Travelling used to be really simple, you simply booked a plane ticket and off you go. However, with the global pandemic and lockdown across the globe, it has become even more challenging to know what you can and can’t do. It is vital you keep up to date with restriction updates before you even make bookings as otherwise, you can lose money. 

The Current Situation 

Currently, the situation regarding global travel varies widely depending on where you live and where you wish to travel to. Some countries are in total lockdown, and you may not travel unless you are doing so for an essential reason. Generally, this means that if you need to travel from work you are allowed to do so, provided, you cannot reasonably do the job from home. But for many people booking a luxury break is out of the question as they may not travel for purely social reasons.  As we enter winter in many areas of the world, this is quite a depressing fact as many people do like to get away to the summer sun when the temperatures start to drop off in their home country. However, this year it may simply not be possible, and travellers will need to wait for restrictions to change. 

Safe Ways to Travel 

Of course, during the pandemic, one of the most dangerous things you can do is mix and spend a long time in a group of people. Therefore, if you can travel for social reasons and wish to book a holiday, you may consider flying with a private jet company. This means it would just be you and your family travelling, with a group of staff who are not interacting at that time with anybody else. Companies take extra precautions to ensure that their flights are as safe as possible. This means that additional cleaning routines are put into practice, and the staff are regularly COVID-19 tested to ensure that they are safe to be with you. Using a private jet negates the need to enter an airport, as you can be taken straight out onto the tarmac to your plane. All of the booking-in processes are taken care of on your behalf. Private jet should still operate a track and trace system, so if anybody that was connected to your flight is later tested positive, you will be notified and must abide by the rules surrounding self-isolation in your country at that time. 

Staying Safe

If you are planning to go away from your country, it is vital to check that your destination is on the safe list; otherwise, you cannot go. You will also find some countries require you to self-isolate when you return. As long as you are fully aware of the rules and allowed to fly to that country, you should be fine. Social distancing is a massive part of air travel, and you will find restricted numbers on commercial airlines to ensure that all passengers can remain a safe distance apart. You will be required to wear your mask in the airport, and many will be operating on restricted facilities so you might not find the same amount of choice for things like food and drink, and duty-free shops. You should take care to ensure you wash your hands regularly, especially if you are touching surfaces that many other people will have touched. Antibacterial hand gel is also an option, but you need to check on the rules for flying to know what you can and can’t take with you on the plane.

Symptom-Free?

Everyone in connexion with the flight including passengers will be asked to confirm that they are symptom-free and allowed to travel under the terms of their own country’s restrictions. If you have been asked to isolate for 14 days, you obviously cannot arrange to travel during this. If you wake up on the day of travel and discover that you have symptoms that may be attributable to the coronavirus, you may not fly but must immediately get tested. In some cases, if airlines are concerned, they can ask to see a negative test result. For airports and airlines to remain operational, it is essential that everybody complies with the rules. The staff will be subject to rigorous testing and must also obey the same rules as everybody else and stay away from work for 14 days if they receive a positive test or are told to isolate because of someone in their bubble being taken ill.  The track and trace app is available and should be used to, to identify where there may be a risk easily. 

Airlines

Airlines, whether commercial or private, will also operate their track and trace system. Obviously, they will have your details, and they will notify you if someone in the group that you were travelling with has received a positive test. If you are told to isolate by one of these airlines, you must do so, or you will be breaking the law. Conversely, if you develop symptoms yourself within a week or 14 days of travelling you should tell the airline so that they can contact other passengers and make them aware that they may need to take extra precautions at this time, and possibly isolate. The bottom line is that if everyone follows the rules and does as they are asked, essential travel, and in due course social travel once it is allowed again we will be able to be conducted safely and minimise any one’s risk of contracting the virus.