The outbreak of Coronavirus (Covid-19), and the resulting measures being put in place to curb the spread, has left many travelers understandably concerned about their upcoming travel plans.  We have complied this list of frequently asked questions to help you prepare.

Q. “Should I cancel my trip? It’s to Europe in early August.

A. We wish we had a one-size-fits-all answer to this question, and we wish that this answer were a definitive “No, don’t cancel.” What we know about COVID-19 changes by the hour, and it’s impossible to predict what the travel situation will look like by the end of June.

The state you live in could affect your answer—some states may be allowing travel by the end of June while others could still have shelter-in-place orders or mandatory quarantines for travelers. Consider whether you would be able to completely quarantine yourself for two weeks upon return from your trip, if necessary.

The European country you’re traveling to would also change the answer. Italy, one of the hardest hit countries, seems highly unlikely to be ready for tourists in August, but a less-impacted country might be. Think about whether you would still want to take your trip if a country is technically open to travelers, but attractions and restaurants were still closed.

Before you make your decision, take a close look at the terms and conditions of your trip. If you’re able to get a refund on your tickets/accommodations right up until your departure date, than there’s certainly no harm in waiting until closer to June to reevaluate. However, some companies may require you to cancel your trip before a certain date in order to receive a refund or credit, in which case you shouldn’t wait if you’re having doubts.

Remember, the decision may wind up being out of your hands anyway if the airline cancels your flight or if borders are still closed by early August. If you can’t stand spending the next few months stressing over the uncertainty of your trip, go ahead and postpone or cancel. 

If you can postpone rather than cancel, I urge you to do so. The travel industry desperately needs your help, and, for many hotels, having bookings postponed rather than canceled can mean the difference between reopening and shuttering for good.

Q. “Should I fight with the airline for a refund on my canceled trip, or just take the flight credit?”

A. If the airline canceled your flight, you are entitled to a cash refund rather than a credit. Having the cash in hand is always the better option, as you won’t be restricted to using the same airline if you rebook the trip, and you won’t have the time-crunch of an expiring credit.

However, hundreds of thousands of other flyers are fighting for refunds right now, and airline customer service teams are swamped. You’ll need to weigh whether you want to spend hours of your time waiting on hold/for a callback or repeatedly emailing the airline against the simplicity of accepting an automatic credit.

If you don’t need the money right now, and you’re certain you’ll use the flight credit before it expires, there’s certainly no harm in just taking the credit. If you do opt for the credit, set a reminder in your phone/on your calendar to use it before it expires.

Q. “If I need to fly in the near future, are airlines practicing appropriate social distancing on flights?”

A. Most airlines are encouraging social distancing on flights by taking steps such as blocking off middle or aisle seats, reducing the number of passengers on flights, and changing the boarding process.

Delta, for example, is changing its boarding process to load passengers from the back to the front, thereby minimizing the risk of flyers having to walk in a narrow aisle past those who are already seated. Boarding will happen in groups of ten.

Almost all airlines are now allowing flyers to switch seats in order to create more distance between passengers, if there is space available.

However, note that even if middle seats are blocked off, in economy class, it’s unlikely that there would be six feet of space between yourself and the person ahead of or behind you (especially if the person in front of you reclines), unless entire rows are empty. But, with most flights operating at minimal capacity for now, there should be enough space to stretch out. 

Q. “Some travelers (me among them) have travel vouchers from airlines that we’re unable to use due to travel restrictions. Are any airlines extending the expiration dates on these?”

A. Some airlines are automatically extending voucher expiration dates, some will if only you ask, and others are evaluating requests on a case-by-case basis. When in doubt, reach out to your airline directly for an extension.

Q. “Which place would you suggest to travel once the lockdown is lifted?”

A. While we wait for the pandemic to pass and lockdown to end, we can't help but dream of the holiday destinations we'll be ready to visit when it's safe to jet off. The Foreign Office's advice remains against travel abroad "indefinitely" and if you're wondering when we can travel overseas again, your guess is as good as ours - but we do know that escaping to far-flung locations will be a luxury to savour when the time arrives. Our holiday wishlist for the first half of 2020 might have gone out the window but we're looking ahead to the end of the year and 2021 at the once-in-a-lifetime trips we'll be taking to celebrate our freedom and explore the sublime corners of the world we can only daydream about now. To help you make your first getaway one you'll remember forever, you may connect with our Trip crafters. These are the post-lockdown escapes to consider while you wait out the crisis.

Bucket My List (BML) is an exclusive travel company that consistently goes beyond delivering cookie cutter experiences for its travelers. Every BML journey is crafted with a unique, unexpected touch that makes your experience unforgettable. Choose either to be a part of small escorted group tours (of maximum 16 people) or get your bespoke holiday experience or just travel for ticking an overdue item off your bucketlist. When it comes to discovering the world, the possibilities are simply endless. With specialization ranging across culture, wildlife and history, BML unfolds your destination with a genuineness that no one can offer.