Navigating Travel Plans Amidst the Coronavirus Pandemic
As the world grapples with the uncertainty of COVID-19, travelers are left wondering what to do about their upcoming trips. Should you cancel your domestic trip or your international adventure? The answer depends on your destination, but there are steps you can take to make an informed decision.
Assessing Risk Factors
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) provides a map of warnings that allows you to look up your travel country and see what specific precautions they recommend. Currently, Iran and China are closed to foreign nationals due to widespread transmission. The CDC advises against nonessential travel to Italy and South Korea, and recommends that at-risk travelers, such as older adults or those with chronic medical conditions, avoid travel to Japan.
Evaluating Your Risk Tolerance
Consider your personal health concerns and those of your loved ones. If you’re a healthy young adult, the benefits of traveling to San Antonio might outweigh the risks. However, if you have chronic medical conditions like diabetes, asthma, or arthritis, you’re at a higher risk of getting severely ill from coronavirus.
Workplace Policies and Travel
In the wake of coronavirus, many workplaces have banned nonessential travel. Even if you’re planning a personal vacation, your employer may require you to work remotely for several weeks to prevent the spread of the virus. Check with your HR team to understand how your travel plans might impact your job.
Airline Cancellation Policies
Many airlines have implemented flexible cancellation policies due to the pandemic. Here’s a summary of some major airlines’ policies:
- American Airlines: Waived flight change fees for bookings prior to March 1 for travel until April 30, 2020.
- Delta Airlines: Waived flight change fees for domestic flights booked between March 1 and March 31, 2020, and international flights scheduled to fly in March.
- JetBlue: Waived flight change and cancellation fees for new bookings made between March 6 and March 31, 2020, for travel occurring through September 8, 2020.
- Southwest: No fee to change or cancel flights as long as you do so 10 minutes before departure.
- Spirit: Free changes or cancellations due to COVID-19, pending fare differences.
- United: Refunds available for canceled flights to heavily impacted cities, and waived change fees for certain bookings.
Staying Safe While Traveling
If you do decide to travel, rest assured that many airlines have improved their cleaning routines, including disinfecting silverware and planes between flights. Airports have also increased screening measures and added hand sanitizer stations. Remember to wash your hands regularly and stay home if you’re sick to protect yourself and others.
Leave a Reply