Thinking of travelling soon? This post is for you. Or if you’re simply curious about what changes have been made to the whole airport process during the 2020 pandemic, this post is for you. 

This is a tale of two travel blogger’s airport experiences in August 2020. 

The FCO-yes

Char: I ummed and aahhhed about going on this trip but the FCO said ‘yes’ so onwards I pressed. The best thing about my whole airport experience in the last week of August was way LESS people. I don’t know about you but humans can be draining (me included). And yes we are still in the midst of a pandemic but it’s important to see some light in the everyday encounters we find ourselves in. 

If you happen to be an introvert, you may find social distancing to be the best thing ever. 

I arrived at Heathrow Airport Terminal 5 at around 7.30am on Saturday 22nd August 2020 for my flight to Istanbul (Departing approx 10am). Istanbul wasn’t somewhere on my 2020 travel list but the Covid numbers were ‘low’ at the time of booking and it had everything I needed – culture, food and a good exchange rate. 

Miranda: This trip to Venice was not my first choice, I wasn’t convinced about going because whenever I have visited, there has always been way too many people and in our current times, safety first came to mind. But seeing Char and Abena, my fellow solo travellers, embark on their journeys, I swallowed my feelings and booked the trip. The FCO had just removed Italy from its restrictions so I was good to go. 

SECURITY 

Char: If I’m honest, security is security and exactly the same as you would experience in a pre-Covid setting. What is new is queuing with social distancing rules, plastic screens and the disinfecting of trays after each use. A positive if you ask me. 

Miranda: I must admit that I was pleasantly surprised by my security experience, I became a gold member with BA just before Corona, so this was my first time using first class check-in desk and security. Everything was really well done, fewer queues than ever, protective screens everywhere and I was done in 15 minutes from parking my car, dropping off my bag and going through security – THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE!

I guess having less humans and everyone being respectful does move things along. 

MASK ON 

Char: Masks are mandatory throughout the airport and you’re only allowed to take them off to consume food and drinks. Of course if you have a medical condition, you are exempt. 

I’m not going to lie, I find masks annoying, stuffy and I am in fear of developing ‘maskne’ but I would much rather wear a mask than a ventilator. I would advise taking a mix of disposable and cloth coverings to ‘cover’ you throughout your trip. Of course, I am sure you can get more at your chosen destination but someone once told me ‘if you fail to prepare, you prepare to fail’. 

Miranda: Masks – as much as I am not a fan of them as I find myself coughing when I wear them, I still prefer them than as Char said than a ventilator. Masks can be worn up to 4 hours, I packed 6, my little sister at sosewwy makes masks so I bought 6 along with me on this trip. When consuming food and drinks you are allowed them off, but otherwise, wear them all the time so make sure you have a nicely fitting mask. 

Shop sosewwy on Etsy here. 

Char: It’s also worth researching the type of mask expected in your destination. Italy requires disposable masks whereas somewhere like the UK, any kind of ‘face covering’ is accepted. Perhaps gimp mask sales will go up? 

Miranda: Research is definitely so important especially around masks and general rules each country is imposing. I have been using the reopen EU website to check which countries I can visit and also they provide country specific links for country requirements. 

CATCHING FLIGHTS AND NOT CORONA 

Char: The irony of this all is having gone through all the points I’ve mentioned and then getting on a plane and not being able to social distance. You have to be Prepared for full flights because there are fewer of them. Flight schedules are not what they used to be as the demand for international has disappeared obviously due to border restrictions and spikes in cases internationally. 

Being on a full flight was the closest I had been to other humans in a public setting since March of this year. I was pretty anxious afterwards but soon got over it as I plugged myself into some relaxing music and a book. It’s amazing how simply distracting yourself from the ‘present’ can do you some good.

Miranda: After many days of nervously thinking about the risks of catching ‘Rona, I must admit I prepared as if rona and I are distant cousins. I have loads of flight vouchers from cancelled flights, so I made sure to book business and for BA this means the middle seat is not in use but I believe for economy everyone was close and chum. I bought hand sanitisers, wipes for both surfaces and hands and tissues.

Char:

A simple pandemic airport/travel checklist: 

1. Wear a mask
2. Take hand sanitiser
3. Bring extra masks (disposable and cloth)
4. Be prepared for health declarations
5. Be prepared for temperature checks
6. Be prepared to get told to put your mask back on (we’re not all perfect and sometimes we need to take a breath ‘normally’) 
7. Be prepared for queues 
8. Be prepared to get tested
9. Outbound: Check your destination’s entry requirements e.g Turkey’s can be found here. This is dependent on your destination of departure and your passport so don’t blame me if you don’t get let in.
10. Return: Be prepared to complete a passenger locator form. 
11. Be prepared – socially distance, wash your hands, avoid crowds.  

Miranda: Same as Char, make sure you also carry your own pen, this sharing business is not for these rona times.

Check out Miranda’s travel blog and socials here:

Blog – https://www.ajulydreamer.com/ 

Twitter – https://twitter.com/MyraBev 

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/ajulydreamer/ 

Is there anything we’ve missed? If so, comment below and let us know. 

Latest posts:

• Memoirs: The Pandemic Airport Experience
• Musings: 7 Reasons Not To Do A Staycation In The UK
• Musings: Clean & Healthy Teeth
• Musings: Staycationing In Canary Wharf
• Musings: Hotel Aesthetics

Char and Miranda xo 

The post Memoirs: The Pandemic Airport Experience appeared first on Memoirs & Musings.