Coronavirus: Should You Cancel Your Travel Plans?
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Here's your Money Briefing. I'm J.R. Whalen at The Wall Street Journal in New York. The coronavirus outbreak is making travelers think twice before buying tickets.
How is coronavirus changing travelers' behavior and industry response?
Health officials are on alert for passengers showing any symptoms.
If you're traveling, you get a fever. There are scans at airports that are checking temperatures of people. You could wind up quarantined yourself and subjected to, you know, you'd want to test to see if you have the coronavirus, but you might be detained for a while.
That's Middle Seat columnist Scott McCartney. In a moment, he'll tell us how flexible airlines will be if you want to change your travel plans in light of the current scare.
The spread of the coronavirus has disrupted the global economy and especially the travel industry. Fears of sitting in tight quarters with potentially sick passengers are causing a lot of travelers to stay home. And some companies, like Nestle, are discouraging employees from long-distance travel altogether. But what precautions should you take if you do have to travel?
Why does air travel increase the risk of contracting coronavirus?
Wall Street Journal middle seat columnist Scott McCartney is on the line with us with answers. So, Scott, what is it about travel that elevates the risk of contracting the virus?
Well, basically, you're around a lot of people who you would not normally be around. So when you're on the airplane, the risk is really just the people who are a row or two away from you. The risk is somebody sneezing on you or coughing on you who is infected. And it's very close confines on an airplane. So you don't get that in other situations necessarily. You certainly do in subways or crowded stores or movie theaters or things like that, all the same risk. But when you travel, you go through airports, your hotels, restaurants, you're just in contact with a lot of people that you wouldn't be in contact with if you were home.
What do health officials say are some of the precautions that people can take if they do travel?
So it's very similar to what you would do to avoid getting the flu. Washing your hands frequently with soap is really important. It seems really basic, but it's really important. Not touching your hands to your face if they haven't been washed.
What precautions do health officials recommend for air travelers?
Using hand sanitizer, that's really important. For some people, if you are coughing, if you are sneezing, you've got to take precautions there so that you're not coughing and sneezing on other people. And for some people, there will be greater comfort, at least, if not more protection in using wipes to clean surfaces that are very public. On an airplane, tray tables, for example, door handles to the bathroom, all kinds of things like that. That's all potential exposure. And so you can take precautions. If you go to the bathroom on the airplane, the thing to do would be Really to use hand sanitizer before you start touching things.
And those are really good tips. But it's not just the coronavirus that travelers should be aware of, right?
Yeah, that's right. You know, the flu is still active and still a major threat. Just getting the common cold. But beyond that, what really is affecting travelers, and I think what people need to prepare for, are potential disruptions. This is different. And your hotel could end up quarantined if somebody who has the coronavirus happens to be a guest in the hotel, just as we saw with cruise ships. You know, there can be all kinds of reasons.
How can hotels, airports, or trips be disrupted by quarantines?
If you're traveling, you get a fever. There are scans at airports that are checking temperatures of people. You could wind up quarantined yourself and subjected to, you know, you'd want to test to see if you have the coronavirus, but you might be detained for a while. So I think it's important that people take extra medication with them if they if they're on medication, because your two day trip could turn into a 14 day trip if you end up someplace that where travel has either been shut down or a particular group of people, maybe including you, gets quarantined.
Now, what if somebody feels sick before they travel?
I would really say, I mean, all the health experts say don't travel.
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Chapters
7 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:05–0:14
2
How is coronavirus changing travelers' behavior and industry response?
0:14–1:11
3
Why does air travel increase the risk of contracting coronavirus?
1:11–2:17
4
What precautions do health officials recommend for air travelers?
2:17–3:30
5
How can hotels, airports, or trips be disrupted by quarantines?
3:30–4:35
6
What should you do if you feel sick before or during travel?
4:35–7:10
7
How flexible are airlines about changing or refunding coronavirus-affected bookings?
7:10–8:18
Speakers
2 identifiedMore from WSJ Your Money Briefing
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