Tips for Safe Travels this Holiday Season

As the holiday season approaches, the pull to be reunited with friends and family can be a powerful one. Thanksgiving dinners, Christmas mornings and New Year’s celebrations are integral parts of our lives and, for many of us, they just wouldn’t be the same without those we love. We understand that. And if you’re ready to go, we’re ready to get you there. 

Ultimately, each person must decide for themselves what they’re comfortable with, but if you decide that air travel is part of your plans this holiday season, check out our tips to help you have #SafeTravels.

Flexibility is key

Having some wiggle room on your travel dates can help you find the best rates and the best time to travel. Both Delta and United are offering daily flights from the Duluth International Airport (DLH), and this holiday season they’re both waiving their change fees, providing you with maximum flexibility.

Know your airline’s policies

According to the CDC “most viruses and other germs do not spread easily on flights because of how air circulates and is filtered on airplanes.” So, while disease transmission risk is already low on flights, make sure your airline mandates face coverings at a minimum. Our partners, Delta and United, have gone far beyond that to help keep their employees and passengers safe during flights.

Book early

Not only will booking a flight 60 to 90 days in advance of your preferred travel window assure you the best rate, it also gives you first crack at seat selection. If available on your flight, book a window seat if you can. MIT Medical reports that “having a wall on one side automatically reduces your number of close-proximity contacts. A window seat also protects you from the inadvertent close contacts that can occur when other passengers are hoisting bags into overhead bins at the start of a flight or crowding aisles to deplane after landing.”

Stay safe at airports

If you’re departing from DLH, you can be certain we’re doing everything we can to help ensure #safetravels. That includes a robust mitigation plan with mandatory masks for all employees and passengers, plexiglass barriers at all person-to-person contact points, and thorough disinfecting of all seating areas, wheelchairs and touchpoints in the public areas of the terminal multiple times a day.

Be sure to visit the website for the airport of your final destination to keep informed on how to stay safe upon arrival.

Safe doesn’t have to mean stressed

If you decide that travel is an important part of your plans this holiday season, it’s important to do your research and be prepared for the changes the pandemic has brought to air travel.

It’s also important, however, to remember that the airlines and airports are doing everything possible to ensure safe travels for everyone. Air travel is an essential service, and we are all taking our commitment to exemplary service — and your safety — seriously.