06/08/2021
Flying remains an essential means of transport to many European destinations and of course to the rest of the world. Whether travelling to the south of Portugal, the Greek islands or the tip of Africa, many travellers wonder whether it is safe to travel by plane. Let’s face it, flying on holiday has never been safer! Little Guest has taken stock of the situation for you.
Following the Covid-19 epidemic, all airlines have gained experience on the subject and are doing their utmost to ensure that travellers have a safe journey, both on the ground and during the flight! In particular, the ventilation of the passenger cabin has been improved in recent months, making the plane one of the safest forms of transport. With more than three quarters of the world’s population already vaccinated, public health measures are becoming more and more refined and, above all, the tourism industry is extremely fussy about the quality of the welcome it provides. Time has come to start dreaming of unforgettable holidays. So don’t panic at the thought of taking a plane soon, all the conditions are in place for a worry-free trip.
WHAT ARE THE GUIDELINES TO FOLLOW?
As a passenger, you must ensure that you comply with the health and entry requirements of the countries you are travelling to (including transit countries) and that you are in possession of all the required travel documents. Entry rules may change at short notice, so it is essential to check the latest regulations on the relevant government website.
Regarding the airport and the plane, you just have to wear a mask, disinfect your hands regularly and keep your distance, just as you do in everyday life!
CAN I TRAVEL TO ANY DESTINATION?
Yes, you can, but you must take a few precautions depending on where you are going. Indeed, countries are classified in green, yellow or red zones according to the seriousness of their health situation. The control measures are therefore adapted to this classification according to the evolution of the epidemic situation in the countries. However, most destinations, even red ones, are accessible to travellers, but with slightly stricter restrictions. Being in possession of a vaccination certificate or a negative test less than 72 hours old when returning to France or Belgium means that you will not be quarantined when you return from your holiday.
Although it is preferable to travel to certain countries to avoid too many restrictions and surprises, there are still many ways to find the trip that will suit the whole family! And it’s also an opportunity to forget about the crowds and explore original and little-known destinations.
The Little Guest hotels, of course, have gone to great lengths to ensure impeccable safety and hygiene measures.
Regular disinfection of all surfaces, provision of masks, hydro-alcoholic gel dispensers, touch-free check-in, changes to the rules of access to the spa or the kids’ club, the possibility of carrying out a PCR test on the spot… all our hoteliers have done their best to guarantee you a serene holiday.
WHAT ARE THE MEASURES TAKEN FOR CHILDREN?
Now you know that parents must have a health pass or a negative test (PCR or antigenic) to be able to travel to certain territories. For children, it’s quite the same but the rule varies according to the country. In France, for example, the health pass is required from 11 years old; in order to go to Italy, children over 6 years old must present a negative test dating back to less than 48 hours; and it’s the same for over 12 years old in Spain, etc. The key is to get the right information before you leave, then you can enjoy a sunny family holiday!
Your Little Guest Travel Designers and our dedicated concierge will provide you with all the advice you need and help you book your plane tickets.
And to find all the official information updated on a daily basis, don’t hesitate to consult the following pages:
Travelling by plane can sometimes be a bit time consuming and restrictive for children. Little Guest has a range of activities to keep them occupied during the flight and help them travel more comfortably.
In order to reach your destination safely and serenely, here are some precautions to take. First, make sure you have enough face masks with you. Secondly, find out about the health measures taken on the ground and in the air, the regulations of your destination and the documents you need to carry. Finally, we advise you to check in online to reduce physical contact and waiting time at the airport at the same time.
In order to ensure your safety and well-being, airports do everything possible to make your journey to the door of your aircraft as smooth as possible. They have put in place appropriate sanitary measures such as thorough cleaning of contact areas, the installation of Plexiglas panels at counters, ground markings for distances, or the wearing of masks for all staff.
Airlines are concerned about your well-being and do their utmost to provide you with the best possible customer experience on board. Not to mention that their crews are fully trained in health risk prevention so that they can be operational at all times. Making sure you travel with confidence is their priority! Being on a plane for several hours with other passengers is the moment you dread the most? Is it even the cause of your reluctance to resume travelling? Well, think again, it’s actually the safest part of your journey thanks to these two key measures on board:
AIR PURIFICATION
First of all, you should know that the air in the aircraft cabin where the passengers are located is filtered and completely renewed approximately every 2 to 3 minutes with fresh air from outside. This is made possible by the HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filters in the latest generation of aircraft. This is the same system that is used in operating theatres. In addition, the air flows from top to bottom to prevent air mixing between the rows of seats. This means that the air is much healthier than in a bus or train, for example!
Here are some striking examples of the ventilation rate in an aircraft compared to other spaces:
2 times better than in a classroom
8 times better than in a supermarket
12 times better than in an office
THE MANDATORY WEARING OF A MASK
Face masks must be worn on board the aircraft, both by passengers and staff. In combination with the air recycling system, the mask provides sufficient protection even when physical distance cannot be maintained.
Of course, other measures are implemented such as reinforced disinfection on board, distribution of disinfectant wipes, reduction of physical contact, rethinking the entire on-board service, removal of non-essential items (magazines, hot towels, etc.) etc. A combination of measures that make the risk of transmission extremely low.
According to IATA (the International Air Transport Association), there is one possible case of transmission of the virus on board every 27.3 million passengers! Of course, the risk is not zero, but it is minimal!
Here is a selection of airlines to help you see more clearly:
AIR FRANCE
Air France has been rewarded by Skytrax and Diamond Services for the effective health measures it has put in place in recent months. Indeed, the airline has created Air France Protect, a label that brings together all its measures implemented on the ground and in the air.
What documents do I need to provide? To find out the latest entry and exit conditions for each country, Air France provides TravelDoc.
What about children? Passengers aged 11 and over must wear a face mask on board Air France flights. Mask rules are still evolving, so check with the airline before your flight.
BRUSSELS AIRLINES
Brussels Airlines does its utmost to ensure that you have a pleasant journey while taking care of your health. To this end, a large number of measures and recommendations are put in place at every stage of your journey. For more information, consult this information page.
What documents do I need to provide? In order to travel freely within the territory of the European Union member states, passengers must provide a Covid European Digital Certificate which proves that you are vaccinated or that you have a negative PCR test with a certain delay depending on the destination or that you have immunity to COVID-19 following a cure. However, you should check the conditions for each country. To find out more, click here.
What about children? Passengers over 6 years of age must wear a respiratory protection mask on board Brussels Airlines flights (PVC face masks and FFP2 are not allowed on board their aircraft). Mask rules are still evolving, so check with the airline before your flight.
EASY JET
Your safety and wellbeing always are a top priority for UK-based Easy Jet.
What documents do I need to provide? Easy Jet has set up a handy interactive map to keep you up to date with forms, updates and health news.
What about children? Respiratory protection masks must be worn by passengers over the age of 6 on Easy Jet flights. Mask rules are still evolving, so check with the airline before your flight.
RYANAIR
To ensure your safety and that of its staff, Ryanair also has a series of measures to be respected on board its aircraft.
What documents do I need to provide? To help you find your way around, Ryanair has provided a page of the documents required for all the countries it flies to.
What about children? Passengers over the age of 6 must wear a mask on board Ryanair flights. The rules on masks are still evolving, so check with the airline before your flight.
TO GO FURTHER
Travelling with Little Guest is a guarantee of a hassle-free family holiday. Find out more here!
Are you pregnant and wondering if it’s possible to fly? Check out our article and our tips for flying pregnant.
If you’re not sure what luggage your baby can take when you pack your bags, read our article on this subject.
IN A NUTSHELL
Flying is the best way to ensure that you travel in the safest possible conditions, with strict measures in place at every stage of your journey. You are now ready to take the plane without risk for new adventures!
Mathilde, 22 years old, travel and writing fan, from Montpellier
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