Travel During Coronavirus: How to Stay Safe When You MUST Fly on an Airplane

It’s no secret that it’s not the time to travel for pleasure.

The novel coronavirus is a global pandemic-more than 700,00 people have been sickened, and more than 33,000 have died from the virus as of late March.

It is imperative that we all STAY home and STAY away from others. But what if you absolutely must take a flight? You find yourself stranded after a trip that began before things got serious, or your job requires you to fly for an unusual reason? Stay safe during airplane travel with these essential tips.

Plan Your Trip Carefully

It’s essential to review all the options when traveling. Avoiding large, international airports can help you avoid getting sick. It may be better to pay a little more and fly into a smaller airport, or even rent a car and drive an extra hour or two, to avoid germs from a mass of travelers.

When it comes to luggage, now is the time to pack light. The less you travel with, the less surface area is exposed to pathogens. Try to bring a carry-on and a personal item only. And don’t worry about overhead bin space-planes are much less full than usual.

Need packing help? Check out The Surefire Way to Pack Your Toiletries Bag for a Long Trip in Just Your Carry-On before your next trip.

To Mask or Not?

Officially, the CDC guidelines for preventing the spread of disease say facial masks are to be worn by infected individuals, and those caring for infected people. Healthcare workers who are exposed to all kinds of viruses and bacteria are in much greater need than the typical traveler connecting through an airport.

That being said, if you are 65 or older, immunocompromised or caring for a person in that demographic, you may want to take every step to avoid picking up germs. I recently saw two women flying in plastic ponchos, masks and gloves. But one of them was wheel-chair bound. If you can find a mask-and that’s a big if these days-and you feel your situation warrants it, go right ahead.

Touch NOTHING

When trying to avoid touching surfaces at an airport, you may be shocked by how many things you are forced to grasp, move or contact. But try your best to avoid using your hands to touch random items. For instance, while sitting in the food court, use your foot to move the chair around, rather than your hands. Open and close doors with elbows/forearms, and use a paper towel-protected hand to grasp door handles.

Of course, you must use your hands for specific tasks. That’s when you look to the next tip….the magic of hand sanitizer.

Sanitize Often

Hand sanitizer that is made with at least 60% alcohol is effective at killing dangerous pathogens you may encounter. Use it liberally and often! And since it’s in short supply in many stores, take advantage of any complimentary bottles set up around the airport. It’s in everyone’s best interest to contain the virus and get back to business as usual.

Try to fly with at least one travel-size container of hand sanitizer, according to the TSA 3-1-1 Liquids Rule.

Traveling with children? Be sure to read the 10 Things You Need to Do Before Traveling With Kids for additional help to make things go as smoothly as possible.

Avoid Paying with Cash

Cash has long been known to harbor bacteria. The fabric, which is rarely cleaned, may host a number of germs, including traces of illegal drugs like cocaine. And COVID-19 might be there, too. Stay safe by not handling cash or receiving any change in return. Remember, the goal is to touch as few things as possible.

The best choice is to use your phone with mobile, touchless payment to complete your transaction. These contactless forms of payment:  Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, etc., will reduce the chance of germ transmission. The second-best method is to pay with plastic, either credit or debit. You can wipe your card off with a disinfectant wipe afterward for an extra precaution.

Go Electronic

This is undoubtedly the time to use all mobile options available to you. Check-in online and have your boarding pass on your phone. The last time I flew, the ticket agent just reviewed my I.D. while I held it out to her, rather than handle it herself. And the gate agent will be more than happy to have you scan your boarding pass yourself, allowing both of you to avoid transferring germs.

Choose Your Seat Wisely

A window seat is safer than an aisle as it is more isolated. Try to remember social distancing, and move away from others if you have the chance. Planes are not operating at full capacity these days, so you can generally switch to a nearby opening with no issues. Consult a flight attendant if you want to move a significant distance.

Point your air vent slightly away from, so it will help direct airborne particles to other areas of the plane. If you are able, refrain from using the restroom. This will limit your chance of getting sick on an airplane.

Break Out the Cleaning Wipes

Be sure to travel with a plastic baggie of disinfectant wipes. When you board the aircraft, use them to clean the seat belt, tray table, tray table release, window shade grasp, light switch button, etc. And be sure to wash your hands and sanitize after using the restrooms or taking beverage service.

Try to Relax

After you have done everything you can to avoid the virus and stay safe on an airplane, try not to worry. Be kind to fellow travelers, and especially airline employees and other workers-they are dealing with these new travel procedures every day.

Just try to get your destination as safely as possible and be thankful that this situation is a short-term occurrence.