The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we travel, but it hasn’t done away with our lust for exploring. Here are some tips on how to navigate the new challenges of traveling:
- Investigate what, if any, rules or restrictions apply to both your origin and destination. It may not be possible to travel depending on local circumstances, so be sure to check in advance.
- When you go through airport screening, keep your face mask on. You will be asked to lower it briefly for identification purposes. Those who refuse to wear a face mask may face civil penalties and may also be escorted from the building.
- To avoid cross-contamination, position your boarding pass on the scanner yourself and then hold it up for inspection. Do not hand your pass directly to a TSA employee.
- You can take one container of hand sanitizer up to 12 oz (350 ml) in your carry-on luggage. You’ll need to remove it for X-ray screening.
- Remove personal items from your pockets, like your phone, keys and wallet, and put them in your carry-on instead of into bins. This will minimize handling during the screening process.
- If you’re bringing food through the screening checkpoint, place it in a clear plastic bag and then into a scanning bin. This reduces the likelihood that a TSA agent will need to touch your food container or carry-on bag for inspection.