Before you travel: what it’s like to be in an airport during a pandemic

Even with most cities entering phases of reopening during COVID-19, the airport is still near the top of the list of places to avoid (like the plague) right now. And here I was presented with the only reason I could imagine to travel. I broke my own social isolation measures to travel to Bowling Green, Kentucky to be with the eight other family members allowed to gather and say goodbye to my forever-loved grandmother.

In a word. STRESSFUL. I’ve been on the more conservative (err, maybe extreme side) of social distancing for three months now, and proud of it. I haven’t seen the inside of a CVS or Whole Foods in months. I dodge people left and right, hopping into the street and sometimes into oncoming traffic to maintain at LEAST six feet of distance while jogging through my neighborhood. I have enough PPE to support the whole block thanks to constant AmazonPrime orders and UberEats deliveries that will allow me to tack on a stack of gloves or wipes with every order. Coming out of my cocoon, this felt like being dropped in the middle of a jungle without a way to get back to safety. 

My Airport Experience

From the moment I walked into Terminal A in Dulles International Airport, I was acutely aware of everything and everyone around me, on guard when I’m usually oblivious to the ordinary actions of fellow travelers.

The airport was empty. I must’ve seen a couple dozen people in the airport at any given time. This was comforting at first, until I realized there’s just one small shuttle to transfer everyone into the United terminal…no way to keep six feet away from travelers on-board. Oddly, while I was trying to tuck myself into a corner, I realized that I was the only person trying to keep away from others. Hmmm, are you guys watching the news? I was shocked that so many people voluntarily took seats NEXT to strangers while I remained in the position that was farthest away from everyone else…yet still not far enough.

The shuttle ride to my gate was the only time I couldn’t safely distance from other travelers, so woosah, that was over. But while boarding my plane, my own paranoia seeped in along with an intense, rapid fire stream of internal dialogue:  did I touch my face…girl, please don’t touch your face…oh man this mask is getting hot…my glasses are fogging up…when do I need to take off my gloves again….why am I the only one wearing gloves…..don’t touch your face, but oh man my nose itches ugh….ok, I wiped the whole seat down, cool…..oh wait, did I forget to wipe the buckle…I think I did…ok, don’t touch your face, wipe everything again….wipes, antibacterial gel, antibacterial spray, repeat…ok, I think I’m ok….wooo lordy this is stressful, I need a drink…so smart for packing mini bottles of wine with me so I don’t have to order anything….wait don’t drink, stay alert….meh whatever, it I need a drink. Wooosah. SO.MANY.THOUGHTS. And all of this for an 80 min flight.

It’s been weeks since the flight, so I can confidently say that I didn’t catch the virus, hallelujah! Here are some quick tips I’d offer to any soon-to-be travelers by air:

• Wear glasses: In the airport and on the plane, cover your eyes with glasses or sunglasses, as well as your face. If you don’t wear eyeglasses, this is the time to get brand new and act “Hollywood” with wearing sunglasses indoors. I felt more comfortable having shields over my eyes, rather than just my face with a mask on.

• Wipe it down: Bring plenty of wipes so you don’t have to depend on the flight attendant’s singular square of wipe to sanitize your whole seating area. They too are running out of supplies.

• Book a window seat: The window seats near the front of the plane are the best to limit contact with travelers passing through the cabin.

• But stay flexible: Even when you select your ideal in-flight window seat, be prepared to be moved by the flight attendant to a different aisle. They are trying to follow physical distancing guidelines for all travelers and themselves, so just be prepared to clean any area and protect yourself with a face mask, gloves, wipes and antibacterial gel no matter where you sit.

• Be friendly: My return flight quickly ran low on antibacterial wipes and was never fully stocked with snacks or beverages. As I started to run low on extra wipes (by using too many during my travels), a guardian angel flight attendant brought me a stash of wipes to last me until I was safely home, the few snacks they were allowed to have on the plane and more than my fair share of mini bottles of wine to make my trip more relaxing (even though I had my own). They are worried about their own safety while doing their jobs every day. It pays to be nice and thank them for being there while boarding.

If I had a choice to fly or not, I probably would’ve waited until there were clearer signs that I could safely travel by air again. I was mentally exhausted from trying to remember all of the steps to keep safe, and I was all too unnerved by what it could mean if I slipped up somewhere along my journey. BUT as I found myself in the airport for a reason, I know others will have reasons to travel as well, and with good safety and care, you can be okay.