Tri-Cities Vacations

The COVID-19 outbreak may have changed the way we travel, but it hasn't dampened our enthusiasm for exploring. Here are a few tips on how to cope with the new challenges of traveling:

• Before locking in your flight, see if any travel restrictions or bans apply — in both your origin and destination. Get the latest updates by reviewing government travel advisories.
• When you pass through airport checkpoints, do not remove your face mask. You will be asked to lower it briefly for ID purposes. Travelers who refuse to wear a face mask may be fined and denied entry.
• Avoid handing your boarding pass (electronic or paper) directly to a TSA employee. Rather, position the pass on the reader and then hold it up for the agent to visually inspect it.
• You are now allowed to take one container of hand sanitizer up to 12 oz (350 ml) in your hand luggage. This will need to be taken out for screening.
• Empty your personal items from your pocket, like your small change and phone, and place them in your carry-on rather than into bins. This will minimize handling during screening.
• If you're bringing food through security screening, put it in a clear plastic bag and then into a scanning bin. This lessens the likelihood that a TSA agent will need to handle your food container or carry-on bag for closer inspection.

As lockdowns and restrictions start to lift, airlines have resumed services with new measures including social distancing and staggered boarding and disembarkation. Here's what a number of carriers are doing to reduce the spread of COVID-19:

• American Airlines - this airline is known for providing passenger masks and cleaning with disinfectant.
• Delta - this airline is known for electrostatic cleaning and cleaning with disinfectant.
• Allegiant Air - this airline is known for providing passenger masks and cleaning with disinfectant.