For many, the holiday season is the most wonderful time of the year – punctuated by gift giving, delicious meals, and family gatherings.
But for others, the holidays are chaotic and stress-inducing – a season to “get through” rather than enjoy.
Travel is one of the biggest catalysts of holiday stress, and it’s easy to understand why. Delta Air Lines is expecting more than 5 million passengers over the Thanksgiving period – the heaviest Thanksgiving traffic it’s seen since the start of the pandemic.
The increase in passengers is sure to challenge major airports and airlines, which are already struggling to keep up with demand.
Recent travelers have faced flight delays, cancellations, lost baggage, and other headaches as the result of the skilled labor shortage.
If you plan on traveling this holiday season, prepare to show patience and express your gratitude for the employees who are sacrificing time with their own friends and family to help you reach your destination safely.
After all, practicing gratitude is good for your mental health – proven to help you feel more positive, relish good experiences, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships.
Whether you’re headed to the airport or simply down the road, use the following safety tips to minimize illness and reduce stress this holiday season.
- Get your flu shot and your COVID-19 booster. Experts agree that it’s safe to get the vaccines simultaneously.
- Take a COVID-19 test before you travel. Visit COVID.gov for a list of testing sites and at-home test carriers near you.
- Wash your hands thoroughly and often. Use hand sanitizer when soap and water are not available.
- Disinfect frequently touched items such as chairs, tables, and railings before you use them.
- Consider wearing a mask when traveling or when you are around others that may be suffering from allergies or a cold.
- Keep your distance from strangers and anyone who is sneezing, coughing, or congested.
This Thanksgiving, Flagship is extremely grateful for its clients, partners, and employees – especially the frontline leaders who maintain safe and clean airport facilities for the millions of holiday travelers.
