Vaccines, masks, tests and parking: What to know before you fly from KCI for the holidays
Planning to travel for the holidays? Make sure you’re prepared, as a lot of destinations in the country and around the world still have COVID restrictions in place.
What’s happening in Missouri is different than what’s required in New York, for instance. It can get very confusing, and The Star’s service journalism team is here to help.
DO YOU NEED TO BE FULLY VACCINATED FOR DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL?
If traveling domestically, you do not need to be fully vaccinated, although it’s recommended. Kansas City International Airport doesn’t require it.
If you’re leaving the country, it depends on where you’re going. Each country has its own vaccination, testing and quarantine rules.
If flying from another country to the U.S., you do not need to be fully vaccinated if you are a U.S. citizen, a U.S. national, a legal permanent resident or traveling on an immigrant visa. People coming from other countries must be fully vaccinated, although there are some exceptions, such as kids under 18.
DO YOU NEED A COVID TEST TO FLY?
COVID-19 tests are recommended in the United States, but not required. It’ll depend on where you’re going if you’re flying internationally, as each country has its own rules.
If you’re flying to the United States, all international travelers, including American citizens, ages 2 and older, are required to take a COVID-19 test one day before their flight and show proof of a negative result before boarding, regardless of vaccination status.
A COVID test is not required if you can show proof that you tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 90 days and have recovered. This rule doesn’t apply to Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories.
The Biden administration says the tighter testing requirements are to help stop the spread of the omicron variant, which has been reported in more than 35 countries and several U.S. states, including Missouri.
HOW TO CHECK THE VACCINE, TESTING AND QUARANTINE RULES FOR YOUR DESTINATION
Check with your airline for the latest information on whether your destination has any COVID-related requirements. You can also check online through the U.S. Department of State.
Or, you can use the UNWTO/IATA Destination Tracker, a free online tool that tracks COVID entry rules by country and also provides some info on whether there are stay-at-home requirements or any COVID restrictions. This site only breaks it down by country.
Check COVID entry requirements often, as changes can occur at the last second.
WHERE CAN I GET A COVID TEST IN KANSAS CITY?
The Star’s service journalism team put together a guide of where to get tested for COVID-19 in the metro.
ARE MASKS STILL REQUIRED ON PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION?
Masks are still required as part of a federal mask mandate. The mandate also requires masks inside other “transportation hubs,” including train stations and seaports.
Masks must also be worn on other forms of public transportation including buses, trains, taxis, boats and rideshares like Uber and Lyft. You do not need to wear a mask inside your own car.
WHAT ARE THE PARKING OPTIONS AT KANSAS CITY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT?
KCI offers the following parking facilities:
Economy Parking, with a complimentary bus that runs 24/7 to and from the terminals. All buses have disabled accessibility along with “kneeling” capabilities which lower the buses.
Circle Parking has uncovered lots within walking distance to the terminals.
Garage Parking, which is the closest to the terminals. It offers covered and uncovered parking with underground walkways.
Curbside Valet Parking - Available for Terminal B near Gate 40.
To estimate the parking fees, use KCI’s calculator here. Parking costs will vary based on your arrival and departure.
WANT TO GET BOOSTED BEFORE YOU GO?
You can find a list of COVID-19 booster sites in the Kansas City metro here. The CDC approved COVID-19 booster shots for teenagers age 16 or 17 on Dec. 9 and you can find booster sites for teens here.
Previous guidance recommended booster shots for all fully vaccinated adults, but not for teens or children. Currently, only Pfizer-BioNTech vaccinations are approved for use on those under the age of 18.
