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A (long!) thread about travel in the time of Covid-19:
5 airports, 3 airlines, 2 days. From Bucharest to Washington DC.
Note: the decision to travel was not taken lightly. Not a fun experience and I do not encourage anyone to travel at this time. Currently self-isolating.
5 airports, 3 airlines, 2 days. From Bucharest to Washington DC.
Note: the decision to travel was not taken lightly. Not a fun experience and I do not encourage anyone to travel at this time. Currently self-isolating.
Traveled on the 4th flight I booked. So many cancellations. Last booking made on morning of travel. All refunds in vouchers - I have flights for the next year paid 
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🙄" title="Face with rolling eyes" aria-label="Emoji: Face with rolling eyes"> Of course extremely privileged to be able to afford so many purchases - most people wont be able to!
For anything other than travel to and from main travel hubs - dont expect any simple flight options. Looking at flights by shortest duration is a waste of time, expect much longer trips with multiple connections.
Airport websites are more reliable to see if specific daily flights are being operated (arrival & departure records). Airlines of course exposed to gov. regulations and travel bans, but in short there are lots of flights being sold that are highly unlikely to fly
Each airport requirements different, airlines only consistent around mask wearing. Temperature checked twice during the trip. People were generally compliant with instructions, airline front line staff amazing and extremely accommodating.
Bucharest Airport has a triage tent setup outside, limiting access into terminal building (travelers only). Recommended arrival 3 hours before departure, temp screening before you move to check in
In Bucharest airport only 1 meter distancing, continuous announcements to stay away from other people
Stockholm - 2 meter distancing. Eerie silence, emptiest airport of the lot
Little side note here - I was waiting at the gate with no plane in sight. This was airport nr. 3 and I really needed this flight to make my final connection. I was getting desperate - so wondered if I could maybe walk to Frankfurt. Never been so happy to see a plane!
Frankfurt - 1.5 meter distance
Just a pic out a plane window - for those missing flying!
And some airline food (confession - I LOVE AIRPLANE FOOD). Weird, I know....
Arrival in DC was smooth, system for screening and recording contact details and address in place. 6 feet distancing
Seating:
1. Low cost - med. plane, middle seats open, but seems if 2 people travel together then 2+1 in row
2. Tiny plane (2 seats either side of aisle) - FULL (guy next to me coughed 3 times)
3. Long Haul - large plane, middle seats empty, 1 person in 2 window seats
1. Low cost - med. plane, middle seats open, but seems if 2 people travel together then 2+1 in row
2. Tiny plane (2 seats either side of aisle) - FULL (guy next to me coughed 3 times)
3. Long Haul - large plane, middle seats empty, 1 person in 2 window seats
Airline staff wipe down toilet doors and handles regularly on all flights. Handed a tiny alcohol wipe on 2 flights (supplemented with my own hand sanitizer & wipes). One fellow passenger handed out wipes and we all got to work to wipe down entire cabin around us
Duty free (the oceans of perfume, chocolate and alcohol they force you to walk through) open in all airports, most restaurants & other shops closed. Few meals to go sold, lots of vending machines. Sit down dinner in Stockholm - every 2nd table blocked off, well ventilated space
Some final thoughts - my view is that what used to be a very simple activity (air travel) is now a logistical nightmare. You need a lot of money, a lot of patience, flexibility and ability to make snap decisions on flights and routes, also keeping in mind paperwork and visas
I will definitely not travel soon for anything but the most unavoidable super serious reasons. Some decisions made on this trip was out of desperation - that eventually got me here. Without that driving element, not giving up on finding a route, I would not have traveled
And yes, I wore a mask ALL the time and I washed and disinfected myself and every item I carried on my arrival home. This ultimately is what it was about - coming home to my person #emptyairports
