Category: Airlines and Airports

Travel may never be the same, but that only means that you’ll need to be more prepared for flights in the COVID era. 

Is it safe to travel?

In a word, no. Non-essential travel during a global pandemic is not encouraged by health and safety professionals. The safest place for you to be is probably inside your own home. The moment you leave your house, you are at risk of exposure to COVID-19. However, safety is also found in your everyday actions. If you must travel, or as lockdowns lift and travel restrictions loosen, if you decide to travel, there are precautionary measures you can take to lessen your risk of infection. 

No matter how many precautions you take, please do not travel if you or someone you have been in contact with have shown symptoms of COVID-19. 

Pre-travel planning and preparation

Due to the risk of exposure that comes with flying, it is crucial to get travel insurance. Check policies carefully to see what they offer in terms of COVID-19 coverage. Many policies do not cover pandemic costs, so read the whole statement thoroughly before purchasing.

Once you have your insurance figured out, you will need to plan out your trip. Gone are the days of spontaneous bookings and little research! Look into what regulations and health measures are in place at every step of your intended journey. From the local government to your accommodation providers, you need to search for what measures are being implemented to reduce virus transmission. After understanding any steps being taken, make your travel bookings. Keep your confirmations in one place so that you have your intended addresses on hand for contact tracing. It is smart to make your bookings refundable if that option is available. Flexible bookings allow you an added layer of financial protection.

Many countries have a 14-day quarantine policy for all arrivals. These countries may require you to have additional travel documentation with a local telephone number and your accommodation information to ensure you follow the sheltering protocol. For instance, the U.K. now requires arriving passengers to fill out a form before boarding their flight with addressed, local contact information, and a declaration that they will follow the laid out quarantine mandate or face a hefty fine (1,000 GBP). 

Other countries require a negative COVID-19 test. You may be required to get a test before you fly and provide proof of a negative result before boarding and upon arrival. 

Items to bring with you

Being prepared at the airport will make any travel experience smoother, but it’s now more important than ever to double-check that you have everything you need, including items that will help keep you safe and sanitary. 

First and foremost, bring a reusable mask. Masks are required at most major airports and should be worn from the moment you enter the airport through the duration of the flight. Airlines are requiring face masks be worn the full flight unless you are eating. We recommend flying with a face mask that has adjustable ear elastic. This helps eliminate the elastic pulling on your ears on long haul flights and will make your trip more comfortable overall.  

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Hand sanitizer and cleaning wipes will help you keep your hands and high-contact surfaces germ-free. As soon as you board the plane, wipe down the entertainment screen, armrests, and tray tables. Do this multiple times throughout your flight to help reduce your exposure to the virus. Sanitize your hands regularly and in between refreshment services. The Center for Disease Control recommends sanitizers with at least 70% alcohol content. 

Most airlines, in an attempt to eliminate extra contaminated surfaces, no longer offer in-flight pillows or blankets. Bring your own travel pillow so that you are safe and comfortable on long haul flights!

Meals and refreshments are yet another service that has been eliminated or streamlined for maximum traveler protection. To guarantee you don’t go hungry or that you have a meal option available to you that meets your dietary requirements, we suggest bringing snacks aboard the aircraft too. 

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Navigating new protocol with kindness

Physical distancing and wearing face masks are required practices at most major airports. Avoid sitting down in congested airport lounges if at all possible. If you are on a long layover, find a seat somewhere out of high traffic areas and wipe down surfaces with sanitizer wipes. 

It’s important to note that a majority of airport staff are doing their jobs under these new world circumstances without additional hazard pay. As procedures alter, they are performing their duties while putting their health at risk. Keep this in mind whenever you take off.

Even where masks are not required, think of wearing one as a small act of kindness that shows how much you care about the health and safety of your fellow travellers. 

Remember that at the end of the day, we are all navigating this new territory of a global pandemic together. Be patient and be kind on all your journeys. 

If you don’t ask, you you won’t get. That’s a common sense approach to anything but with the implementation of smaller airline seats, reduced leg room, cheaper in-flight amenities and other cost-savings measures for airlines, the need to ask for things is crucial.  So, for those who dare to ask, they may be surprised to learn that airlines are not the cheapskates that they appear to be.   Take a chance and giving “asking” a try.  Here is a list of 10 easy asks for your next flight. 

Wing Pins for Kids Who can say ‘no’ to a child?  Although some airlines have done away with free food and snacks, most still have trinkets for the little flyers to help them celebrate their flight.

The Whole Can.  As with everything else, the cups that beverages are served in seem to get smaller too (while the ice cubs seem to get larger).  Instead of accepting a small cup of soda or water that is sufficient for just a few swallows, ask for the entire can.

Basic Medicines and Bandages.  All airlines have first-aid kits and other medical equipment on board.  Because of this, flight attendants can provide basic medications and supplies like bandages to their passengers.

Water-Bottle Refills.  In addition to asking for an entire can of soda, a passenger can ask a flight attendant to refill their empty water bottle. This service is often needed and necessary to keep travelers sufficiently hydrated through the long flight.

Locating a medical professional.  When there is a medical emergency on board, a passenger can request assistance from a doctor that an attendant has found on the plane.

Second Helpings  Flight attendants are given specific amounts of food to serve to passengers but sometimes there is extra portions. If your famished, it wouldn’t hurt to ask for seconds since the leftovers will likely be discarded anyway.

Help Moving Seats  When you and your travel partner and separated or when you don’t think you can make the flight with the obnoxious person you’re sitting next to, it is OK to ask a flight attendant to help you switch your seat.  However, in most cases you may have to wait until everyone has been seated before requesting a change.  Sometimes a flight attendant will move a passenger to First Class.

Short-Term Babysitting  I feel sorry for parents who are traveling alone with children without a partner.  Imagine trying to juggle boarding and children alone.  Because a parent traveling alone will need help, flight attendants can step in to provide short-term babysitting, e.g. when parent needs to use the bathroom.

Cockpit Tours  This little goody may be surprising to some because of all of the security concerns.  However, if a passenger asks, many pilots will provide a cockpit tour at the end of the flight. In fact, some pilots love to share their offices with passengers that have an interest, specifically the children.  One thing is certain, you will walk away with a greater respect for the work a pilot does after you see all of the buttons, gear and other equipment he/she has to juggle to ensure a safe trip for everyone.

Sanitizing Wipes  These germ-fighting wipes are a staple because of all of the germs people share today.  The wipes are along good to clean your tray table with.