North Metro East Holidays

With strict COVID-19 precautions in effect, travel looks a bit different today. Here's what you should know before you get on that plane to North Metro East:

• Find out if any restrictions apply to both your origin and destination. You may not be able to travel depending on local circumstances, so check before you book.
• Wear a face mask even during airport screening. A TSA officer will require you to adjust your mask to verify your identity.
• To minimize the risk of cross-contamination, position your boarding pass on the scanner yourself and then hold it up for inspection. Do not hand your boarding pass directly to a TSA officer.
• One liquid hand sanitizer container is now permitted in your carry-on bag. It must be no larger than 12 oz (350 ml), and you'll have to take it out of your bag at the X-ray machine for scanning.
• To minimize handling during screening, place items such as your phone and loose change into your carry-on instead of into the bins.
• Transport all food items in a clear plastic bag and also put them in a screening bin. Keeping food separate from your carry-on makes it less likely that a TSA agent will need to touch and open your bag for inspection.

As travel bans start to lift, airlines are now servicing flights with new measures including physical distancing and an increased supply of face masks, gloves and sanitizer. Here's what numerous carriers are doing to help minimize the spread of COVID-19:

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