Avoiding Coronavirus at Airports and on Flights

COVID-19 or the new coronavirus has affected the quality and pace of life across the world. However, traveling still remains a necessity for many.

If you are one of them, this article will reveal how to stay virus-proof while on the move. You must know what to avoid and what to adopt as you navigate through airport terminals or during flights.

Awareness is the key to safe travel. Airports, airlines, and health and government agencies are taking every measure to protect passengers.

However, if you follow a few simple advises you will beat coronavirus.

Tips to stay COVID-19-free at Airports

Airports mean a huge number of people from across the world. However, it is not very difficult to stay healthy and safe while at an airport.

Health and government agencies are working with Airlines to exercise maximum precaution. Airports are installing sanitizing stations and using some of the strongest hospital-grade disinfectants.

So, if you an international flight ticket booking don’t worry, and observe the following:

1. Online Flight Ticket Reservation:

Avoid booking tickets at the airport. Instead, book with the airline’s website/application or use an online air ticket website.

2. Web Check-in:

Online check-in will not only reduce your time at the airport but also cuts down physical contact.

Even though airports are disinfecting kiosks, it is best to avoid them since countless passengers use them.

Checking–in for flight booking at the airport counter means waiting in queues with other passengers, and contact with the airline representative.

When you check-in from a distant source, it naturally helps you avoid germs.

3. Don’t use Bins at the Security:

You are advised against using the bins at security and screening checkpoints. Since they are shared by all the passengers, you may not know what lurks in those security bins.

The best way is to pool all your loose stuff and stuff it inside a bag. If you are carrying hand baggage, then make use of it.

Otherwise, it is best to keep an empty bag handy.

4. Mobile Boarding Pass:

This is another advantage of web check-in. You get a mobile boarding pass. The security personnel inspects the paper boarding passes manually.

However, you can scan your boarding pass on your own without coming in contact with another human being.

5. Virtual Wallets and Mobile Banking:

Using mobile banking or virtual wallets over cash transactions over using plastic money is favorable.

Not only will it save you from the transfer of germs but also result in cheap ticket booking.

Virtual wallets and mobile banking are so diverse, that you can use it for almost anything and not just online airfare booking.

For instance, if you buy products or services at airport concessions, pay virtually.

Tips to stay COVID-19-free on Flights and Aircraft

It is less likely that you will contract infections while on a flight. The air inside the aircraft is pressurized and purified.

Most aircraft have installed a High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filtration system.

1. Book Window Seat:

The majority of passengers leave the seat to use overhead bin, lavatory, or stretch their legs. This is even more common during long-haul flights.

Therefore, if an infected person walks across the aisle and pass you, you are more likely to contract the disease if you have an aisle or a middle seat.

Therefore, keep this in mind before booking flight tickets.

2. Don’t Book Seats Near the Lavatory:

Also, avoid booking seats closer to the lavatory since such areas are more exposed to germs and bacteria.

Also, passengers that want to use the lavatory will pass you by all the time.

3. Use Disinfectant:

Carrying antibacterial wipes and disinfectants is a great idea. Before you take your seat on the airplane, wipe all the hard surface areas.

These include the walls of the airplane, table trays, armrests, headrests, seatback, and so on.

4. Don’t Use Table Trays:

Another important precaution is to stay away from table trays. Do not use them to consume food, or to support a book, laptop, etc.

5. Stay Away from Seat Pockets:

This is perhaps the most affected area on a plane. People use it to store all kinds of stuff, such as food items, sick bags, gum, and so on. Therefore, maintaining your distance is the best.

General Tips to stay COVID-19-free

Apart from the above mentioned, there are some tips that you can follow no matter where you are.

Since, it doesn’t matter if you are catching a flight or at home, the risk of being infected is more or less the same.

1. Wash Hands Regularly:

The best precaution is to keep your hands clean. Therefore, wash your hands regularly. Use soap and water and wash hands for at least 20 seconds. It is advised to wash hands as often as possible.

However, it is essential to wash hands after using the bathroom, and before and after eating. Also, after you sneeze, cough, and so on.

2. Sanitize:

If you do not have access to soap and water, don’t worry. Even though a hand sanitizer is not as effective, it will work.

3. Hydrate:

Even though there is no direct scientific evidence, but keep yourself hydrated may help. Water regulates body temperature and also helps in a number of other ways.

Therefore, carry potable water with you always. Avoid buying packaged water unless absolutely necessary. You do not know how many hands have touched the product.

4. Cover Mouth:

Exercising good hygiene will help against coronavirus(COVID-19). Always cover your mouth with a tissue while coughing, sneezing, yawning, or blowing the nose.

Also, dispose of the tissue properly, and never reuse it. If you do not have a tissue with you, use your hands and wash them immediately.

5. Wear Gloves:

Wear gloves when you are in an exposed environment. It will protect your hands from direct contact with any surface. Also, it is essential to clean the gloves.

Therefore, regularly wash them with detergent. Moreover, always use your own gloves and never borrow a pair from anyone else.

6. Don’t Touch your Face:

Hands are prone to carry germs. And, when you touch your nose, mouth, or eyes with unclean hands, you can contract the virus.

Therefore, it is best to not touch your face with unwashed hands. Use a handkerchief or a clean cotton cloth for the same.

7. Maintain Distance:

Lastly, if you observe someone displaying symptoms such as fever, coughing, sneezing, common cold, etc.

maintain an appropriate distance. Stay at least a meter away from the person.

So, if you follow these precautions there is no way you will Avoiding coronavirus  at airports terminals or on flights.

Also, the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) doesn’t recommend canceling travel plans amidst covid 19 to low-risk and unaffected areas.