Wolfson says airline travel is among the most difficult to regulate due to the nature of sitting close to others for hours on end while in-flight. The good news is that most viruses and other germs do not spread easily on flights due to how air circulates and is filtered on airplanes.
The travel industry landscape has changed once again. Roger Wolfson, an avid traveler and LA-based TV writer, reminds us that the last major shift in how people traversed the globe came on September 11, 2001. The events of that day changed travel forever and ushered in a litany of restrictions and safeguards to combat terrorism.
Today, our new enemy is invisible and is just as deadly. Wolfson comments that when COVID-19 became a global pandemic, travel was one of the first industries to shut down. Flights were canceled globally, nations closed borders, and lockdown orders kept citizens all over the world from stepping outside their front doors. The technological revolution that promoted globalism and makes travel and tourism more accessible and affordable took a massive hit from the virus. It is estimated that major global travel companies lost more than 75 million jobs and $2 trillion in revenue.
Suddenly, summer travel – arguably one of the busiest travel seasons – was brought to a halt, and it was further estimated that the impact on the travel industry is seven times greater than the 9/11 attacks on America. But perhaps it can be salvaged. In early June, the Center for Disease Control just posted its long-awaited guidelines for travel, and Americans are ready to fly the friendly skies once again. The new recommendations include many restrictions we are already familiar with, including wearing face coverings, social distancing measures, and further distancing protocols. Many of the new guidelines are built under the philosophy that the closer you are to others, the longer you interact with others, the higher the risk of spreading COVID-19 exists.
Wolfson says airline travel is among the most difficult to regulate due to the nature of sitting close to others for hours on end while in-flight. The good news is that most viruses and other germs do not spread easily on flights due to how air circulates and is filtered on airplanes. Wearing masks while in-flight will be a requirement, and only during times of consuming food or beverage will you be allowed to remove your face covering. Capacity requirements will also be in effect to decrease the spacing between passengers. But there are other places you need to think about when traveling: hotels, ride-shares, restaurants, and public transportation are things you need to think about before packing your luggage.
Wolfson says that when you travel, think about the services you use and how you interact with those services. The best advice, for now, is to make sure you have a proper face covering (cotton is recommended), lots of hand sanitizer and wipes. These three things should help you travel safely while still enjoying yourself. Remember the philosophy behind the spread: limit interactions and limit the time spent interacting with others, and always wear a face-covering while in public. The other advice offered by Wolfson is to take advantage of touch-less options for check-in procedures, payments, and other non-contact offerings. Wolfson adds that adding multiple accounts to your smartphone mobile wallet is worth doing.
Getting back out in the world and traveling for pleasure or business should not be intimidating, says Wolfson. If you follow some basic, common-sense guidelines, then you should arrive safe and feeling well when you start to travel again. Wolfson says take precautions like practicing good hygiene, wear a mask, stay clear from crowds when possible, upgrade when possible, stay clear of people with a cough or cold, and stay up to date with the Center for Disease Control’s advice and guidelines.
Other than that, Bon Voyage!
