JetBlue and CommonPass Begin Launch of Digital Health Pass at BOS
Partner companies provide COVID-19 testing at home or at the airport, starting with travelers to Aruba
March 19, 2021
JetBlue and The Commons Project Foundation are partnering with the government of Aruba along with COVID testing companies Vault and XpresCheck to use of the CommonPass platform for JetBlue customers traveling from Boston’s Logan International Airport to Aruba’s Queen Beatrix International Airport. The system will allow travelers to enter the nation using the CommonPass digital health pass. The platform enables safer travel and easy entry as travelers can simply scan their passports to verify that they meet entry requirements into Aruba.
The first flight for eligible customers landed Tuesday in Aruba and now will continue for all JetBlue flights from Boston to the island destination. Moving forward, the airline plans to expand the use of CommonPass for customers traveling to Aruba from cities throughout JetBlue’s network.
Aruba requires that arriving passengers test negative for COVID-19 either within 72 hours of or upon arrival. Boston customers who utilize JetBlue’s testing partners, Vault for supervised at-home PCR tests or XpresCheck for in-person testing, are now able to streamline the arrival process in Aruba by downloading the CommonPass app in advance of their flight. Upon arrival, CommonPass users will have access to dedicated CommonPass immigration lanes to start their vacation sooner. More testing facilities are expected to be added to the CommonPass platform in the coming weeks and months.
The CommonPass platform lets individuals collect their lab results and vaccination records from health data sources in the CommonTrust Network and demonstrate in preserving that those records satisfy the health screening requirements of their destinations. CommonPass is being deployed with leading global airlines, while Aruba becomes the first government to adopt the platform to streamline entry into the nation. CommonPass leverages the open, interoperable SMART Health Cards standard being developed under the Vaccination Credential Initiative and is being adopted across the US healthcare ecosystem.
Other popular warm destinations easily accessible from the U.S. East Coast include Bermuda, a quick two-hour flight from the U.S. East Coast. The destination is using OpenClear to manage Covid clearances. For those who want to dip into the warm climes and clean beaches of the close-by British colony, currently the oldest in the Commonwealth, a few safety precautions are required first:
• You must complete the Bermuda Travel Authorization process online, which costs $75 and includes all COVID-19 testing in Bermuda.
• You must also take a PCR COVID-19 test and obtain a negative result no more than five days before arrival. Test results must be entered as part of the Travel Authorization process above and must be presented upon arrival in Bermuda. You can use your preferred testing method, but travelers from New York are also able to get a test through OpenClear’s Midtown Manhattan location by appointment only.
• Upon arrival, you will undergo another COVID-19 test at the airport. You will need to quarantine in your accommodation until results are ready (turnaround time is approximately 24 hours). During the self-quarantine period, guests are encouraged to enjoy unlimited in-room movies, and “no-touch” in-room dining may be ordered.
• You must perform twice daily temperature checks and report via the Travel Authorization Form portal.
• Most travelers returning to the United States will have their outbound testing requirements met within the existing testing regime. Any visitor in need of an outbound test not covered by the existing testing program, is automatically booked for a return home test. These will be matched with the 72-hour requirement for test results on the way out.
Immunized passengers have an easier path to their Bermuda vacation plans. The protocol is slightly similar to non-vaccinated travel regulations in that proof of a negative test is still required on pre-arrival and travelers must receive a test upon arrival, and on days 4, 8 and 14 of their trip. Some key differences remain: immunized travelers do not need to wear a traveler wristband; once they have negative arrival results no quarantine is necessary and the 14-day travel restrictions do not apply once they receive a negative test on day 4. Additionally, immunized business travelers are able to have face-to-face meetings if they have a negative arrival test.
For those interested in heading to Bermuda whether immunized or not, some warm weather treats await.
Rosewood Bermuda
As activities have been limited over the past year due to social-distancing guidelines, golf has seen an unprecedented surge in popularity. According to the National Golf Foundation, play in 2020 was up 13.9 percent over 2019 with 500 million total rounds – the first time the sport has seen such interest since 1997, when Tiger Woods became a sensation.
For golfers craving a warm-weather getaway, the luxury beach resort, Rosewood Bermuda, has launched “Tee Time, Me Time” as a straight shot for golf newbies and experienced players alike.
Golfers will have unlimited access to the acclaimed Tucker’s Point Golf Course, which features 200 acres of rolling hillsides with views of the turquoise ocean. The Tucker’s Point Golf Club also includes a practice facility, full-service locker rooms with complimentary day lockers, a Golf Pro Shop and the Sul Verde restaurant.
Package Inclusions:
Luxurious Oceanview Accommodations
Daily Breakfast for two at Island Brasserie
Unlimited Golf for two at Tucker’s Point Golf Club
Unlimited Access to Cliff Drysdale Tennis Center
One Sports Massage at Sense® Spa
A choice of Gin, Rum, or Tequila Tasting, once during stay
Roundtrip Airport Transfers
If booked before March 31, 2021:- A nightly $100 USD hotel credit valid towards hotel services including tennis, golf, spa and dining experiences
– Nightly credits included for stays from now through December 31, 2021.