Looking forward to flying
Jodi MacKinnon can't wait to jump on a plane.
Like many other Atlantic Canadians, the Stratford, P.E.I., woman has already booked several upcoming vacations for 2022. She’s heading to Europe in the fall of 2022 and is hoping to get to Las Vegas earlier that year.
She’s not worried because she’s booked through a travel agent, made sure she had good insurance on her trips, is fully vaccinated and practises good handwashing.
All her trips are for next year, though, as she says she can’t yet see herself travelling outside of Canada.
Shannon Stewart, who is from Wellington, P.E.I., has a trip booked for February 2022, but she’s still waiting to see how things pan out. As she will be travelling with her daughter, she wants to ensure she doesn't place her in a potentially harmful situation.
“I need to see COVID cases at an all-time low,” she says, noting her travel decisions will also depend upon aircraft travel regulations and rules. “I want to feel we are traveling in some sort of normal situation again.”
She adds that she’s not willing to spend thousands of dollars to have to wear a mask on vacation, like on a beach in Mexico.
"So, if we aren't to a safe point by January, then I will not be travelling," says Stewart.
Gail Hodges, from Labrador City, N.L., has always been a snowbird, wintering in Florida. She recently took advantage of the skyrocketing real estate prices and sold their condo there, meaning if they go back, they will need to find a place to rent.
She says she'll feel comfortable going back once the border opens up but will do so using the COVID rules and common sense, wearing masks indoors, staying away from densely populated areas such as concerts and hockey arenas for the time being and eating on outdoor patios when possible.
“Life has to go on,” she says.
INQUIRIES INCREASING
Now that travel is opening up and it's possible for fully-vaccinated passengers to return to Canada without having to quarantine, Shari Tucker of Love the Way You Travel in Halifax, N.S., believes a travel boom will be close behind.
Bookings have been trickling in for the past couple of months, she says but are not yet anywhere near the levels they were in the past.
Adam Taylor, travel manager and owner of Independent by Flight Centre, specializing in business and leisure travel, agrees people have been waiting for what would seem like a lifetime to get back on a plane. He has been getting calls to book vacations for late this summer right into the 2022 season, mostly from individuals who are either fully vaccinated or have the intention of being fully vaccinated by the end of August.
Canadians considering a trip to Europe, Africa, South America or Asia, for example, are keeping a close eye on vaccine rates before booking," says Tucker.
Many travellers are also concerned about the health and well-being of locals when they travel.
“People are weighing their desire to travel and the privilege of doing so with the vaccine disparity of poorer countries. They research and take time to consider if their presence could be doing more harm than good if the local population hasn’t been vaccinated yet,” says Tucker.
Whether people are booking or not, he says, comes down to the type of travel they are planning.
Asking questions about cancellation policies are at the front of many travellers’ minds right now, says Taylor.
"Most companies have incorporated a lot of flexibility into their booking processes right now to encourage travellers to book," explains Tucker.
From minimal deposits to free changes to final payment dates being extended, it’s enticing to book right now.
Travellers need to be aware that these flexible policies are not the norm though. For the most part, they are promotional offers that will end in the next few months.
START PLANNING EARLY
Before you book your next trip, Taylor says it's important to start planning now. Start by checking your passport to make sure it has not expired. Many countries will not accept passengers with fewer than six months of validity, he says.
Then, Tucker says, to check COVID vaccination travel protocols. Already, many destinations require proof of vaccination to enter the country and sometimes only recognize certain vaccinations. Other countries may require quarantine on arrival without being vaccinated.
When returning to Canada if you are not fully vaccinated, you’ll be required to quarantine as well, explains Tucker.
“Travelling while unvaccinated is very difficult, if not close to impossible, at least in the short-term,” says Tucker.
"There are a million and one hoops to jump through to travel now and into 2022. Every country, every tour operator, every piece of an itinerary has different rules, requirements, change and cancellation policies."
This is why it's necessary, says Taylor, to have a travel agent ready to help you navigate the new ways of travel.
"Agents have a list of dos and don'ts to ensure you have a safe and enjoyable post-pandemic vacation," he says.
When you do get back to travelling, be patient, reminds Taylor.
"Be prepared for things to look different in airports, resorts and wherever travel takes you," he says.
Protocols are in place for everyone's safety and lineups will likely be longer than before.
“Give yourself some extra time and smile,” he says. “You're travelling again.”