Jacob Passy

New York

Travel Reporter at The Wall Street Journal

Travel reporter for @WSJ. Formerly @MarketWatch. Alum of @TuftsUniversity & @newmarkjschool. Views are mine. He/him.

Articles

Helicopter Tours Are Booming, Despite Spotty Safety Record

1 week ago | wsj.com | Jacob Passy

Your browser does not support HTML5 video. 0:00Paused0:00 / 1:52The fatal helicopter crash in the Hudson River is reigniting calls for more stringent regulation of sightseeing tours around the U.S.These tours have surged in popularity—not just in New York City but also in vacation destinations such as Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon, Hawaii and Alaska—generating millions of dollars in revenue in the process. Business has boomed despite a spotted record for safety.
Spanish Siemens Couple Killed Alongside Children in Hudson River Helicopter Crash

1 week ago | wsj.com | Ginger Adams Otis |Jacob Passy |Gareth Vipers

The family’s visit to New York was timed to coincide with what would have been their daughter’s ninth birthday on April 11. Their sons were 10 and 4 years old. The five were taking a sightseeing ride over New York when the aircraft crashed. The pilot, identified as Seankese Johnson, 36, also died.
How to Turn Your Airline Miles Into a Great Vacation

1 month ago | wsj.com | Jacob Passy

Sitting on credit-card points? A new breed of travel search engine can help you convert them to a vacation. There are over a dozen websites that show award redemption rates across airlines. Customers have taken note of these so-called award-search sites: Point.me, to take one example, reached one million monthly users in November. Other sites include PointsYeah, Pointhound, AwardTool and SeatSpy.
How to Turn Your Airline Miles Into a Great Vacation

1 month ago | flipboard.com | Jacob Passy

Trump Ridiculed for Claiming He Rescued the Stranded AstronautsHistory used to be written by the victors — until the internet provided us with receipts. Donald Trump insists, incorrectly, that he was the one to …
New Travel Rules Snag Visitors to the U.K.

2 months ago | msn.com | Jacob Passy

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New U.K. Travel Requirements Snag Visitors

2 months ago | wsj.com | Jacob Passy

A new approval process for visitors to the U.K. is tripping up some travelers and upending vacation plans, especially for those with a prior criminal conviction. Travelers are now obligated to apply online for a travel authorization before entering the U.K., under new requirements that took effect in early January. The electronic travel authorization, or ETA, process can be completed online or through an app and costs around $13.
How Airline Employees Are Coping After Deadly Washington Crash

2 months ago | wsj.com | Jacob Passy

Pilots and flight attendants say they are not all right. A deadly aviation accident last week near Washington, D.C., sent shock waves through the airline industry and gave crews the added responsibility of dealing with their own grief while also bringing calm to the flying public.
航空会社のマイレージにうんざり、離反する利用者

2 months ago | jp.wsj.com | Jacob Passy

More frequent fliers are declaring themselves airline free agents, fed up with ever-changing requirements to earn and maintain status. Carriers across the country have changed their loyalty programs in recent years to reward big spenders rather than budget-conscious road warriors up in the air week after week. These changes have upset travelers who once wore their airline loyalty as a badge of honor.
These Frequent Fliers Are Done With Loyalty Programs

Jan 21, 2025 | msn.com | Jacob Passy

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Rome in a Jubilee Year Means Massive Crowds. There Are Less Busy Italian Alternatives.

Jan 11, 2025 | wsj.com | Jacob Passy

This may be the year to skip Rome—or Italy entirely. The Roman Catholic Church is celebrating a jubilee year, a roughly yearlong tradition dating to the early 14th century. During jubilees, which tend to happen about every 25 years, Catholics are encouraged to make pilgrimages to holy sites in Italy and elsewhere to receive a special indulgence, or forgiveness for one’s sins.