COVID-Era Travel: Surviving Airports
Mask Mandates
Pre-2020, I (like many who live in the US) rarely saw anyone wearing a face mask outside of hospitals. While I've seen many citizens from eastern countries where them during cold/flu season, those trends never took hold in many westernized countries. However, in 2020 and COVID-Era, masks are now normal all around the world. Many countries and states within the United States are creating laws to mandate that people should wear masks. As a Washington resident, I immediately noticed Governor Inslee's proclamation of a mask mandate on 7 July 2020. As of 10 July, a little over 20 states have followed similar regulations for masks.
As a travel agent, I especially started to take notice when many of the airlines followed a similar stances. Immediately, reports of resistant passengers emerged. Not long afterwards videos started popping up EVERYWHERE of people having a hard time following the guidelines. Even though there is a Mask-debate, this along with other guidelines are projected to stay in place for a long time. The days of going to the airport, waiting in a massive line, and boarding a packed flight with minimal health concerns is over. In a previous article, pre-COVID-Era, I wrote about Surviving Airport Lines ... that terminology has taken a new turn. It's no longer about finding out how to beat the line. Instead, now it's about how to stay healthy and distanced while at the airport and on the plane. (For more information on surviving airports in the COVID-Era, check out an updated post COVID-Era Travel: Surviving Airports.)
Moving forward, masks will be the new normal when travel on airlines, while in hotels, on cruise lines, in restaurants, ... pretty much everywhere. Even when COVID cases drop significantly, I image mask rules will still be in place in modified terms. Perhaps, those modified mandates will require masks during cold and flu season or if people are experience certain symptoms. At this point, no one fully knows what will happen in the future, but it's safe to assume that masks will be there in one form or another.
Wrapping It Up:
Airport lines will only continue to get longer and more complicated as time goes on. If you practice these three tips every time you travel then you'll stop stressing about whether you'll miss your flight. These are simple routines, but when you put them into practice, you'll be reassured that you'll catch your flight with time to spare--especially if everyone starts to practice these simple tips.
Pre-2020, I (like many who live in the US) rarely saw anyone wearing a face mask outside of hospitals. While I've seen many citizens from eastern countries where them during cold/flu season, those trends never took hold in many westernized countries. However, in 2020 and COVID-Era, masks are now normal all around the world. Many countries and states within the United States are creating laws to mandate that people should wear masks. As a Washington resident, I immediately noticed Governor Inslee's proclamation of a mask mandate on 7 July 2020. As of 10 July, a little over 20 states have followed similar regulations for masks.
As a travel agent, I especially started to take notice when many of the airlines followed a similar stances. Immediately, reports of resistant passengers emerged. Not long afterwards videos started popping up EVERYWHERE of people having a hard time following the guidelines. Even though there is a Mask-debate, this along with other guidelines are projected to stay in place for a long time. The days of going to the airport, waiting in a massive line, and boarding a packed flight with minimal health concerns is over. In a previous article, pre-COVID-Era, I wrote about Surviving Airport Lines ... that terminology has taken a new turn. It's no longer about finding out how to beat the line. Instead, now it's about how to stay healthy and distanced while at the airport and on the plane. (For more information on surviving airports in the COVID-Era, check out an updated post COVID-Era Travel: Surviving Airports.)
Moving forward, masks will be the new normal when travel on airlines, while in hotels, on cruise lines, in restaurants, ... pretty much everywhere. Even when COVID cases drop significantly, I image mask rules will still be in place in modified terms. Perhaps, those modified mandates will require masks during cold and flu season or if people are experience certain symptoms. At this point, no one fully knows what will happen in the future, but it's safe to assume that masks will be there in one form or another.
Wrapping It Up:
Airport lines will only continue to get longer and more complicated as time goes on. If you practice these three tips every time you travel then you'll stop stressing about whether you'll miss your flight. These are simple routines, but when you put them into practice, you'll be reassured that you'll catch your flight with time to spare--especially if everyone starts to practice these simple tips.
