Travel Tips From Etihad’s Wellness Ambassador

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the world was accustomed to an easy travel routine. Our air-travel checklist comprised of endless hours of relaxation, premium meals on-board, and in-flight entertainment. However, now a flyer’s end-to-end experience has changed. At this point, there might be several queries running through your mind: How do I plan my trip?  Will every touchpoint be sanitised? Will I be safe inside the aircraft?

To answer your questions and help you plan your journeys, we spoke with Etihad Airways’ ‘Wellness Ambassador’ Ranjit Samal. Earlier this year, the national airline of the UAE introduced ‘Etihad Wellness’, an expanded and more comprehensive health and hygiene programme and customer guide. This builds on the stringent measures already put in place by the airline to deal with COVID-19.

Available 24/7 via e-mail, and also present in-flight as well as at Abu Dhabi International airport, this specially trained team will provide essential travel health information and care so you can fly with greater peace of mind. Here is a travel guide for you from Etihad’s Wellness Ambassador.

Keep a tab on real-time developments

Considering the evolutionary nature of country-specific rules and regulations, staying updated is key. Catering to this need is the airline’s interactive travel map. Launched with Sitata, a Canadian travel risk management company, this online map allows travellers to make note of travel restrictions, guidelines, and COVID-19 risk ratings for destinations before embarking on their trips.

Get tested

Etihad Airways currently mandates a government-approved COVID-19 PCR test—taken not more than 96 hours prior to departure—before flying. To facilitate check-in, Samal advises carrying a print-out of the test results.

Run a self-administered assessment

The key to travelling safely is to make informed decisions; an action plan facilitated by Etihad Airways’ COVID-19 risk-assessment tool. Launched in collaboration with Medicus AI, an Austrian-based healthcare technology company, the tool relies on a 22-set questionnaire to help guests evaluate the risks of contracting the virus. Notably, the five-minute quick self-administered assessment is based on guidelines laid out by the World Health Organisation.

Stay insured

To ease travel-related worries, Etihad Airways has introduced a wellness insurance coverage for all tickets dated till December 31, 2020. The insurance covers medical expenses and quarantine costs should a traveller be diagnosed COVID-19 positive during their journey.

Manage bookings online

Samal advises on digitising travels for utmost safety. Elevating this move further is Etihad Airways’ option of choosing seats and downloading boarding passes online as well, in turn minimising airport touch-points for all travellers. Moreover, web-based comforts aside, the Etihad Guest app even allows users to manage their flight details and book tickets using voice search.

Mask up!

Guests are requested to wear or bring sufficient personal protection equipment for their flight, says Samal. This rule, Samal adds, extends to the airline’s cabin crew as well, who will be wearing surgical face masks and disposable gloves at all times and changing it for each service. Special onboard Wellness Kits that contains a face mask, gloves, and hand gel have also been introduced.

Good to know safety measures

Concerns regarding airline safety is a natural question, but Etihad Airways is set to debunk these worries. Assuring measures crafted to minimise risks prior, during, and after each flight, the airlines has even installed HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filters to elevate a comfortable flight. These filters are believed to clean out more than 99 per cent of airborne microbes, allowing guests to sail the skies worry-free.

Related:#StepAhead: Etihad’s Inflight Wellness Ambassadors Will Ensure You Have A Safe Journey

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