Missing the skies? Miss watching the setting sun glide over an eternal carpet of white cushy clouds, as you look at them amazed, in your own vacuum that transcends the pressurised confines of the aircraft? So, here is a summary of what to expect when flying short haul and long haul in the pandemic.
I traveled from Dublin to New Delhi, with an hour's layover in London Heathrow. The short 50 minute flight from Dublin into London was Aer Lingus operated, and Virgin Atlantic was the carrier for the 8.5 hour long haul into New Delhi.
Terminals, Security and Duty Frees.
For some, terminals are daunting, with the long security queues, the unruly scramble to get into the aircraft and the overcrowded duty frees, with the nosy, ever smiling army of Salesmen. And for others, they are timezone agnostic centres of unending curiosity. If you fall in the latter category and you like terminals, you will enjoy this -
Security
When traveling these days, the airports are almost deserted, with less than 10% foot fall compared to the last time you walked these terminals, so security is a breeze.
I spent all of 2 minutes in security in Dublin, and an impressive less than 10 minutes in Heathrow, which I personally despised before the pandemic due to the long queues and the unapologetic unnecessarily stringent, over the top security.
The security personnel are now genuinely happy to see returning patrons and greet you with happy amicable faces, a far cry from the stern faces and curt instructions that have scarred the memories of many time lagged, hungover and weary travellers in the past.
Duty Free
Duty frees are an essential part of the flying experience, with high street favourites and of-course alcohol available on tax free prices. People love splurging on these, dealing in foreign alien currency, consulting the exchange rate on the patchy Airport wifi, stuffing their already overfilled modest cabin baggage to its seams.
The duty frees are still open, brandishing you favourite scotches, tobacco, candies, colognes, eau de toilettes, and everything else that represents wonderland. The queues are almost non existent so shopping is a pleasurable experience, and in a bid to woo flyers, to cut their mounting losses, the airports have slashed the rates even further, so happy days!
The perfume samples are not a thing anymore to restrict cross contamination, so you can no longer spray your travel ridden bodies with the inherent freshness and placebo of an expensive free cologne at the expense of the airport, away from the prying eyes of the salesmen. So, that's an issue, and your own low key, local supermarket 100 ml or less deodorant would have to make do.
Terminals
The Terminals are now more deserted than the tropical beaches in the monsoon, with only those that have to really be there or the hardcore travelers patronising their wide long alleyways, now hosting an interspersed array of hand sanitising units at all points of interest. To not overburden the airport sanitiser supplies, and if a strong percentage of alcohol is your spirit of choice, carry your own sanitiser. Even though deserted, the terminals are squeaky clean, with a diligent force of masked cleaners wiping all that can be touched in their fight against a virus that is an extensive and now seasoned traveler, having traveled further and wider than even the true explorers; they're so clean in-fact that they'll draw a reluctant half nod of approval from even the cringiest of germaphobes.
A mask will be mandatory at all times when in the confines of the terminal. Avoid wearing the N95 heavy duty masks, because they restrict effective ventilation, and your fashionable, environment friendly masks, designed in varying flavors of notions can wait for your ramp walk in front of the many, outside of the terminal at your destination.
With all the talking, the masks will get wet, so carry the disposable, light PPE masks, those blue colored ones that are now so popular that they might make it onto the Times cover this year. Yes, they're not environment friendly and generally bad for everything not human, but you will need to make a short exception to your otherwise wise set of principles.
The terminal restaurants are operating mostly only takeaway and coffee, so you might have to make-do with a sandwich. unless you are carrying your own food The Pubs are still open, so if you're Irish, then your pre-flight pints are still in order.
At the departure gates, people do tend to follow social distancing when queuing but will still ignore any concept of uniform boarding, ignoring the instructions and seat numbers bellowing from the microphone of the hostess at the gates. You will be temperature screened at this point so avoid any body warming activity prior to this, or you might be refused boarding, or reprimanded to the last 4 rows in the aircraft, which are now reserved for isolating flyers.
So congratulations, now you have made it to the air-craft.
International Short Haul
When flying short haul, in the smaller Airbus A321 or similar builds, with a single middle aisle, and 3 rows on either side, you can expect to be seated either on the window seat, or the aisle, with the middle seat empty to foster social distancing. The capacity is lower than usual so boarding is relatively a breeze.
Do not expect any F&B service on the flight, not even water, unless explicitly requested by blinking the hostess shaped dim blue service lights. I traveled Aer Lingus, a national carrier who have a comprehensive service generally, and no service this time, so it is fair to say that other carriers will follow suit. In short, every flight is now Ryan Air, much to the glee of Michael O' Leary, who will be watching these developments with a 'told you so', kind of a look.
And, the prices are a fraction of the original exuberances we shelled out in the days of the yore, so these flights are now truly fancy cousins of our public transport buses, and I am not complaining. The pilots are happy to be flying again, so they make sure to give you a nice commentary of the flight, promising splendid views of your home and destination cities at takeoff and descent. Overall, highly recommended.
International Long Haul
When flying long haul, do not forget to carry the necessary documentation (see the section on logistics and arrivals below), to avoid being rejected boarding. Your documentation will be checked throughly, based on the ever changing rules of the destination country and city before you are allowed passage.
In Virgin Atlantic, you will be greeted by the crew in complete PPE gear, covered from head to toe in blue overalls, inviting you into the aircraft- dimly lit in purple by a series of blue and red lights hidden on the contours of the passageways- almost as if you're entering the inner sanctum of a nuclear plant. The plastic fails however to hide the gracious welcoming smiles on their faces; Nothing to be intimidated about, they're only trying to ensure nothing unwanted transfers from the ground staff to the air crew.
The aircraft capacity is limited, so boarding is effortless on the large B789. The passengers are no longer packed like sardines; On the side 3 row layout, the middle seat is empty, and on the middle 4 row layout, the middle two seats left vacant. Once the doors close, the stewards and hostesses loose the PPE back to their smart familiar uniform.
Depending on the port of arrival, which might account for majority at the moment, you will be required to wear a face shield provided by the airline, on top of your mask at all times during the flight. The face shields are in fashion, so you don't have to worry of committing a faux pas.
The fresh smell of the plastic of the shield may feel suffocating initially, but it subsides very soon as the ventilation in the pressurised cabin picks up. And, we are all creatures of habit, and this habit of the shield is easily acquired.
The same advice as on the terminal applies for the masks, avoid the N95 for want of fresh air, and opt for the blue disposable ones. Virgin Atlantic provide three in their complimentary pack in addition to two sachets each of industry grade sanitisers and wipes, as they say - for your comfort and safety.
The crew are happy to serve, glad to be flying again, and even happier with a lighter work load.
There is a comprehensive F&B service; You still get your two mini bottles of wine or spirit, for the likeminded many who attempt valiantly in vain, trying to confuse the brain and body clock towards conformation to the destined timezone, dehydrating the body in the process.
The food options are now limited, with an option of a vegetarian or meat, and it comes packed in a nice decomposable box with decomposable cutlery on the side.
You are no longer provided with a tray because it is a probable vector, and I find that is a welcome addition. The tray always seemed unnecessary, a clunky piece of hinderance, that you want to get rid of as soon as finished with your meal; so much so, that a good majority of Chinese travellers promptly take their empty trays back to the galley as soon as they are done, paying no heed to the announcements to wait for the cleaning service or the turbulence. They know their priorities, and the tray or its inherent inconvenience does not feature in them. I digress, but the tray is gone, so the overall eating experience is wonderful.
The entertainment is the same, so no concessions there, so binge all you like. And if you are a reader like me, the light is exactly where you left it the last time.
The good part? You don't have to keep your arms and elbows clipped to your seat anymore since the seat next to you is empty. You travel premium in economy. The business class will never know the pleasure of an empty seat, and to get 4 empty seats in the middle aisle, bliss.
People don't wander the alleyways during the flight anymore for their safety, and a good few don't even go to the washrooms, even on a long marathon flight, so the toilets are always available, and so are the alleyways for you to stretch, its almost like its your own aircraft.
The other services are all canceled, barring the hydration round with water and juice, so no duty free announcement or trolley will break your daydream as you walk the clouds with your fixated gaze outside the heavily glazed windows.
Once back on the ground, you will be greeted out of the aircraft by the again heavily PPE'd set of air crew and welcomed on the aerobridge by the relatively scantily PPE'd ground crew.
Logistics and Arrivals
So now that you are on the ground, let's talk arrivals and logistics.
These days majority of the countries have barred entry for all tourists - with the exception of the cash strapped tourism based economies who are still trying to woo the last of the fall travellers on their quest to salvage the locked-down summer - and the rules of entry and exit are in constant flux, so keep on top of the rules, and ensure your reason to travel can be reasoned within these pseudo random rules.
Be sure to have all of the details of your accommodation, accompanied by necessary hard cover proof, and fill out all of the declaratory forms, specific to each airport.
You will be temperature screened on arrival, so hydration is key in the latter half of the flight. I shudder to think what might happen if you have a temperature, as you are guided through plastic curtains by a set of white plastic covered set of people (hopefully) away from the rest of us cooler beings.
RT-PCR - The new passport
The RT-PCR test, one of the most effective, accurate diagnostic tests, is one of the key tests used across countries at the moment, due to its fast turnaround time.
Having a negative RT-PCR test is more powerful than your passport in the current climate.
And most countries have private companies conducting them, in small makeshift setups, so getting one is not a hassle. I got one in a makeshift shed inside the Dublin airport campus, and I was in and out in 10 minutes.
The nasal and throat swabs aren't uncomfortable, but I think you are at the mercy of who is taking them. I got lucky I realized as I walked out happily leading a queue of red teary eyed, half blind people, muttering niceties, I am sure, under their breath.
So, do take an RT-PCR test within the last 72-96 hours prior to the start of your journey. The test results took around 10 hours for me, so getting it done 48 hours ahead of your flight is a good strategy, which leaves you enough time to get the results printed, and the necessary airport forms filled and submitted ahead of time.
I abstain on purpose from giving specifics on the forms since they are bound to change anyways.
Institutional and Home Quarantine
Chances are you will be asked to quarantine for a period of days on arrival. In India, specifically New Delhi this is the mandate -
If you have an RT-PCR negative report at hand, you can go home, and quarantine for 7 days at home. So, again, get an RT-PCR test done ahead of time, it is highly recommended.
If you are not in the exemption categories, you will be required to go under mandatory quarantine in an institutional facility, ranging from 7 to 14 days. These facilities have various bands, from the fancy 5 stars to the cheap lodges, but I am sure you wouldn't enjoy living in the confines of a 10 by 10 room for a week or more, irrespective of how bouncy and plush the bed is. Travellers with a negative RT-PCR are exempted from institutional quarantine, so again get the test done!
And that's it. That's what flying looks like these days. A nicer more comfortable experience from the days of the yonder.
Hope to see you flying again soon!
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