BOOK A DIRECT FLIGHT. Reduce stress, time and the unpredictable nature of transit through other countries in a pandemic where everything can change at the last minute. If COVID-19 cases increase overnight, you may have to quarantine or you could even get locked down in transit.
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FLY WITH KIDS AT NIGHT. Sounds awful? Consider this: on my pandemic trip to the Maldives my four-year-old slept the entire way; my 20-month-old slept for three hours out of four. That’s a win in my book, even with a heavy, sleeping toddler on my lap. It also means kids aren’t mingling with passengers or running up the aisles.
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PACK KID GLOVES: For peace of mind, it’s a safe idea for young kids to wear gloves in the airport due to their tendency to touch everything – and bring your own sanitizer of course to ensure they can be cleaned if necessary. Airport queues were the only places I felt there was a risk of infection in my recent travel. Queues were generally short but social distancing was not always adhered to, and because of additional safety requirements, check-in and immigration queues are slower moving than pre-COVID.
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BE BEST FRIENDS WITH YOUR AIRLINE: Check and double-check with your airline what is required in relation to COVID-19 precautions before you travel, as these can sometimes change at short notice. You will likely need a recent negative PCR test result in order to be able to travel, but the exact requirements vary with different destinations.
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RELAX, BUT STAY ALERT: While a family holiday is a time to forget all your worries, during a pandemic you still have to keep abreast of the news, as travel requirements can change suddenly depending on the current situation. Check with your resort, hotel or airline at least three days in advance to confirm what documents are required to return to Dubai.
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PRINT OUT YOUR FORMS: It’s a good idea to print and store all forms in a separate folder to hand to whoever requires them at the airport; this saves the effort of having to find your phone and source the documents each time, especially if your WiFi access is troublesome or your phone is low on battery.
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BOOK INTO A LOUNGE TO PASS TIME IN THE AIRPORT SAFELY: Consider checking yourself into a lounge at the airport. If you don’t already get access with your ticket, you may be able to pay for access separately, or you pay get access with a credit card. We checked into the Marhaba Lounge at Dubai Airport (free for MasterCard holders) to access complimentary food and drink. Staff wore masks and gloves, snacks were packaged and all seating and tables distanced and sanitised regularly.
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USE THE SANITARY KIT ON THE PLANE. If you don’t have your own sanitizer and wipes with you already then most airlines will currently provide you with a hygiene kit. Use it: sanitise your seat, arm rests, TV screen/ remote, and table before using them, and keep everything clean – especially children’s fingers!
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CHOOSE YOUR PLANE SEAT WISELY. If you have the choice then window seats away from the toilet will minimise your contact with other passengers. You might also want to consider keeping your air vent on - there's evidence to suggest that the air from the vent can create a 'cone of protection' that can stop airborne viruses from lingering in the air around you.
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DON’T MISS THE SMART GATES: UAE residents can now move more quickly through DXB immigration control with their Emirates ID by using 68 upgraded Smart Gates in all three terminals. Families with children under 18 years can move quickly through a manned counter next to each Smart Gate.
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