Southeast Birmingham Vacations

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

• Investigate if any travel restrictions apply to your destination and origin before committing to a flight. Also check if there are any special conditions you'll have to follow on arrival, such as health testing.
• When you go through airport checkpoints, do not remove your face mask. You will be required to lower it briefly to confirm your identity. Travelers who refuse to wear a face mask may be fined and denied entry.
• Rather than handing a TSA employee your boarding pass, position it straight on the reader yourself. When that's done, hold it up for inspection.
• You're permitted to take one container of hand sanitizer up to 12 oz (350 ml) in your carry-on bag. You'll need to remove it for screening.
• To minimize handling during the screening process, place items such as your phone, keys 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 screening bin. This lessens the likelihood that a TSA agent will need to touch your carry-on bag or food container for closer inspection.

Social distancing is just one element of new travel industry strategies to minimize the spread of COVID-19. From check-in to arrival, these airlines will whisk you away to your destination with greater peace of mind:

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