Open skies east?

There's a 95 percent chance Senior Editor Christine Sarkis is thinking about travel right now. Follow her on Instagram @postcartography and Twitter @ChristineSarkis.

Christine Sarkis is an SATW-award-winning journalist and executive editor at SmarterTravel. Her stories have also appeared on USA Today, Conde Nast Traveler, Huffington Post, and Business Insider. Her advice has been featured in dozens of print and online publications including The New York Times, Conde Nast Traveler, and People magazine. She has also shared travel tips on television and radio shows including Good Morning America, Marketplace, and Here & Now. Her work has been published in the anthologies Spain from a Backpack and The Best Women's Travel Writing 2008. She is currently working on a travel memoir.

The Handy Item I Always Pack: The Trtl Pillow. It's easy to pack and comfortable, and makes it so I can actually sleep on flights.

Ultimate Bucket List Experience: Seeing the Aurora Borealis from the comfort of somewhere warm, like a glass igloo or hot spring.

Travel Motto: Curiosity is an amazing compass.

Aisle, Window, or Middle Seat: Aisle all the way.

Email Christine Sarkis at editor@smartertravel.com.

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On the heels of the Open Skies agreement between the U.S. and Europe comes the possibility of a similar liberalization of air travel between the U.S. and China.

Though no agreement exists yet, there’s talk of a deal being reached by May. Aviation Week has more details.

As we saw during the major PR battle between four airlines earlier this year over the lone new route opening between the two countries (United won the spot with its D.C.-to-Beijing route), air travel to China is a big deal. Airlines are falling all over themselves to get a piece of the profit. But as with the European Open Skies deal, passengers should benefit from the increase in choice and competition, meaning airlines won’t be the only ones to profit.

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