While we discuss the potential reopening of travel, we maybe neglect the fact that we still need to be wary of potential dangers. In today’s post COVID world, being able to travel safely is no longer a given.
We had a chance to get some professional insights from Matthew DeMaris, who is the Global Risk Product Leader at FCM Travel Solutions. They are a leading global travel management company and often have to provide support and guidance on travel risk.
Trying to practice safer travel procedure is one thing, but it can be confusing or there could be different challenges as you go from country to country. This is true for both business and leisure travel, as we still need to stay vigilant even as travel opens up.
READ MORE: Is it really safe to travel again?
Matthew DeMaris said, “The acronym that we use at Flight Centre is M.A.R. or Monitor, Assess, Respond. From a traveller’s standpoint, these three words form the cornerstone when they are planning to return to travel, be it for leisure or business.“
Matt was kind enough to take some time to give us a few handy tips on how to maintain your safety when you finally get a chance to travel.
Tip 1: Monitor
Being able to stay connected to the updates and continuous changes will be important as travel opens up. Any new flare-ups or potential risks can derail your plans. So according to Matt, locating the tools to help limit your exposure and monitor changes to your destination’s travel restrictions. These include:
- Your airline mobile app for a contactless boarding pass option.
- Your preferred travel health passport or wallet to safekeep your PCR test results or FTF (Fit-to-Fly) documents. For example, click here.
- Your local government’s travel or health website (MFA, SafeTravel Website etc. etc.)
- Any additional health and safety tools (Sam with WorldAware Intelligence, GeoSure etc.)
The tools we need are readily available and becoming increasingly easier to use, so there should be no trouble finding something that works best for you.
Tip 2: Assess
Gone are the days, at least for now, when you could just pack up your troubles in your suitcase and forget about it all. Now you need to be asking yourself, “What are the steps you need to take prior to check-in, processing, and boarding?”
According to Matt, some of the things you need to consider before flying are:
- Do you need a 72-hour PCR test result prior to your departure?
- Does your carry-on luggage meet airport security standards which may have changed at the onset of the pandemic?
- Does your mask meet the airline’s expectations? Ensure that your safety comes first. This can be done by bringing your own high-quality KN95 mask that offers five layers of protection. Plus, it should be comfortable to use, allowing you to breathe freely without irritating your skin.
- Does your destination require that you quarantine or take any special measures upon arrival?
While these may seem simple, it is not really something we ever had to consider before. Therefore, making a routine part of your travel preparation is important if you want to ensure that you travel safely.
Tip 3: Respond
No matter how much we plan, it just takes one person who doesn’t follow the rules to mess it up for everyone. You have to take responsive actions to help mitigate your risk and the risk to those around you.
According to Matt, you should just be patient, and follow the rules being displayed and announced at the airport, onboard the aircraft, in your rideshare, and at your hotel. For example – if your boarding agent asks that you remain 6 feet separated during boarding, be sure to respond by following those directions.
If rules in your destination change, be sure that you adjust your plans to coincide with any new border/movement restrictions.
Being able to travel safely is going to harder and require vigilance from everyone. Working together, we can ensure that the world opens up faster and we can all resume our exploration of the world.
We look forward to once again being able to experience the new wonders of the world as much as possible.
