No vaccination, no Fly: Airlines started implementing DOTr’s "no vax, no ride" policy

Starting yesterday, only those who are fully vaccinated are allowed to board local airlines including PAL, Cebu Pacific, and AirAsia.

File photo: Philippine Airlines

Setting new guidelines to promote safe travel

With the "No vaccination, No Fly" directive from the  Department of Transportation (DOTr) Order-2022-001, Unvaccinated people wanting to travel to and from Metro Manila will be barred from taking domestic flights. Allegedly, this is valid as long as Metro Manila remains under Alert Level 3 or higher. 

Meanwhile,  the airlines are considering travelers as fully vaccinated if at least two weeks have elapsed after their second dose of a two-dose COVID vaccine, or single-dose COVID vaccine.

Before onboarding the aircraft, tourists must present first their physical or digital copies of vaccine card issued by local government units or a vaccine certification issued by the Department of Health along with a valid government ID or any document prescribed by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF).

The only exemption from the rule are individuals who have medical conditions that that vaccination could compromise. It also includes those traveling to procure essential goods like medicine, medical devices, medical and dental necessities. 

On the other hand, they must show relevant documents including medical certificates indicating physicians' numbers, for those with medical conditions. As for those who are required to do errands for essential goods, they must have a duly-issued barangay health pass or other pertinent proof to justify such travel.

According to the rules by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, they will also be required to present negative RT-PCR test results taken within the last 48 hours before entry into the departure terminal.

Both PAL and Cebu Pacific announced that they would not accept unvaccinated children for boarding on domestic flights to and from Manila for the meantime unless the trip is for urgent medical reasons.

Moreover, AirAsia Philippines and PAL are encouraging their guests to check their flight status. If the new order prevents guests from traveling, PAL explained that they may also opt to convert their tickets to travel credits, rebook or reroute, or ask for a refund. The airline company added,

We seek your kind understanding, as we are required to comply with government directives for the safety of all travelers and our communities.

For those who wish to postpone their plans to travel voluntarily, they may cancel up to 2 hours before the scheduled time of departure. They can choose their next option via the airline's Manage Booking portal.

Sources: Philippine Star, CNN