The urge to travel is stronger than ever as travel destinations re-open and millions are now vaccinated. However, it’s still difficult to keep up on the latest advice from the CDC, airline regulations, and country-specific travel requirements. Since I’m frequently asked travel-related questions about traveling during the pandemic, I thought I would compile and share Q&A with all of you to help you determine for yourself if it’s safe to start traveling again.
If any of this is overwhelming for you, remember that having a travel guru can save you time and stress. It may be helpful to navigate this process with a dedicated travel planner to provide you with the most recent travel requirements, advice, and recommendations.
As of May 15th, 2021, Travel Guru Destinations shares the following FAQ:
Are masks required to fly?
TSA has extended the face mask requirement at airports and throughout the transportation network through September 13, 2021. This means you can expect everyone in an airplane to wear a mask throughout the entire journey (not when eating/drinking, but you do need it on even when sleeping).
Can I travel domestically if I’m vaccinated?
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), states that fully vaccinated travelers can travel safely within the United States: Fully vaccinated travelers do not need to get tested before or after travel unless their destination requires it and they do not need to self-quarantine.
Do I need a COVID test to return to the US after traveling internationally?
If you are traveling internationally, all air passengers coming to the United States, including U.S. citizens, are required to have a negative COVID-19 test result or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 before they board a flight back to the United States.
Taken on May 10th, 2021 Delta direct Austin > Boston
I am vaccinated, is it safe to travel?
CDC recommends to wait 2 weeks after getting your second vaccine dose to travel—it takes time for your body to build protection after any vaccination.
Do other countries require a COVID test for entry?
Some destinations require testing before travel and/or after arrival. If you do not follow your destination’s requirements, you may be denied entry and required to return to the United States. Plan ahead for country-specific requirements and make sure you know where you can have a test administered abroad.
What is revenge travel?
Revenge travel is what’s happening now as millions of people are re-booking cancelled trips and booking new vacations after months of staying home. As of today, this year’s record high for TSA screened travelers was recorded on 5/9/2021 this past Mother’s Day weekend, with 1,707,805 travelers throughout the US. We can expect to see this number continue to rise as more and more vaccinated travelers decide to make up for lost time.
Watch my live segment on Fox News 26 talking about updates on travel industry trends!
Please make informed decisions, plan ahead, contact me with questions, or get started on a travel guru trip with by submitting a travel guru request!
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Signed in Boston,
Salma, Your Travel Guru
Disclaimer: The answers and information in this blog post are current as of May 15th, 2021 (published date). All requirements and regulations are subject to change. Please refer to CDC, TSA, and travel.state.gov websites for the most updated information before making any travel decisions.