The coronavirus pandemic has had a big impact on travel. While earlier words like quarantine, isolation, RT-PCR were rarely heard, today, there’s hardly anyone who doesn’t understand their relevance.
When it comes to the mode of travel, flight travel has been impacted by COVID-19 in a huge way. Although air travel has resumed after coming to a standstill in early 2020, there are some aspects of it that continue to evolve as we navigate travel in the post-COVID world.
Read on to know the major ways in which flight travel has changed due to COVID-19:
1. Web check-in is here to stay
Although web check-in as a facility that’s been available for quite some time, it is now made mandatory due to the pandemic, and for good reason. Along with being convenient and time-saving, web check-in permits travellers to avoid standing in queues at the airport, thereby minimizing the risk of infection.
2. Know the guidelines
Travel guidelines have become absolutely indispensable in the post-COVID world. While booking a flight ticket, passengers must check their destination’s entry rules, including quarantine guidelines, e-pass requirements, etc. with their respective airlines in order to have a smooth and hassle-free journey. Many destinations also require passengers to carry COVID negative reports with themselves, so it is absolutely important to check and confirm the rules and regulations before flying.
3. Mask up
The importance of wearing masks cannot be understated. Wearing a mask at all times can significantly lower the risk of catching COVID, and is all the more important while travelling in a flight with multiple passengers. Infact, most flight carriers require you to wear a mask at all times. For maximum safety, it is recommended that you either wear a N95 mask, or opt for a surgical mask Canada and top it with a cloth mask.
4. Social distancing is the new normal
Similar to wearing a mask, social distancing can lower your chances of getting infected with COVID. Keeping this in mind, now post the pandemic, many airports require passengers to enter the airport building only if their flight is within four hours. Also, chairs at the airport seating areas are now taped off or marked to maintain social distancing among passengers.
5. Cleanliness is key
The importance of safety and hygiene in the post-pandemic world is paramount. Airports around the world are taking stringent measures to ensure that passengers have a safe flying experience. Some of these measures include baggage sanitisation, regularly informing passengers about COVID-appropriate behaviour, thermal screening, allocating alternate seats to passengers, etc.
When it comes to flights, safety of the passengers is ensured in major commercial planes by using HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filters to continuously filter the air circulated in the cabin. Cabin air is changed as frequently as every three minutes using these filters.
6. Travelling light
A lot of air passengers in the post-pandemic world are choosing to travel light on an airplane, with many opting to just carry hand-baggage with them. This is due to the fact that having checked-in luggage with them will mean having to wait at the baggage claim belt at the destination airport, thereby increasing the risk of being infected.
7. No more last-minute rush
With the pandemic necessitating multiple health screenings and other safety formalities at the airport, passengers are now required to report at the airport at least two hours (in case of domestic flights) and three hours (in case of international flights) to have a smooth check-in process. Now, many flights also strictly close their boarding gates 20-25 minutes before the flight departure time. Therefore, travellers must avoid last-minute rush to the airport.
Don’t forget to follow all COVID safety precautions while travelling. We wish you a pleasant flying experience!
