East Central Kansas Holidays

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed how we travel, but it hasn't put the brakes on our desire to explore. Here are a few tips on how to cope with travel's new challenges:

• Research if any travel restrictions apply to your destination and origin before locking in your flight. Also check if there are any requirements you'll have to follow on arrival, such as health testing.
• Requirements state that you must wear a face mask at the airport, even at screening checkpoints. Be ready to adjust your mask for ID verification when asked.
• To reduce the likelihood of cross-contamination, position your boarding pass on the scanner yourself and then hold it up for inspection. Do not hand your pass directly to a TSA agent.
• One container of liquid hand sanitizer is now permitted in your carry-on bag. It must be no larger than 12 oz (350 ml), and you'll have to take it out of your bag for X-ray screening.
• Remove items from your pocket, like your small change and phone, and place them in your carry-on rather than the bins. This will reduce handling during the screening process.
• If you're planning to take food on the plane with you, place it in a clear plastic bag and then into a screening bin. This reduces the likelihood that a TSA employee will need to touch your carry-on bag or food container for closer inspection.

To lessen the contact between passengers and flight crew during the ongoing pandemic, airlines have taken physical distancing and other measures to the skies. Just some of these are:

• United Airlines - this airline is known for providing passenger masks and cleaning with disinfectant.
• American Airlines - this airline is known for providing passenger masks and cleaning with disinfectant.
• Delta - this airline is known for electrostatic cleaning and cleaning with disinfectant.