United Airline on Monday introduced a digital “Travel-Ready Center” device on its mobile app and website, a platform where travelers can review COVID-19 entry requirements, find local testing facilities overseas, and upload testing and vaccination data all in the same place. The news comes ahead of the official Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC requirement mandating that every one traveler flying abroad into the U.S. show proof of a negative COVID-19 test.
The CDC’s new regulation comes into force on Jan. 26.
Customers who use the new Travel-Ready Center on United’s app may even be able to view their destinations’ COVID-19 related travel restrictions. United mentioned it could allow clients to schedule a COVID-19 test at one of more than 15,000 testing sites globally via its Travel-Ready Center platform. The test provider will alert United directly to test outcomes.
Travelers can access the new tools under the “My Trips” part of the United App and on United.com. As soon as customers add all required travel documents, a United employee will confirm and decide if they’re able to travel safely, earlier than finishing the check-in process.
Whereas the process may be totally digital, United mentioned in a press release that “clients should still plan to convey the physical documents to the airport in case further inspection is needed along their journey.”
“Whereas pre-travel testing and documentation are key to securely reopening global travel, we know it may be complicated for customers once they’re preparing for a flight,” mentioned Linda Jojo, Executive Vice President for Technology and Chief Digital Officer at United, in a press release.
“Starting today, our ‘Travel-Ready Center’ offers customers a personalized, step-by-step guide of what’s needed for their trip, a simple strategy to upload required documents and quickly get their boarding cross, totally integrated within our app and website.”
The launch comes on the heels of American Airlines asserting a similar mobile health “passport” of kinds by way of its VeriFLY app. International travelers flying with AA can download the app, create an account, enter their destination and upload the required documentation, including a negative COVID-19 test. American is the first within the nation to roll out a health “passport” such as this, the airline says.
