When I had to leave the US last year, my first choice was to return home to Australia, but that was nearly impossible at the time (even for citizens) due to extremely tight restrictions. . My next pick is Canada, which is also closed, and then Mexico, which has opened up but has a fairly high number of Covid cases, which worries me. I decided to go to Iceland because it’s a relatively short direct flight, it has a US consulate that handles visa appointments, and the country has excellent quarantine and testing practices — PCR checks at the airport flight on arrival, with a turnaround time of approximately seven hours of results time and a mandatory five-day quarantine and retest for those who are unvaccinated or who test positive.
If you are having trouble finding the relevant destination country website or local government information, check the airline’s website. Not only do they have the most up-to-date information, but for obvious reasons, they are more customer-focused, so the information is often easier to find and analyze. Delta, for example, has Explore the map. This was very helpful while planning my upcoming trip and is infinitely easier than trying to navigate a lot of government websites. The website also lists inspection requirements, any quarantine information, mask regulations and whether you need to fill out a passenger entry form prior to arrival.
Nearly every country requires a negative Covid test before you arrive at your departure airport to board — even for citizens and residents. However, the length of time before departure and the type of test vary. Some require antigen testing to be done within 24 hours of departure, others require PCR to be performed within 48 hours. Make sure you note down the exact test you need and the timeframe, and book your test in advance if you can. If your destination also requires additional testing on arrival, make sure you mark the PCR site closest to you, or if they accept antigen results, try to stock up and take them with you. If the country has a dedicated application (for example: Fiji has a) or website to submit your results, make sure you download or bookmark it first and register.
As of December 2021, all domestic travelers arriving in the United States must have proof of a negative Covid test (PCR or antigen) within 24 hours of their departing flight — or documentation for know they have recovered from Covid in the last 90 days — sign their confirmation and provide their information for contact tracing. Non-citizens must provide proof that they have been fully vaccinated. If you skip even one of these steps, you may be denied boarding.
The length of time you’ll be on the plane and the number of airports you’ll be passing through is another thing to consider when booking. All airports and airlines have mask regulations, as do some destinations, and you should wear an approved mask (usually KN95 or N95). They can sometimes be uncomfortable to wear for long periods of time, so plan your trip accordingly. I’ve chosen to split my upcoming trip home into three segments with multiple days in each destination so I don’t have to be on the plane for longer than six hours at a time. If you’re not sure which mask to get or from, we have it a mask update guide for you. Make sure to reserve before you depart, as you want to ship them out quite often (if not daily).
Step 2: Have a backup plan and know your rights
No one wants to go into mandatory quarantine or miss a flight, but the reality is you probably have to. In case you do get Covid, there are some steps you can take before your trip to minimize your stress.
First, make sure you have enough easily accessible funds to quarantine for 5 to 14 days (depending on requirements) at your destination or — if you don’t live alone or elsewhere, you can safely isolate at home upon arrival — at your hotel or Airbnb. Also, this goes without saying, but if you arrive at the airport and are denied boarding because of a positive test result, don’t be angry with the security and airline staff for not letting you board. or prepare for isolation. Yes, this actually happens; During my cousin’s recent flight back to the US from Tanzania, during an airport check, one wife tested positive and the husband did not.
