The COVID-19 pandemic has affected how the world works in all sorts of ways, including how we’re able to safely travel. The following tips will help you navigate these new challenges and prepare you for your trip to Portugal:
- Before committing to anything, see if any travel restrictions apply — in both your origin and destination. Keep informed with the latest updates by checking government and airport websites.
- Keep your face mask on even during airport screening. A TSA officer will ask you to temporarily lower your mask for identification purposes.
- To reduce the likelihood of cross-contamination, position your boarding pass on the reader yourself and then hold it up for inspection. Do not hand your boarding pass directly to a TSA officer.
- TSA is now allowing passengers to take one container of hand sanitizer, up to 12 oz (350 ml) in size, in carry-on baggage. This will have to be removed from your bag to be screened.
- Place any personal items (phone, wallet and keys for example) in your carry-on instead of a bin to minimize handling during screening.
- If you’re bringing food through the security checkpoint, place it in a clear plastic bag and then into a scanning bin. This lessens the likelihood that a TSA officer will need to touch your carry-on bag or food container for closer inspection.