Delta, KLM team up to offer COVID- and quarantine-free flights to Amsterdam
Until there's a readily available vaccine, airlines have been hard at work at opening COVID-free travel corridors.
The latest example comes Friday morning from Delta and KLM. The carriers announced that they're working together to trial a three-week COVID-tested flight schedule to Amsterdam.
The joint-venture partners will begin the trial on Dec. 15. It will be offered on four out of the 26 combined weekly Atlanta-Amsterdam flights operated by the carriers, with two per week on each airline. There will be three tests required during a passenger's overall journey. If a passenger tests negative on all three, then the 10-day quarantine requirement upon arrival will be waived.
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Customers on the COVID-tested flight will be required to follow a strict testing regime:
- A PCR test five days before arrival in the Netherlands
- Self-isolation period until departure
- Rapid antigen test prior to boarding
- A PCR test required upon arrival at Schiphol Airport
No quarantine will be required once the third test comes back negative, though it’s worth noting travel to the Netherlands remains restricted (more on that below).
Related: Traveling soon? Here’s where you can quickly get a COVID-19 PCR test for travel
In announcing the news, KLM CEO Pieter Elbers said that "until an approved working vaccine is available worldwide, this testing program represents the first step towards the international travel industry’s recovery."
Should the three-week trial be successful, the carriers hope to extend the program to other markets for a longer duration.
The four flights covered in the pilot program represent a small portion of the carriers' overall schedule on the route.
Cirium schedules show that there are between three and four daily flights between Atlanta and Amsterdam, flown on either Delta or KLM aircraft, with a total of 71 flights during the three-week trial. Only 12 of them will be operated under the COVID-tested trial — the rest will be subject to the standard ten-day quarantine upon arrival.
Furthermore, this plan doesn't necessarily open up the Netherlands to tourists. For now, this new protocol is limited to citizens who are permitted to travel for essential reasons, such as certain specified work, health and education reasons. This also doesn't apply to those transiting the airport.
The goal, of course, is to demonstrate that a strict testing regime significantly reduces the spread of the virus, which should hopefully help convince health authorities to consider reopening borders.
Friday's news follows a similar announcement from Delta just one week ago. The Atlanta-based carrier is piloting COVID- and quarantine-free flights to Italy, beginning on Dec. 19.
Like the Amsterdam trial, those traveling from Atlanta to Rome will be required to undergo multiple pre- and post-travel tests to waive the mandatory quarantine upon arrival.
On Thursday, Delta announced that it's launching the industry's first contact tracing program for inbound international flights to the U.S. Flyers will be asked to submit personal contact information to health authorities to better track the spread of the coronavirus.
Related: Oneworld carriers American, British Airways to trial testing regime for US-UK flights
United was the first of the U.S. carriers to offer COVID-tested flights. The Chicago-based carrier flew its first flight to London on Nov. 16, with a trial that runs through Dec. 11.
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Build your loyalty to Delta by applying for the carrier's mid-tier card option, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card. The annual fee is quickly recouped by the card's travel perks, such as an application credit to Global Entry or TSA Precheck, annual companion certificate and so much more. Plus you can fast-track to elite status simply through card spend.Pros
- Earn bonus Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) and an Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) waiver when you hit specific spending thresholds with your card within a calendar year
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year
- Statement credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry fee (up to $100)
- First checked bag free
Cons
- Doesn't make sense if you don't fly Delta
- SkyMiles aren't the most valuable airline currency
- Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
- New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
- Enjoy a per-visit rate of $50 per person for Card Members and up to two guests to enter the Delta Sky Club when traveling on a Delta flight.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
- Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees