What's it like to travel now? Dublin Airport

Ian Walsh 31 August 2021
With the reopening of travel from Ireland to the rest of the EU and beyond since the 19th July 2021, most people were still a bit apprehensive about travelling during a pandemic but as our confidence grows again and planes, airports, resorts and cruise ships reopen and restart their businesses, travel is bouncing back stronger and safer than ever!!

Let me put you at ease and tell you from my own first hand experience, travelling is much the same as it's always been with a few small exceptions for the times we're in. There is just a handful of things to do that take no time at all and are only the tiniest bit of inconvenience for the greatest of reward - a well earned holiday!

From my own recent experience travelling through Dublin Airport, I can attest to the fantastic measures put in place by the DAA to ensure all passengers safety. The departures hall was very busy, so I strongly recommend arriving to check in for your flight or to drop your bags at the bag drop desk at least 3 hours in advance.

To travel within the European Union (EU) as an Irish resident, you only need one of three things for all passengers aged 12 and over:

1) An EU Digital Covid Certificate showing proof of vaccination at least 14 days prior to travelling 2) A certified negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of your arrival into your chosen EU destination 3) Certified proof of recovery from covid-19 within the last 6 months

All EU countries, including Ireland, require you to fill out a Passenger Locator Form at least 24 hours prior to travelling. So if you're going to Spain, you must fill out this form for the Spanish Authorities and on your return to Ireland, you must fill in this form at least 24 hours before you arrive home.

For children under 12, they do not require a vaccine or any negative tests. Please ensure you check the correct requirements at least 10 days before you travel and again even closer to your departure date as rules can change at relatively short notice.

As a business that places customer care at the fore, I want to ensure I provide customers with useful guidance and trusted sources of advice so that they can have the best travel experience possible. This is of course more prevalent than ever in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has impacted the way we travel and the revised measures travellers need to be aware of around their safety and wellbeing.

Due to the ever-evolving nature of the current travel advice and country specific restrictions and requirements, I strongly advise all customers to review the latest DFA travel advice on https://www.dfa.ie/travel/travel-advice/ for up to date information about the destinations they are planning on travelling to.

So, in a nutshell, if you're vaccinated, you're good to go and you just need to fill in a Passenger Locator Form for your destination and your return to Ireland. If you need a PCR test, book it within 72 hours of travel. Once you receive a negative test and fill in the Passenger Locator Form, you're good to go! It really is that simple! Of course, when you book, I'll always be available to assist you wherever possible.

It's time to start planning your well earned holiday. Get in touch today and I can arrange your perfect trip.