much travel as possible without putting paywalls in the way. Although after the IATA’s stance on social distancing and refunds nothing surprises me anymore. Kayak has an alternative that is completely free.

Hat tip to OMaaT

 

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

14 Comments
newest
oldest most voted

A
A (@guest_1035085)
August 12, 2020 13:39

Sorta related, PADI has a diving COVID restriction map that also gives details about entering the countries/states.
https://travel.padi.com/scuba-diving-after-coronavirus-world-map/

David
David (@guest_1032338)
August 7, 2020 23:37

I don’t feel like entering this CAPTCHA on the site…
https://imgur.com/a/u8ZKzXk

Greedy Phokers
Greedy Phokers (@guest_1032271)
August 7, 2020 21:06

Capitalism is gonna capitalism, amirite?

ThinkHarder
ThinkHarder (@guest_1032397)
August 8, 2020 05:20

And capitalism will correct this abuse

Jeremy
Jeremy (@guest_1032268)
August 7, 2020 21:04

Thank you for the Kayak link. I had been making good use of the IATA map to keep track of things. How crazy that they are so averse to normal people being able to see the current status of travel restrictions.

P
P (@guest_1032246)
August 7, 2020 20:41

$199 per year? I don’t mind them charging but holy f-word sh!+

Skooby
Skooby (@guest_1032441)
August 8, 2020 10:29
  P

The charge also includes automatic alerts when any information is updated. That way folks don’t need to constantly check. I would pay the fee if I was to start heavily traveling, including cruising again and we’re still in the middle of Covid-19 (which I believe we will be for a long time).

Kelvin
Kelvin (@guest_1032191)
August 7, 2020 19:28

Has anyone actually hit the paywall yet? I did some experiments, and it doesn’t seem to actually enforce it (not sure if they have a timer that needs to elapse between “visits.”

I’m sort of inclined to believe its a scare tactic to drive usage down to a level they’re willing to pay for…

Martin
Martin (@guest_1032275)
August 7, 2020 21:12

I have. Not really looking for any specific info, just clicking around, and got a pop-up saying “ You have reached the limit of viewing three countries. Please go to IATA.org to learn more about how to subscribe!” with the 4th check on the map.

bb182
bb182 (@guest_1032371)
August 8, 2020 01:43

It’s viewing 3 countries, not 3 visits to the map. You can reset the counter by refreshing the page. Or you can open the web console and enter “xClick = -Infinity”

David
David (@guest_1032163)
August 7, 2020 18:50

Unions / Lobbying groups aren’t the best and brightest anymore.

Which makes sense – what was once upon a time a concept of concern for human rights have simply shifted to lobbying for monetary interest of your industry. And thus you slowly die as you do incompetent things like unionize for a hostess factory for creating twinkies. Go figure.

Hotdogsalesman
Hotdogsalesman (@guest_1032300)
August 7, 2020 22:00

Those pesky workers! Always organizing for better pay and working conditions, how dare they!

NoMatches?
NoMatches? (@guest_1032414)
August 8, 2020 08:53

Yeah that all sounds good till a load of bread is $10

Z
Z (@guest_1032488)
August 8, 2020 11:49

Your statement is based on the assumption that unions are in the worker’s corner. Is that true?