Americans love to travel, but with COVID-19, flying by air has made many of us nervous.

But experts say it is not just the safety on board we should question: We need to assess the risks of airports themselves. Even with travel restrictions lifted in many areas, there are definitely pros and cons to consider before hitting the once-friendly skies.

And because of inconsistent policies nationwide, you will have to do some research yourself. 

According to Travel + Leisure, the cleaning procedures aboard airplanes have been amped to include disinfecting planes between flights. Some airlines have installed HEPA filters to completely refresh the air onboard and filter out 99% of airborne pathogens.

United, Jet Blue, Delta, and Southwest use electrostatic antimicrobial sprays to sanitize every cabin surface. While many airlines provide disinfectant wipes and hand sanitizers, experts told Travel + Leisure it is wise to bring your own.

According to Forbes, we should also consider how risky the airports are before booking a flight. The first question to consider is if the airport is in a COVID-19 hotspot. Fortunately, Harvard Global Health Institute's risk assessment tool has a color-coded dashboard of the areas hit hardest by the coronavirus that can help answer that question.

A second consideration, according to Forbes, is when was the last time a TSA officer tested positive for COIVID-19 in that airport. Over 1,000 employees at the Transportation Security Administration have tested positive for the coronavirus and six have died, according to The Washington Post. The TSA posts daily updates on COVID-19 data so you can verify the recent deaths of their officers.

Thirdly, it is important to know if the airports in question mandate the wearing of masks. While the Airports Council International has been asking for a federal mask mandate for all its commercial airports, it has not been done. It is up to the traveler to find out which airports require facial coverings. According to Forbes, you can check their policies online.