INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL
The ‘new normal’ for travel means new rules and extra documents, writes Rosemary Slade, but with preparation – and a little patience – it needn’t be a bumpy ride. Here’s what to expect next time you travel internationally.
VACCINE PASSPORTS
First thing’s first: to travel overseas, you’ll need an international COVID-19 vaccination certificate (ICVC or ‘vaccine passport’), which is accessible via your MyGov Medicare online account or the Medicare Express Plus app. To be eligible, you’ll need to be an Australian resident or visa holder with a valid passport and your jabs recorded on the Australian Immunisation Register. The ICVC bears an individual QR code with the same encryption as an ePassport, and allows authorities to verify your vaccination status.
TRAVEL INSURANCE
Travel insurance has become increasingly important. Postpandemic, several countries have made COVID-19 cover mandatory. Check the requirements for your destination and any countries you’re transiting through. For example, if you’re visiting the US (your destination), they may not require travel insurance, but Singapore (your transit country) might.
PRE-DEPARTURE TESTING
At the time of writing, Australia has no pre-departure testing requirements in place. However, many destinations require incoming travellers to provide a negative COVID-19 PCR test, often completed 72 hours prior to arrival. Local embassies and consulates can confirm requirements for the country (or countries) you’re visiting. For more advice, visit smartraveller.gov.au
LONGER QUEUES
With all the additional biosecurity measures, queues are set to increase significantly, at least for a while. Along with mandatory check-ins and sanitisation stations, there’s additional steps at the airport. Pack your patience, expect delays and ask your airline about how much additional time to allow.
MANDATORY MASKS
Masks are mandatory in all Australian airports and in-flight. At the time of writing, there are no restrictions around the type of masks required, though bandanas and scarves aren’t permitted.
However, airlines and countries can have specific requirements. Some European airlines have banned cloth masks, in favour of surgical masks that meet N95 (US), FFP2 or FFP3 (EU) and KN95 (Chinese) standards. And many US airlines prohibit masks with valves and vents. Some carriers suggest frequent mask changes, so ensure you have a) the right masks and b) enough of them.
IN-FLIGHT SERVICES
Differences between airlines, flight lengths and cabin classes are even more pronounced now than pre-COVID. Many airlines still offer in-flight services, some – such as Qantas and Jetstar – have streamlined them to minimise contact between passengers and crew, and others have halted food and drink service altogether.
Generally, beverages are more limited and served in sealed, single-use vessels, rather than poured from larger ones, while food will come individually wrapped or in pre-packaged boxes.
CHANGEABLE CONDITIONS
The global pandemic has made it abundantly clear that change is, indeed, a constant, and it’s likely to remain that way for some time. Check and double-check travel advisories, requirements and conditions – like quarantine, PCR testing, masks, insurance and so on – while planning, before you leave, while you’re away and before returning with smarttraveller.gov.au, homeaffairs.gov.au, your intended destination and transit countries.
Above all, try not to let ‘the new normal’ and all the extra demands that come with it suck the joy out of your trip!
Read on about the new travel rules at delicious.com.au/travel