Allegheny Plateau Vacations

COVID-19 may have changed how we travel, but it hasn't stifled our appetite for exploring. Here are some tips on how to handle travel's new challenges:

• Investigate what rules and restrictions apply to both your origin and destination. You may not be able to travel depending on local circumstances, so remember to check in advance.
• When you go through airport screening, keep your face mask on. You will be required to lower it briefly to verify your identity. Travelers who refuse to wear a mask may face civil penalties and may also be escorted from the building.
• To avoid cross-contamination, place your boarding pass on the scanner yourself and then hold it up for inspection. Do not hand your pass directly to a TSA agent.
• You are now permitted to take one container of hand sanitizer up to 12 oz (350 ml) in your hand luggage. This will need to be removed for X-ray screening.
• Empty your personal items from your pockets, such as your phone and wallet, and put them in your carry-on instead of into bins. This will reduce handling during screening.
• If you're taking food on the plane, put it in a clear plastic bag and then into a screening bin. This reduces the likelihood that a TSA agent will need to touch your carry-on bag or food container for inspection.

As countries begin to lift travel restrictions, airlines are back in action with new strategies including physical distancing and enhanced disinfection measures. Here's what some carriers are doing to reduce the spread of COVID-19:

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