How the COVID pandemic will change the way we travel

COVID-conscious airports

Airports will change dramatically immediately following the coronavirus pandemic. A report by SimpliFlying reports that around 70 different areas of airport travel will be affected, specifically around the travelers’ journey.

An obvious adaptation due to COVID will be that face masks become mandatory. This is no surprise, however, due to the continuous discussion around face masks in the media.

Airports will become passenger-only, meaning the airport will not allow those inside who are not there for traveling purposes. As a result, airport shopping for the general public will be forbidden.

Airports are usually crowded places. This will have to change with the social distancing measures that will have to be implemented.

There will be health screening every step of the way. You’ll get used to seeing a mixture of thermal cameras, thermometers, and other equipment (that may or may not have been invented yet) to ensure the safety of passengers and allow us to get back to traveling as soon as possible.

You may have to verify your immunity

There is talk about “Immunity Passports” being introduced to ensure safe COVID-compliant travel. This means that you may have to pack more than just your passport (if that’s all you pack anyway).

Governments around the world are already testing for antibodies to determine whether someone has or has had coronavirus. Subsequently, those who are clear of coronavirus, but have immunity due to the presence of these antibodies, will receive one of these ‘passports’.

What this means for those who do not have an immunity passport is unknown, however restrictions based on the absence of an immunity passport are likely, otherwise you might think: what’s the point in having an immunity passport?

Travel insurance will increase in price

This is a no-brainer. The price that you pay for travel insurance will increase due to a higher likelihood that their travel insurance will be used.

For example, if you’re in a different country and you display symptoms of coronavirus… which results in a positive test… which results in admission to a nearby hospital or medical center, the insurance will need to cover those expenses.

This will add an extra cost to travel because buying high-quality travel insurance will be an absolute requirement, in addition to the consequences of the extra claims that will be made to travel insurers.

People won’t travel as far

In the short-term, people will opt for traveling to locations that are closer to home. This would include road trips, trips to the countryside, or trips to the nearest coastal region.

Therefore, there will likely be a rise in the amount of those booking regional holidays or inter-railing, with many expected to prefer train travel over air travel.

The restrictions placed on air travel in the short-term will contribute to this, in addition to the fact that people are less likely to pay for expensive travel with the possibility that COVID could disrupt their travel experience.

You should be prepared to go into lockdown if your accommodation has a COVID outbreak

This would be an annoying one, however, there is always the risk that there is an outbreak in the area that you are traveling.

This could force you to go into lockdown for an unknown period. Maybe not as much of an issue for long-term travelers, but short-term travel will be most affected by this.

This is something that you should factor into your trip and be prepared for.

So what’s should we expect from post-COVID travel?

Be prepared.

Post-COVID traveling will be focused around being prepared.

Being prepared for:

• Health Checks.
• Immunity Passports.
• COVID outbreaks.
• More expensive travel insurance
• Unpredictable Disruption

So, for now, there will be a big change in the way we travel.

The only thing we can do now is to plan for our future travels when everything is back to normal and hope a vaccine is on its way.