If you’re concerned about COVID-19 hygiene protocols and pandemic travel in general, then this is yet another post for you. On my recent trip to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, I experienced the latest pandemic hygiene protocols on JetBlue and also what it’s like to fly in and out of the Punta Cana airport. These travel tips can help you to better decide if the time is right to travel again, and to know what to expect when you do.
You’re likely to have a lot of questions if you haven’t yet flown JetBlue or visited the Dominican Republic during the pandemic. You can also check out my full travel video here about what to expect while flying JetBlue to Punta Cana. The video shows what to expect when you’re flying JetBlue — what do they give you on the plane? What should you bring on board? I also show the Punta Cana airport and what it’s like to fly in and out of this popular Dominican Republic vacation destination. There are a lot of things to consider if you decide to travel during the pandemic, and this video can be a great source of safe travel tips.
••••••
PANDEMIC TRAVEL TIPS: How Do Mexico Hotels Compare to U.S. Hotels During the Pandemic?
••••••
Here’s a summary of what pandemic travel is like on JetBlue in and out of the Dominican Republic:
Airline Review: JetBlue Flight from New York City/JFK to Punta Cana
JetBlue boarded from the back of the plane at JFK; as usual, there was no social distancing among passengers in the terminal during the boarding process but I was able to stand back from the person in front of me and use my wheeled luggage to make it impossible for the people behind me to get too close.
JetBlue didn’t provide any hand sanitizer, temperature check or disinfecting wipes, either in the airport or on board the plane. There were no empty middle seats in the front of the plane, where I sat. Inflight service was basically the same as usual, with flight attendants passing through the cabin to offer free snacks and drinks (my JetBlue personal favorite features: Pop Corners, and also the power outlets at every seat!).
••••••
TRAVEL SAFE: Air Travel in Mexico During the Pandemic: What It’s Like to Fly Now
••••••
During the JetBlue flight to Punta Cana, flight attendants distributed pandemic health forms that they said must be completed and handed in at the airport, along with the usual customs and immigrations forms. Deplaning was by row — in other words, the cabin crew asked that all passengers stay seated once the plane got to the gate, and only stand up when the row directly in front of them was deplaning. I find this a very good way of keeping people more socially distant during the deplaning process (Aeromexico follows a similar process, but American Airlines does not).
After deplaning in Punta Cana, I realized that I must have left my health form on the plane, so I asked a couple airport staff where I could find one to complete. Two people said I could get one at the immigration line, but there were no forms available — and when I asked an immigration agent, he said it wasn’t necessary to even have one. No one ever asked me for the form. I believe there was a biothermic temperature check, however. COVID-19 tests are not required of U.S. travelers visiting the Dominican Republic (although I did have to take a test in Punta Cana in order to avoid lengthy quarantine upon my return to the United States; stay tuned for my report on that).
••••••
DON’T MISS: New Pandemic Hygiene Protocols at Hyatt Ziva Resorts
••••••
The Return: Flying JetBlue out of Punta Cana International Airport
Terminal A at Punta Cana International Airport was still closed when I flew, due to the greatly reduced number of flights in and out of the facility during the pandemic. For now, all flights depart out of terminal B. I must say that the layout of terminal B is nearly ideal for pandemic-era travel; the check-in area is spacious with extremely high ceilings, gigantic ceiling fans, few people and large entrances that allow lots of fresh air to enter. Giant columns with green top and wood beams seemed vaguely representative of trees, which is a nice design touch.
JetBlue didn’t have any check-in kiosks in the terminal, but the line was very short and since I had an electronica boarding pass, I didn’t even have to wait in that line. There was no line at all at the security checkpoint, although I did have to stop to fill out an immigration form — although, similar to the COVID-19 health form I filled out when I arrived — no one ended up collecting the form. A security officer inspected one of my bags and removed my small nose-hair scissors (so don’t be surprised if my nose isn’t as attractive the next time you see me).
••••••
SEE MORE TRAVEL PHOTOS: Follow My Journeys on Instagram!
••••••
The immigration processing area is rather cool and more high-tech than most I’ve seen. All I had to do was place my passport on a scanner and then a little turnstile gate opened. I then took off my mask and looked into a camera for a facial recognition scan, after which a second gate opened and I was free. There was a sign indicating that, at some point during the security and immigration process, a biothermic scanner was taking the temperature of all passengers, but it was so unnoticeable that I don’t even know when it happened.
The terminal B concourse at Punta Cana International Airport is modern and very well air-conditioned. Only two restaurants were open at the small food court (one of which was a Wendy’s), and there was a Taco Bell open further down the concourse. The area was uncrowded and seating at gates were labeled to indicate where people can and cannot sit in order to maintain social distancing.
My absolute favorite feature at Punta Cana International Airport: At the very end of concourse B is a bar with an open-air terrace that’s perfect for plane watching. Since hardly anyone was traveling however, there were almost no planes to watch and it was very peaceful and quiet — so quiet that I was able to do my travel video chat from there on YouTube.
Boarding on JetBlue was from back to front. The aircraft was an Airbus A321 and I did have a middle seat empty next to me on this flight, but it was simply because the flight wasn’t full. As with my southbound flight, deplaning was one row at a time after landing at New York City’s JFK airport.