Brexit & Travel: What You Need to Know Now

To say that Brexit has been a staple in the news lately would be an understatement. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson had originally pledged the UK would leave the European Union (EU) with or without a Brexit deal by October 31st, but that no longer appears to be the case. Earlier this month, Parliament voted to delay Brexit and Johnson was required to request an extension of EU membership through January 31, 2020. Last Tuesday, Parliament voted in favor of a Brexit deal in principle, but did not accept Johnson’s timetable, saying they needed more time to study it. On Friday, EU ambassadors also agreed to delay Brexit, and on Monday, they announced an extension of Britain’s EU membership until January 31, 2020. However, EU Council President Donald Tusk noted this extension is actually a "‘flextension’ - meaning the UK could leave before the deadline if a deal was approved by Parliament.” Meanwhile, Johnson had given UK lawmakers an ultimatum to "get Brexit done" by November 6th, or he would call for a general election in December. While Johnson’s initial proposal for a December 12 election was rejected, on Tuesday, he won backing to hold the general election. Possible outcomes for the election range from an implementation of the deal Johnson already negotiated with the EU, to another referendum, to a no-deal Brexit and to a cancellation of Brexit altogether.

Should Brexit go into effect, there are a number of issues at stake, many of which have been addressed in Operation Yellowhammer, an internal report released in September that outlines a series of “reasonable worst case assumptions” of a no-deal Brexit.

As CEO of Ovation Travel Group, it’s my business to monitor travel news and developments. While there are a lot more questions than there are answers, we can pinpoint issues that may impact travel. Possible industry-level impacts include concerns over air traffic rights, rail operations and other supplier impacts that could cause congestion, confusion and potentially cancellations. Below is a list of important information and considerations that we believe travelers and corporate travel managers should be aware of, in the event of Brexit.

Travel Considerations, in the Event of Brexit:

Open Skies Agreement. For travel to and from the US and the UK, there have been questions about Open Skies agreements. Signed in 2007, the US and the EU have an agreement that allows any airline in the US to fly anywhere in the EU, and vice versa. It’s true that when the UK does break from the EU, they will have to negotiate a separate Open Skies agreement with the US, and that process could be a bit messy. However, the European Commission has extended legislation to allow UK-EU flights to keep operating unaffected until at least October 24, 2020. Moreover, it’s important to remember it’s in everyone’s best interests for that process to be as seamless as possible for travelers, and there’s no reason for anyone to worry at this time.

Increased Time with Security Processes. Whether you are traveling by air, land or sea, security and border control checks surrounding UK travel will increase; no matter what country you are from, you should expect and allow for a little extra time at these checkpoints. Even if your EU membership status is not personally changed by Brexit, the UK has a current population of roughly 67 million, and that means potential for a lot of confusion and delay as people adjust to different security checks and documentation than previously needed.

Passports. In the event of a no-deal Brexit, the UK becomes a ‘third country,’ and citizens that want to visit the EU will need a passport. The UK government states that passports need to “have at least 6 months left” and “be less than 10 years old (even if it has 6 months left).” Additionally, it provides an online tool for individuals to use to determine if their passport is valid to visit particular countries.

Medication. Whenever you travel, it’s a good idea to have some basic over-the-counter medications, in addition to any prescriptions you may have. If you’re starting to feel sick, no one wants to go wandering out looking for a pharmacy, but more than that, it isn’t always easy to get what you may need. This may be true in terms of Brexit, as Operation Yellowhammer warns that supply chains for many medicines and medical products are “particularly vulnerable to severe extended delays,” and also notes that it is not possible to stockpile many medicines. For recommendations from the Department of State on traveling with prescriptions, click here.

International Driving Permit (IDP). US citizens already need an IDP to drive in many countries in the EU, and UK citizens may soon need one as well. In addition to an application fee, UK citizens will need the following to apply: “your full valid UK photo-card driving licence, a passport standard photograph […] and your valid passport as proof of identification if presenting an older paper version licence.” IDPs are currently required or recommended for over 140 countries; for more information on IDPs and how to get one, click here.

Duty Free. In the event of a no-deal Brexit, the UK government announced it would reintroduce duty-free shopping, including alcohol and tobacco, for passengers traveling to and from the EU. The Irish government announced it would do the same, additionally noting that includes availability for “passengers flying to the UK from Irish airports.”

Ultimately, we don’t know the full implications of Brexit yet, nor even if and when it will happen. As things have been changing at a rapid pace, the UK government’s informational page is the best place for official, up-to-date information and general advice on how to prepare for Brexit.