Eastern Oregon Holidays

The COVID-19 outbreak has brought about dramatic changes to the way we travel. If you're flying to Eastern Oregon, the following tips will help you navigate these new challenges and rules:

• Research if any travel restrictions apply to your origin and destination before booking anything. Also check if there are any conditions you'll have to follow on arrival, such as testing and quarantining.
• Requirements state you must wear a face mask at the airport, even at screening checkpoints. You should be prepared to lower your mask to verify your identity when asked by a TSA officer.
• To decrease the risk 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 employee.
• One container of liquid hand sanitizer is now permitted in your carry-on bag. It must be no bigger than 12 oz (350 ml), and you'll need to remove it from your bag for X-ray screening.
• Put any personal items (phone, wallet and keys) in your carry-on instead of a bin to minimize handling during the screening process.
• Transport your food items in a clear plastic bag and also put them in a screening bin. Separating food from your carry-on means it's less likely a TSA employee will need to touch and open your bag for inspection.

As lockdowns start to lift, most airlines have resumed business with new measures including physical distancing and an increased supply of face masks, gloves and sanitizer. Here's what a few carriers are doing to reduce the spread of COVID-19:

• Alaska Airlines - this airline is known for providing passenger masks and cleaning with disinfectant.
• Delta - this airline is known for electrostatic cleaning and cleaning with disinfectant.
• United Airlines - this airline is known for providing passenger masks and cleaning with disinfectant.