Domestic travel within the US has picked up considerably with the ongoing vaccination rollout and the declining rate of infection. As of July 6, very few states have travel restrictions, and the rules and guidelines that remain are generally less strict. Fully vaccinated travelers do not need to self-quarantine, and they don't need to test negative before or after their travels unless their destination requires it. Even though almost all states have dropped travel restrictions, their official websites have important COVID-19 safety information. For instance, some states are recommending that unvaccinated travelers get a COVID test or wear a mask in public. Click "Read More" below for a comprehensive list of state-specific travel guidelines and safety mandates currently in place across the US, as assembled by CNN.

COVID-19 travel restrictions between Canada and the US have begun to loosen for some Canadians, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said plans to totally reopen the border would be announced over the next few weeks, reports AP News. Canadian citizens and permanent residents who have had a full dose of a vaccine approved for use in Canada no longer need to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival. Eligible air travelers also no longer have to spend their first three days in the country at a government-approved hotel. However, restrictions barring all non-essential trips between Canada and the United States, including tourism, will remain in place until at least July 21. Trudeau said the easing of the rules marks a "big step" toward re-opening the border. Trudeau said he understands how eager people are to see the border reopen but noted that the pandemic continues and "things aren’t normal yet [...] We need to do this right."

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced earlier this week that most lockdown restrictions will end on July 19, but the country will continue to maintain border controls and some travel restrictions, reports Forbes. Johnson stated that he will work with the travel industry to remove the need for fully vaccinated travelers to quarantine upon arrival from amber list countries; however, no dates have been provided. Most countries are on an amber list, which involves a ten-day quarantine upon arrival in the UK, with a test before arrival and two tests on day two and eight after arrival. Travelers can "test out" after day five with a negative test. The US is currently on the amber list, as are most EU countries. A final decision to go ahead with these plans will take place on July 12, after reviewing the data from this week. UK Transport Minister Grant Shapps is expected to make a statement on travel restrictions later this week.

British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, and Heathrow have announced that they are launching trials for travelers to prove their fully vaccinated status in digital or paper format upon return from amber list countries – an identification process already in place for outbound travel to several countries. The initiative will see fully vaccinated volunteers traveling on selected flights from Athens, Los Angeles, Montego Bay, and New York to London Heathrow showing proof of their vaccine status. All travelers eligible for the trial will be contacted by their respective airline.

In addition, Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic have been given the go-ahead by Heathrow Airport to resume operations in Terminal 3 beginning July 15. In a recent statement, Delta stated that it is operating nonstop services to Heathrow from both Atlanta and New York-JFK; however, US entry restrictions for non-essential travelers from the UK still apply. Virgin Atlantic destinations including Antigua, Barbados, Grenada, and Israel are all classified as “Green” on the UK government’s travel list, which means travelers are not required to quarantine on their return.

The US Department of Transportation (DOT) is developing a set of rules that could change the way airlines handle extra, optional fees, such as the charges to check a bag or reserve a specific seat, reports CNN. The rules -- requiring faster refunds and upfront disclosure of fees -- are under development, said Brian Deese, director of the White House's National Economic Council. The first proposal, due to be released in days, would require airlines to refund extra fees in more circumstances than under the current requirements, according to a source familiar with the plans. This includes refunding fees for checked bags that are more than 12 hours delayed for a domestic flight and 25 hours delayed for an international flight. The official said current refund rules apply to lost, but not delayed, luggage. That proposal would also require the prompt refund of optional fees if the service -- such as choosing a seat and using Wi-Fi internet -- does not work or is not used. The current federal rule requiring this type of refund is limited to instances where the airline does not allow the traveler to board. Another proposal, due out later this year, would require airlines to inform travelers prior to selling the tickets about fees for baggage and to change or cancel tickets.