1. Lots of Qs recently with re to air travel, w opinions ranging from "close everything" to "open everything". I was recently forced to travel extensively internationally for an unavoidable reason; & I can say that the answer lies somewhere in the middle! A thread from an ID doc

2. A friend drove me to Minneapolis airport, where I saw
Density: in total, about 50 people max. Weird and deserted!
Masking: 80-90%
Masking technique: approx 70%
Social distancing: excellent
Hand sanitizer availability: fair

3. Southwest did an excellent job! Only 10 person at a time boarding, no boarding without masking, socially distanced! Minimal in flight service

4. I then had a 3 hour transit in Denver, where I saw
Density: Full of people! Very busy (hence scary with re to social distancing)
Masking: 60-70%
Masking technique: approx 40%
Social distancing: dense
Hand sanitizer availability: fair

5. I then landed in San Fran, where I saw
Density: Close to empty, maybe 200 people, all restaurants closed
Masking: >90%
Masking technique: approx 80%
Social distancing: excellent, with those distancing squares drawn
Hand sanitizer availability: good

6. I then had to take an Uber for my overnight lodging hotel, the most claustrophobic Uber ride ever! However, had hand sanitizer available, with no contact with driver!

7. At the hotel, had hand sanitizer available, everyone was masked, no menus or coffee in the room to avoid touch contact. Contactless food delivery. Overall, good!

8. Had a direct 18ish hour flight from San Fran to New Delhi. Air India flight, where I saw
Density: Full of people (scary)
Masking: 100%
Masking technique: approx 90%
Social distancing: hard to do ¯\\_(ツ)_/¯¯\\_(ツ)_/¯ (no seat gap)
BONUS Face Shield approx 60-70%

9. Having said that, passengers were asked to fill out detailed forms for health declaration, with temp checks as well. These forms would be used to enforce government mandated 14 day quarantine on landing in India.

10. Landed in New Delhi, quite exhausted at this point, owing to the anxiety of travel and the various other multiple steps that one has to follow now, which would otherwise not be the case. This was followed by a 19 hour drive to my final destination of quarantining.

11. At completion of government mandated 14 day quarantine. This was enforced via an App where I would have to send a selfie (yes, SELFIE) to the local government with symptom check twice a day, followed by a COVID swab at the end of quarantine!

12. In India I saw
Density: Full of people (obviously)
Masking: almost 100%
Masking technique: approx 70% ¯\\_(ツ)_/¯¯
Social distancing: hard to do ¯\\_(ツ)_/¯¯\\_(ツ)_/¯

13. In the days after quarantine, I was able to complete the work I had traveled for and took a flight back to New Delhi, in the flight I saw
Masking mandated: 100%
Masking technique: approx 90%
Social distancing: GAP BETWEEN SEATS!!!
Mandatory face shield!

14. Checked in to another hotel in New Delhi, for flight back to the US tomorrow. Contactless check in, health release form, declaration of symptoms if any and negative COVID swab report needed!

15.
Lessons learnt:
- Be kind
- Be patient
- Be logical
- Follow the science (& rules)
- Be nice to those in the service industry. They are literally, risking their health to help YOU!!
- Travel is possible
- Need more hand sanitizers
- Need more easy testing for businesses!

16. I was anxious about this and would recommend avoiding travel if possible, especially in hot zones. However, if one NEEDS to do it, one can, if one is just logical. However, your safety lays also in the hands of your fellow world citizens and vice versa!!

PS: first meal on reaching destination in India almost wiped away the exhaustion

“The last meal”
Order food via QR code scanner, no menu in hotel room to avoid contact/touch. Food delivered outside room, no contact. I went big with my order, coz what the hell! It’s my last meal in India