Santa Barbara Wine Country Vacations

With new rules, restrictions and safety measures in effect, travel looks a bit different these days. Here's what you need to know before you pack your bags for Santa Barbara Wine Country:

• Before booking anything, check if any travel bans or restrictions apply — in both your destination and origin. Stay informed with the latest updates by checking government websites.
• When you go through airport screening, do not remove your face mask. You will be asked to lower it briefly to verify your identity. Anyone refusing to wear a mask may face civil penalties and may also be escorted from the terminal.
• To minimize the risk of cross-contamination, position your boarding pass on the reader yourself and then hold it up for inspection. Do not hand your boarding pass directly to a TSA employee.
• One container of liquid hand sanitizer is now allowed in your carry-on bag. It must not be larger than 12 oz (350 ml), and you'll have to take it out of your bag for X-ray screening.
• To reduce handling during screening, put items such as your phone, coins and keys into your carry-on instead of into the bins.
• Separate any food you're carrying for X-ray screening. Food items often trigger the alarm. Putting them in a clear plastic bag and into a bin reduces the need for a TSA employee to handle and inspect your belongings.

As passengers take to the skies again, most airlines have implemented social distancing and other important measures to help fight COVID-19. Below are some of them:

• United Airlines - this airline is known for providing passenger masks and cleaning with disinfectant.
• American Airlines - this airline is known for providing passenger masks and cleaning with disinfectant.
• Southwest Airlines - this airline is known for providing passenger masks and cleaning with disinfectant.