Airports and airlines and other travel related businesses will be doing their part to ensure everything is hygienic and sanitary for travelers. But it is also important that we as traveler do our part to keep ourselves safe. Here are some hygiene tips you can follow at the airport and on the plane to ensure you keep yourself as safe as possible while on the road.
Face Masks
It is advised that face coverings should be worn at all times during the airport journey. Many airports have introduced vending machines that sell face masks and hand sanitizer in the airport terminal.
Tips for mask hygiene
Wash your hand thoroughly before touching the mask.
Ensure the mask is covering your nose, mouth and chin. If using a disposable surgical mask, place the metal piece or stiff edge over your nose and mould it to you face to ensure there are no gaps.
Whenever possible do not touch the mask or pull the mask down away from your nose and mouth. When going through passport control you may b asked to remove your mask to show your face. Make sure to sanitize your hands before and after touching your mask and only remove your mask when you are instructed to so do.
If using a disposable make dispose of the mask immediately after use, preferable in a closed bin and wash your hands thoroughly.
If using a reusable mask store it in a sealed bag immediately after use. Wash the mask using hot water and detergent at least once a day.
Source: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/when-and-how-to-use-masks
At the airport
Wearing a mask and sanitizing your hands often are great ways to protect yourself while on the road. Here are some more tips to help reduce the risk of you getting sick at the airport.
Avoid crowded areas.
Food courts, shopping areas and busy gates should be avoided whenever possible. Find an empty gate to relax in, away from the crowds.
Avoid high touch traffic surfaces.
For example, railings on stairs, escalators or travellators, vending machines and sockets with switches. Pack a power bank so that you can keep your devices charged while avoiding touching sockets.
Get out of the airport whenever you can.
Being out in the fresh air is much better than being inside the airport. If you are airside and cannot leave, check to see if the airport has an outdoor area, perhaps an observation deck or a patio attached to a restaurant and spend your airport downtime there. If you have a long layover then it’s worth leaving the airport and heading to a local park or walking path. You can find information and directions to local parks at most major international airports in the Sanctifly app.
Follow the health precautions recommended by the World Health Organisation
Wash or sanitize your hands whenever possible, avoid touching your face and cough or sneeze into your elbow or a tissue and dispose of it immediately.
And always remember to sanitize throughout your journey. Airports are full of high traffic and multi contact experiences. From the moment you enter the airport right through to when you reach your destination you will come into contact with a lot of people.
Keep note of these high risk points and remember to sanitize or wash your hands immediately afterwards.
After you use any self-service machine i.e. self-check in, vending machines, water fountains
Directly after you go through security, those trays pass through a lot of hands!
Before and after you eat
After you pick up your bag
As soon as you get on the plane
On the plane
Once you get on the plane there is even more you can do to stay safe and well. Here are some health and hygiene tips for the plane to help you avoid getting sick.
Pack disinfectant wipes in your carry on and wipe down the seat, seat belt, tray table and arm rest before you sit down. If you are by the window don’t forget to wipe down the wall beside you too.
Choose a window seat whenever you can. A window seat puts you in proximity to less people and reduces your risk of being close to a sick person.
Do not take complimentary pillows or blankets. While airlines will have procedures in place to thoroughly clean any items distributed to traveling passengers it is best practice to avoid using anything that is not your own.
Use card payments or exact change whenever possible. Cash is a high traffic touch item and runs the risk of transmitting germs from one end of the plane to the other.
Avoid using the bathroom if you can. Bathrooms are small, enclosed, high traffic areas within the plane and so become high risk areas for viruses to spread. If you do need to use the bathroom, ensure you wash your hands thoroughly before returning to your seat.
Turn on your overhead air vent on. Although the air in the cabin is generally safe, turning your air vent on can help disperse any pathogens in the air around you and ensure you are breathing the freshest possible air.
Follow the health precautions recommended by the World Health Organisation, i.e. wash or sanitize your hands whenever possible, avoid touching you face and cough or sneeze into your elbow or a tissue and dispose of it immediately.
Sanctifly is a global travel wellness solution helping frequent travelers to break bad travel habits and travel healthier through the better use of their downtime.
Download the app today to explore healthy airport guides, travel wellness content and more. Everything you need to Travel Well in one app.
Sign up to the Sanctifly Travel Wellness Newsletter for monthly tips and information on the travel industry and how you can stay safe and healthy in the post Covid-19 world.
