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Acceptable forms of id include, things to consider.

• Check with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), a local embassy or consulate to see travel documents you may need to re-enter the U.S.
• Passport processing often takes several months and could take longer during peak travel periods, be sure to give yourself plenty of time to get a valid passport before you travel
• Some international destinations require your passport to be valid for a certain amount of time after your date of departure – review your destination’s passport validity requirement
• Expedite your check-in for future trips when you scan and verify your passport within Delta FlyReady
• U.S. citizens do not need a passport to enter U.S. territories like Puerto Rico; they can enter with a valid government-issued ID
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Delta to Require Negative COVID-19 Test Results to Enter United States, in Accordance with CDC Order   

In accordance with a new order from the Centers for Disease Control, Delta Air Lines will require all customers entering or transiting through the U.S. from any location outside of the U.S. to present a negative COVID-19 test result prior to departure, effective Jan. 26. The  CDC order  requires all passengers to provide a negative test result from a test taken within three days of departure, adding another layer of safety when they travel.

“Nothing is more important to us than the safety and health of our people and our customers,” said Perry Cantarutti, Delta’s S.V.P.  - Alliances and International. “We are grateful to the U.S. government for putting these measures in place. Testing is an important step to safely reopening international borders for all travelers, which in turn will drive global economic recovery.”

This latest CDC order is in addition to its initiative rolled out last year, which asks customers flying to the U.S from an international location to voluntarily provide their details for  contact tracing .

In addition to showing a negative COVID-19 test to an agent at the airport, the CDC mandate requires customers to sign an attestation certifying that they have received a negative test result. The three-day test window is calculated from the first point of departure, so customers on connecting flights must incorporate this into their travel plans. A number of countries around the world have similar orders in place, aimed at protecting the health of fellow travelers and airline employees.

All customers flying on Delta must continue to follow the entry requirements for international travel and are advised to check these prior to departure. Delta has also issued a  waiver  allowing customers to rebook international travel to the U.S. purchased on or before Jan. 12 for travel through Feb. 9, if they choose to rebook their travel to begin on or before Jan. 25.

For more information on this new requirement, please see  entry requirements for international travel .

Since the start of the pandemic last year, Delta has put in place a number of initiatives under the Delta CareStandard. These include  blocking middle seats  through March 30, 2021,  requiring masks  throughout the travel experience and providing wellness kits and hand sanitizer on board.

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Updated International Air Travel COVID-19 Policy

⚠   The COVID-19 Public Health Emergency expired as of May 11, 2023. This site will no longer be updated and will remain online for historical purposes only.

For current COVID-19 guidance, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) .

International travel is critical to connecting families and friends, to fueling small and large businesses, and to promoting the open exchange of ideas and culture. The international air travel policy follows the science and both enhances the safety of Americans here at home and the safety of international air travel.

Testing Requirement

On March 10, 2023, CDC  removed  the requirement for air passengers from China, Hong Kong or Macau to show a negative COVID-19 test or documentation of recovery before boarding a flight to the United States.

Vaccination Requirement

As of 12:01am EDT on May 12, 2023, noncitizen nonimmigrant air passengers will no longer need to show proof of being fully vaccinated with an accepted COVID-19 vaccine to board a flight to the United States. See  here  for more information.

While masks are no longer required on flights, The CDC still recommends wearing them. 

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Resources for Coronavirus International and Regional Travel Requirements   

As our mutual customers begin to plan for future business or leisure travel, they often have questions regarding travel restrictions, entry requirements, required documentation or health and quarantine requirements. Delta is committed to providing the information our mutual customers need to prepare for a safe and secure trip.

Regional Travel Requirements on delta.com

Delta updates Regional Travel Requirements  on delta.com daily, to ensure customers are aware of any restrictions in place at both the customer’s origin and destination. Delta also recommends to always check the destination state’s or country’s website for quarantine policies and exceptions. Some travelers may be exempt from these restrictions.

In addition, some countries have imposed temporary entry requirements, such as limiting entry to citizens, permanent residents, and select visa holders, or restricting to essential travel. Delta recommends that customers check directly with the embassy or immigrations office for their destination to confirm whether they are currently eligible to travel.

Timatic and IATA Travel Centre Sites

Travel Agencies should use Timatic and the IATA Travel Centre as a reference to answer travel-related questions such as travel restrictions and documentation, entry requirements or health and quarantine requirements, etc.

IATA Timatic is used by airlines and travel agents to verify passenger travel document requirements for their destination and any transit points. Timatic delivers personalized information based on the passenger's destination, transit points, nationality, travel document, residence country etc.

Latest Coronavirus (Covid-19) Travel Regulations

The IATA Timatic team is in constant communication with governments and airlines around the world to ensure all travel documentation as well as health restriction checks requirements and rules are kept up to date in real-time.  Learn more See the latest travel restrictions per country via the  IATA TravelCentre.

Please note: Delta is not responsible for the accuracy of the information on either site and suggests that if customers have additional questions, they should check with the respective embassy or consulate and visa office of the country involved with their travel itinerary, for further details.

Contact IATA  if you would like to integrate Timatic into your operations.

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COVID-19 and travel: The delta variant is spreading. Should travelers be concerned?

The delta variant is quickly establishing itself as the dominant COVID-19 strain – but do travelers need to be concerned? 

The highly transmissible variant accounts for nearly 58% of all U.S. infections, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and has been detected in more than 100 countries. The World Health Organization expects it to become the most common strain in the coming months. 

Some countries are beginning to tighten entry restrictions to get a handle on its spread, just as international travel had been starting to pick up steam.  

“Undoubtedly, this is a virus that spreads really, really quickly,” Richard Webby, who helps lead St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital’s Infectious Diseases Department, told USA TODAY. “It is a stumbling block as far as us getting to the other end of this (pandemic).” 

Delta variant: Accounts for 58% of U.S. infections; COVID-19 updates

Learn more: Best travel insurance

Mask rules and more:  What you need to know about summer travel in Europe

What sort of travel restrictions are in place today?

Travel restrictions vary across countries. 

Some are continuing to ease roadblocks to entry – Switzerland , Finland and Qatar all started allowing in more travelers in recent weeks – while others are starting to reimpose COVID-19 safety protocols that had been pushed aside ahead of the busy summer travel season. 

Less than a month after reopening its borders to foreign travelers, Portugal now asks for proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test before checking in to a hotel or dining in an indoor restaurant at certain hours. Some areas in the country are also enforcing a nightly curfew.  

Malta is requiring either proof of vaccination or EU Digital COVID Certificate to enter, and other countries – including Israel – have extended their travel ban in an attempt to keep the delta variant at bay.   

“If I was a country that didn’t have a lot of this (delta variant) activity going on, it’s a virus that I would want to keep out of my community,” Webby said. “I would certainly be imposing travel restrictions from places where this virus is rampant. Unfortunately, at the moment, that’s a lot of places around the globe.”

Purvi Parikh, an immunologist who has worked as an investigator for some of the COVID-19 vaccine trials, believes the variant “will definitely impact international travel.”

“Various parts of the world may go back on lockdown depending on spread and vaccines and testing will be required,” she said via email. "(Some countries) may have to reinforce lockdown, travel bans, masking and quarantines, depending how bad it is.”

She added that the easing of restrictions will depend on countries’ vaccination efforts, and “many are behind.”

Some areas in the U.S. are starting to reimpose COVID-19 restrictions, too. 

Starting Saturday, masks will be required indoors in Los Angeles County, regardless of vaccination status. And earlier this week, Chicago added Missouri and Arkansas back to its travel advisory , which advises unvaccinated visitors from the two states with rising COVID-19 cases to obtain a negative COVID-19 test or quarantine in order to enter the city. 

Europe travel: Portugal reopens to US travelers with negative COVID-19 tests

European Union: Digital COVID certificate rollout could lead to long airport wait times

How big of a concern is the delta variant for unvaccinated travelers?

The CDC  cautions Americans  to make sure they are fully vaccinated before traveling.

Parikh advises vaccines for travelers  since the majority of the recent COVID-19 deaths and hospitalizations are among nonvaccinated people. She also suggests checking local guidance and infection rates in countries before booking that international flight.

“You may want to defer travel if an area is having a spike or surge,” she said. “Be adaptable, (since) much of this is dynamic and changing.”

Webby added that the spread of the delta variant may be inconsequential to many fully vaccinated travelers. 

“If you’re vaccinated and fully immunized against this virus, then it poses a slight increased risk to you,” he said. But among the unvaccinated population, “this virus is going to cause more cases, it’s going to spread more easily and more rapidly. … If you’re not vaccinated, now is not a good time to travel.”  

CDC, State Department: Downgrade travel alerts for dozens of countries

COVID updates: More than 99% of recent COVID deaths in US involve unvaccinated people  

How will the variant impact airlines? 

Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian said on a Wednesday earnings call the company is mindful of the risks the new variants pose to the industry’s recovery, but domestic demand is growing and there are "clear signs" of international demand recovery heading into the fall.  

“While we know international demand recovery will be very choppy and uneven, we're seeing strong bookings to Europe when countries open their borders,” Bastian said. “We know our customers are largely vaccinated.”

Even so, Savanthi Syth, an analyst with financial services company Raymond James, said in a Monday note that the delta variant could delay the recovery of long-haul international flights.

Israel: Delays entry for vaccinated tourists as delta variant spreads

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Coronavirus FAQ: What's The Advice About Traveling In The Delta Variant Era?

Sheila Mulrooney Eldred

Passengers queue up at Greece's Thessaloniki Makedonia Airport on Sept. 2. Recommendations about physical distancing prove hard to follow at airports — and in the jetway leading to the plane. Konstantinos Tsakalidis/Bloomberg via Getty Images hide caption

Passengers queue up at Greece's Thessaloniki Makedonia Airport on Sept. 2. Recommendations about physical distancing prove hard to follow at airports — and in the jetway leading to the plane.

Each week, we answer frequently asked questions about life during the coronavirus crisis. If you have a question you'd like us to consider for a future post, email us at [email protected] with the subject line: "Weekly Coronavirus Questions." See an archive of our FAQs here .

I waited until I was vaccinated and the CDC had OK'd non-essential travel to plan a trip — but that was before the delta era. Now I have a flight scheduled in September, and cases are skyrocketing. What are the rules for flying this fall? Should I cancel?!

That depends.

The decision to travel rests on both your personal risk tolerance and on public health considerations, say medical and travel experts. If you have a flight booked for the next few weeks, now is the time to reevaluate. Ask yourself these questions, suggests Dr. Jill Weatherhead , an assistant professor of adult and pediatric infectious diseases at Baylor College of Medicine:

• Do you have underlying health concerns? Does anyone you live with or see often have underlying health concerns? "Even if you don't get sick [with symptoms] but are infected, you could infect someone else," she says.
• What is the transmission rate and hospital capacity of the place you're flying to? You don't want to travel into an uncontrolled situation, she points out, where you may not be able to get care for any ailment, COVID or otherwise, or an injury. "If it looks like things are moving toward uncontrolled community transmission, then it's advisable not to travel to that area," she says. (If the local health department's COVID tracker is pointing to the worst threat level, that likely indicates uncontrolled spread. Houston's Harris County, for example, is currently red for "severe," and advises people who are not fully vaccinated to stay home.) Especially if you're travelling internationally, you could find yourself at risk of substandard care if you should need medical attention in an overburdened country with fewer resources than the U.S., says Henry Wu , director of Emory TravelWell Center and an associate professor of infectious diseases at Emory University School of Medicine. And at the moment, patients are facing exceptionally long waits to be seen by a health worker in an emergency room in some parts of the U.S.
• Do you live in an area that's surging? If so, you risk infecting others at your destination.

Coronavirus By The Numbers

Where are hospitals overwhelmed by covid-19 patients look up your state.

So when should you cancel a trip?

This is a particularly challenging moment of the pandemic to make decisions, our experts acknowledge, because there's just a lot we don't know about the coming months.

"We don't know what direction things will go; it's hard to predict right now," Weatherhead says. "Delta is a new variable, and some areas are not using the same mitigation strategies they used last year."

The governor of Hawaii has even asked all tourists to stay away until at least the end of October, while hospitals are at capacity.

"Given all that, my best advice is that everyone's travel threshold should be a bit higher right now," Wu says. "With this wave being so serious it is wise to scale back on activity that increases exposure risk."

Instead of canceling, however, consider postponing.

"It makes sense to wait if travel can be delayed," Wu says. "I would say delay until there's more certainty or maybe change it to a road trip" to a safer destination.

The good news is that most major airlines are still waiving change fees. One thing that hasn't changed, however? The telephone hold time. You could be waiting around 2 hours to talk to a human.

If you do fly, the rules haven't changed for domestic flights: You're still required to mask up in airports, and you'll still reduce your risk by keeping a physical distance from others as much as possible and removing your mask as infrequently as possible. Although many people dropped some of the layering strategies after they got vaccinated, they still work and are particularly essential when you're in riskier-than-usual situations, Wu says — such as the jet bridge between the airport and the airplane.

"I traveled this summer and I think the most dangerous part was the jet bridges, which still get backed up and crowded," he says. "There's not a lot you can do, but keep your mask on. The more you can avoid that crowd the better."

The snack cart presents another potentially risky situation, so take your snack to go (save it for your destination) or eat it quickly when others have their masks on, Wu and Weatherhead suggest.

Logistically, travelling domestically remains fairly straightforward: There are no temperature checks or verification systems to check your vaccination or COVID-19 testing records. (Once you get to your destination, however, your vaccination card may be required to eat at restaurants or go to concerts.)

If you're travelling overseas, things are now a little more complex: The European Union took the U.S. off its "safe list" this week, meaning individual countries may impose quarantine and testing restrictions in order to visit. Be sure to check the requirements of the country you're travelling to as well as the CDC's list of countries not to travel to.

While the CDC doesn't officially recommend testing after you're back home] if you're vaccinated, "if you have risk factors or around folks who may be frail or unvaccinated, I don't think it's a bad thing to be extra careful and get tested," Wu says.

What if you're not vaccinated?

Like most activities involving other people, travelling while unvaccinated is a lot riskier. In fact, this week the CDC asked all unvaccinated people to avoid travel over the Labor Day holiday.

"If you're going to travel anyway and not be vaccinated, then really do your best and follow protocols [masking and physical distancing] for your own safety and those around you," Wu says. And, he says, quarantine or get tested after your trip!

A simpler solution? Weatherhead and Wu say if you're eligible, get vaccinated.

Sheila Mulrooney Eldred is a freelance health journalist in Minneapolis. She's written about COVID-19 for many publications, including Medscape, Kaiser Health News, Science News for Students and The Washington Post . More at sheilaeldred.pressfolios.com . On Twitter: @milepostmedia .

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COVID-19 international travel advisories

If you plan to visit the U.S., you do not need to be tested or vaccinated for COVID-19. U.S. citizens going abroad, check with the Department of State for travel advisories.

COVID-19 testing and vaccine rules for entering the U.S.

• As of May 12, 2023, noncitizen nonimmigrant visitors to the U.S.  arriving by air  or  arriving by land or sea  no longer need to show proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19. 
• As of June 12, 2022,  people entering the U.S. no longer need to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test . 

U.S. citizens traveling to a country outside the U.S.

Find country-specific COVID-19 travel rules from the Department of State.

See the  CDC's COVID-19 guidance for safer international travel.

LAST UPDATED: December 6, 2023

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Should the Delta Variant Change Your Travel Plans?

d3sign / Getty Images

Key Takeaways

• When weighing the COVID-19 risk of your trip, consider your vaccination status, the travel destination's current infection rates, and the activities you plan to do once you're there.
• If you decide to carry on with your travel plans, it's best that you get vaccinated beforehand, wear a well-fitting mask, and stick to outdoor activities as much as possible.
• Make sure to plan for your post-travel quarantine or isolation in case you get exposed to someone with COVID-19 or begin to feel symptoms.

As states lifted COVID-19 restrictions at the start of the summer, airports became busy and travel soared. But now, with outbreaks cropping up nationwide, and shifting mask guidance, many Americans are rethinking those plans they made a few months ago.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the highly transmissible Delta variant accounted for 93.4% of new COVID-19 infections in the United States during the last two weeks of July.

Verywell asked experts to weigh in on what you should consider as you reevaluate those late summer or early fall travel plans.

Should You Cancel Your Travel Plans?

The decision to cancel or push through with travel plans depends on several important factors.

“Changes to travel plans should be considered based on your destination and what you plan to do there, how you are getting to your destination, and your risk tolerance,” Keri Althoff, PhD , an epidemiologist at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, tells Verywell. “If you are a fully-vaccinated household, you have done the most important thing to ensure safe and healthy travels—vaccination.”

Currently, an estimated 90 million Americans are eligible for vaccination but remain unvaccinated. Experts advise that travel groups with mixed vaccination status—including those with children that are not yet eligible to get vaccinated—should reconsider their trip, especially if the intended travel destination is experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases.

“If you have members in your household that are unvaccinated or vaccinated but more vulnerable to infection or severe illness with COVID-19, you may want to opt for a new destination or delay your travel if your destination is experiencing a surge in COVID-19,” Althoff says. “This may be particularly important if the health system at your destination or at home is at capacity or overwhelmed.”

Even if the destination has relatively lower infection rates, it doesn’t mean that travelers shouldn't be vigilant. It’s important to continue taking all the necessary safety precautions to prioritize everyone’s health and safety.

“If you are traveling to a lower transmission area, being a considerate guest of your destination includes making sure you are monitoring your own health so that you are not bringing COVID-19 to your destination,” Althoff says. “Be sure you are aware of your destination’s policies on masking. While at your destination, keep an eye on COVID-19 transmission rates at your destination while you are there to adjust your plans based on your risk tolerance.”

What This Means For You

Before traveling, you should make sure everyone in your travel group is vaccinated. To find an appointment near you, go to vaccines.gov.

How to Navigate Your Travel Safely

“Delta is widespread in the U.S. and particularly high in the southern U.S,” F. Perry Wilson, MD , Yale Medicine physician and researcher at the Yale School of Medicine, tells Verywell. “Travel for unvaccinated individuals into high-prevalence areas is risky, and so those individuals will want to consider their own risk factors to make an informed choice.”

If you're unvaccinated and intend to go on your trip anyway, getting vaccinated beforehand is your best strategy for staying safe. Additionally, there are several other practices you can employ to further minimize your COVID-19 risk while traveling.

Wear Well-Fitting Masks

Face mask mandates vary by state, but they remain federally required on public transit such as planes, trains, and buses. Even if the state you're traveling to doesn't have a mask mandate in place, it’s practical to keep wearing one whenever you are able to do so to protect yourself from the virus.

“Individuals should wear masks when traveling,” Wilson says. “For vaccinated individuals, a well-fitting cloth mask may be adequate. Unvaccinated individuals should consider wearing an N95 or KN95 mask to provide more personal protection.”

The CDC does not recommend face masks for children younger than 2 years old, but if you’re traveling with children aged 2 or older, you must ensure that they wear a face mask as well.

“Children should also wear masks when traveling in public, if possible,” Wilson says. “They should also be well-fitting, with limited or no gaps around the nose, cheeks, and chin. There are KN95 masks made for children, but my experience is that these are quite hard to find nowadays.”

Choose Activities Wisely

Vaccinated or not, you should minimize your risk by determining which travel activities increase your risk of getting and spreading COVID-19.

“Beyond masking, the most important thing is to limit indoor activities where there are crowds,” Wilson says. “If you stay isolated with your travel companions, the risk is much lower than if you are participating in indoor activities where the high disease prevalence may lead to breakthrough infections.”

It’s best to stick to outdoor recreation where the risk is significantly lower, such as hiking and camping. Visiting museums or dining indoors can expose you to other groups of people outside your travel group.

“Someone who is vaccinated is probably safe in an indoor, crowded activity provided they have a well-fitting mask,” Wilson says. “Of course, each person needs to assess their own risk profile.”

Plan Thoroughly

It’s important to plan not only for the trip itself, but also for your return. You must know what to do in case of any unexpected circumstances that come your way during your travel.

“Think through your plan for where you will seek testing and how you would quarantine or isolate at your destination and upon returning home, so you or your traveling companions are ready if exposed or become ill,” Althoff says. “As many schools are back in session—or close to returning for the fall—be sure you have a plan for how you would start your child’s school year if COVID-19 exposure or illness occurs when traveling or upon your return home.”

The information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newer information may be available when you read this. For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit our coronavirus news page .

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. COVID Data Tracker: Variant Proportions .

The White House. Press Briefing by White House COVID-⁠19 Response Team and Public Health Officials .

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Your Guide to Masks .

By Carla Delgado Delgado is a health and culture writer specializing in health, science, and environmental sustainability.

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Traveling This Summer? Here’s What You Should Know About the Delta Variant.

It’s the most contagious form of the coronavirus so far. Here’s what you need to know before traveling.

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By Concepción de León

With vaccinations on the rise and mortality rates related to Covid-19 going down in Europe and other parts of the world, many people are making plans to travel this summer and beyond. But experts say the quickly circulating Delta variant is a new concern for travelers, particularly those who are unvaccinated.

The European Union said on June 18 that the United States would be added to its “safe list” of countries, a decision that should allow even unvaccinated visitors from the U.S. (who can provide proof of a negative coronavirus test) to enter its 27 member states for nonessential travel. These countries, however, can impose their own restrictions and requirements for entry.

The E.U. decision comes the same week that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention elevated the Delta variant of the coronavirus to a “variant of concern” as it appears to spread more quickly and may affect people more severely than earlier forms of the virus.

If you’re wondering how the variant will affect your travel plans, here is everything you need to know before booking a flight.

Where is the Delta variant spreading?

So far, the variant, first identified in India, has spread to more than 80 countries as of June 16, according to the World Health Organization . In a news conference on June 10, Dr. Hans Kluge, W.H.O.’s regional director for Europe, said that the variant was “poised to take hold” in Europe.

Jennifer Nuzzo, an epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, said this will probably be the case in other countries, as well.

“If you’re out and about this summer, chances that you’re going to encounter the Delta variant, either in the U.S. or in Europe or other parts of the world, are pretty high,” she said.

The Delta variant currently makes up between six and 10 percent of cases in the United States, said Dr. Ashish Jha, the dean of Brown University’s School of Public Health, adding that it will probably will be the dominant strain in the United States by August.

If you are fully vaccinated, particularly with a two-dose vaccine , “don’t worry about the Delta variant,” Dr. Jha said.

Millions of Americans have received either Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines; both are two-dose vaccines. Studies have shown their efficacy drops only slightly when encountering variants .

“People who have been vaccinated still do quite well against this variant,” Dr. Jha said, “but it is one where you need a high degree of immunity to ward off, so you really need to have both of your doses of your vaccine.”

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We asked readers to tell us about the spots that have delighted, inspired and comforted them in a dark year. Here, 52 of the more than 2,000 suggestions we received, to remind us that the world still awaits.

Where can I find vaccination or infection rates for the places I want to travel?

The C.D.C. has a global variant map that shows the countries where different variants have been identified, though it does not list infection rates. It also lists the risk level by country .

Using information from government sources compiled by the Our World in Data project at the University of Oxford, The New York Times has been tracking global vaccinations , showing the percentage of people vaccinated in individual countries.

You may also look online to the national health department websites for the country you are planning to visit to get more specific data.

In Britain, for instance, where the Delta variant is already the most widespread strain, the National Health Service publishes information on the spread of the variant and vaccination rates in the country.

Unequal access to the vaccine across the world has meant that poorer countries are less adequately protected, with cases continuing to rise in parts of South America, Southeast Asia and Africa. According to the W.H.O., 75 percent of vaccine doses have gone to just 10 nations.

Dr. Jha said it’s important to look at not just vaccination rates for the country, but also the vaccine that is being used there. Brazil, Turkey and other countries are relying on one or both of the two main vaccines manufactured by Chinese companies to inoculate their citizens.

“We don’t have data that the Chinese vaccines, for instance, are quite as good in general, and particularly around the Delta variant,” Dr. Jha said.

I’m fully vaccinated. What would it mean if I traveled to a place that had low vaccination numbers?

A recent study by the C.D.C. shows that the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines reduce the risk of infection from any form of the virus by 91 percent for fully vaccinated people. The single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine is about 66 percent effective at preventing infection.

“Is it complete? No,” Dr. Nuzzo said. “But is it pretty darn good to the point that I personally would relax? Yes.”

It’s possible for vaccinated people to still be infected, she said, but the cases of this happening are quite low, and even if they get infected, they are unlikely to become ill. She added that those who have symptoms are more likely to spread the virus, so “if the vaccines did a good job at keeping you without symptoms, the likelihood that you’re going to spread it is quite low.”

If you want to further improve your odds of not getting infected, she recommends continuing to follow safety protocols like wearing a mask, social distancing and avoiding crowded, poorly ventilated indoor spaces.

If you are vaccinated but your immune system is compromised, because of a medical condition or because of certain medications you take, you should heed caution. You may not be fully protected, she said.

What if I’m unvaccinated?

“If you’re an unvaccinated person, that, I think, makes your travel prospects much riskier,” Dr. Nuzzo said. “I really would not advise people traveling in an era of the increasing spread of these, not only more transmissible but possibly more severe, forms of the virus.”

Dr. Jha adds that “the simple answer” for protecting yourself as a traveler is to get vaccinated. This, he said, makes the prospect of encountering the Delta virus much less risky.

“But if you are unvaccinated or with unvaccinated people, then it really does pose a substantial risk,” he said.

He adds that travelers can use other safety measures to protect themselves, like wearing masks or social distancing, “but if you’re going to be vacationing this summer, that’s a less fun way to vacation.”

Dr. Nuzzo suggests thinking about vaccination and safety measures as different layers of protection against the virus. “Each layer adds something,” she said. “Vaccination is the thickest layer of protection against all forms of the virus.”

What about my children?

If your kids are over 12, get them vaccinated, said Dr. Jha. But for children under 12, who cannot yet get vaccinated in the United States, he suggests continuing to follow mask-wearing and social distancing rules. He also said that getting vaccinated yourself can help protect your children.

“The single biggest thing we can do to protect kids under 12 is to make sure everybody around them, all the adults, are vaccinated,” he said. “There’s very good evidence that when adults are vaccinated, kid infection numbers go down.”

He said that he plans to travel with his children this summer, one of whom is too young to be vaccinated.

Dr. Nuzzo, who has two young unvaccinated children, said she will, as well. “We are in a phase where we have to gauge the risks and benefits of everything that we do,” she said. “Everybody’s going to make those calculations differently.”

How is the variant affecting travel restrictions?

When the initial version of the coronavirus swept the globe last spring, much of the world hunkered down, restricting domestic movement, and many countries shut their borders to nonessential travel.

Now, many nations are opening up, but concern remains about the virus, particularly about the Delta variant. Some countries are making specific changes to their entry decisions because of the variant, while others are ordering emergency lockdowns.

On June 18, Italy’s health minister said that the nation would require a mandatory five-day quarantine and testing for people coming from Britain, even if they are vaccinated, over concerns about the Delta variant. It also extended the ban on arrivals from India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

On the same day, Portugal ordered a weekend lockdown for the capital region of Lisbon, as a way to curb a surging number of virus cases. Roughly half of the reported cases stem from the Delta variant .

Rules around testing and requirements to enter another country are evolving and can change quickly from one day to the next. Make sure to check the requirements for your destination country before booking your flight, but also in the days before to you travel make sure you are following the most updated rules.

THE WORLD IS REOPENING. LET’S GO, SAFELY. Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram , Twitter and Facebook . And sign up for our Travel Dispatch newsletter : Each week you’ll receive tips on traveling smarter, stories on hot destinations and access to photos from all over the world.

Concepción de León is a travel reporter based in New York. More about Concepción de León

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Whether it’s a canceled flight, lost baggage or an unexpected medical emergency, these events are not only disruptive, they can also be expensive. Purchasing a travel insurance plan can help mitigate some of the cost when your plans go awry.

According to Squaremouth, a travel insurance comparison site, travelers paid an average of $6,158 for a 16-day trip over the past year. That’s a lot of money on the table if an unexpected occurrence derails your plans.

One option to minimize this loss is purchasing travel insurance, such as coverage from Delta Air Lines’ plan. Here’s what to know about Delta’s trip protection policies.

Delta travel insurance plans

Delta offers international and domestic travel insurance that is administered by Allianz Global Assistance .

Its policies provide you reimbursement for some, or all, of your covered travel purchases and emergency medical expenses in the event of a disruption or delay.

Unlike dedicated travel insurance providers that offer annual or multi-trip plans , Delta’s plan is available for single-trip coverage only. However, you can purchase coverage for multiple individuals, as long as each person is named on the travel insurance plan.

» Learn more: What to know before buying travel insurance

What does Delta travel insurance cover?

Delta’s travel insurance option can be a convenient way to secure travel insurance, and it provides coverage for quite a few common scenarios, such as delayed baggage, trip cancellation and medical expenses.

However, coverage levels for some benefits will vary depending on where you live.

Generally, Delta’s trip protection includes the following:

Trip cancellation and trip interruption. You’ll get the nonrefundable part of your prepaid reservation back if you need to cancel or cut your trip short unexpectedly due to a covered event. Delta’s coverage limits for trip cancellation and trip interruption are based on the limits set for the state you live in.

Emergency medical and dental protection. If you experience an emergency illness or injury while on your trip, Delta travel insurance covers up to $10,000 in medical and dental expenses you incur for a covered occurrence. 

Emergency medical transportation. You might not always be near a hospital or urgent care facility when you are injured. For example, hiking in a remote location may require an emergency helicopter ride to a hospital. In this scenario, Delta’s travel insurance offers an emergency medical transportation benefit of up to $50,000.

Travel delay. Travelers who experience a trip delay of six or more consecutive hours can receive meal and accommodation reimbursements. The maximum coverage limits depend on your state of residence. 

Lost or damaged baggage. If your baggage is lost, damaged or stolen, Delta travel insurance reimburses you up to $500 for your personal items.

Baggage delay. This protection covers you when you need to replace essential items in your baggage because your baggage was delayed for 24 hours or longer. You can submit a reimbursement claim for up to $100 per person.

Change fees. If you need to make changes to your trip itinerary for a covered reason and it results in change fees, Delta trip protection reimburses you for this fee.

Concierge. As a traveler with Delta travel insurance, you’ll receive concierge support to help make your trip less stressful. A concierge associate can help you book restaurant reservations, provide travel recommendations and more. 

24-hour hotline assistance. If you encounter an emergency and need medical, legal or travel assistance during your trip, Delta travel insurance provides around-the-clock access to an associate who can help.

What isn't covered by Delta travel insurance?

A Delta travel insurance plan includes many categories for single-trip coverage; however, certain things that impede your travel might not be covered. Below is a list of what isn't covered under Delta’s trip protection.

Losses due to known, foreseeable and expected events.

Losses due to government restrictions, travel advisories or warnings.

Losses due to personal fear of travel.

Trips canceled due to fear of COVID-19.

Although impacted trips due to COVID-19 generally aren't covered, travelers might receive temporary accommodation under Delta’s Epidemic Coverage Endorsement.

For example, if you or someone in your travel group tests positive or is diagnosed by a physician as having COVID-19, you might be eligible for some benefits, like trip cancellation reimbursement.

» Learn more: Airline travel insurance vs. independent travel insurance: Which is right for you?

Delta international travel insurance cost

Plan rates for Delta trip protection vary based on the details of your trip — such as your destination and the total nonrefundable trip cost for all travelers — as well as your state of residence.

To get an accurate Delta travel insurance cost estimate for your upcoming flight with the carrier, use Delta’s trip protection quote tool online.

Delta also offers a window where you can cancel your trip protection plan and receive a full refund.

You must cancel your plan within 10 to 15 days of purchase (depending on your state). However, cancellations and refunds aren't available beyond this period or if you’ve already departed on your trip.

» Learn more: The best travel insurance companies

Is Delta trip protection worth it?

Ultimately, deciding whether Delta’s trip protection plan makes sense starts by assessing your risk tolerance.

If you purchased a nonrefundable flight ticket, reflect on how your finances would be affected if you had to cancel your trip and were unable to recoup the cost.

Conversely, consider your immediate finances and whether you have the budget to pay for Delta’s travel protection upfront.

On top of factoring in risk tolerance and costs, it’s a good idea to compare Delta’s coverage and limits against other travel insurance companies.

Although two different policies might offer baggage loss coverage, for instance, one might offer a maximum coverage of $500 while another covers up to $3,000. Likewise, emergency medical coverage can run from $10,000 up to $500,000 or more, depending on the policy.

» Learn more: Best credit cards for travel insurance benefits

Delta’s travel protection plan is a type of travel insurance that reimburses you for a portion of your travel expenses if you need to cancel a trip or you experience covered interruptions. It also provides other protections, like reimbursement of emergency medical expenses or lost baggage while traveling.

It can be purchased in conjunction with a Delta flight, either at the time of booking or as an add-on for existing reservations.

Delta travel insurance plans are underwritten by BCS Insurance Company or Jefferson Insurance Company, depending on the state you live in. Allianz Global Assistance is the administrator of the plans.

Yes, if you cancel within an eligible timeframe, you can receive a refund for the Delta travel insurance plan. You have 10 to 15 days after purchasing your plan (depending on your state of residence) to cancel and receive a full refund.

However, if you’ve filed a claim or have already departed on your trip, Delta’s trip protection can’t be canceled and is nonrefundable.

Before purchasing Delta’s trip protection for your next vacation, consider the existing insurance coverage you have elsewhere.

For a domestic trip, your health insurance coverage may extend to other states. You may also receive travel insurance benefits through your credit card, which would be activated if you use that card to pay for your trip.

Although Delta’s travel insurance includes many coverage categories, you could find that its coverage maximum amounts might not be sufficient for your needs.

The peace of mind of having travel insurance can be worth it. However, it’s wise to compare travel insurance policies to find the most coverage possible at a cost that’s reasonable for your budget.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024 , including those best for:

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

on Chase's website

1x-5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

75,000 Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's over $900 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

on Capital One's website

2x-5x Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day. Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options.

75,000 Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.