AAA Joins Delta for a Tour of Logan Airport
To fully understand what our members can expect as they return to travel, AAA Travel’s Director of Air Operations, Ray Hourani joined Delta Airline’s Charles Schewe on a behind the scenes tour of Boston’s Logan airport. Because of AAA Travel’s preferred agreement with Delta Airlines, our travel team was invited to participate in a private walk-through highlighting Delta’s CareStandard at this popular New England airport.
CareStandard is Delta’s strong response to the COVID outbreak. The airline has made several changes to its processes and procedures to ensure passengers not only feel safe but are safe. From check-in to baggage claim, the airline offers several enhancements to keep the virus at bay. Parts of the tour were recorded and shared in this new video, produced by Delta.
Delta has joined forces with Lysol®, the expert in disinfection, to create a clean and hygienic travel experience. The Delta CareStandard focuses on keeping surfaces clean and disinfected, giving you more space, and offering personal care at every point in your journey. The airline wants you to know that when you’re ready to fly, a safer, cleaner and more flexible experience is waiting. The safety protocols that Delta has in place makes highlights its commitment to safe travel. Updates include the use of masks, limited contact check-ins, HEPA air filters onboard planes, and adhering to social distancing.
Here are three key things Delta wants AAA Members to know:
1. Flexibility — You can book your travel with confidence
When booking with Delta, customers have greater flexibility when traveling on their partners. Each airline has detailed information about this on their website (links below), as well as any flight schedule changes or route updates.
2. Cleaning — Thorough aircraft cleaning and sanitization measures are in place to enhance customer safety
All of Delta’s partners have complemented existing high standards of maintenance and cleaning procedures by introducing additional measures to ensure hygienic conditions on board. Here are some of the things the airlines are doing to ensure your safety throughout the travel journey.
- Cleaning aircraft using a high-grade disinfecting product that has been tested to be effective against viruses
- Strict hygiene measures are in place with the thorough cleaning of all customer contact surfaces such as the galleys, lavatories, tray tables, seat armrests and headrests, seatbelt buckles, the power supply unit panel, overhead bin door latches and lavatory door handles. Hand sanitizer is also being supplied throughout the travel journey.
- High-Efficiency Particulate Air Filters (HEPA) in the aircraft air circulation system removes dust, allergens, bacteria, viruses and other particles from the air in pressurized cabins and cockpits. HEPA has a particle removal efficiency of 99.99 percent and has similar performance to the type of filters used in hospital operating rooms and other sensitive environments. The system also introduces filtered air into the cabin every two to six minutes.
- Like Delta, many partners are requiring all customers and employees to wear a face-covering throughout the travel journey
3. Information — Where to learn more
Each partner airline is regularly updating its website with the latest information:
“ I would like to thank Charlie Schewe from Delta Airlines for hosting AAA NE Travel at Boston Logan Airport on July 24.” Ray Hourani shares, “Delta is creating a safer experience for everyone getting back on a Delta flight.”
And Ray is right. Keeping surfaces clean is one of the areas the Delta CareStandard focuses on, along with giving travelers more space, cleaner air and providing safety and personal care from check-in to baggage claim, and every point in between. Together, Delta’s newly established Global Cleanliness division and Lysol will strengthen current Delta CareStandard cleanliness efforts and create the gold standard across touchpoints through:
Breakthrough Disinfection Innovation: Delta and Lysol will work together to gather insights on consumers’ travel experiences to help inform the development of new, innovative disinfecting solutions for both the airport and onboard experience. We will also work together to identify and address ongoing germ-related travel concerns for customers. One of the first areas of focus will be developing breakthrough airplane lavatory solutions to help kill germs and protect customers and crew.
Disinfecting Protocols and Best Practices: Microbiologists and germ-kill experts from Lysol will coordinate with Delta Global Cleanliness team to develop protocols for disinfection that will help protect customers against illness-causing bacteria and viruses in high-traffic areas where customers are most concerned about germs including departure gates, aircraft lavatories and Delta Sky Clubs. Delta will also deploy Delta Care Carts including EPA-approved disinfection products recommended by Lysol, making it easier to disinfect large seating areas and countertops more frequently.
Lysol Products: Lysol will provide products to Delta, including Lysol Disinfectant Spray and Lysol Disinfecting Wipes, to be used with disinfecting protocols recommended by Lysol on high-touch germ hotspots across Delta areas from check-in to baggage claim.
The US Environmental Protection Agency recently approved both Lysol Disinfectant Spray and Lysol Disinfecting Wipes among the first to test effective against the novel coronavirus when used as directed on hard, non-porous surfaces.
Delta also recently announced a collaboration with Mayo Clinic to provide additional COVID-19 infection prevention and control measures for travelers and employees. This includes guidance on an unprecedented employee COVID-19 testing program, ensuring that virtually all Delta employees will be tested in just a matter of weeks via onsite and at-home testing. Mayo Clinic also recommends best practices for employee and passenger safety as part of Delta’s Global Medical Advisory Panel that reviews and assesses Delta’s health and safety policies and procedures on an ongoing basis.
As you plan your return to travel, you may have questions. AAA Travel Agents are here to assist you. Together, we are continuing to travel and to learn about the changes occurring in response to COVID. Let a AAA Travel Agent help you navigate the rules and regulations of travel restrictions, and offer you insight into safe travel options. Together, you and your agent will find the right trip for your wanderlust. To speak with an agent, please call 1-800-222-7448.