You might have seen this term start to be gaining interest. As with many concepts this one was born of necessity from the Pandemic. Needing vaccines for travel in many areas of the world has been in place for many years. The proof of that has been on paper for most of that time. But now it is a digital world. With a worldwide pandemic, proof of vaccination and testing has become more important as it has not just affected a few countries but the whole globe. From what I have read and seen, Testing and Vaccination will be the only way for us to travel internationally again.
A digital health passport is a mobile app, or online certification, that displays a traveler’s Covid-19 test result and/or vaccination record. It is designed to convey to airline or border control personnel that someone is at a low risk of acquiring or transmitting the virus. They are designed to be a reliable way of checking who is eligible to enter a country, depending on that country’s recognition of the type of digital passport, and type of test and/or vaccination. They may also be useful when it comes to “return quarantine rules” for travelers coming back home.
Some airlines and airports offer testing facilities, but digital health passports are the likely next step, and are designed to be more universally accepted.
Who is creating these Passports?
Some of the currently offered digital health passports to emerge include:
ICC AOKpass - from the International Chamber of Commerce
CoronaPass - from automated processing company Bizagi
CommonPass - from The Commons Project Foundation
IATA Travel Pass- from the International Air Transport Association
iProov-Mvine passport from iProov user authentification company
The Covid Credentials Initiative (CCI) - with Linux Foundation Public Health
VeriFLY - from user authentification company Daon
V-Health Passport- an independant UK based company expect to start seeing collaborations of airlines and countries choosing different passport partners.
How do Digital Health Passports work?
The idea behind digital health passport is as follows:
1. A traveler downloads an app to their smartphone.
2. They either connect that app with their travel provider or upload their itinerary.
3. The app provides guidance for what verifications they need to travel.
4. The traveler is required to show that they have been tested at a certified testing center or have been vaccinated.
5. The app then supplies the traveler with a unique QR code, or other proof, verifying they are safe to fly.
The anticipation is that, over time, the systems will become more flexible and user friendly. It is important to know that you may need to have a unique mobile device for each traveler.
IATA claims that its TravelPass is an important step in the collaboration between governments and industry. IATA plans to offer airlines the option to integrate its TravelPass into their own app — allowing a traveler to bypass downloading a standalone app. This would allow for a single app download and be more practical for most travelers. The app is expected to be available in March of 2021. Other versions are scheduled to allow for group travelers and the addition of minors on one device.
Where are these Passports accepted?
Acceptance of digital health passports differs by product and destination. The consensus is that most countries will eventually recognize multiple platforms as acceptable digital health passports, in the same way they purchase different vaccines. One step towards national recognition could be the inclusion of domestic travel requirement. One should expect to use some form of Digital Health Passport in order to board an international (and possibly domestic) flight for your next vacation.
Airlines are testing a variety of these options. United has tested CommonPass on flights between London and New York. At the same time, it is part of the airline advisory group for Travel Pass. The carrier has also integrated some aspects of a digital health passport into its own app following the CDC Covid testing requirements for all international arrivals in the U.S.
British Airways has tested CommonPass. Singapore Airlines is testing the IATA Travel Pass, with IAG, Emirates, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways to follow. American Airlines has made the VeriFLY app available for travelers flying into the U.S., while from Feb. 4 British Airways will be the first airline in the UK to trial it for customers flying from London to the U.S.
Reach out to the Airlines to find out which app they are accepting; 4 to 6 weeks before travel is the recommended practice. If someone does not have a digital device, I am sure there will be a paper option. It might take more time to check in or go through Customs. I am sure some accommodations will be made.
My thoughts
I do believe anyone who travels outside the US will need one of these. I heard news today that IATA will have their version out in just a few weeks. I am going to wait for that one because I believe more airlines and countries will accept it since it is being designed and implemented by an International Association that all the airlines belong to. They are an important part of the travel industry; also they are the only ones at this point setting it up so all of your family can be on one app.
Many of our clients are opting for US travel in Hawaii, Alaska, cruising the American Waterways or a scenic Rail trip. There are many options out there for an exciting trip right here in the good old USA. In the Atlantic there is the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, which are US destinations that you do not need a passport for having. There are many ways to have a grand adventure without going far.
Some good news this week that the UK is scheduled to open their Hotels and Restaurants in May. The hope is if all goes well, they may open for tourists later in the summer. There are also signs that travel in Europe may open this summer. We Make Travel Easy is keeping up on all of the national openings and Covid procedures. I would expect that testing and or proof of vaccination will be needed, for the foreseeable feature. This is what all these companies are developing the digital passports for.
I have been booking US travel for clients as well as international travel late this year and 2022.
Please let me know if I can help you travel safely and enjoyably.
Written By Lois Wallace
Call Me - Let's Talk ! 775-671-0148
Prefer to Email? Lois@wemaketraveleasy.com
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