Let’s chat travel! It’s one of my favorite things to do, but we are still in a pandemic, people. The variants are truly no joke. Don’t take them lightly. That means we have to stay safe and try our hardest in order to stay safe. I’m traveling for work now, while also prepping to travel internationally for school. The last time I went through the airport, I wrote down my steps to write an accurate post. So let’s get into how I prep for safe pandemic travel.
First, get tested! Most countries have easily accessible and free COVID-19 testing. I get tested before I leave for each flight. At a minimum, I do a same-day PCR the day before so I know I am not carrying anything with me. As someone fully vaccinated, I know that my chances of having bad symptoms are low, but I don’t know the same for the people around me. Being vaccinated also doesn’t mean I can’t pass things along. It’s about being considerate in the midst of the pandemic, so get tested if and when you can.
I don’t get it, but everyone has an issue with masks. Flying is under federal jurisdiction, so you have to wear one! I like to double up, with my KN95 under a cloth mask. Then, I change the bottom mask every 3 hours. I feel better when I double mask and I can breathe just fine.
One of the biggest essentials of the entire pandemic is sanitizer. Does anyone else remember that time when sanitizer was such a hot commodity and flying off the shelves? Well, I travel with an obnoxious amount of hand sanitizer and it makes me feel better. I also bring wipes to wipe down the entire seat because those single mini Purell wipes just don’t cut it. So I bring a pack of disposable wipes just to be sure I get everything.
Distancing isn’t easy on the plane. So, I do so in the airport when I can. Distancing is still one of the best things you can do to keep safe and as the airports are getting more and more packed, figure out how to do it when you can. My Delta AMEX allows me lounge access, so I go there to distance when I have time before my flight. This also means walking between terminals rather than taking the plane train. Plus it’s a good workout before getting on a plane.
Sadly, I don’t eat snacks on the plane. Not for short flights at least. When it’s a long-haul flight and they serve a meal, absolutely I’m eating. I take a bite and then remask when I can. I try to keep my maskless time to a minimum on the plane, so this is how I accomplish that.
WASH YOUR HANDS! It’s what everyone has said from the beginning. Wash your hands and avoid touching your face. I wash my hands right before getting on the plane and as soon as I land, making a beeline right to the bathroom. On the plane, I wipe my hands and use sanitizer whenever I can during the flight. Washing my hands and just making sure I use sanitizer makes me feel better while I travel.
Pandemic travel will be our norm for a while. There’s no escaping it if you want to travel, so it’s time we get on board. Keep your masks, keep your sanitizer, and keep safe. Get your vaccine when you can and keep those around you safe. Let’s tackle this together and stay safe!