South Coast Vacations

The COVID-19 pandemic may have changed how we travel, but it hasn't done away with our zest for exploring. Here are a few tips on how to deal with travel's new challenges:

• Research if any travel restrictions apply to your destination and origin before booking. Also check if there are any special conditions you'll have to follow on arrival, such as installing a contact tracing app.
• When you go through airport screening, keep your face mask on. You will be asked to lower it briefly for ID purposes. Those who refuse to wear a face mask may face civil penalties and may also be escorted from the terminal.
• Avoid handing your boarding pass directly to a TSA officer. Instead, you should place the pass on the scanner and then hold it up to allow the agent to visually inspect it.
• You can now take one container of hand sanitizer up to 12 oz (350 ml) in your carry-on bag. You'll have to remove it for screening.
• To minimize handling during screening, put items such as your belt, phone and wallet into your carry-on instead of into the bins.
• If you're bringing food on board, place it in a clear plastic bag and then into a scanning bin. This lessens the likelihood that a TSA employee will need to handle your food container or carry-on bag for inspection.

As passengers and cabin crew take to the skies again, many airlines have implemented social distancing and other necessary actions to help slow the spread of COVID-19. Here are just a few examples:

• British Airways - this airline is known for providing passenger masks and cleaning with disinfectant.
• Mango - this airline is known for cleaning with disinfectant and providing passenger masks.
• Comair - this airline is known for providing passenger masks and cleaning with disinfectant.