Do you worry about what it would be like to actually get on a plane and fly somewhere right now? I do. In this post, I interview my own sister who flew from Alabama to Virginia this month for a quick visit. As a fully vaccinated and very experienced traveler, here are her observations and advice for making East Coast Travel During the Pandemic less stressful.
What fears did you have before or during the trip?
I’m not sure I had any fears because I was fully vaccinated. I did wonder about food options during my layovers.
What precautions did you take beforehand?
I brought several masks and some hand sanitizer that I kept in my purse. I also went to the bathroom and washed my hands during each of my layovers.
What was your airline journey like?
I flew on Delta. My original flight was from Birmingham, AL (BHM) to Atlanta, GA (ATL) for a layover, and then on to my final destination at Dulles Airport, VA (IAD). My flight home at the end of the week was the reverse journey.
What day/time did you travel?
I left late morning on a Tuesday when I went up to Virginia and early afternoon on a Friday when I was flying home to Alabama.
Did you feel safe traveling? Why or why not?
Yes, I have flown this route many times and since I knew family would pick me up at the airport upon arrival, I didn’t have to worry about getting an Uber or cab. I wasn’t fearful about East coast travel during the pandemic this time.
Which airline did you fly?
Delta because I am a medallion member on Delta. I think it is one of the best airlines out there so I always try and fly Delta. Also, they are one of the few airlines not filling every seat on the plane.
What did the airline do to make the journey safer for passengers?
Delta was still blocking out the middle seat in our row of 3 people. They also handed out a little wet wipe when you got on the plane so we could wipe down our personal space (seat/tray table) if we felt more comfortable doing it ourselves.
Would you fly that airline again? Why or why not?
Yes, I love Delta. I think they have done an excellent job trying to manage Covid19 and they inform you about all of their precautions.
How did you keep yourself safe in the airport?
I usually don’t like to pay to get into a lounge but this time I did in Atlanta both ways to get out of the concourse which was pretty crowded.
I was able to find a place to sit that wasn’t close to anyone else, and I was able to get decent food both times, so it made up for the $39 I had to pay to get into the Delta Lounge.
At Dulles airport, I used my Priority Pass to get into the Turkish Airlines lounge where I was able to get some bottled water and a sandwich.
What safety precautions did you see in place in the airports?
There were lots of hand sanitizing stations throughout all of the airports, and there were signs everywhere asking people to stay masked and to try and socially distance as much as possible.
Also, hand washing reminder signs were in all the rest rooms.
Which airport did the best job of keeping passengers safe? How?
I’d say Dulles because there were fewer people there and you could stay socially distanced until your flight. This was not possible in Birmingham or Atlanta because there were lots of travelers and smaller gate areas.
What would you do differently next time you fly?
I would have used the credit card that let’s me buy a lounge pass through Lounge Buddy and then reimburses me. (I’d forgotten about that perk!)
Do you have any advice about staying safe around other travelers while waiting for a flight or in the concourse?
I would suggest people continue to bring their own food if they don’t plan to go to a lounge.
In Birmingham and Dulles, many (but not all), the food shops were closed and in Atlanta, while there were more food options, the food court had lots of traffic.
Again, that is why I chose to go into a lounge on my layovers, as I wanted to eat and stay away from the crowds.
What advice/final thoughts would you share with other travelers about flying during the pandemic?
Check out your credit cards before you leave to see if you can get into a lounge for free or through your frequent flyer membership. Pack some food or snacks if you aren’t and pack extra masks in case you lose or drop yours. And finally, enjoy your trip. You’re flying again!
Thanks to my sister for sharing her tips and observations about East Coast Travel During the Pandemic. I do feel a little less fearful about taking a trip after reading about her experience and I hope you do too.
And finally, I am thrilled that the future of travel looks much brighter now. Have you flown yet? Please share your experiences in the comments below.
