Whether you're fully vaccinated, have only had your first dose, or haven't had a single dose of a COVID-19 vaccine at all, you might be asking 'do I need a vaccine in order to fly?'.
The answer depends on where you're flying. And, in some cases, there might be other requirements for you to fly.
No. You don't need a COVID-19 vaccine to fly domestic flights in the US. Airlines don't require a COVID vaccine to fly.
As of May 2024, there is no mandate from any airline requiring a COVID vaccination for domestic flights. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) still recommends that everyone be fully vaccinated before travelling. However, you won't need to provide proof of vaccination for domestic flights.
In May 2023, a previous requirement for non-citizen passengers to show proof of vaccination to enter the United States was lifted.
No. As of May 2023, a COVID vaccination is no longer required to fly into or out of the United States. This applies to both non-citizen and non-immigrant air passengers as well as US citizens.
Please remember these these are just the regulations for entering and leaving the US. The destination country you're flying to may have their own requirements for entry. These can change frequently, so it's important to check the specific requirements for your destination country close to your travel date. You can do this by checking the US Department of State's travel advisories website or the official government website of your destination country.
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In order to be classified as 'fully vaccinated' at least 2 weeks must have passed since you completed the full course for whichever COVID vaccine you have taken.
For the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine, this means that at least 2 weeks must have passed from your 2nd dose of the vaccine.
For the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, this means that at least 2 weeks must have passed from the 1-dose shot of the vaccine.
Maybe. Whether you'll need a vaccine card or health passport to fly depends on where you're flying to. Many countries have lifted restrictions, but some may still require proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test.
You can check specific entry requirements regarding COVID-19 for each country through our COVID-19 travel advice page, where we have partnered with Sherpa to display up-to-date COVID-19 regulations.
No, the majority of airlines no longer block middle seats in the cabin due to COVID-19. At the start of the pandemic, many airlines didn't sell middle seats in order to adhere to safety measures and prevent the spread of COVID-19.
As of 2024, many airlines still disinfect cabins between flights to help reduce the spread of germs and viruses, including COVID-19. This practice became standard procedure during the height of the pandemic and remains in place for many airlines due to the ongoing circulation of the virus.
Mandatory social distancing measures on aircraft are no longer enforced by most airlines as of 2022. This is because case numbers and concerns around COVID-19 transmission have lessened in many areas. However, some airlines may still recommend or encourage passengers to maintain distance whenever possible, especially on crowded flights.
