As travel advisories and alerts surrounding the coronavirus continue to evolve in the U.S and world wide, airlines are continuing to cooperate with authorities and accommodate customers concerned about their upcoming trips. I am starting to be asked – What does the future of air travel look like? What are they doing to keep us safe?
Below is a short summary of changes that have currently taken place on most major airlines and airports.
Changes that have been made on board:
Many airlines have been taking precautions to keep passengers safe since social distancing started. Almost all major airlines are holding or limiting their in-flight refreshments to cut down on contact and customers are encouraged to bring their own food and beverages on board. Some airlines have also implemented their own in-flight social distancing by limiting where you can sit on the airplane, such as not seating customers in middle seats and allowing seat changes once everyone is on the plane if someone feels like they are uncomfortable. All airlines have been practicing increased sanitation and onboard cleaning. Many encourage customers to bring their own cleaning products as well to make them feel more comfortable and at ease.
Changes made in the airports:
US airports are encouraging travelers to follow the safety guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, including practicing social distancing when it comes to security and other lines. Official travel tips include wearing a face mask, washing your hands for at least 20 seconds frequently, and staying home if you are feeling ill. All major airports are offering hand sanitizer stations around their terminals for free and the Transportation Security Administration has made an exception to the liquids rule and is now allowing one 12-ounce bottle of alcohol-based hand sanitizer per passenger. The latest US travel restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic can be found on the Department of Homeland Security’s website – https://www.dhs.gov/
While this is a great start we expect that that there will be more changes and implementations to come as we navigate through these uncharted times. Please continue to stay in touch and I will update my blog with information as it becomes available.
Have you traveled since COVID hit? Comment below with your experiences.