Many months into the pandemic and with the holidays coming up, I can imagine that more and more people will be booking flights to visit friends and family. Flying can come with extra anxiety due to the unknowns of how airports and airlines might be handling things. I flew to Colorado a couple months ago and wanted to share what I experienced. Of course, all of these things may vary slightly based on the airport and airline, so be sure to check their regulations before you fly to be prepared.
What to Bring
As always, make sure to bring a mask and hand sanitizer, and potentially gloves. Make sure your mask is comfortable to wear as you will be sitting on the airplane with it on the whole time (except for when eating- more on that later). Additionally, it's a good idea to check-in before you go to the airport, especially if you aren't checking a bag. You can then download an e-ticket and avoid contact with the check-in staff or kiosk. I'd also recommend bringing extra snacks in case the airport has limited dining options, and if the flight's dining is altered.
Social Distancing
The airports were much more empty than usual. This made it pretty easy to find a place to sit with 6 feet of distance between people. However, on the flights there were no changes to the seating arrangements, so there really is no social distancing happening there. I believe the airlines are taking additional steps to filter the air on the plane, but make sure to consider this before you fly. If you have been feeling sick, exposed to someone who had COVID-19, or are considered at-risk, you should consider other options based on CDC guidelines.
Eating
As I mentioned, dining options were altered in my experience. While eating or drinking was the only time you could remove your mask in the airport or on the flight. The small local airport I flew from didn't have any hot food available, only grab and go snacks. The larger airports still had their regular dining options.
Additionally, the flight that would usually include a meal did not offer one, and instead just provided a small bottle of water and some cookies. I would highly recommend you come prepared with something to eat if you'll be in the air for a while, and make sure to pick up a drink in the airport or fill up a water bottle. You should be able to find out information particular to your flight on the airline's website.
Travel Restrictions
Each state now has their own regulations for travel due to COVID-19, so you should make sure to check these before you go. For example, to fly into New York, everyone on my flight was required to complete a travel form. If you were coming from a state with a high rate of COVID-19, contact tracers kept in touch with you for 2 weeks upon return back home to check-in about any symptoms you might have. The state also offered resources for grocery shopping help and COVID testing so you could quarantine for those 2 weeks. This is just what I experienced in NY, so definitely check on your state's requirements and those of the state you plan to travel to.
These are some of the things I experienced while flying during the pandemic. I would definitely recommend to limit travel as much as possible, and if you do go, make sure you're prepared. Overall the experience felt pretty much the same as before, with a few additional things to be mindful of. If you have any questions I'd be happy to answer them in the comments! Please stay safe and healthy this holiday season.
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