The Travel Ban Kept Me Home
When the travel ban was announced I wasn't a fan. But it turned out to be the right thing for me. Put down your pitchfork and keep reading.
The Travel Ban Kept Me Home
![By Author: IA Source: Taken at the shrine of Imam Ali Reda in Mashad, Iran, in August, 2005. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:RezaShrine.jpg) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], via Wikimedia Commons](https://www.travelingwellforless.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/travel-ban2.jpg)
I was flying non-stop from Los Angeles to Doha on Qatar Airways in Business Class. My out of pocket cost was only $7.65.
Plus 67,500 miles. I booked the flight last March before American Airlines changed their award chart. A Business Class flight from the US to the Middle East now costs 70,000 miles.
The departure date was January 30, 2017. This was three days after President Trump issued the travel ban.
The executive order restricted entry from:
- Iran
- Iraq
- Libya
- Somalia
- Sudan
- Syria
- Yemen
Although, I wasn't flying to any of the banned countries, I was flying to Doha, the capital of Qatar. In Qatar, the religious majority practices Islam. And it's only 698 miles from Yemen. Which is about the distance from Los Angeles to Salt Lake City.
Yemen is one of the restricted countries on the travel ban. And on the US State Department's travel warnings list of countries you should not visit. Yemen is so dangerous the US Embassy in Yemen closed on February 11, 2015.
I was spending 8 days in Doha. Then flying to Auckland on Qatar Airways in Business Class for 45,000 American Airlines miles and $38.05.
Yep, pre-devaluation prices. That same flight now costs 80,000 miles.
My return flight wasn't booked yet so my options were open. I've visited the Muslim countries of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Turkey, and the Maldives. The travel ban wasn't sitting right with me.
Read my posts on Dubai and the Maldives:
- Sandboarding in Dubai
- How to Buy a Ticket on These Airlines & Get a Free Hotel Room
- Top Luxury Hotels in Maldives to Stay on Points
Fly or Stay Home
As a solo female traveler, I have to be more cautious.
Should I stay home or should I go? I debated that question over the next two days.
All sorts of thoughts ran through my head. "What if I went and the other countries retaliated and I couldn't get back home? I'd be stuck in the Middle East in possibly a very bad situation.
"What if I went but had problems getting back into the US."
And of course, the one that mile junkies and travel hackers always fret over, "But it was such a good deal." Because those same flights cost 150,000 miles!
What to do, what to do.
The Travel Ban Meant I Was Home When My Father-in-Law Died
Because of the uncertainty, I canceled my flights. The taxes and miles were refunded.
But, over the course of the next few days, I was starting to rethink my decision. Had I made the right choice? Should I have gone anyway?
Until we got the call from my mother-in-law telling us that my father-in-law passed away. I talked about him in my post on emotional support animals and comfort golden retrievers.
Then Saturday I got a text from the credit monitoring service I use saying my credit score had changed. I hadn't applied for any new cards and I made my payments early because I would have been traveling. So, something was up and it wasn't good.
Someone decided to open a new card in my name. Yep, I'm a victim of identity theft. I spent all day yesterday trying to get things sorted out. Fun. Not.
I'm working on a series of posts on what to do when someone steals your identity. So, stay tuned.
Long story short, I'm glad I had canceled my trip.
Conclusion
All politics aside, while I don't agree with President Trump's travel ban, it worked out to my benefit.
Had the travel ban not be in place, I would be in New Zealand right now after having spent 8 days in Doha. So I wouldn't have been in the United States my father-in-law died.
And I wouldn't have found out that my identity got stolen until I got home next week or the week after. Who knows how many credit cards that person would have opened?
Did you change any trip plans because of the travel ban?
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I am so sorry for the loss of your father in law!! I am glad the ban worked out in your favor in some aspects, hopefully you are able to start to travel more.
Hi Jenny,
Thank you.
If any silver lining could be found in this ban, it was your cancelled trips. I'm so glad you cancelled and were able to be home with your family when you got that news. I am very sorry for your loss. =(
Hi Stacie,
Yep, me too. Thank you.
Sometimes things are just meant to be the way they are. I'm glad things worked out for the best, but I also know that you would have loved traveling! I am sending condolences on the passing of your father in law.
Hi Sara Broers,
Thanks. 🙂
so sorry for your loss.. I agree with the ban for other reasons!!!!! thanks for the article
Hi dotti cahill,
Thank you for your condolences. I appreciate that you read every article. 🙂
It's funny how life works out!! One small change can make all the difference
Hi Jenn,
You're so right. 🙂
It never ceases to amaze me how something you think is bad turns out to be good.
Identity theft isn't fun to deal with at all. And, you are right...the more time before you notice the more damage that can be done.
Condolences and prayers for your family, too.
Hi Lauraoinak,
I know right.
Thank you. 🙂
Sounds like you find the positives in things! That is a great way to live! I am sorry for your loss, safe and happy travels to you!
Hi Karissa,
Yep, exactly. I'd rather be positive than negative. Thank you. 🙂
It is sad when people just decide that all the shrimp in a shrimp basket are bad because one was so bad that it burst someone's liver. People fail to realize that we are people all the same with experiences and faults. Traveling the world brings you to that reality.
Hi Stephanie Jeannot,
Very true. And it crosses over into so many areas. For example, people think everyone who voted for Trump is a racist, all lawyers are crooks, and used car salesman are untrustworthy. Generalizations hurt everyone. No one is perfect.
Debra, very sorry for your loss. Never easy. One thing that confused me :
"And I wouldn’t have found out that my identity got stolen until I got home next week or the week after. Who knows how many credit cards that person would have opened?"
Why? you would have access to the same alerts and such while traveling. Actually, I think alerts and account details are even more important when you travel a lot (and when on the road).
Hi Baccarat_guy,
Thank you. 🙂
Texts were going to a number that when traveling I don't get a visual and audio notification. Whereas when I'm home, they flash across my screen and a trumpet sounds (just one trumpet, not seven). That's now been changed.
In your situation, travel ban was a really good thing that happened. I'm really sorry about your loss. Glad you shared this.
Thank you, Victoria Heckstall.
Good for you that you decided to cancel your trip at the right time. It will be a nightmare if you were gone for weeks and someone has stolen your identity. I am sorry for your loss and I hope everything is fine now.
Hi My Teen Guide,
Thank you. Everyone, especially my mother-in-law, is adjusting well.
Wow this is quite an interesting perspective and crazy time it seems for you. I am sorry for your loss!
Thanks, Melissa Dixon.
Loss is always a hard thing to deal with. I had my identity stolen recently and it's been something else to get through. I look forward to your post on what to do.
Hi Terri Beavers,
Oh, no. I"m sorry you had your identity stolen. I'll try to get the first post in the identity theft series done this week. Feel free to email me if you have any questions or need immediate answers.
I think everyone will have their own opinion on the travel ban and I am sorry for your loss.
Hi Ricci,
Thank you.
Bummer on missing out on your flight but it is good that you were where you needed to be at the time. It stinks that someone opened a credit card in your name; hopefully, they didn't rack up a bunch of debt.
Hi Up Run For Life,
Thankfully, because I use a credit monitoring company, we caught it early.
Wow - that sounds like it was a hard decision to make, but ended up being the better decision in the end. I hope you get your credit issues resolved.
Thanks, Shannon Gurnee. 🙂
Sounds like a great decision in the end. Sorry for your loss as well. I've never traveled much myself, so I didn't know too much about this.
Hi Kathy,
Thank you.
I'm so sorry to hear about your father-in-law. So sorry for your loss!
Thank you very much, Kendall Rayburn.
Everything happens for a reason. It's a good thing you decided not to go. I am sorry to hear about your loss.
Hi OurFamilyWorld,
I agree. Thank you. 🙂
I'm glad you were at home when your father-in-law passed away. I'm sorry about the stolen identity. I hope they find the culprit and that you get everything straightened out.
Hi Tammy,
Thank you so much. 🙂 Me too. Unfortunately, identity theft is a huge problem and there aren't enough resources.
I am very sorry for your loss. It must have been hard not to be there.
well I'm glad you're seeing the positive out of the whole ordeal! sounds like a lot was going on and in the midst of it all you saw the silver lining... good for you!
I'm so sorry to hear and so sorry for the loss of your father in law, I know it's really hard but glad you are stay on the Positive.
Sorry to hear about your father in law my heart goes out to you all and it is a shame about your card too. I do remember the post about the dog that I thought was so sweet and a great idea for the elderly. The ban was indeed prefect timing for you . Thanks for sharing your experience.
I'm so sorry for your loss, but glad things worked out for you. My husband was a victim of identity theft too. It was scary, but good thing they got it fixed immediately.
When I first read the title I was a bit confused but I truly see why, for you, the travel ban worked in your favor. So sorry to hear about your father-in-law and that your identity was stolen.
Well, that headline is a bit too much for me. However, I am glad that you were there for your family. - yolonda
I am very sorry for your loss, and as a victim of identity theft I can certainly relate to how frustrating it is getting everything sorted out. Definitely a lot to have hit you at one time.