Air travel continues to soar, with more and more Americans getting vaccinated against Covid-19. The TSA says we’re back to pre-pandemic numbers. Last Friday, U.S. airports screened a staggering two million people in a single day—which is the first time it’s been at that level since March 2020. And the TSA is preparing for a very busy summer travel season. But here’s the thing: When it comes to flying, the rules have changed in many ways, so you can’t rely on things being the same. Here’s everything you need to know before you take your next flight.
Most of the deals are gone. All those deals we’ve been hearing about for the last year are a thing of the past. The reason? There are fewer flights, which means that there are fewer seats. That translates into higher prices. The lesson here: Don’t wait around thinking that prices will go down. If you see a flight price that works for you, snag it.
Wondering where you’re going to get the best flight prices? “Don’t go where everyone else is going,” says Eric Zeugschmidt, a spokesperson for Delta Air Lines. The more people flying somewhere, the higher the prices. That said, more flights into a destination can sometimes result in better deals. (Think: New York City, Orlando, Las Vegas.) When it comes to international destinations, airfare is generally cheaper the closer the destination is to the U.S., due to the cost of fuel. So in Europe, the cheapest flights are going to be to Portugal and Iceland.
Here’s another insider tip: Wednesdays are the slowest travel days and when you’re likely to get the best deal.
When it comes to travel, the rules have changed in the Covid-19 era.
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Those Covid travel vouchers might be expiring soon. Many travelers don’t realize that the vouchers they got when they decided to cancel their flights last year aren’t going to be good forever. So check the expiration dates before it’s too late. The rules are different from airline to airline, and some were only good for a year. The airline with the longest-out deadline is Delta, with vouchers expiring at the end of 2022. This is one reason why Delta was just voted best airline for customer satisfaction in the annual J.D. Power awards
If the expiration date is coming up soon and you don’t have travel plans, call and ask the airline if it will extend the date. If the deadline has passed, you should still try and call and see if the airline can help. (But be prepared to wait, as airline customer service lines are busy these days with passengers searching for information on their vouchers.) Here’s a tip: It might make sense to use those travel credits to book a flight and pay a change fee later if you need to switch the dates. It’s better than losing the value of the whole voucher.
Change fees are coming back. Many airlines started waiving change fees during the pandemic, but that’s going away. If you don’t want to get hit with costly fees, make sure you understand what kind of ticket you are buying, what’s refundable and whether you can make changes. So that you don’t get hit with costly fees, it’s a good idea to avoid basic economy tickets, which are usually nonrefundable and non-cancelable. Another hack: If you’re loyal to one airline or have a branded airline credit card, you can save on fees.
It’s a good rule of thing to get to the airport even earlier these days.
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Get to the airport early. Contact your airline, as times can vary depending on the airport and date of travel. In general, you want to allow more time than you did in the past to deal with parking, airline check-in and security. It’s a good idea to budget two hours for a domestic flight and three hours for an international flight. The MyTSA app shows how busy the airport is likely to be on your specific day and time of travel, based on historical data.
When it comes to checking in for your flight, the rules haven’t changed much. It’s still a good idea to check in online and print out your boarding passes or save them to your phone so that you can skip some of the lines.
Bring the correct ID. You want to make sure you have the correct ID: a passport if you’re traveling internationally or a driver’s license for U.S. travel. Also, you might have heard that Homeland Security is going to be requiring the new Real ID to travel on domestic flights, but that has been delayed until 2023. Bringing your Covid vaccination card depends on where you’re going and what the rules are about being vaccinated and quarantining.
Pack wisely for the plane. This advice hasn’t changed: It’s always a good idea to pack light and carry-on, if you can. For families, most airlines will allow you to check in your stroller and car seat for free—either curbside, at the ticket counter or at the gate. Onboard the plane, there may be limited food and beverage service, so think about bringing food from home or buying snacks at the airport. Meanwhile, pillows and blankets might not be available, so bring your own.
Wearing a face mask on the plane is now federal law.
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Know the mask rules. It’s federal law that you must wear a face mask on any public transportation in the U.S., which includes planes and airports. Major U.S. airlines require that masks must be worn by travelers 2 and older. And the airlines are being strict. Families have been kicked off planes because their child wouldn’t comply with the rules. If you have a toddler who might not cooperate with wearing a mask, try to get them acclimated before you fly.
A note: Some airlines have banned face coverings like bandanas and neck gaiters, and a face shield might not be enough, as many airlines also require a mask under the shield. Passengers are allowed to lower their coverings while eating or drinking on board.
If you have a disability and can’t wear a mask, you’d better check with your airline and with TSA about getting an exception well before you get to the airport. Travelers with questions regarding airport security screening procedures may send a message via Facebook or Twitter to @AskTSA for live assistance. Individuals who require screening assistance due to a disability, medical condition or other special circumstance may contact TSA Cares at least 72 hours in advance of their flight.
Sanitize. Airlines have been enhancing cleaning and passenger health protection protocols due to Covid-19, however, it’s a good idea to bring antibacterial disinfecting wipes to sanitize your seat, tray table, arm rests, seat belt and even the surfaces in the restroom. A fun fact: When you’re boarding a Delta flight these days, you’ll be handed a Purell wipe.
Know the rules for going through security.
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Be prepared for security. Standard screening rules are the same, requiring that you remove all items and place them on the X-ray belt for screening—unless you have TSA PreCheck, which usually has shorter lines, since you don’t need to remove your shoes, laptops, liquids, belts and light jackets.
Here’s something new: TSA is temporarily allowing one hand sanitizer container up to 12 oz. per person in carry-on bags. Otherwise, all other liquid, gels and aerosols must meet the 3-1-1 rule: Each passenger may carry liquids, gels and aerosols in travel-size containers that are 3.4 ounces or less. Each passenger is limited to a quart-size bag of liquids, gels and aerosols.
Another way to speed through security is with Clear, which is a little more expensive than TSA PreCheck but sometimes has shorter lines. Since March 2020 and the onset of Covid-19, Clear switched to iris eye scans as the default biometric for a touchless travel experience in airport lanes. But members can still choose to use fingerprints if they would like.
Middle seats are no longer empty. During the pandemic, airlines were blocking middle seats as a safety precaution. Delta was the last holdout and it is now booking middle seats, as well.
Follow the protocol for deplaning. Some airlines have specific protocols, so listen to the crew. United, for example, is deplaning in groups of five rows at a time to reduce crowding. The rule of thumb: Be courteous, be patient and don’t crowd the aisles.
Follow the rules of the crew when you’re deplaning.
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Know the rules for your destination. If you’re traveling internationally, rules vary from location to location, but by and large, unless you’re traveling to a few select places—like Mexico—you either need to be vaccinated or have a negative PCR test in order to avoid doing a quarantine. Another thing to note: If you’re flying to any international destination you need to get a negative Covid test in order to back to the U.S. In an effort to streamline the travel process, some airlines (Delta, American Airlines, United, to name a few) have rolled out new mobile apps that allow travelers to view Covid-19 requirements in the destination they’re headed
Get Covid insurance: Some countries require you to get Covid travel insurance— though this might be a good idea to get even if it’s not required. The last thing you want is to get stuck in a destination and have to pay for two weeks to stay at an expensive quarantine hotel. That’s definitely not a vacation memory anyone wants to have.
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