How Early Should Yous Go to the Airdrome During COVID-xix?

October eleven, 2020

Flying during COVID-19 comes with new complexities and potential risks that didn't exist earlier. With new safety protocols in place, you may be wondering almost its furnishings on lines and expect times. Find out the best time to get to the airport in this blog.

Only well-nigh everything in 2020 is unlike than in previous years, thank you to a global pandemic and the economical recession that's come along with it. In all sorts of areas, the standard communication that's been good for years no longer works. This extends to restaurants, events, vacations, and even healthcare.

Traveling During COVID Brings New Complexities

Of form, the travel industry has seen an outsized touch as well. Traveling during COVID is complicated. Every form of public or commercial transportation carries at least a slightly elevated risk of COVID-xix transmission for the simple reason that yous're around other people. And because COVID-19 can be transmitted by people without symptoms, those other people could potentially be contagious — even if they experience perfectly salubrious.

An Elevated Adventure, Only Not Similar You lot Might Think

There's been enough of talk nearly flying during COVID-19. Governments have banned international travel, which largely takes place via flying. Airlines have responded by leaving seats open up, among other precautions. And it does seem like sitting in an airplane for 2 or three hours "breathing the same air" as the other passengers would be dangerous.

The thing is, that final point — breathing the aforementioned air — isn't how airplanes actually work. It's a common misnomer.

According to the CDC, the way that air circulates and gets filtered on airplanes ways that most viruses don't spread easily through airplane air. There'southward an elevated risk in traveling, but information technology'south more virtually the proximity to others—in the security line, in the waiting expanse, even in your ride-share once you lot arrive.

The Right Time to Get in at the Airport: General Guidance

What fourth dimension to arrive at the airport for a flight is one of those questions that's actually important, nevertheless the reply varies for people, depending on a number of factors.

Before COVID-19, general guidance was that for domestic flights where you don't have whatsoever luggage, yous need to arrive at least 60 minutes before departure. That means walking in the front door, not parking in the economic system lot, by the manner. If y'all have baggage, add another 30 minutes, for 90 minutes full fourth dimension. If you're flight internationally, you'll want to let at least two hours.

Of course, if you're traveling in a large group or with minor children or those needing assistance, you'll want to adjust your arrival time earlier.

The right arrival fourth dimension will vary based on the airport you're flying out of, likewise. If you're at a massive international hub, you may demand to allow yourself more time to physically go from the archway to your gate. Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia, for instance, features six massive terminals. If your flying is departing from the terminal uttermost from check-in, you may need upwards of 20 minutes to get there. And if the tram service should be interrupted, you lot'll need much more.

One of the advantages of flying out of St. Pete-Clearwater International is that we aren't a massive international hub. As a regional airport with a less intense schedule of arrivals and departures, we tend to exist faster in terms of service and turnaround fourth dimension. Passengers can oft motility through a scrap faster than boilerplate.

The Right Time to Arrive at the Airport During COVID-19

If the general guidance is 60 minutes with no luggage, 90 minutes with luggage and 2 hours for international, many travelers are wondering when to arrive during COVID-19. Does traveling during COVID-19 take longer because of added cleaning protocols, or does it take less fourth dimension considering fewer people are flying?

The Transportation and Security Administration (TSA) has a helpful resource on what it's like to go through security during COVID-19. Social distancing measures are in identify, and agents have reduced physical contact where possible. At that place may be increased wait times during busy times due to increased cleaning protocols.

At the same time, overall passenger volumes remain very low compared to a year agone. Daily rider counts rarely exceed 1 million, where terminal twelvemonth they sat between ii and 2.5 million. With fewer passengers to screen, the TSA tends to move passengers through pretty rapidly.

It'south hard to set up a single metric that's applicable across every aerodrome. Sky Scanner suggests arriving 2 hours prior to a domestic flight and 3 hours prior to an international flying, noting that larger airports may propose fifty-fifty before arrivals.

What about here at PIE? At St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport, we're currently recommending that passengers go far ii hours before their flights depart. This amount of fourth dimension should account for every eventuality, getting you to your departure gate well in advance of difference. Additionally, passengers with questions most their upcoming flights are encouraged to contact their airline direct.

Thanks for Choosing PIE When Traveling During COVID

From all of united states of america at PIE, we know you take a choice when traveling during COVID. We appreciate your choosing to travel through St. Pete-Clearwater International. Stay condom during your travels!