Plum Island Trip

COVID-19 has resulted in significant changes to how we travel. If you're flying to Plum Island, these tips will help you navigate these new challenges:

• Before committing to anything, find out if any travel bans or restrictions apply — in both your origin and destination. Stay informed with the latest updates by reviewing government travel advisories.
• You must wear a face mask throughout your travel experience, including at screening checkpoints. Be prepared to adjust your mask to verify your identity when asked.
• You're no longer required to hand your boarding pass directly to a TSA officer. Rather, you should position the pass on the scanner and then hold it up for the agent to visually inspect it.
• One liquid hand sanitizer container is now permitted in your carry-on baggage. It must not be larger than 12 oz (350 ml), and you'll have to remove it from your bag for X-ray screening.
• Put any personal items (phone, keys and wallet) in your carry-on rather than a bin to minimize handling during the screening process.
• Transport all food items in a clear plastic bag and also put them in a screening bin. Keeping food separate from your carry-on means it's less likely a TSA officer will need to open your bag for inspection.

While flying in a pandemic has its challenges, airlines are working hard to protect the well-being of passengers and crew. These are some carriers that have introduced changes:

• JetBlue - this airline is known for keeping the middle seat empty and capped capacity flights.
• Delta - this airline is known for electrostatic cleaning and cleaning with disinfectant.
• American Airlines - this airline is known for providing passenger masks and cleaning with disinfectant.