THE REALITY OF POST-LOCKDOWN TRAVEL

AS THE UK EASES TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS TO CERTAIN COUNTRIES, AND DESTINATIONS START REOPENING FOR BUSINESS, WE ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT BOOKINGS, INSURANCE, CLEANLINESS AND QUARANTINE. WORDS: SARAH BARRELL

Travellers keen to head abroad can expect a lot of falling in line, either physically, for quarantine and health check queues at airports, or digitally, to file health details or seek preregistration approval to enter your destination of choice. The UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) allows non-essential travel to destinations deemed ‘safe’ — that is, with a low risk of coronavirus infection.

Will my booking be secure?

Peace of mind is an emerging consumer priority. Reputable operators with great customer service and flexible booking and cancellation terms will trump cheap seats. The upside to the predicted rising costs? We may be about to enter an era with some of the most flexible booking conditions ever seen, including short-notice cancellations and full refunds. Not so for travel insurance. For now, pandemicrelated coverage will be punitively priced or impossible to get, and if the FCO advises ‘against all but essential travel’ to your destination, most policies won’t cover you.

What new measures are in place at airports?

No-touch temperature checks, disinfection tunnels and socially distanced arrival halls will define the airport experience — at least at some airports; a global standard is still a distant hope. Most airports have introduced hand sanitising stations, Perspex screens, and social distancing signage. In line with government guidelines, face coverings are mandatory within UK terminal buildings. Some countries are swab-testing travellers for coronavirus on arrival (these include Iceland, which is charging an eye-watering ISK 15,000/£84 per test). Those who refuse will be asked to quarantine for two weeks (under-fives exempt).

How are planes being kept clean?

Industry standardisation doesn’t apply to airlines. Most have simply introduced a mandatory mask policy that exempts small children and those with medical issues. The focus will instead be on cleanliness. Virgin Atlantic and British Airways have retired some older planes in a bid to reduce the risk of contamination, and many carriers will be deep-cleaning cabins. This process might include the use of electrostatic sprayers pre-flight, and HEPAgrade filters that recirculate air every two to three minutes.

The latter are said to remove 99.9% of viral particles.

How are hotels and restaurants minimising risk?

Accommodation where some degree of social distancing is inherent is the hot ticket — think private villas, self-catering rentals, and campsites and hotels with selfcontained cottages. In hotels, highcontact areas like spas, gyms and reception will be subject to social distancing and regular cleaning; self-service or no-contact check-in will become the norm.

When it comes to dining, outdoors options, social distanced tables, PPE-clad waiters, Plexiglass dividers and staggered dining times will be the new standard. The buffet breakfast is out; prepackaged or a la carte meals and no-contact room service is in.

How will visiting museums and other places of interest change?

This is where, for now, the consumer seems to be winning. Timed entrances, prebooked tickets and generous social distancing are starting to transform previously packed tourist sights into places of wonder and quiet contemplation.

More information: gov.uk/guidance/ travel-advice-novel-coronavirus gov.uk/uk-border-control