COVID-19 Outbreak – The Ultimate Travel Guide

    Travel has experienced a dramatic change due to COVID-19. We compiled our best tips for flying into one helpful guide.

    Ultimate Travel Guide During COVID-19

    COVID-19 has reached the far corners of the globe, meaning that travel is a very precarious subject right now.

    However, there are a lot of things you can do to keep both yourself and others safe. Read our below travel guide to stay up to date.  

    1) Get an NHS COVID Pass

    Ultimate Travel Guide During COVID-19

    All amber list countries are now not under any quarantine rules for fully vaccinated travellers!
     
    It’s great news for the travel industry, but there’s a few things you will need to do to make your trip go smoothly. 
     
    The main change is to get an NHS COVID pass, and there are different ways to apply for one.

    Get a digital version

    You can get a digital version using the NHS App or NHS website. Or you can download it as a PDF or get it sent to you in an email.
     
    You can get a digital version by:
    You will need an NHS login to use these services. You’ll be asked to create one if you do not have an NHS login already.
     
    The NHS website has detailed information about who qualifies for an NHS COVID Pass for travel.

    2) Ensure You are Not Deemed a High Risk Passenger

    Ultimate Travel Guide During COVID-19

    Some people are considered at an increased risk for severe symptoms of the disease, and so this should be the first thing to investigate if you are planning to fly to another country.

    The NHS Inform website has detailed information about shielding, including children and young people, and what you should do if you live with someone considered high risk.

    3) Get the Latest Travel Advice Updates

    Ultimate Travel Guide During COVID-19

    Check the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website for information on the country you are travelling to.

    The FCO website is updated daily for travellers with the latest notices for each country regarding information on Coronavirus.

    It is also advised that you subscribe to their mailing list, as they include a weekly bulletin with the country specific Travel Advisory Notices, meaning you are constantly in the loop with information on the country you are travelling to.

    Global Travel Taskforce – Traffic Light System

    We are hopefully seeing the return of normal travel again due to the changes regarding the amber travel list!

    The Government regularly updates the red list, and includes all countries currently included in the list, as well as times and dates of potential additions and removals. The Green list has since been updated to include many more destinations, with some on the green watchlist which are accessible through the gov website.

    Red List Countries

    Red list countries are still affected by a total travel ban. The main reason for travel bans to these countries is down to protecting the UK from possible new virus variants that can affect the effectiveness of the vaccine. Much like what we have seen with the Delta variant.

    If you are travelling to and returning from a green list country, the only requirement for travellers is a pre-departure test, providing a result within 30 minutes. There is also an additional PCR test required on or before day 2.

    The Global Travel Taskforce have also put together a guide on the launch of the traffic light system to help potential travellers get their affairs in order before they book a long-awaited summer holiday.

    Decisions Regarding the Red, Amber and Green List

    How are the Government deciding which countries are on the which list? Here is the following criteria that is being scrutinised:

    • The use of the country’s genomic sequencing and accurate data from approved scientific bodies
    • Vaccination percentages of a country’s population
    • How fast the rate of infection is spreading
    • Any variants that are a cause for concern that emerge from any country

    Your passenger locator form will also be required when returning to the UK. This allows customs and border security to ensure you have used the correct procedure when travelling. This is required for all countries regardless of which list it is on. 

    Coronavirus Airport Testing

    Coronavirus tests being offered at most UK Airports and can guarantee results within an hour.

    The test is known as a Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification (Lamp) test. The airlines that are included in this new airport testing are Cathay Pacific, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic.

    How Much Does It Cost?

    The test costs £80 and is one of the quickest ways to test in the UK at present. It is expected that this health screening will become another part of the airport experience and is beginning to make travelling abroad desirable once again.

    Manchester Airport also introduced a new testing procedure. The main purpose of this test is to assist travellers in getting a negative test before travelling to their destination, as it is now commonplace for a negative test to be needed to enter certain countries.

    This testing procedure should also decrease quarantine times, meaning you can make the most of your holiday now should you get a negative test.

    Where else can I get Tested?

    Ultimate Travel Guide During COVID-19

    The RT Lamp test is also available at Manchester Airport, meaning you can get your results as quickly as within 90 minutes. The Rapid Antigen test which takes around an hour is also available, but these quick result tests are strictly if you are travelling to certain countries.

    The lateral flow test is also available that can provide results within 30 minutes of taking a test. These work in a similar way to a home pregnancy test.

    4) Use the NHS Track & Trace System

    Ultimate Travel Guide During COVID-19

    The NHS Track & Trace System was introduced as a way of alerting customers that they may have been exposed to an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19.

    Reataurants, bars and shops that are required to display Track and Trace posters have attached these to windows and doors which you MUST scan before entering. Using the app, you simply ‘check in’ to the shop you are entering and scan the barcode that is present.

    This is a quick and easy way for customers to use this service and this is now mandatory under new government regulations so you must ensure you are checking in via the app.

    The way airports serve customers food and drink will also be slightly different for the foreseeable future, and it is recommended that you check before you travel to the airport what facilities are available to you.

    Please download the NHS Track and Trace App on the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store

    5) Invest in Essential Travel Insurance With Appropriate Cover

    It is advised to take into account any hospital admission costs and check if they are factored into the policy, along with any equipment that may need to be used in the event you contract COVID-19.

    Please bear in mind that different countries will have different ways of dealing with Coronavirus, and your travel insurance policy should be fully understood before you purchase.

    Using Airport Parking Facilities

    Manchester airport has increased the prices for an hour’s drop off parking to £12 in order to try and help them recover from the pandemic.

    The new charges are as follows:

    Drop Off

    • Up to five minutes: £5 (increased from £3)
    • Up to ten minutes: £6 (increased from £4)
    • Over ten minutes: £25 (no changes)

    Pick Up

    • Up to and including 30 minutes: £6 (increased from £4.50)
    • One hour: £12 (increased from £7)
    • Two hours: £15 (increased from £10)
    • Four hours: £20 (increased from £18)
    • Up to 24 hours and every 24 hours after: £55 (increased from £45)

    Along with making sure you have essential travel insurance, you must ensure that any facilities you use at the airport are COVID secure.

    Luckily, here at SkyparkSecure we have worked with a lot of our parking supplies to ensure all customers are safe when travelling.

    All you have to do is look out for the COVID secure logo that is now included on each car park that is verified as having COVID secure procedures in place.

    Here’s an example of what it looks like on our site in case you are still unsure! We have highlighted the COVID Secure logo with the red box.

    Ultimate Travel Guide During COVID-19

    6) Book a Low Contraction Risk Holiday

    Ensure that the country you are travelling to has a low risk of COVID-19 contraction before you book.

    The fitfortravel NHS website is an informative source and allows you to filter by country. To check your risk of exposure, click ‘alerts’ from the bulleted list.

    The risks range from low to high.

    If there is a low risk to exposure, you are free to proceed with your travel arrangements as planned.

    If there is a moderate or high risk, you are advised to avoid non-essential travel to this country altogether.

    7) Check Quarantine Procedures and Entry Restrictions

    It is important that you understand the quarantine procedures and entry restrictions that are currently in place in the country you are planning to visit.

    It is also important that you take into account any quarantine procedures you may have to comply with upon your return to the UK.

    At the moment, there is a standard 14 day quarantine policy upon your return from red list countries and it is important that you adhere to these rules and regulations.

    The FCO website has details of when and where quarantine measures should be adhered to, and a list of countries that are exempt from the 14 day quarantine rules upon your return to the UK.

    8) Physical Distancing and Hygiene Measures

    It is important that you practice good hygiene when travelling abroad throughout 2021.

    It has recently come to light that a few airlines are requiring passengers to be wearing surgical masks only. Therefore if you have a cotton mask, you could be denied boarding. This may vary from airline to airline and even country to country, so it is best to either check before travel, or invest in surgical masks when travelling.

    Here are a few regular questions from customers:

    Q. Can I take hand sanitiser through airport security?
    A: Yes, hand sanitiser under 100ml can be taken through airport security within hand luggage as per usual security restrictions. Bottles containing hand sanitiser must be sealed, in a clear plastic bag, removed from your hand luggage and placed in a separate tray for screening.
     
    Q. Can I take anti-bacterial wipes through security in hand luggage?
    A: Yes. Anti-bacterial wipes are not classified as a liquid and therefore can be taken through airport security without having to be removed from the rest of your hand luggage.

    Many flight operators now require travellers to wear a face covering during their flight.

    A few examples of airline requirements also are:

    Ryanair

    Temperature checks after check-in and wearing a face mask is a requirement for you to board your flight.

    They also ask you to keep your mask on after landing and until you have left the airport depending on the country you have travelled to and their requirements.

    EasyJet

    It is mandatory to wear a mask if you are flying with EasyJet.

    You will be refused to board if you are not wearing a face covering.
    This applies to children over 6 years of age.

    The mask must also be worn at the boarding gate and throughout the entire flight.

    EasyJet have also made customers aware of the 4-hour life span of a mask and encourages customers to bring enough replacements for the whole party who are travelling.

    Any person who cannot wear a mask for medical reasons is exempt from wearing a mask but will have to bring a letter from a doctor stating this.

    Wizz Air

    This airline has taken similar precautions as both EasyJet and Ryanair regarding face coverings.

    The crew also favour any protective gear that customers may bring aboard the aircraft as extra measures along with a face covering.

    TUI

    TUI have ensured all of their procedures before, during and after flying are in line with new government measures.

    They advise passengers replace face coverings every 4 hours. The airline also recommends that hand sanitiser is used before and after removing and replacing a face covering.

    Again, passengers should bring spares for longer journeys.

    British Airways

    The airline requires each passenger to adhere to the multiple safety requirements they have put in place for travel.

    Enough masks to cover the journey should be brought for each person travelling in the party.

    Masks are required at all times on BA flights. BA have invested in a personal protection pack. This contains hand sanitiser and antibacterial wipes.

    Enquiries regarding meal service and wearing face coverings should be directed to your airline before you travel.

    Other Hygiene Tips to Consider

    Hygiene measures include regularly washing hands and keeping at a 1-2 meter distance from others outside your household.

    This includes after eating/drinking, after using the bathroom and after coughing/sneezing. It is important to note that you MUST NOT travel if you display any symptoms, including:

    – Loss/change in taste or smell
    – High temperature
    – A new continuous cough

    You must immediately isolate yourself and other members of your household. This also applies if you become unwell on your trip.

    9) Returning Home

    Ultimate Travel Guide During COVID-19

    Quarantine hotels have now been introduced for those arriving into the UK from red list countries, along with negative testing upon arrival.

    The measures came into force on Monday 15th February to curb the spread of the Coronavirus and you will be required to stay in the hotel for 10 days, or face a fine of £10,000.

    The cost of the quarantine hotel system is £1,750. This covers the cost of testing, hotel room and your transfer.

    These quarantine measures are in place for England and Scotland,Wales and Northern Ireland.

    You will be tested two times throughout the duration of your stay and any breaches or lies on passenger locator forms may be faced with a whopping 10 years imprisonment. 

    Quarantine procedures should always be discussed with your employer and you should also factor in the quarantine period after you have travelled. This may include you working from your quarantined location where possible.

    If you adhere to these rules whilst travelling, you should be good to go. Remember to stay safe and stay clean!