Post COVID-19 Travel Restrictions

The travel industries, including airlines and hotels have temporary changed its tactics to slow the spread of another COVID-19 pandemic. Researching more about travel related products, I yearned to learn more how it changed once the paramedic is over. Last two nights, I had a travel seminar with Angel Castellanos, World Travel Expert, Writer/TV Host, who was on live TV, discussed how post COVID-19 have changed everything from booking to staying at hotels. He also discussed the importance of hygiene procedures and its requirements to maintains its cleanness not only for residents but also visitors. In this blog, I will listed some changes (What to expect for travelers below) when the Tourism industries open the world slowly.

As for the air travel, airlines have work hard to limit the number of passengers (depending on plane type) to combine the spread of COVID-19. Also, all travelers are required to wear masks or face coverings when traveling because the health officials recommended it. This is a public health emergency.

Like I mentioned earlier from my blog, I posted about all middle seats (and some aisle seats if applicable) are temporary blocked to spread out from others. There are no seating of seatmates until further notice.

What to Expect for Travelers:

• When you book a flight, most of the flights are temporary limited. Most likely, fewer available flights are available with 1.5 to 2 times the average costs of airfare.
  • The recent flight I took was Newark to Hong Kong is temporary suspended.
  • The airfare I booked was $860 is now 1,290 to 1,720.
• Hotel/hostels are quickly sold out.
  • Limit hotel/hostel options available.
  • It is important to be flexible about the dates, time, hotel preferences, etc.
• Contactless check-in.
  • I highly recommend to check-in online 24 hours before the flight.
• Multiple Temperature checks (Check-ins, security checkpoint, before and after flights).
• There are also plastic shield installed between the workers and customers.
• You will see a free hand sanitizer everywhere.
  • I highly recommend to bring a bottle of hand sanitizer.
• Frequent cleaning and sterilizing all of surfaces, Screens, Seats, Floors, Cabin, Ceilings, etc. Hygiene is a buzzword.
  • I highly recommend to bring your own hygienic wipes to wipe frequent touched surfaces.
  • Bring your own PPE and snacks.
• Spread 6+ feet from others. Practice social distancing. Keep your masks or face covering on.
  • Frequent hand washing before and after touching.
• Possible flight delays due to cleaning schedule.
• Free Hand Sanitizer, hygienic wipes, masks, and personal protective equipment everywhere, including onboard the planes.
• No seatmates.
• Upon arrival, travelers may be required to sign in Self-Quarantine/Stay-at-Home Order disclosure if applicable.
  • Another questionnaire about the travel purposes. Be prepared, travelers.
• Hotel/hostels also have limit number of customers in each room to combine more social distancing. This social distancing gave customers more space.
  • A frequent cleaning/sanitizing of all rooms.

Everyone, please practice proper hygiene! Health and Safety are the most priority.

Travelers, it is important to get mentally prepared because the check-in requires much longer than it used to be:

	Domestic	International
Check-in	4-5 hours	6-8 hours
Security Checkpoint	2 hours	3 hours
Gate Arrival	1.5 hours	2 hours

Yep, there are questionnaire the purpose of travel and a mandatory temperature checks at the departure gates. They will tell you if your basal temperature is normal before safely board the flight because if you have any COVID-19 symptoms (raise over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, they won’t let you board the plane and asked travelers to self-quarantine for 14 days.

If you really don’t like how its changed in travel tactics, you can wait until a vaccine became publicly available. I will wait until a vaccine is available because I recently went to China and Hong Kong in 2020 for a month. I am taking a travel break.