Safety first
Many airlines currently offer the option of changing a reservation free of charge. It is also better to pay a little extra for an additional fare if this option is not included, as countries can introduce new restrictions virtually overnight. When booking accommodation, too, although the cheaper option may seem tempting, it is ultimately better to spend a few hundred zlotys more than lose the entire amount.
It is also a good idea to purchase insurance, although you must check carefully whether the policy covers the need to stay in an isolation facility or treatment due to coronavirus. It is worth purchasing a VPN service as well, which changes the device’s IP address and unblocks content unavailable in a given country. This may prove very useful, for example, in the event of an extended stay at an airport or while traveling.
A key decision when planning a trip during the coronavirus pandemic, apart from choosing the destination, is the flight. For example, UAE airline Etihad announced that it had managed to vaccinate all of its pilots and cabin crew against COVID-19. Delta, the world’s second-largest airline by passenger numbers, announced that it would maintain a reduction in capacity of up to 70%, leaving the middle seat empty. Qatar Airways is testing the IATA Travel Pass COVID-19 “Digital Passport” app, which will make it possible to travel more safely, and the airline has received a prestigious five-star COVID-19 safety rating from the international aviation organization Skytrax.
Online, you can check which airlines have introduced the greatest number of safety measures. For shorter trips, you can also consider traveling by your own car. In that case, you do not need to wear a mask, and contact with others will be limited, resulting in a lower risk of infection.
Which destination should you choose?
Some countries do not require coronavirus tests; in March 2021, these included the popular destinations of Zanzibar, favored by celebrities, and the Dominican Republic. Many people choose organized trips to Egypt through a travel agency, where the test can easily be taken locally, free of charge or for a small fee. It is worth checking the current restrictions in a given country when purchasing tickets and again immediately before departure.
In February, Madeira announced a “green corridor” for tourists vaccinated against Covid-19 and people who have recovered from the disease. They are exempt from having a negative PCR test result taken within 72 hours before boarding. Travelers who have a medical document confirming that they have had Covid-19 and fully recovered are also not required to present a PCR test result upon arrival.
Spain’s two largest airports, Barcelona El Prat and Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas, received special certificates under the Airport Health Accreditation program from Airports Council International (ACI). This means that cleaning, disinfection and terminal ventilation procedures have been intensified at the airports, while additional signs, gel dispensers and proximity sensors have been installed throughout the airports, enabling contactless passenger service.