Gazette journalist Gabriella Payne shares some tips on safe international travel from her own recent trip overseas:
1. Bring a good (and comfortable) mask!
Overseas travel is always fun, but to make it through the long flight out of Australia in Covid times, we recommend you wear a strong and extra comfy mask. Seeing as masks must be worn for the entire flight (except when eating and drinking), it’s better to be safe, comfy and happy than sorry!
2. Get organised ahead of time.
With all the rigorous border controls in place at the moment, it’s a good idea to get your documents sorted and bags packed well ahead of time to avoid any set backs at the airport. If you’re about to board a plane overseas, you need an international vaccine certificate, which fully vaccinated residents can easily obtain through the MyGov portal. You also need to get a PCR Covid test and receive a negative result at most 72 hours before you travel – so make sure you get onto this before the day of your flight!
3. Don’t worry, be happy!
Many people are feeling anxious about boarding a plane again – especially with the threat of Covid still lingering in the air – but there’s nothing to worry about! Airport staff and flight attendants are following all the correct protocol and making sure that each flight is a safe and comfortable experience for everyone. Disposable masks, hand sanitiser and disinfectant hand wipes are provided free of charge for passengers on most flights – all you need to do is adhere to the health advice, stay socially distant where possible and make sure you’ve done your bit and gotten the jab – and hey presto, you’re set to go!
