Pre-flight testing can reduce the number of covid-infected passengers, study shows


“These data suggest that even at this higher level of active community infection, a single molecular test performed within 72 hours of departure can decrease the rate of active infection on board a commercial aircraft to a level that is several orders of magnitude below active community infection rates,” the study says. “The addition of other interventions, including universal masking at the airport and onboard aircraft, increase in frequency of air exchanges and enhanced clearing, physical distancing during deplaning activities, increasing vaccination rates among travelers and exclusion of symptomatic individuals, further enhances safety.”



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Easing pre-flight screening, the TSA makes changes


fRENO, Nev. (KOLO) -Let’s face it. For most of us the moments we dread most about air travel are here on the ground before we leave. Navigating the TSA screening. Long lines. Removing items from our carry-ons, getting scanned just like our baggage.

It’s long been an expected part of air travel, necessary to keep us safe, That doesn’t mean it couldn’t be improved.

And, just in time for pent-up travel demand to hit, the TSA has made some changes that just might make things easier, even move quicker.

You’ll encounter the first when you get to the head of the line. The officer there is now equipped with Credential Authentication Technology or CAT. Instead of handing him or her your boarding pass, you’ll hand him your driver’s license or passport. They’ll scan it and immediately check it through a national database.

“And that is able to read the basic biographical information of the traveler, confirm their ticket for travel that day and prompt the officer as to what kind of screening the passenger is eligible for,” says TSA spokeswoman Lorie Dankerst

They’ll know in an instant if it’s real or fake. So, here’s a tip: Show up with a fake or altered ID and you won’t be flying.

The next step: scanning your baggage. Reno Tahoe has a pair of new machines–CT scanners–that show a 3-D image of your bag’s content and allow the operator to manipulate items, potentially identifying them without opening your bag.

“We’re going to ask you to leave your laptop in your bag,” says Dankers. “You’re going to leave your travel-size liquids in the bag. There’s less cross-contamination that way. It’s better for the traveler and better for the officer as well.”

There are more changes and more personnel in the works, but for now, these new two new tools should have you on your way with less hassle, even less time.

Copyright 2021 KOLO. All rights reserved.



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Newsroom – American Introduces More Quarantine-Free Travel and Pre-Flight COVID-19 Testing Options


FORT WORTH, Texas — American Airlines is further streamlining and helping customers travel with confidence when they are ready to fly. Through collaboration with airport authorities in Italy and coronavirus (COVID-19) testing partner GoHealth Urgent Care, American is leading the way in safe travel.

  • Airline opens quarantine-free travel on flights from New York (JFK) to Milan (MXP) and Rome (FCO).
  • Customers from several U.S. states, including the airline’s hubs in Charlotte, North Carolina (CLT), and New York City (JFK), will have convenient access to preflight testing through GoHealth Urgent Care.

FORT WORTH, Texas — American Airlines is further streamlining and helping customers travel with confidence when they are ready to fly. Through collaboration with airport authorities in Italy and coronavirus (COVID-19) testing partner GoHealth Urgent Care, American is leading the way in safe travel.

“We’re proud to offer our customers additional options to ease travel as they begin planning their global trips once again,” said Alison Taylor, American’s Chief Customer Officer. “We’ve worked closely with local authorities and testing providers to ensure we continue to provide world-class safety, confidence and comfort, and we look forward to welcoming our customers onboard soon.”

Quarantine-free travel to Italy

Customers traveling on flights marketed and operated by American Airlines from New York City (JFK) to Milan (MXP) and from JFK to Rome (FCO) will enjoy quarantine-free travel when service returns in the coming days and weeks. Prior to travel, customers will need to provide proof of the required negative COVID-19 test. Based on current Italian rules, upon arrival in Milan or Rome and after taking a second test at the airport producing a negative result, travelers will be able to forgo the local post-travel quarantine requirements, enabling customers to maximize their time while in Italy. American resumes daily service to MXP April 4 and three-times weekly service to FCO May 8 after being suspended for a year. Both flights will operate on a Boeing 777-200.

More preflight COVID-19 testing options

Starting March 28, customers will have access to in-person testing at more than 150 local urgent care facilities or hospitals through GoHealth Urgent Care, a national leader in COVID-19 testing partnerships.

“Our customers trust American to help them prepare for travel, whether that’s easy access to testing through providers like GoHealth Urgent Care or through other resources like our online travel tool,” said Julie Rath, American’s Vice President of Customer Experience and Reservations. “We hope the additional opportunity for onsite testing in many of our customers’ local communities will help them easily check off an important item in their pretravel checklist and give them more peace of mind that they’re ready to travel.”

Customers will have the option to have a PCR or Rapid Molecular COVID-19 Test at a nearby GoHealth Urgent Care center through this collaboration. Soon, customers near American’s hub in Charlotte, North Carolina, and in other markets, will be able to access GoHealth Urgent Care’s rapid PCR test capabilities, which will give customers PCR test results in approximately 30 minutes instead of waiting for a few days for the sample to be processed at a lab.

“Our network of conveniently located, on-demand care centers and virtual capabilities have uniquely positioned us to provide critical support to communities and industries across the country during the pandemic,” said Todd Latz, CEO of GoHealth Urgent Care. “We are proud to team up with American Airlines as they welcome more of their travelers safely back to the skies”.

Customers can visit aa.com/covid19testing to view GoHealth Urgent Care locations. In addition, travelers can find for more information about preflight testing resources through LetsGetChecked and CareNow, and other measures American has in place to help customers travel with confidence on aa.com.

Prepared for the Air

As customers are ready to return to the skies, American provides resources needed to help them understand requirements for travel, preflight testing resources and more. Customers can visit Prepared for the Air to get started.

About American Airlines Group
American’s purpose is to care for people on life’s journey. Shares of American Airlines Group Inc. trade on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol AAL and the company’s stock is included in the S&P 500. Learn more about what’s happening at American by visiting news.aa.com and connect with American on Twitter @AmericanAir and at Facebook.com/AmericanAirlines.

About GoHealth
GoHealth Urgent Care positions itself as one of the country’s fastest-growing and most technology-forward on-demand care companies. GoHealth operates approximately 160 on-demand care centers in the greater New York metropolitan area, the Portland, Oregon-Vancouver, Washington metropolitan area, the San Francisco Bay Area, Hartford and South Eastern Connecticut, Winston-Salem and Charlotte, North Carolina, St. Louis and Springfield, Missouri, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Northwest Arkansas and Delaware. To learn more, please To learn more, please visit www.gohealthuc.com.





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American Airlines elites now receiving personal pre-flight assistance texts from Admirals Club





American Airlines elites now receiving personal pre-flight assistance texts from Admirals Club – The Points Guy











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