diff --git a/services/travel-memories/tests/test_crosscutting.py b/services/travel-memories/tests/test_crosscutting.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a9aa6c7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/services/travel-memories/tests/test_crosscutting.py
@@ -0,0 +1,87 @@
+import json
+
+
+def test_hard_refresh_preserves_triage_state(base_url, page, seed_state, flask_app):
+    """State is server-side — hard refresh must not reset it."""
+    album_id = seed_state("phase2_state")
+    page.goto(f"{base_url}/triage?album_id={album_id}")
+    page.locator(".photo-card").first.click()
+    page.keyboard.press("j")
+    page.wait_for_timeout(400)
+    page.reload()
+    first_card = page.locator(".photo-card").first
+    assert "border-success" in first_card.get_attribute("class")
+
+
+def test_back_nav_from_group_to_triage_marks_curate_group_stale(base_url, page, seed_state):
+    album_id = seed_state("phase4_state")  # completed=[triage, curate], phase=group
+    page.request.post(
+        f"{base_url}/nav/phase",
+        data=json.dumps({"album_id": album_id, "target_phase": "triage"}),
+        headers={"Content-Type": "application/json"},
+    )
+    resp = page.request.get(f"{base_url}/state/{album_id}")
+    state = resp.json()
+    assert "curate" in state["phase_stale"]
+    assert "group" in state["phase_stale"]
+
+
+def test_stale_banner_visible_on_stale_phase(base_url, page, seed_state):
+    album_id = seed_state("phase4_state")
+    page.request.post(
+        f"{base_url}/nav/phase",
+        data=json.dumps({"album_id": album_id, "target_phase": "triage"}),
+        headers={"Content-Type": "application/json"},
+    )
+    # Now visit curate (which is stale)
+    page.goto(f"{base_url}/curate?album_id={album_id}")
+    assert page.locator("#stale-banner").is_visible()
+
+
+def test_dismiss_stale_clears_flag(base_url, page, seed_state, flask_app):
+    album_id = seed_state("phase4_state")
+    page.request.post(
+        f"{base_url}/nav/phase",
+        data=json.dumps({"album_id": album_id, "target_phase": "triage"}),
+        headers={"Content-Type": "application/json"},
+    )
+    page.goto(f"{base_url}/curate?album_id={album_id}")
+    page.locator("#stale-banner button").click()
+    page.wait_for_url("**/curate**")
+    with flask_app.app_context():
+        from app.state import load_state
+        state = load_state(album_id, flask_app)
+        assert "curate" not in state.phase_stale
+
+
+def test_exported_group_not_affected_by_back_nav(base_url, page, seed_state, flask_app):
+    """Exporting then going back to triage must not touch the exported group."""
+    album_id = seed_state("phase6_state")
+    # Manually set one group to exported
+    with flask_app.app_context():
+        from app.state import load_state, save_state
+        state = load_state(album_id, flask_app)
+        state.groups[0].status = "exported"
+        save_state(state, flask_app)
+    # Navigate back
+    page.request.post(
+        f"{base_url}/nav/phase",
+        data=json.dumps({"album_id": album_id, "target_phase": "triage"}),
+        headers={"Content-Type": "application/json"},
+    )
+    with flask_app.app_context():
+        from app.state import load_state
+        state = load_state(album_id, flask_app)
+        assert state.groups[0].status == "exported"
+
+
+def test_notes_autosave_survives_phase_navigation(base_url, page, seed_state, flask_app):
+    album_id = seed_state("phase2_state")
+    page.request.post(
+        f"{base_url}/notes/save",
+        data=json.dumps({"album_id": album_id, "notes": "survives navigation"}),
+        headers={"Content-Type": "application/json"},
+    )
+    page.goto(f"{base_url}/curate?album_id={album_id}")
+    resp = page.request.get(f"{base_url}/notes/{album_id}")
+    assert resp.json()["notes"] == "survives navigation"