Airlines including Qantas have been using the IATA pass to create a travel app. Photo / Supplied, IATA
Airlines including Qantas have been using the IATA pass to create a travel app. Photo / Supplied, IATA
Travel in a post-Covid world is going to be very different.
With regulations different in every country, and coronavirus outbreaks still putting places into lockdown, airlines have had to go back to the drawing board to ensure travelling is still easy and safe.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) hasfor months been working with airlines across the world, including Qantas and Air New Zealand, to develop a travel pass that will align with Covid regulations no matter where you're flying.
Speaking at Sydney International Airport yesterday, ahead of Qantas' global restart on Monday, the airline's chief customer officer Stephanie Tully said Qantas was determined to "hold the hand" of their passengers from the moment they book a flight.
Showing prototypes of the Qantas app and the IATA travel pass, which could change over the next few weeks, Ms Tully ran through the steps passengers would be taken through after booking a flight.
Ms Tully said Qantas will start sending texts and app alerts as soon as a customer books with them about the latest government and travel requirements.
"Where it becomes particularly important is seven days out from a flight, that's when you need to start doing a few things ... so depending on the requirement of the destination, at seven days out we will contact customers so they know what to do in the lead up to travel ... we'll provide a checklist via SMS and email of exactly what customers need to do," she said.
"Four days out, again we'll SMS all customers because at that point you'll need a PCR test, so we're making sure our customers know that they need to do that and where they can do that."
Customers can also get a discount on their PCR test if they book via Qantas.com, Ms Tully added.
Qantas will send out another alert closer to the day of departure, reminding customers to check in and ensuring they have all the necessary documents to fly.
The process will become even more streamlined when the IATA app comes online. It will sync a passenger's vaccination status and negative test result with the airline's system.
The IATA app will come online in December at the latest.
The IATA app will help travellers find pre-departure test centres. Photo / Supplied, IATA
Through the IATA app, travellers will upload their vaccination certificate and any Covid test that's relevant to their trip.
"That will connect to our check-in systems and you'll get a big green tick," Ms Tully said.
"So essentially when you arrive at the airport, all you'll need to share with our staff is that big tick and your boarding pass and you're good to go.
