Coronavirus: What to expect when flying into the United States
Editor's Note
Editor's note: This post is regularly updated with new information and was originally published on May 19, 2020.
The United States just announced on May 19 an extension of temporary travel restrictions to last through June 22, 2020. Under these guidelines, foreign travelers, including visitors from Canada and Mexico, cannot enter the United States via land ports of entry until that date except for reasons of essential travel.
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While United States land borders are still closed between Canada and Mexico, U.S. passport holders and permanent residents are allowed to fly home as long as they can find a route back. But if you've been wondering what to expect when entering the country's borders post-coronavirus, you won't find a lot of guidance anywhere.
Related: When can we travel? A country by country guide
That's because there isn't much of a process at all where U.S. health screenings are involved. While some destinations like Hong Kong have implemented rigorous protocols that can take up to eight hours to complete, a number of travelers are increasingly calling out the absence of wellness checks in U.S. airports: No temperature checks, COVID-19 tests or doctor's note certifying a clean bill of health.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has dedicated a section of its website to coronavirus efforts and information. The section on "protecting air travelers and the American public" references the Notice of Arrival Restrictions which was implemented on March 13 by DHS Acting Secretary Chad Wolf, which stated that U.S. passport holders returning from certain restricted countries had to enter the U.S. through the following 13 airports:
- Boston-Logan International Airport (BOS), Massachusetts
- Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD), Illinois
- Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), Texas
- Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW), Michigan
- Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL), Hawaii
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), Georgia
- John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), New York
- Los Angeles International Airport, (LAX), California
- Miami International Airport (MIA), Florida
- Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), New Jersey
- San Francisco International Airport (SFO), California
- Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), Washington
- Washington-Dulles International Airport (IAD), Virginia
According to the DHS resource page for international travel, incoming travelers first pass through standard customs processing, then proceed to "enhanced entry screening," according to the DHS, where passengers would be asked self-report their medical history, current condition and contact information to local health authorities before passing through to their final destination, where they are asked to self-quarantine.
These simple procedures stack up poorly in contrast to the response in highly vigilant countries like New Zealand and Taiwan, which both have been repeatedly lauded for their effective squashing of potential coronavirus spread.
Furthermore, even the light requirements for enhanced entry screening in the U.S. haven't been followed to a T.
On May 7 Politico reported House investigators discovered "significant gaps" in the U.S. response to coronavirus screening in airports, including "no documentary evidence that screenings were being performed as promised." Instead, the U.S. often relied on foreign counterparts to screen outbound U.S. passengers in local airports, even when returning to the States from coronavirus epicenters such as Italy and South Korea.
Numerous travelers have corroborated the House investigation's findings with firsthand anecdotes from their own re-entry experiences, spanning from the beginning of the lockdown to just the past few days. "I flew into LAX from New Zealand on March 22," @BrehonFailte said on Twitter. "I could easily have come into contact with a Korean Air flight that was boarding in New Zealand. [There was] not one [health] screening when we got to the U.S. No temperature test, nothing."
While Twitter users @BrehonFailte and @RonNehring's firsthand accounts took place in March 2020, Twitter users @weijia and @sarcott reported similar experiences on both domestic and international travel in more recent days. "I arrived from Mexico this week into Los Angeles [and received] no extra screening," @sarcott said on Twitter. "CBP [officials] weren't even wearing masks. I had to fill out papers on the plane, but no one asked for them so I threw them i the trash. We did have our temperature taken in [the Mexico City airport] before boarding. That's it."
@sarcott's statement corroborates the House investigators' findings that the United States relies too heavily on its counterparts in foreign airports to screen incoming travelers for health concerns. Additional reports stated that travelers also weren't adequately screened regarding their most recent whereabouts, including transiting through high-risk countries.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials told TPG that health screenings don't fall under the agency's jurisdiction. “U.S. Customs and Border Protection continues to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s COVID-19 guidelines at all ports of entry," a CBP spokesperson told TPG. "CBP officers identify travelers who have recently been in China, Iran, Ireland, the United Kingdom or the Schengen Area or who exhibit symptoms of COVID-19 and refer such travelers to the CDC, DHS contract medical personnel, or local health authorities for enhanced health screening.”
TPG reached out to DHS and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for comment on incoming traveler screening procedures, but had not received a response from either agency by publication time.
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.