Rottnest Island Holidays

The COVID-19 outbreak has ushered in big changes to how we travel. If you're flying to Rottnest Island, the following tips will help you navigate the "new normal:"

• Before booking your flight, check if any travel bans or restrictions apply — in both your origin and destination. Get up-to-date information by checking government and travel websites.
• When you go through airport checkpoints, keep your face mask on. You will be required to lower it briefly to confirm your identity. Passengers who refuse to wear a mask may face civil penalties and may also be escorted from the building.
• Rather than handing a TSA employee your boarding pass, position it directly on the reader yourself. When that's done, hold it up for inspection.
• You can now take one container of hand sanitizer up to 12 oz (350 ml) in your carry-on baggage. You'll need to remove it for X-ray screening.
• Remove personal items from your pocket, like your phone and wallet, and place them in your carry-on instead of the bins. This will reduce handling during the screening process.
• If you're planning to take food through security screening, put it in a clear plastic bag and then into a screening bin. This lessens the likelihood that a TSA agent will need to handle your food container or carry-on bag for inspection.

While flying during a pandemic can be daunting, airlines have worked around the clock to ensure the well-being of their passengers and staff. These are some carriers that have introduced changes:

• Qantas - this airline is known for providing passenger masks and cleaning with disinfectant.
• Virgin Australia - this airline is known for providing passenger masks and cleaning with disinfectant.
• Rex Regional Express - this airline is known for conducting passenger temperature checks and cleaning with disinfectant.

Where you travel from will largely determine how long you'll be in the air. Here are some of the leading domestic routes to Rottnest Island and their average flight times:

• Melbourne, VIC Airport (MEL-Tullamarine) to Perth Airport (PER) - 4 hours and 10 minutes
• Sydney, NSW Airport (SYD-Kingsford Smith Intl.) to Perth Airport (PER) - 5 hours and 2 minutes
• Brisbane, QLD Airport (BNE) to Perth Airport (PER) - 5 hours and 36 minutes