Planning an upcoming trip? With the amount of uncertainty in the travel space, not only is it difficult to know which countries are open and to whom, but there’s also the added worry about how to keep healthy and corona-free when traveling by plane. As traveling begins to open up, staying proactive and mindful about your health should be the main priority. Before heading to the airport, consider our five tips for making airports and air travel safe (and relaxing!) during this new normal.
Do your homework.
With travel restrictions, openings, and mandates being announced every day, it can be overwhelming for travelers be in-the-know on safest places to go. To make traveling during this time easier, be sure to use App in the Air’s new tools to search country to country restrictions, airline requirements, and key health search filters when booking flights and hotels. Knowing what to expect before hopping on a plane, or even before arriving at the airport, will make air travel better easier for everyone — passengers, airlines, and airports. Once on the journey, our app will send helpful reminders and notifications of any changes in your itinerary.
Avoid frequently touched surfaces.
Once at the airport and on the plane, avoid touching frequently used surfaces in every possible scenario, such as public door handles and handrails. Know that airports and airlines are taking a lot of necessary measures to sanitize their fixtures to incorporate contactless check-in and communication when possible, but it is still important to not touch anything when feasible. When booking a flight through App in the Air, receiving an electronic boarding pass and real-time flight notifications is a simple step that can limit the amount of contact with airline employees. Travelers can also purchase products like Germ Nerds, which allows you to come in contact with any suspicious surfaces, buttons or knobs, while keeping all germs and bacteria from touching your skin.
Wash, wash, wash your hands.
This may seem like a no-brainer, but it is crucial, and probably the most important tip, in preventing the spread of germs to yourself and others. The CDC recommends washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20-seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose. Be sure to carry an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol, in case there’s not a bathroom nearby. According to the official TSA website, they’re allowing one liquid hand sanitizer container up to 12 ounces per passenger in carry-on bags until further notice. Passengers can expect that these containers larger than the standard allowance will need to be screened separately, which will add some time to their checkpoint screening experience.
Wear a mask.
More often than not, airports and aircrafts will not let you inside without a face covering. The CDC recommends that people wear cloth face coverings in all public settings and is one of the most important prevention tools from spreading viruses. Especially at the airport with travelers coming in and out, a face covering mainly prevents people who have COVID-19 from spreading the virus to others, even if they do not feel any symptoms.
Sanitize your phone frequently.
With smartphone technology helping in limiting the amount of contact with people, the actual device isn’t safe from picking up germs. It’s a simple thing to not realize, but phones can collect and transfer an incredible amount of germs to the hands and face. Combat this spread by taking an electronic-safe disinfecting wipe with 70% isopropyl alcohol and clean the phone when it is in contact with frequently touched surfaces when at the airport and on the plane. Travelers should consider purchasing a UV phone sanitizer like the Mophie UV Sanitizer and Wireless Phone Charger to sanitize germs throughout the day for peace-of-mind.