If you’re like thousands of other travelers, you’re weighing your options right now. Should you travel by air? By car? Stay home? No matter which you choose, remember, travel is a personal choice. You should do what’s comfortable for you.

As Upstate New York’s largest travel agency, AAA has been fielding many calls regarding travel and safety precautions. Our travel consultants are on standby to answer your questions and guide you with your travel needs. In an effort to keep everyone informed, we talked with officials from areas airports to see what policies are in place for travelers who choose to venture out.

Here’s a breakdown of airport protocols by region:
 

Buffalo Niagara:

Statement from the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA):

The Buffalo Niagara International Airport and Niagara Falls International Airport continue to work with national, state, and local health care agencies to collectively create the safest environment for our travelers during this health care crisis. The recently announced joint travel advisory issued by New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo (along with Connecticut, and New Jersey) does not limit or restrict air travel to and from states with high coronavirus infection rates, it does require individuals traveling from those areas to self-quarantine for 14 days. We recommend contacting your air carrier about any possible restrictions or procedures. The link below provides detailed information on the travel guidelines. We will update you as more information becomes available. 

https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/covid-19-travel-advisory

Tips for travelers visiting the Buffalo (BUF) or Niagara Falls (IAG) airports:

• Clean your hands often.
  • Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after you have been in a public place, after touching surfaces frequently touched by others, after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing, and before touching your face or eating.
  • If soap and water are not available, bring and use hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub your hands together until they feel dry. 
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.
• Avoid close contact with others.
• Keep 6 feet of physical distance from others.
• Face coverings are required throughout the airport..
• Cover coughs and sneezes.
• Pick up food at drive-throughs, curbside restaurant service, or stores.

Vendors:

• Limited services are available at the BUF airport from Nickle City Café which has cutback operating hours.

Rochester

The Greater Rochester International Airport has several services in place to inform travelers on safety protocols and current operating standards.

1. The airport’s website has a new & improved look! Travelers can find updated information at: www.rocairport.com
2. #ReadySetROC is a new initiative to inform travelers of the safety and health initiatives being implemented at the Rochester airport (ROC) so that passengers can feel confident as they return to air travel. #ReadySetRoc includes enhanced cleaning, hand sanitizing stations, a smart phone lot and more. Look for the hashtag on social media too! https://rocairport.com/ReadySetRoc
3. The airport’s website also has a new tool titled “Plan your Trip with ROC” where travelers can search how to get from ROC to their destination – and all available non-stops and connections by carrier populate easily.  This is a simple tool to find options and to search for travel opportunities. https://rocairport.com/flights

Syracuse

The Syracuse Regional Airport Authority (SRAA) has announced that passenger traffic at Syracuse Hancock International Airport (SYR) is starting to increase. Total traffic levels increased in May with approximately 25,000 passengers, compared to just 8,600 passengers in April. At the end of May, the airport was 27% above the budgeted enplanement forecast and is expecting to see daily flights increase significantly starting in July. 

SYR will also see the reintroduction of Delta service to Atlanta and Frontier service to Denver. As SYR starts to welcome passengers back, the dedicated staff is taking every measure possible to ensure a safe and positive experience while traveling through the airport. Airlines serving SYR have also implemented several new initiatives to ensure passenger safety such as social distancing on the aircraft, enhanced aircraft cleaning and PPE requirements & recommendations. 

Some of the major SYR initiatives are listed below: 

• A hospital-grade misting system is being utilized by the airport’s custodial crew to disinfect the terminal.
• UV-C units are being utilized as both upper-room fixtures as well as air handler-mounted units. This technology helps interrupt the transmission of airborne infectious diseases.
• Social distancing signage throughout the terminal to better inform the traveling public of appropriate spacing practices while utilizing the airport.
• •Sneeze guards have been installed at airline ticket counters as well as rental car counters.
• For a list of nonstop destinations served by airlines at SYR, visit the airport’s Destinations page.

This summer, AAA projects that Americans will take 700 million trips. Find our Summer Travel Forecast here. Remember that AAA Travel Consultants are available to assist with all of your travel needs. All AAA Travel & Insurance Centers in Western and Central New York are now open. Please check www.AAA.com for current operating hours.
 

Speak to your local AAA travel consultant today!

AAA Travel Consultants