Traveling in the Covid-19 Era
If you live in a state where Covid-19 restrictions have been (or are being) lifted, you may be looking to travel again. Before hitting the sky, tracks, or road, it's important to understand and be aware of what your journey may entail. Let's break down what you should know before heading out on your next adventure!
Flying
If you are going to be booking a flight (or you've already rebooked a cancelled flight), things are going to be a bit different from the last time you hopped on an airplane! TSA has introduced a lot of new rules, so be aware of the following:
1. Boarding Pass and Identification - All travelers will now keep their boarding pass with them (whether paper or on your phone) and not hand it over to the TSA officer. You will be required to place your boarding pass (paper or mobile) on the scanner yourself. After you've scanned, just show the TSA officer your boarding pass and your identification (license/passport) so they can check both. This new process will prevent any cross-contamination between you and the TSA officer.
2. Food - If you plan on bringing your own food with you, TSA is requiring you to have your food out separate from your bag(s). Often times food in a bag gets flagged and then a TSA officer has to open and examine your bag. Again, to avoid cross-contamination, place your food in its own bin out of your bag to avoid any issues.
3. Prohibited Items - Nothing is new here, but so often passengers forget that they need to follow the rules on liquids: no more than 3.4 ounces per liquid, gel, or aerosol. Have these out and in a clear plastic bag, placed in a bin for screening. You may notice a pattern here, do everything you can to avoid any extra screening and cross-contamination!
4. Hand Sanitizer - This is a new rule! While all liquids, gels, and aerosols must be 3.4 ounces or less, TSA will now allow each passenger one liquid hand sanitizer container up to 12 ounces. You have to remove the hand sanitizer from your bag and place it in a bin separately.
5. Social Distancing - While in line for security, passengers will be required to maintain social distancing from other travelers as much as possible. Most airports will have tape or other indicators on the floor to help everyone maintain 6+ feet. Each airport will have its own rules, but just be prepared to keep a safe distance between you and others.
6. Face Masks/Protection - All TSA officers will be wearing face masks (or other facial protection). While not required by TSA, it is highly recommended that you wear a face mask or protection as well through security and the airport. Many airlines are now requiring all passengers to wear masks on board, so you will need one with you anyways. And let's not be dumb here, wear the mask! If the main way of contracting Covid-19 is through droplets containing the virus, everyone should be wearing a face mask/protector to avoid spreading any potentially infected droplets.
7. Glove Use - If you have to get a secondary screening/pat-down from a TSA officer, please note that officers are required to change their gloves after each pat-down. Good to know in case you're worried about cross-contamination onto your clothes.
Train Travel
If you plan on using Amtrak to get to your destination, just like flying, there new guidelines/procedures to be aware of before your trip.
1. Face Mask/Coverings - Unlike with TSA recommending use of facial protection, Amtrak is requiring all passengers to wear a facial covering. If you book a private cabin or if you are sitting alone with no one around you, you are then permitted to remove your facial covering. Please note that Amtrak has specifically stated that service will be denied to customers not wearing a facial covering!
2. Social Distancing - Like with airports, passengers at train stations are required to social distance as much as possible. While in the station this may be easier than once on board. If you get on a train and there are people near you, move to another car (if you don't have an assigned seat/car) or look for an Amtrak employee for assistance on finding a different seat/car with more distance.
3. Café Cars - Café service on Amtrak trains is currently only operating as carryout. There will be no seating in café cars on any trains. Passengers are required to take any food or beverage purchased back to their seat or private cabin.
4. Service Updates - During this time period, please note that not all normal routes are running full service. As a vast majority of train travel in the United States is along the East Coast, where Covid-19 has had a larger impact, routes and schedules have been adjusted.
Road Trips
If you want to avoid the potential social distance mishaps or added rules and requirements, getting in your car and heading out may be the best bet. However, even if safer in terms of crowds, be aware that there will still be differences than your typical road trip!
1. Rest Areas/Food - Depending on the state or states you will be driving in, not all rest areas may be open. And those that are open, may not look like what you're used to. Many rest areas that have restrooms, dining, and shops may only have the restrooms open. If you're planning your meals while driving based on getting food at a rest area, that may not be an option. I don't think you're going to want a meal of vending machine snacks, so plan accordingly! Check your route before you leave to see what food options are open along the way.
2. Gas Stations - Given the fact that when you stop to get gas you have to touch the pump that many people have already touched that day, it's best to bring disinfecting wipes or gloves with you in the car. Put on the gloves or wipe down the pump before using and you won't have to worry about any potential germs. Or if you have hand sanitizer in the car, use that after pumping. Isn't it funny that we never really thought about these things before Covid-19, but now we're VERY aware of what we touch that others have touched?! Also, many gas stations may require you to wear a face mask to enter, so be sure to have one handy in case you need to go in to pay, get snacks, or use the gas station's restroom.
3. Tolls - Again, depending on which state or states you'll be driving in, toll booths may not be operating as normal. For instance, the bridges and tunnels into New York City are not currently accepting cash. If you do not have an EZ-Pass (toll tag), then your information will be documented and you'll be mailed a bill for the toll. Crazy to think you can't pay with cash, but I don't blame the toll booth operators considering how much dirty money they have to handle!
4. National Parks - Before you head out, if your plan is to visit a National Park or a campground, be sure to research ahead of time to see what is open, what their hours are (they may be limited), and what amenities are available once you're there. Even when out in fresh air and nature, there's still the potential for too many people and crowds, so restrictions may be in place.
Hotel Accommodations
Most hotel chains (big and small) have seen a drastic decrease in guests, so they are very eager to get people back in their hotels. In order to calm any anxieties people may have, hotels are going above and beyond to make sure they are taking every precaution necessary to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Hotel chains like Marriott and Hilton have outlined their new cleaning technologies and cleaning regimes. These include requiring that surfaces are treated with hospital-grade disinfectants and that this cleaning is done with increased frequency; placing disinfecting wipes in each room for guests’ personal use; and extra disinfection of high touch areas in guest rooms including light switches and door handles.
When it comes to guest safety, hotels are using signage in lobbies to remind guests to maintain social distancing protocols and are removing or rearranging furniture to allow more space for distancing. Marriott is planning to add partitions at front desks to provide an extra level of precaution for its guests and associates. Marriott is also allowing guests to use their phones to check in, access their rooms, make special requests, and order room service that will be specially packaged and delivered right to the door without contact.
Hotels have also adjusted their food and beverage service in accordance with current food safety recommendations. Most hotels will not have buffet-style dining right now to avoid any cross-contamination, so if you're used to a Continental breakfast before heading out for the day, that might not be an option. Check with the hotel before booking!
Be Smart
As an avid traveler myself, I know how hard it has been to sit at home for months (day 77 for me!) and not travel. As we're getting to a point where some forms of travel are becoming available again, the most important thing is just to be smart! Since Covid-19 is a novel coronavirus, there is still so much we don't know about this virus. Every day doctors and scientists around the globe are researching and testing to get a clear picture of the virus.
What we do know is that the virus is transmitted via droplets when a person who is infected coughs, sneezes, or spits when they speak. If you are within 6 feet of said person, you can inhale those droplets and get infected. Since there are many, many people who get the virus but don't know because they're asymptomatic, they could very easily be spreading it without realizing. And while you may be young, healthy, fit, etc. and most likely will be fine if you get the virus, you could infect someone who is vulnerable (or you could be one of the unfortunate ones who have severe symptoms).
So what is the best course of action we hear every day? Wash your hands, wear a face mask when you're in public/close to people, and practice social distancing. Like you, I want to be back in the air and traveling this beautiful world again! We've made a lot of progress and we've flattened the curve in a lot of places. Let's not throw all the hard work out the window by thinking we can go back to normal. Just like post-9/11, post-Covid will be a different way of traveling but we will get used to it and be back to trotting the globe!
Stay Safe and Bon Voyage!
