Traveling during Corona

What to Expect When Traveling During the Pandemic

7 ways Covid-19 changed the traveling experience — but not how you’d expect

I remember like it was yesterday when the WHO declared Covid-19 as a pandemic. I was at my office in Berlin, contemplating whether it was safe to fly to my next meeting or not. Sure enough, the official order from my company followed shortly after the announcement. “All non-essential trips must be canceled. Please use online platforms for your meetings.”

This order felt like a punch to the stomach. Traveling was not only my favorite part of my job, but also my pass-time. Between business trips and private weekend retreats, I was flying at least once a week. Not to mention that my family lives in a different country, which made this travel ban even more harrowing to me.

In the weeks following that announcement, almost all travel came to a halt. Borders were closing, the cases were rising, and an uneasy feeling was growing in my belly…

Is this the end of traveling as we know it?

I was naïve enough to think it would all soon be over. I was checking the news every day, hoping to see a positive sign. But the days became weeks, the weeks became months, and the traveling industry remained in a virtual standstill.

Until one beautiful day, when the summer was about to begin, they announced they are lifting the travel ban. I was over the moon. I was tired of being “grounded”. I wanted to travel again.

But a voice at the back of my head was ruining my excitement. Is it safe to fly?

For many months, they bombarded us with safety instructions.

“Maintain 2-meter distance at all times”

“Avoid large crowds”

“Only a small number of people are allowed inside at the same time”

But we could not apply these when traveling. Or could we?

I imagined the airlines would leave empty seats between passengers, or fly nearly empty flights. It would be financially catastrophic for them, but how else could they uphold the safety instructions?

All my questions were about to be answered on my first flight back home to my family.

Traveling by plane: Corona Edition

“Everything has changed, but nothing has changed.” ― Mark Hamill

On the day of my flight, I felt like I was meeting an old lover. I had butterflies in my stomach from excitement. Going through the airport’s entrance was like going back home. It was all familiar. But at the same time, it was all different.

So what should you expect?

1. Masks are mandatory at all times

This came as no surprise. It has become the norm by now to wear masks everywhere, and I was prepared to wear mine for the better part of the day. Yes, they are uncomfortable, sometimes it feels like you can’t breathe, but they offer an extra layer of protection against the virus.

It’s not a lot, but if it meant I can go back to traveling and get some of my old life back, I was willing to pay that price. I would patiently wait for the moment I can get out, remove my mask, and draw a deep breath full of “fresh air” and kerosene.

2. Near-empty terminals

Even with the travel ban lifted, the number of flights was only a small fraction of what it used to be. Walking through the airport to get to the gate felt like being in a post-apocalyptic movie. There is an eerie feeling in the air, like something is off.

I went through the security check without having to queue. There’s an upside to everything! But walking towards the gate, more unsettling scenes greeted me.

Almost all the stores were closed. Only the duty-free shop was open, but it was, like everything else, deserted. Most of the restaurants were also closed and the open ones had sealed off their sitting area. “Pickup Only”, the signs read.

The gate was also near-empty. Only a handful of flights were scheduled that day, instead of dozens. Most gates were closed off completely, and through the windows, you could see only some scattered aircraft.

3. Empty buses

If you fly often, chances are you’ve used the airport’s buses. You know, the ones that take you to your aircraft when it’s parked away from the gate.

These buses used to be packed. Airport staff would try to fit in them as many passengers as possible, and who can blame them? Efficiency is more important than comfort.

But now, they ensured only a handful of passengers would ride in them at once. It made the boarding process last much longer, but at least you could ride the bus without being hugged by strangers.

4. Disinfection wipes and no in-flight magazines

Many airlines used to offer chocolates or other small treats when welcoming you onboard. This time, the air hostess was offering disinfection wipes. It was a pleasant surprise, and to be honest, I wish that would be the norm. Airplanes have arguably the dirtiest surfaces, so having something to wipe my tray and armrest down felt nice.

What I noticed immediately after taking my seat was the lack of magazines. Every airline used to offer complimentary magazines, but since they cannot be disinfected, they had to be removed. Better bring your own magazine or book onboard, to avoid boredom.

5. Full flight, different rules

The flight was, to my surprise, fully booked. There was no distancing, no empty seats. Almost all safety measures went out the window.

When money talks, corona walks. Airlines cannot afford to lose any more revenue, so they fly at full capacity to maximize their profit. Regardless if that’s safe or not.

To avoid further infection, in case someone is sick, the crew advised against moving around the cabin and to remain seated at all times.

If someone had to use the toilet, there was a separate instruction to avoid queueing. Passengers should get up only if the restroom is free and if the person using it before has returned to their seat.

6. No in-flight snacks

Equally surprisingly, there was in-flight service. One would expect no drinks or food would be offered so that no one would remove their masks, but that was not the case.

Again with revenue in mind, the airlines continue offering beverages during the flight. Yet, they no-longer offer any food, unless already ordered when booking the ticket.

7. Leaving the plane in an orderly fashion

Before Corona, touching down was a signal for many to compete on who can exit the airplane faster. Passengers from all rows would get up simultaneously, trying to get their bags from the overhead bins and causing a traffic jam in the aisle.

But now, the crew instructed us to remain seated and they would call out each row, to exit in an orderly fashion, without queuing. I did not expect people to obey, but life is full of surprises.

Almost all passengers stayed put and waited for their turn to get up and leave. It was admittedly the most organized disembarking I’ve ever experienced.

Conclusion

Traveling during a pandemic has a lot of risks. Regardless of the measures taken, it only takes one sick person on board to infect the entire cabin.

But we might have to learn to live and travel with that risk. With no cure in sight, we cannot put everything on hold. Life does not stop, and sometimes traveling cannot be avoided.

Knowing what to expect, you can be prepared. Carry your own snacks and drinks, plenty of disinfectant wipes, and clean your hands and all surfaces regularly.

One last piece of advice for you. Be prepared for your flight to be rescheduled and/or canceled, maybe more than once. In my case, the first flight I booked got rescheduled on one day and canceled altogether two days later. The second one was just canceled without explanation. In my third attempt, I managed to fly without issues.

Our world is transforming with every new update. We must learn to adapt to the circumstances. Stay informed, stay safe, and Godspeed!