What It's Like Flying During the Pandemic
This past weekend I got on my first flight since March. I expected it to be an experience that was completely different than what traveling looked like pre-pandemic, but in reality it felt quite normal which is something that I feel like is good and bad. It felt good because it was something that felt so normal and I found some comfort in that. At the same time, I think it goes without explanation how that sense of business as usual can be worrisome.
For work, I generally fly out of O’hare airport which was the case this time. I noticed small changes from the parking garage shuttle and through the flight so I figured I’d give my full run down about this first experience flying again!
Parking and airport transportation
When I fly from O’hare, I park in the parking garage that is within the rental car facility. From the garage there are buses to get to the terminals. The front half of the bus was blocked off so that the driver was more isolated. Other than that, the back of the bus was about normal, all seats and standing room available.
O’hare Airport
When I arrived at my terminal the first difference I noticed was that the baggage claim area where I entered was almost a ghost town. Security was also almost eerily quiet, so much so that every security line was listed as a zero minute wait time.
The story was a little bit different on the other side of security. While the terminal was no where near as busy as it would normally be, there were definitely more people than I expected walking around. Pretty quiet though compared to capacity O’hare is normally accustomed to, however, I am accrediting that to being there at non peak travel times. I flew out early evening on a Thursday and arrived back early on a Sunday morning. Friends who had a layovers at the airport on Monday mornings recently can’t say the same as me, they said it was fully packed.
For the most part, everything within the terminal was closed. Some of the newsstand/convenience shops were open as well as a McDonald’s and Chilis. Other than that the usual lines flowing into the corridor were mostly gone.
Seating at the gates was normal, nothing blocked off. From the ones I passed and was in that didn’t prove to be much of a problem since traffic was lighter (again I was traveling at non peak times.)
Masks are required in the airport and with the exception of the few strays, mostly everyone had their masks on.
I think my favorite part of pandemic flying is that most flights are being boarded from back to front. Seems silly, but the fact that flights usually board from front to back has always confused me so this feels like a welcome change and I won’t be made if it becomes standard.
United Airlines
I flew with United Airlines and had relatively empty flights for both legs of my trip. Because the flights were empty the flight attendants allowed passengers seated together who weren’t in the same party to separate. This freedom to move seats and space ourselves was just luck though, as United is not one of the airlines only operating at partial capacity so our flight very well could have been full.
When we boarded the plane we were each given an individually wrapped wipe, which I used to wipe down my arm rests and tray table. Masks are required on the flights at all times, with the exception of when you are eating or drinking which leads me to what I feel like is the biggest difference on my flights- the food and beverage services.
Because my flights were short, flight attendants came through and provided water bottles to any passengers who wanted them. There was no cart with snacks and drinks pushed through the plane. My pre trip emails from United said that longer flights are also provided with a pre packed snack bag.
The thing about flying right now is that every experience is so different for a variety of factors. How much is open and closed within airports depends on the locations and the laws and regulations there. Airlines are the biggest differentiating variable as all of them are operating differently. Some airlines are not selling middle seats to allow space between passengers, some are selling out flights. I’ve had some friends have their temperature taken while boarding while that was not my experience. I think that what it comes down to is traveling in whichever way makes you feel the safest and for some (or many) that may mean not traveling unless it’s essential or at all. If you are traveling ,I think it’s up to each individual to check into the processes of the airlines you are choosing to travel, to consider traveling at off peak times, make sure to keep yourself masked and wash and sanitize your hands regularly.