How COVID-19 Changed Family Air Travel For Good

The COVID-19 pandemic has shaken the world to its core and the travel industry is one of the most affected. In fact, it’s safe to assume that family air travel, including commercial flights and private jet charters, will never be the same.

Things you used to take for granted, like hopping on a plane to see family and friends or visiting exciting destinations with the kids, are activities that now take a lot more thought, planning, and preparation.

If you are one of the many people anxiously waiting to board a plane and travel with your kids in tow, here are the new changes and associated preparations that you should keep in mind.

The following article is a guest post written by Melissa Hull, a fellow travel colleague in the aviation industry.

Family Air Travel Changes

For the time being, it feels like COVID-19 is going to be around for the forseeable future. When everyone is allowed to fly again, it is expected that travel habits will change dramatically as people adjust to the “new norm”.

Along with understanding the proven ways to stay healthy while traveling, adding in the factor of being in close proximity to hundreds of other people (some of who are likely ill) in an airplane provides for many additional considerations.

While airports are focused on signage and strategically placed hand sanitizer dispensers, each airline has its own style of social distancing at its gates whether it be through signage or Plexiglass barriers.

Likewise, because aircraft fogging and daily deep cleans won’t be going away any time soon, here are some additional things to be aware of if you’ve decided on family air travel during the pandemic:

Talk to Your Kids Ahead of Time

While it’s fairly easy to train kids to wash their hands and use sanitizer more frequently, adjusting to an airport’s new safety protocols can be more challenging.

For instance, being vigilant of how close they are to others, what they touch, and the number of times they should be sanitizing can be overwhelming.

In addition to discussing airport security procedures, it is more essential than ever to review the ways for your entire family to stay happy and calm during the flight.

Further, help to ease their anxieties by talking to them honestly and accurately about the use of face coverings, airport staff PPE, and the increase in self-service throughout the entire airport experience.

Stay calm.

Keep in mind that children will react not just to what you say, but how you say it.

They can also pick up cues from the talks you have with others.

Reassure them.

Make children feel safe and put them at ease by sharing some of the ways you are dealing with stress so that they can learn from you.

When it comes to the changes in family air travel, offering acknowledgment and reassurance is key.

Listen to them.

Let your children know they can always talk to you if you have questions.

It is also a good idea to let them ‘feel their feelings’ as well as remind them that their questions are valid.

Provide truthful and age-appropriate information.

Inform your children that some stories they may have read on the Internet may not be accurate or correct.

It’s easy for children to misinterpret what they read or hear and be frightened about something they do not entirely understand.

Explain to them in an age-appropriate manner that though family travel has changed since the pandemic, there are indeed ways to stay safe and to protect ourselves.

Pick Your Airline Seat Strategically

Depending on how many of you are in your family, expect the seat options to be more limited than before the pandemic.

Due to canceled and consolidated flights, the number of people trying to fit on desirable flights is at its peak.

In terms of ‘germ control’, it would be a good idea to pick a window seat so that you can minimize unnecessary exposure from crews working and from other passengers walking down the aisle.

Also, check for airlines with social distancing policies that have blocked out the middle seats so that passengers won’t sit too close.

This is a good safety measure as you have more space to spread out and lesser opportunities to rub elbows with fellow passengers.

Check-In Online

Offered by just about every major airline, online check-in allows you to check in for your flight in advance from your home, vehicle, or hotel room.

Attempting to minimize contact with other people, especially during check-in, is a family air travel process that will be encouraged indefinitely.

When you check-in online, passengers not only save time, but you’ll avoid contact with both a check-in agent and other people at the airport.

Additional planning tip: Ensure that you sanitize your hand after using your phone or tablet during online check-in.

Have Your Boarding Pass On Your Phone

Once you’ve completed the check-in process, you can have it emailed to you (so you can show it at the airport on your mobile device), or access it in a mobile app.

Having a boarding pass on your phone will decrease the amount of time that you will spend with the gate agents.

For instance, if you are a family of 5 (or more), a lot of back-and-forths can happen with paper ticketing.

Alternatively, if you have your family’s boarding pass on a single phone, you can minimize contact significantly. Once again, make sure you disinfect your screen on a routine basis, however.

Bring Reusable Water Bottles

Passengers are allowed to bring a reusable water bottle through the TSA checkpoint at an airport, no matter the material, as long as it is empty.

Once your empty bottle has gone through security, you can fill it up at a refilling station and bring your full water bottle onto the plane.

Bringing a reusable water will not only help you save money, but it will reduce the amount of contact you’ll have with other people by avoiding convenience stores.

You also won’t have to depend on the interaction with a flight attendant to keep you hydrated.

Family Air Travel Changes – Conclusion

There is no denying that the changes in family air travel will require some getting used to, especially for young children.

By being vigilant about adhering to necessary safety precautions, you and your family will best protect your health and safety during these unprecedented times.

About the Author
Melissa Hull is the Content Marketing Strategist for Aviation Charters, a West Trenton, New Jersey-based private aviation company that provides on-demand aircraft charter, aircraft management, and aircraft acquisition services. Aside from her passion for writing, she loves to travel and read espionage books.

What change in family air travel are you most concerned about? Are they any changes that you hope are for good?

Jen

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