The coronavirus pandemic has paused travel plans for many, yet others find themselves on packed flights when traveling on an airplane.
With more and more people receiving COVID-19 vaccines, some have become more comfortable traveling again.
Before getting onto an airplane, it is essential to look at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention travel guide. The CDC warns that travel increases a person’s chance of getting COVID-19 as social distancing is difficult on flights.
Other health experts believe traveling can still be done safely if proper protocols are maintained.
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“In general, I think that flying is not as risky as most people perceive it to be,” Dr. Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins University Center for Health Security in Baltimore and a spokesman for the Infectious Diseases Society of America, told "Today" in September.
In order to be prepared for what to expect, Today has created a list of things to know before flying in 2021.
Blocked middle seats are (almost) a thing of the past
While most major US airlines like American, Delta, Frontier, Hawaiian, JetBlue, Spirit, Southwest and United blocked middle seats from being booked during the start of the pandemic, only Delta still offers the complimentary social distancing policy. According to its website, Delta will continue to do so until April 30th.
Don't forget your face mask
President Joe Biden signed an executive order in January requiring all passengers to wear face masks on public transportation, including commercial flights.
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US airlines also make travelers wear face masks at all times during the flight. However, the only time you don’t have to wear one is when you are eating.
Anyone who does not wear a face mask could be charged a fine of $250 to $1,500, and could be banned, according to the Transportation Security Administration.
Keeping it clean
When traveling, passengers will notice cleaning crews will be on the plane once it lands to sanitize everything. Since the pandemic began, airlines and TSA have designed new vigorous strategies to better disinfect airports and planes. Bringing extra hand sanitizer or disinfectant wipes to clean all high-touch surfaces is also advised.
BYO Food
Since the onset of COVID-19, many airlines have stopped offering meals. While it's best to check each airline's website for their food policies, most have eliminated full-meal service. If you bring your own food, TSA recommends packing it in a clear bag in case it needs to be inspected when going through security.
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