Since many people have queries regarding how to travel safe during coronavirus crisis, we have shared few travel tips during COVID-19 pandemic.
We all know how important traveling is for our mental and physical health. There are many who even plan throughout the year only to make their vacation a successful and memorable one. When it comes to many business professionals, traveling becomes part of their career and life.
However, in tough situations like this, when the whole world came to a sudden stop due to the massive outbreak of the deadly (since it took close to 400K lives already) COVID-19 pandemic, traveling and tourism seem to be suffering the major blow. All travel activities have been restricted by almost all countries and traveling is only allowed if there is any essential and valid reason. People have gone under quarantine for months and are completely living a life full of anxiety and stress. All they can just do is to hope that everything gets back to normal as earlier as possible.
We know, everything around the world changed in the last couple of months due to the coronavirus outbreak. But traveling, especially by air, have seen the most dramatic changes in terms of new practices and measures. Perhaps in the coming future, this is going to be the new normal for every traveler around the globe. International travel will have stricter rules and more cautious activities will be taken before letting the passengers board their flights. This will also include proper planning way ahead of travel.
Since many people have started traveling due to unavoidable circumstances, it is extremely important for people to stay informed about the safety measures, government rules and travel protocols before traveling. Though according to World Health Organization, chances of getting infected with the virus is low in air travel due to the modern ventilation system (High Efficiency Particulate Air filters), aviation industry has been blamed the most as it was responsible for making the virus move from one nation to another. Though chances of getting contaminated with the COVID-19 virus are more when people are exposed to massive gatherings and crowded markets, it is extremely important to remain safe during air travel as this also gets our bodies exposed to surfaces which might have been touched by someone already carrying the virus.
We have listed down a few tips and tricks to be followed while traveling (now and in future too) during COVID-19 pandemic to make travel safer and more hygienic for yourself and your co-passengers.
Things to Carry
Hand Sanitizer: Not just while traveling, we should all start making this habit of carrying a hand sanitizer (with at least 60% alcohol content) wherever we go. Think of this as your new favorite and the most essential tiny travel partner!
Mask: Wear a mask which can fully cover your mouth and nose. Avoid wearing masks of any material (like cotton) which fails to block the tiny droplets and hence the virus (of any kind) while you sneeze or cough.
Disinfectant Wipes: This is also a must while traveling as there will be situations when you really have to touch something even if you wish not to. Going to the toilet? Who will open the door for you? Who will press the flush button? Of course, you yourself will have to do it and that you will do with the help of these wipes. Wipe the knobs thoroughly before touching. This minimizes the risk of inviting the virus into your body by a lot.
Tissues: Carry tissues with you as these might be needed very often to avoid your touch with substances which have high chances of carrying the virus.
Toothpicks: Need to use ATM machine? Need to pay using swipe machine? Need to press the elevator buttons? Need to print boarding pass from the machine? From now on, do all these activities using toothpicks. Dispose of them immediately once done using.
Avoid Human Contact
DO NOT do anything that requires you to touch or come in close contact with another person.
Get your boarding pass from machines and not from the counter.
Get your documents checked by security personnel from a distance or through glass shields.
Maintain at least six feet of distance in queues during security check or while ordering something in food outlets. Try to pay using online payment methods. Avoid using cash or cards as much as possible.
Wipe with Disinfectant Wipes
Whenever you need to touch armrest, seat flap, seat belts, seat back pocket, air vent, seat touch screen or window blind, make sure you disinfect these surfaces with anti-bacterial wipes. If you are using the toilet in the airport or in the plane, make these wipes come to use.
Get a Window Seat
Though it gets little difficult sometimes, try to get a window seat as you can save one side of your body from any human contact. If you don’t get one, try getting an aisle seat at least. The person sitting in the middle comes in contact with two persons on both the sides! Quite risky, isn’t it?
Carry Your Own Water
Try to carry drinking water in a sanitized bottle and avoid drinking water from airlines. Why take a chance when you can carry yours! If you buy packaged drinking water, make sure to sanitize the bottle before you drink.
Practice Excellent Personal Hygiene
Many people have tendencies to touch their faces and noses very often. It’s time to give this up. DO NOT touch your mouth or eyes or nose or any part of your face, if not necessary, as these are the potential entry points for the COVID-19 virus to get into your body.
Use hand sanitizers often. Do not give your hand sanitizers to any fellow passenger. What is your is yours!
Wash your hands (we mean every inch of your hand) regularly with soap and water (for at least 20 seconds) if you don’t have a hand sanitizer.
Be mindful to not touch anything during travel or in the airport.
During Security Check
Show your documents to the security personnel from a safe distance. If possible, protect your paper documents with transparent covers.
Maintain at least six-feet distance to the next person standing in the security-check queue.
Do not use bins to keeps your wallets and mobile phones during security checks. Rather keep them in your own bag.
While collecting your bags and other goods after security scanning, wipe the handles and straps with disinfectant wipes.
Upgrade If Possible
If you have the scope of upgrading your seat to business class or first class, try doing that as this will give you some very much-needed extra space for yourself and help you avoid close contact with the person seating next to you.
Stay Informed With Travel Advice
Before traveling, make sure you keep track of the recent travel guidelines and advice. This may vary from country to country. Always stay up-to-date to avoid any last-minute hassles. There’s been a paradigm shift in the way air travel is being conducted now-a-days, so try to reach the airport earlier than usual. Keep checking your upcoming flight status and be well informed about the flight cancellations and flight changes.
Do Not Travel If You Are Unwell
DO NOT TRAVEL if you are sick or feeling unwell. Let us repeat. DO NOT TRAVEL if you are sick or feeling unwell. It is indeed important for us to protect ourselves from diseases while traveling. But more important than that is to stop spreading the disease (ANY disease for that matter) you are carrying. Again, what’s yours is yours! As most airports around the world are conducting temperature checks during arrival and departure, you will any way be sent home if you are caught having fever. So stay home and get rest. Seek medical attention, if necessary.
For more air travel safety advice and frequently asked questions, click here.
Till everything gets alright, it’s high time we keep following these golden steps if we really want to keep ourselves safe while traveling. Share your thoughts on what all measures you are taking to keep yourself safe during these tough times. And if you are bored to death for not being able to travel to your favorite destination, read our exciting travel stories here. STAY SAFE EVERYONE!
