Coronavirus not scaring you away from travel? There are flight deals from Charlotte.
With the recent global outbreak of the Coronavirus COVID-19, many travelers have found themselves hesitant to travel or follow through with pre-booked plans. This, in turn, has left airlines with canceled bookings — and lots of empty seats.
To ease passengers’ worries, airlines are offering more relaxed cancellation policies, with many of them waiving change fees. American, Delta and United are among the growing list of companies offering passengers the options to push their travel to a later date or even cancel altogether with no penalty.
Over the last two weeks, there has been a significant drop in flight prices for many of the major U.S. carriers. Charlotte Douglas International’s main carrier, American Airlines, has advertised some unusually low fares to destinations across the country.
As the airline’s second-largest hub, it is not often that Charlotte travelers find prices like these.
As previously reported, the CDC says most viruses don’t spread easily on airplanes because the air is filtered as it is recirculated; the primary risk would be having direct contact with someone who is sneezing and coughing or in touching a surface that person has touched. As with colds and the flu, health officials say the best way to avoid getting COVID-19 is to avoid contact with an infected person and to wash hands frequently. Airports and individual airlines are reporting they are regularly disinfecting surfaces with products that would help prevent the spread of coronavirus.
If you are looking to book domestic travel for the next few months, now is the time to do so. Here are a few low-price routes that we found on Google Flights departing from Charlotte to major U.S. cities.
(1) Charlotte to Las Vegas, Nevada
Nonstop flights from Charlotte to ‘sin city’ have been hovering just under $100 roundtrip for travel between March and early May. You can also find direct roundtrip flights for as low as $86 on Frontier, one of the latest budget carriers to make its way to Charlotte. With the $92 American Airlines option, it is a part of the basic economy fare class. Under this fare, you cannot choose your seat, and one will be randomly assigned to you on the day of travel. Also, you cannot make any changes or upgrades to this ticket once it is confirmed. You are allowed one personal item and one carry-on item as usual. Checked bags will come at the normal price of $30 for the first bag.
(2) Charlotte to Miami
For just under $100 roundtrip, you can have a little fun in the sun down in Miami. Now at $96 on American Airlines, these prices are running for flights from now through mid-November, although they could change at any moment.
(3) Charlotte to Newark, NJ
Many travelers use this route as a way to get to New York City, and at $60 roundtrip on American Airlines, we can’t blame them. This option is available for those who are looking to fly from now through mid-November. Once you arrive, take a train or ride share over into the city.
(4) Charlotte to Orlando
For $40 at off-peak hours on Frontier or $60 at other points in the day on American, this is a great deal for families or those wanting to head to Disney World or other theme parks in Orlando. These prices are going from now through early June. Just like the Las Vegas deal, this is also a basic fare price. Keep in mind that with Frontier, only a personal item is included in your base price. You will have to add any baggage a la cart, and prices vary based on if you purchase bags during your booking or after.
(5) Charlotte to Phoenix
Ever wanted to check out fancy Scottsdale? Now might be the time to start planning for Southwestern-style dinners in the Arizona valley known for its upscale restaurants near a culinary school, where you can swear shorts every season. Prices to Phoenix — a spa and golfing paradise known for sunny days all year-round — are down by about $100 to $348 on American Airlines, according to Google Flights. Baggage fees also apply to this fare rate.
Sure, it’s cheap to fly — but is it safe?
Charlotte Douglas International officials are ensuring that workers conduct a “full deep cleaning” of the terminal public areas each night, The Charlotte Observer has reported. These cleanings include thorough wipe downs of seating, handrails, elevators and other touch points.
Additionally, all restrooms are equipped with multiple soap dispensers to assist with hand washing — one of the main preventative measures suggested by The Center for Disease Control.
Airport workers also perform electrostatic cleanings of terminal bathrooms each night, which involves applying an electric charge to a cleaner or disinfectant to ensure it fully covers a surface.
American Airlines has stated that its cleaning procedures have always met or exceeded the guidelines of the CDC, but in light of Coronavirus the airline will take things a step farther.
Staff will conduct thorough cleanings of tray tables, armrests and other hard surfaces on planes each day. Many of the planes are equipped with HEPA filters that completely change the air once every two to four minutes.
The airline also is providing hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes for crew members on all flights across the Pacific Ocean and to Italy and will soon do so on all of its flights, according to officials.
ABOVE ALL, SAFETY FIRST: When making your travel plans, make sure to use good judgment, keep aware of the news and sing all the songs you need to get that handwashing protocol down.
Other coronavirus news
Two of four upcoming conventions slated for Charlotte have been canceled, The Charlotte Ledger reported on Monday morning. These include the Snaxpo20 convention scheduled for March 22-24 and expecting 160 vendors; and Electrification 2020, scheduled for April 6-9.
Four new potential coronavirus cases were announced on Monday in South Carolina, The Charlotte Observer reported. This brings the total number of cases to six, and it indicates community spread, DHEC officials said. One South Carolina man showed symptoms a day after flying into Charlotte Douglas from Italy and is isolated at home.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools announced efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in area classrooms, The Observer reported.
This story was originally published March 9, 2020 at 3:22 PM.
