It’s a hard time for everyone and after being cooped up for several weeks or months people will want to go out. Whether you are traveling inside your own country or abroad. People simply just want to go somewhere.
Travel during and after the pandemic will never be the same. After this worldwide spread of the coronavirus, everyone will have to contribute to a safer way of traveling.
Recommended read: What to do during quarantine
CNN covered a story about how China emerged from the home quarantine, social distancing. It showed how they went out, visiting tourist destinations in their own country. With less than an arm’s length of distance from each other. I was thinking that this is not a good example? (source: Chinese tourist sites packed as country comes out of lockdown, but experts say risk still high)
Let’s see how commercial flights are changed. Maybe these differences will be taken into the future for further protection. I can guess that flying will be more expensive because of this.
Personal Protection Equipment for staff and customers
AirAsia started trials with Personal Protection Equipment for their staff. source: Channel News Asia. Not only does this protect the staff, but also towards the customers flying.
The customers might have to wear some protection too, like masks, glasses, gloves, protection around the shoes. This is in order to protect each other from potential infections of the coronavirus. The rules vary per airline.
Temperature check before travel
I guess online check-in will still go in the future. It prevents a lot of people together waiting in line. But there will be at least one (probably multiple) checkpoints for temperature. Any elevation will be questioned and must be elaborated. A health expert on-site should determine for the sake of the safety of passengers if one should be allowed to fly with a temperature over 37 degrees Celcius.
Health Certificate
Many airlines require before boarding that you are fit-to-fly. This must be proven with a health certificate which you can get at the hospital (or doctor). This certificate basically says you are free from the coronavirus. The certificate is only valid for a limited time. This varies from your destination so do check that out. At Austria, for example, your health certificate cannot be older than 4 days upon arrival (source: Royal Jordanian)
That means for return flight you also need a refreshed health certificate to prove that you were not affected in the time of your stay in another place.
Social Distancing in flights
Not all seats can be occupied now and social distancing should allow at least one seat in between passengers. Garuda is already applying social distancing during flights where they try to maximize the distance from each passenger. Even a whole row should be empty if it can. But if it’s not possible they will try to fill in the empty spots with maximum distance from all other passengers.
For families that want to stay close to each other is possible. They would occupy less space. I can imagine airlines will want this more since they can maximize the number of people in a plane that way.
Not all airline companies will apply this rule. RyanAir refuses to do this unless the government would pay for the middle seat which will be forced to stay empty. Also, one empty seat is not the recommended distance between people. (Source: CBSNews)
Accommodation Tracking during travel
I am guessing upon arrival for the first 14 days of accommodation is kind of a self-isolation. After this period of time, you should be tracked where you are going in case of symptoms of the coronavirus showing later during travel.
If this is the case, vacations of 14 days or less would not be possible for the time being.
Local Transport
Not only the way of travel for international travel will be affected. Local transport as well since the virus made a debut in almost every country by now.
In Indonesia Jakarta for example, cars are not allowed to transport a certain amount of people. It differs per car, for example, a sedan with the capacity of 4 people, may only have 3 now. a car with the capacity of 7 may only have 4 now. (source: tempo.co)
These rules would be different in each place. So do check out your local rules before heading out with the family who you live with. Do not seek out trouble.
In Public transport, traveling becomes a lot riskier. I have no clue about other people, where they have been how their hygiene is. Not to mention rush hours in cities that have not lifted the lockdown gives me a claustrophobic feeling now.
Do you really need to travel now?
Think about the reasons you want to travel. Can it wait? I personally want to go out. I have a travel blog and wanted to start writing about Philipinnes. But now I am waiting for a more secure and safer way. It’s safer for everyone. Maybe a vaccination will come out. Rules and regulations might be enforced to change and improve safety for everyone.
Do also check the country you are traveling to. Do they allow tourists? Are hotels open? Are the things you want to do available? Many places are not even ready and won’t be ready to change for safety first.
Priority should be that you can be safe and travel around with friends, family, or just alone. With that being said, also travel safely to home and not be a risk or danger to the loved ones around you.
Hi I am Dwi. I am a blogger, travel agent and a mom of a lovely daughter and wife to a supportive husband. I customize and plan tours in Bali and islands nearby for a living and have been doing this for more than 14 years. Get in touch via contact [at] taletravels.com