5 Tips for Travel During Covid-19

When should we start traveling again? Is it safe? What do we need to know? These are questions that we’re all asking during these interesting times. Because places are reopening, traveling, whether domestic or international, is on the rise. While we don’t have all of the answers to those questions and everyone has a different idea of when they’re going to start traveling again, below we’ll be providing 5 tips for if you’re itching to get back “outside” and travel during this COVID-19 pandemic.

Tip #1: Research Updated Guidelines for Your Destination Before Traveling!

When planning a trip during this Covid-19 pandemic, do your research on the location that you plan on traveling to.  If you’re traveling domestic or international, find out what the reopening plan is for that city, state, or country.  Have the confirmed cases significantly decreased where you’re traveling?  Have they fully reopened the city?  Will you be able to eat out?  Are your planned activities still available?  Is there a forced quarantine when flying internationally?  Depending on where you’re flying from, some countries have mandated a forced quarantine of 14 days to ensure you’re not spreading the virus.  And no….it’s not always the place of your choosing.

Depending on where you’re flying from, some countries have mandated a forced quarantine of 14 days to ensure you’re not spreading the virus.

Tip #2: Not All Airlines Have The Same Safety Policies

Ok, you’ve done your homework on the location and now you’re looking for flights.  Before booking with an airline, read their updated guidelines for travel.  A lot has changed during this pandemic and some have updated their safety guidelines but a lot have not which can be a red flag.  Are they filling planes at 100% capacity or allowing passengers to be socially distant by leaving seats empty to reduce transmission of the virus?  Are they filling the middle seat or leaving it empty?  Do they require masks to fly? You would be surprised that some of your fave airlines are not requiring them. Personally, if they haven’t updated their guidelines during these times, this is an indicator that they aren’t prioritizing passenger safety.

Tip #3: Bring Your Own Supplies While Traveling

Maybe I’m a little paranoid but I don’t trust people to keep me safe so I will take that into my own hands.  Bring your own mask!  Not all airlines are providing them to passengers.  Bring wipes…if you can find them.  Wipes are good for wiping down surfaces on the plane that you may need to touch like the armrests or the tray table.  And yes I realize some of you have been screaming at us to do this prior but ok….we’re doing it now.

TSA is also allowing travelers to bring one bottle of hand sanitizer up to 12 oz (previously 3 oz) when traveling. This will come in handy for when you have to touch surfaces while checking in or through security. You can read the updated TSA guidelines here.  

Oh and don’t forget the snacks…they’re not handing them out right now so you need to bring your own and a bottle of water.  And if you’re traveling far, you may want to bring a travel pillow and blanket because they aren’t handing those out either.

You should keep all of this in your carry on bag and place it under your seat for easy access on the plane. 

Tip #4: Arrive At The Airport Early

Arrive at the airport early!! I repeat….get to the airport early! This is for all of my people that show up 30 mins before take off time.  Because they are reopening, people are starting to fly again which means the airports aren’t empty anymore! Because passenger traffic has been increasing with reduced staff, you may see longer wait times.

Different airports are establishing new procedures that sometimes include temperature screenings or redirecting of checkpoints in the airport.  Just bring a good book or some headphones to listen to your favorite music or a podcast to pass the time.

Tip #5: Always Wear A Mask While Traveling

I know we already talked about bringing a mask but I can’t stress it enough.  This is the only way we can reduce transmission while going back “outside”.  There are a lot of people refusing to wear masks in public spaces so you need to protect yourself.  Not only do you need to wear it while in the airport but keep it on unless you’re eating or drinking on the plane.  If possible, stagger the times you’re eating and drinking with the person sitting next to you so you don’t have your masks off at the same time, essentially reducing the potential transmission.  In some airports its required but not all airlines are mandating.

Hopefully these give you a start when planning to travel for the summer. Because we’re not over the hump yet when it comes to the pandemic, we have to remain vigilant while getting back to our normal activities. If you’re not ready to travel but need some ideas on what to do while staying at home, check out our post on Airbnb’s Online Experiences. Stay safe y’all!

Have you flown recently? Tell us about your experience below! We’d love to hear any other tips!