What The New Norm Of Travel Will Look Like
Towards the end of 2019, many of us had big travel plans, and in some cases, had booked our dream vacation. Whether it was a beach getaway in Asia, an action-packed ski trip in Colorado, or a city adventure in Europe, who would have thought 2020 would go like this? Bill Gates did, but that is a story for another day. Commercial air travel has been around since 1914, but never have we seen anything like this.
Are we so affected because we have become accustomed to a generally stable method of travel? No one can really be sure, however, one thing is for certain, and that is air travel will never be the same, not for a very long time, at least. Let's take a look at what the new norm of travel will be post-Coronavirus, and how we can best adapt to enjoy travelling once again, regardless of the measures put in place.
Digital Passports
...Well, almost. Those of us who have accounts on social media and anywhere else on the interweb know that our data is out there. That may only be the start. Personal health details and records could well be accessed online, through a 'digital health passport'. Of course, the passenger must consent to give these details to their travel agent, airline, or hotel. But the question is then 'can we still travel if we opt out of giving these details?'.
Data that is likely to be collected is age (which is already collected anyway), past travel history, previous or current health conditions, and so on. And, while it's not travelling, I went out for the first time in two months as cafes opened up here in Australia, and I had to jot down my name and phone number, as a precaution. This could well be the new norm, and for travel, more in-depth details will be required to help prevent the spread.
Again, passengers will need to trust that their details are safe and secure from any possible breach or threat. Until this privacy can be 110% guaranteed, no consumer will feel safe to travel if this does come in to affect.
Space-Age Technology
We all know that the introduction of space-age technology was imminent, but it may be closer than it seems, albeit due to unforeseen and unfortunate circumstances. Let me begin with being hosed down when passing through the airport.
Yes, you got that right! CNN has reported a trial is now underway with a 40-second hosing down of passengers, and no, not with water. They are being sprayed with disinfectant to limit the spread of the virus both in the airport and on the plane. We will continue to watch developments as the trial continues, but it is undoubtedly a better solution than injecting a disinfectant agent into your body, as some sources have recently suggested.
More space-age tech includes touchless travel standards. This doesn't just apply to airports and aircraft, but also hotels and taxis/vehicles. Despite the new social distancing measures brought in, and deep-cleaning procedures brought in by airports and airlines, there is no bigger threat to spreading the virus than physical contact. Whether it be handing over documents, using a self-check-in station, or changing the movie on the inflight entertainment, there is a very high risk of cross-contamination.
With that being said, automation systems are in the process, taking biometrics one step further. There isn't too much information to date on what this will entail, but we can say that it includes features such as touchless fingerprint, and further enhanced facial recognition. Airport goers will also see gesture and voice control systems, as well as contactless data entry and document scanning. Health concerns can also be examined through the use of thermal screening. I have only seen this type of screening on two occasions, in Singapore and LAX, and it was brought in during the SARS outbreak back in 2002, so it is a technology that already exists but, is not continuously used in many places. The virus will mean we can expect to encounter such technology in more airports, malls, and even hotels, than before.
These technologies are currently being tested and will have to iron out any potentially damaging bias or privacy issues before being rolled out into airports, hotels, and aircraft.
Queues, Documents, Frustration?
Ultimately, the new norm of travel will entail more time queuing up, more documents needing to be carried with you, and a higher chance of frustration. Well, at least for a while. It is important to see that while we may need to wait longer at airports and while boarding, and that we will likely need to carry some health records with us, it is all for the best.
As new technology is brought in, the first few months will be a real test to see how both the machines and its humans get on. In the initial stages, there are bound to be technical difficulties which will hold up travellers, not to mention on the spot tests at airports.
Once there is a vaccine, we may also need to carry with us a certificate either verifying we have the antibody, or have been vaccinated. In addition, there are talks in Italy to slap on an anklet to any beachgoers during the summer, to keep a track of how many people are on the beach. I'm not sure I like the idea of wearing an anklet to the beach which tracks my every move, but hey, those are the times we will have to live in for the next few years.
Whatever the case, becoming frustrated will worsen the problem, so my advice would be to expect the worst at airports and hotels when you are traveling, and if it is better than you expect, awesome! This is just so that you aren't taken by surprise when there is a queue 300 people long to get through a security checkpoint that is moving at half rat power.
...But It All Begins With Consumers
One source has reported that both major airports in Paris, Charles De Gaulle and Orly, have seen a combined 98% decrease in passenger movement when compared to this time last year. This is a crazy figure, but then again, we are in crazy times. In simple terms, the reincarnation of flights and travel all begin with consumers. What does this mean? Well, consumers must trust that the airports they enter, the aircraft they are trapped in, and the people they call their seat-buddy over the next few hours are not infected, nor pose a threat with the virus.
As soon as consumers can feel reassured that they are safe and won't contract COVID-19, travel will boom once again. With over 90% of the world's population residing in countries where there is some sort of travel restriction, it is likely we will see flights back up and running on a case-by-case basis.
What I mean by that is as countries begin to report no new cases, or a decrease in cases, as we have seen in some of the worst-hit countries such as Italy and Spain, their borders will reopen in light of the famous European summer. But will consumers trust it is safe, despite the measures taken by the respective Governments? Only time will tell. Another prime example could be Australia and New Zealand. The two nations have begun to loosen restrictions and are in talks to reopen the borders exclusively with each other. Recently, however, Vietnam has asked to join in on the agreement, as they too, have 0 cases. We could see flights operating between 3 countries only, and this is a slow but sure way to get travel back up and running.
By opening each country up, and therefore operating scheduled flights as the virus passes or decreases, it may take longer to get back into the full swing of things. However, it is critical in order to see the end of these unprecedented times. Scheduling flights between countries who are seeing improvements or no cases will allow consumers to rest a bit easier and hopefully bring back their travel plans. Whatever the case, consumers will become more cautious than ever before going forward.
Final Thoughts
There is no question that COVID-19 has hit the world hard, and the travel industry arguably tops the list of worst affected. Sure, the future of travel will change, and of course people will second, third, even fourth guess booking a trip away - in the near future, at least. In the end, the virus has sped up the implementation of processes and technologies which were under development and being talked about. These features being touchless travel and a localised identity, whereby each person is responsible for the possession and updating of their own health records.
Once the virus does pass, and borders slowly begin to reopen, it may be frustrating at first, having to follow the new procedures and protocols set by various governments. It does, however, ensure travel will be as safe and efficient as possible, whilst remaining enjoyable.
No one knows for sure what the exact future of travel will look like, but my final advice would be to follow all government instructions, carry all necessary documentation, and check thoroughly what the procedures are for your final destination, or the airline you are flying with. This will ensure you travel as seamlessly as possible, and maintain safety for yourself and for others.
I hope you enjoyed reading this article! If you did, please leave a comment, and do reach out to me and let me know some travel-related stories you want me to write about. Alternatively, we can just have a chat!
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