will-airlines-require-covid-vaccine-for-domestic-flights
by Ngọc Anh Nguyễn / 9 minutes read

Will airlines require covid vaccine for domestic flights

Will airlines require covid vaccine for domestic flights? You may be asking this question, regardless of your level of vaccination, whether you have had only your first dose, multiple doses, or none at all. The location where you are flying to will determine the answer. Additionally, there may be other conditions you should meet before you can fly.

Will Airlines Require a COVID Vaccine for Boarding?

For those who may not be aware, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is in charge of overseeing the airline business. If the federal government were to adopt a COVID-related rule pertaining to travel, the FAA would issue its own formal ruling to implement the mandate especially for air travel.

Currently, individuals flying to the US must show proof of recovery or a COVID-19 test result that is negative. Before boarding, airlines must verify that each passenger has either a negative test result or confirmation of recovery. But what about vaccination documentation?

Passengers are not yet required by airlines to present proof of immunization. Airlines like American, Southwest, JetBlue, and Alaska Airlines have all recently informed personnel that they must receive a COVID-19 vaccination in accordance with the Biden administration's federal contractor regulations. Since implementing a company-wide vaccination obligation in August, United Airlines has stated that more than 96% of its personnel had received the COVID-19 vaccine.

Will Airlines Require a COVID Vaccine for Boarding? (Source: Internet)
Will Airlines Require a COVID Vaccine for Boarding? (Source: Internet)

Will airlines require covid vaccine for domestic flights?

Although the CDC advises everyone to postpone travel until they have had all necessary vaccinations, no airline presently requires COVID-19 inoculation. Regarding testing, the nation you are traveling to may or may not require confirmation of a negative test. You must show documentation of a clean COVID-19 test result if traveling into the United States.

Everyone must wear a mask while using any form of public transportation, including as buses, trains, and airplanes. This covers donning a mask while inside a transit building, such as an airport or train/bus station. For those who have received all of their recommended vaccinations, the CDC also suggests various precautionary measures.

While recommendations fluctuate slightly depending on whether a person is fully vaccinated vs. unprotected or partially vaccinated, there are still certain limitations for fully vaccinated people.

Everyone is already required to wear a mask while using any form of public transportation (Source: Internet)
Everyone is already required to wear a mask while using any form of public transportation (Source: Internet)

Do I need a COVID vaccine to fly domestically in the US?

No. For internal flights within the US, no COVID vaccination is required.

Other limitations include the absence of travel restrictions, the need for a negative COVID test, and the absence of quarantine upon entry into the state in the majority of states. A few states are an exception to this rule, including Hawaii, Illinois, and Massachusetts. Typically, you won't need to quarantine or present a COVID test result in order to travel to these states if you can show proof that you're fully immunized.

Typically, you won't need to be quarantined or present a COVID-test result (Source: Internet)
Typically, you won't need to be quarantined or present a COVID-test result (Source: Internet)

Do I need a COVID vaccine to fly internationally in and out of the US?

No, getting vaccinated is not a requirement of airlines to fly into or out of the US. Travel limitations, such as required quarantines and documentation of a negative COVID test, are in effect for foreign travel to the majority of places, which may prevent you from traveling.

In the future, it's anticipated that nations will begin to let vaccinated travelers across their borders without putting them in quarantine first. For instance, the European Union has already made known that it will no longer require quarantine for completely vaccinated travelers.

Other restrictions on travel to and from the US can be complicated. It depends on the limits that apply to leaving the US and returning and the restrictions that apply to the place you're going to. The rules for reentering the US may also change depending on the nation you're returning from.

If you have had all recommended vaccinations, you may already be free from US quarantine laws while returning. However, confirming the most recent regulations for the nation you are traveling to or from is advisable.

Getting vaccinated is not a requirement of airlines to fly into or out of the US (Source: Internet)
Getting vaccinated is not a requirement of airlines to fly into or out of the US (Source: Internet)

Leaving the US by flying

If you have not received the full course of vaccinations, you must present a negative COVID-test upon departing the US. If you have had all recommended vaccinations, you do not need to take a test unless the place you are traveling to demands it.

Depending totally on where you're traveling to, you might need to quarantine yourself or present a COVID test result that is negative when you get there.

Flying to the US

If you don't have all the required vaccinations when you enter the US, you must place yourself in self-quarantine for 7 days IF you get a COVID test 3-5 days following your trip. You will have to put yourself on self-quarantine for ten days if you don't get a COVID test.

If you have had all recommended vaccinations, you won't need to enter quarantine or practice self-quarantine upon arrival, but you will still need to show documentation of a negative test.

The US has a list of nations that are prohibited from foreign travel. This means that you cannot fly to the US from these nations. Please refer to this CDC red list guide for the most recent details on the nations on the red list.

You will have to put yourself on self-quarantine for ten days if you don't get a COVID test. (Source: Internet)
You will have to put yourself on self-quarantine for ten days if you don't get a COVID test. (Source: Internet)

Will Airlines Require a Negative COVID-19 Test Prior To Boarding?

Passengers flying into the US must show proof of recovery or a COVID-19 test result that is negative. Before boarding, airlines must verify that each passenger has either a negative test result or confirmation of recovery. Only international flights landing in the United States are affected by this.

It is not necessary for passengers to show documentation of a negative COVID test or verification of current immunization status for domestic flights inside the United States. Even though the CDC deemed it safe, many tourists have conflicting opinions about it.

Concerning requiring a negative COVID test before taking a flight or visiting an airport, both sides have some reasonable objections and reservations. On a fully booked flight, sitting so close to a stranger, passengers who prefer domestic flights to demand documentation of a negative test result may feel safer. However, despite the fact that many passengers would feel safer and more at ease traveling if they could show documentation of a negative COVID test result, it would undoubtedly add to the already stressful process of air travel.

Additionally, many airlines are struggling to recover after suffering a severe financial setbacks these past years as a result of consumers being unable or scared to fly. It is clear why having proof of a negative COVID test would put an unneeded burden on airlines and why it may discourage many customers from flying. Travelers concerned about getting COVID can feel better with the mask requirement as the CDC ruled that domestic travel is safe without verification of a negative test result.

Passengers flying into the US must show proof of recovery or a COVID-19 test result that is negative (Source: Internet)
Passengers flying into the US must show proof of recovery or a COVID-19 test result that is negative (Source: Internet)

Are there risks of getting COVID-19 on an airplane?

Whether you have received a COVID vaccination or not, you are still at risk of contracting the disease. There is always a chance of getting the virus due to the close quarters of a plane. However, it will reduce the chance significantly if you get the vaccine. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has extended the federal mask requirement until January 2022. Everyone would have to wear face covers both in the airport and on the aircraft under the mandate.

Whether you have received a COVID vaccination or not, you are still at risk of contracting the disease (Source: Internet)
Whether you have received a COVID vaccination or not, you are still at risk of contracting the disease (Source: Internet)

Conclusion

So, Will airlines require covid vaccine for domestic flights? The requirement for a health passport or vaccination card for long-term travel is undetermined. However, they are not currently necessary. 

Air travel can be tense and nerve-wracking, whether you're taking an hour-long journey to another U.S. city or an 8+ hour flight over international waters. Adding COVID-19 will not calm our tensions; in fact, for the majority of us, it has quite the opposite effect. We can all agree that it is best if we begin to feel safer and more at ease as soon as possible. We'll find out in the upcoming months if the regulation improves the security of aviation travel.

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Ngọc Anh Nguyễn

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Since my major in university is Marketing, I always grasp the chance to improve my skills to become an all-rounded Marketer in the future. This job, to some extent, has brought me a lot of knowledge about multiple areas, which will be beneficial to my study career. In my free time, I'm into reading and watching classic movies. My favorite genre of all time is romantic comedy.

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