Flying now…what you NEED to know!
I recently flew with my family and had a great experience, but I know this is not the case for everyone. It depends on the airline, airport, AND your expectations.
First off, you should know a few things…
Masks are required on ALL public transportation & airports.
You must still wear a mask even if you’ve gotten the COVID vaccine or you’ve had a recent negative test.
You can bring up to a 12oz container of hand sanitizer in your carry on.
Social distancing is expected in airports.
When I traveled in October, I found that a lot of airport restaurants were closed so this time I brought lots of snacks with us. I was pleasantly surprised to see that most places were open.
Of course, this will vary by airport. {Of the 4 airports we were in MSP had the most closed.} Now snacks on the plane is another thing.
There is no traditional beverage/snack service right now {with the cart} but on all my Delta flights {now and in October} I was offered a snack pack.
The snack pack included a bottle of water, a few bags of snacks, a napkin, and a single-use package of hand sanitizer. On the longer flights, the flight attendants came around and offered more snack packs.
This is one of the many areas Delta Airlines is doing things right. But this may not be the case on all airlines. {hang tight…I’ll circle back around to this in a minute!}
Some of the other reasons I will continue to fly with Delta…
Boarding from the back of the plane to the front for main cabin.
Sanitizing wipes being handed out on the plane.
Middle or aisle seats blocked to promote social distancing.
Lots of signage at the airports about what Delta is doing to keep you safe.
Now, circling back around {as promised}. My flight involved Delta, so I reached out to some other travelers to hear about their recent experiences…
Shanna, of Shanna Carter Photography, shared that on her American flights, masks were enforced at all times. No snacks were offered but drinks were available upon request. She did receive sanitizing wipes as she boarded the plane.
Cyrissa, founder of Sparkle Society, also flew American and was not pleased. Her flights were full, often overbooked. They boarded in zones, rather than front to back. Snacks were not offered and sometimes water was not available, even upon request. She said, “After hearing how other airlines have handled their pandemic protocols I was very disappointed at how American Airlines has handled this and will be taking my business elsewhere in the future.”
Katrina, a frequent flyer this year, felt that United was the best. While flights were often full, she would receive a message notifying her of this. She could then reschedule if she felt uncomfortable with the seating situation. Sanitizing wipes, snack packs, and water were offered on her flights.
Overall, my family and I felt comfortable flying and will continue to do so. But, of course, we are all going to have different experiences. That’s why it’s important to read what your airline is doing to help keep you safe. {You know, all those annoying emails you get from them…}
And make sure you check out these tips before you travel!
Screenshot your boarding pass {this isn’t a COVID thing but just makes boarding easier}.
Bring snacks & grab a beverage before boarding your flight.
Pack your own sanitizing wipes, if this is a concern for you.
All of the rules might not make sense but you still need to follow them anyway. {example form my travel-social distancing at the gate but not on the shuttle buss to the terminal}
Make sure you know the travel requirements for your destination AND your home state.
If you need or want a COVID test, check your airport website. They might offer onsite testing.
If you’re feeling pretty anxious about flying, you might not be ready to travel. And that’s ok.
I’d love to hear about your recent experiences with air travel! Drop a comment in the box below.
Happy Travels!
~ Heather
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