Travel In the Time of COVID: Tips
I did a crazy thing yesterday, depending on your definition of crazy. While packing for an upcoming trip to Disneyland, California, I bought two packs of two rapid at home COVID tests. My thought is it's enough for two for me and two for my travel companion. My thought is I might pick a little something up like I do sometimes when I travel, and then I will worry that it's COVID, and then I will worry I'm exposing people, and I'll be reluctant to go have fun. Unless, that is, there were only some way of knowing that it's not COVID. And it just so turns out that way is sold at the pharmacy two blocks away from me for a somewhat reasonable price. Still, to "pre-pandemic" me, it felt absolutely insane. Taking up valuable luggage space with four rapid tests seemed frivolous. Who even travels with COVID tests? But then again, the peace of mind that if I feel icky, I can check and I can do it without having to go out and find a rapid test and possibly expose people makes it worth it in the long run.
As I look at my bags which are halfway packed, I think about what has changed in the way I will travel. Full disclosure: This will be the first time I board a plane since the pandemic began. I'm pretty risk averse, so believe me when I say a very particular set of circumstances had to occur for me to feel even remotely ok doing this. But everyone has a different risk threshold. That's ok, and this post is not here to shame anyone.
Rather, this post is about sharing what I learned about how travel is looking different for me so that you can maybe take some of this away.
Let's start with what we're packing for hygiene purposes.
The aforementioned rapid tests are certainly a new addition to my checked luggage. Add to that all the hand sanitizer in the world, and sanitizing wipes, masks, and all the mask accessories, and we get a good portion of luggage used up.
Here's what's new on our packing list:
KF94 masks - We talked about masks over on our post dedicated to the topic. For me, I find the KF94 to be the most comfortable mask with a filtration value that is pretty good. For a stay of 8 days, I'm bringing 24 masks so I can change out a few times a day.
Headband with mask buttons - I discovered these super great headbands with buttons for your mask straps on Amazon. Not only are the headbands really pretty, but the buttons save my ears from the pinching. Click the image below to go to the product page:
Anti-fog lens wipes - I wear glasses. Sometimes a mask makes my lenses fog up something terrible, so a small box of 12 of these didn't seem superfluous. Also, wet wipes don't count as liquids (at least where I am from*).
Hand sanitizer - Soooo much hand sanitizer. This was a thing pre-pandemic for Disney parks, but it's about 4 times as much a thing now. To get around liquid concerns, again, there are hand sanitizer wipes that you can pack that do not count as liquids (same caveat as above*). One hand sanitizer bottle, or several wipes, go in my carry on. The others get checked.
Alcohol wipes - I bring these in my carry on because wiping down the tray table, armrests, and seat in front of me has been routine for a little while now. They are filthy. Really, really filthy. They might actually be cleaner now that some airlines have sanitizing protocols, but I don't like entrusting my hygiene to someone else.
*Based on personal experience. Check your airline's information. This can vary by airline and also the country you are flying through (ahem, I'm looking at you Edinburgh, Scotland, for your ridiculous definition of "quart"). Some items that may not be considered liquid, but are iffy include wet wipes of any kind, gel cap pills, and solid deodorant.
But wait, there's more because airline staff are overextended, so we have a plague of delays to deal with as well.
How to prepare for travel snags
Over the past five years or so, I've become known as "bad luck" when I fly. This is very problematic for me because I have a natural fear of flying, so when others are calling me bad luck, it doesn't feel good. But I get the nickname because for about five years, it was guaranteed that at least one leg of each trip I took would be cancelled, dramatically and devastatingly. It started when a morning spent traveling to Mexico in 2016 turned into a morning, afternoon, night, and the next morning as we flew all over the United States to avoid a blizzard in Denver and not lose an entire day in Mexico. I also spent an extra night in Scotland, and Orlando over the next few years because of cancellations. And that was all pre-pandemic.
Now we're in an age of increased flight cancellations or delays as airlines consolidate flights. Flight crew is overextended too, missing work either because of exposure or sickness, or because of a vaccine mandate in their company they've not yet complied with. The point being, I now pack almost expecting a leg of my trip will be cancelled, causing me to spend an extra, unexpected night, somewhere. On some of these occasions, my checked luggage somehow made its way to the destination without me, and I was left with only what I carried on to the plane. You learn pretty quickly the importance of some items.
Here are the things I need with me if I'm going to stuck somewhere for a night:
Medication - Prescription medication for sure, and any written prescriptions. I like to use a pill organizer and then tear the sticker off the bottle at home and stick it on the inside lid of my pill organizer or somewhere else near it that makes sense. Take a few days' extra. I've definitely used one day extra on many an occasion, and this time two days' extra re coming with me. Also put your vitamins in there. They might not be life or death but I feel so much better if I have taken my vitamins, and I need that on a high stress day after a cancellation.
A pair of underwear, extra socks, and an extra t-shirt - One time, I threw ALL my clothes into my checked bag for a trip home. It was a direct flight. The day was beautiful. I was going home. But you know what? Mechanical delays and cancellations can happen any time, and it did happen, and I was without anything to change into. So I slept in the same outfit and flew the next day in the same outfit, and even if I showered, I felt grungy as heck. A few little clean things make a world of difference, and these things don't take too much room in your carry on.
Immunization card - If you're traveling within the United States, we're not quite there just yet where we may have to show proof of vaccination from COVID to travel, but in some counties in some states, you're going to need that to enter a public place. The thing about flight cancellations, is you will have no idea how your flight path is going to change or where you might spend the night. Just bring it.
Comb, toothbrush, toothpaste, razor, deodorant - Again, if you have things you need to make you feel human, these need to be on your person when you fly. For me, these are the things. I don't need a full bag of make-up. But I do need the bare minimum "I feel like a person" things. Do not count on the airline giving you a consolation pack of toiletries. I've had some do that, and some not do that at all.
Let's wrap up with some other behaviors and things to keep in mind and consider when traveling by air now.
Other Tips
Prepare mentally and physically to be wearing that mask for several hours. It's going to get uncomfortable. No amount of complaining at airline staff or harrassing flight crew is going to change the idea that they are going to ask you to wear one, so just assume you need to. I get it. We all hate wearing them. Find one that is the most comfortable for you, and consider getting ear savers, or spacing brackets, or anything else that might help you feel less discomfort or less claustrophobic. Plan this out ahead. I might get a little preachy here, but your discomfort at a mask is nobody else's problem but your own.
Allow buffer time. People have been really acting out at airports and on planes lately. This is a natural effect of stress. So don't stress yourself out by having to be somewhere on a tight schedule after your flight is scheduled to arrive. Schedules are being thrown to the wind lately. It's not ok that they are, but make it easier on yourself if it should happen to you by not scheduling anything too intense or that will put you out of money should you miss it on that first day at your destination.
Don't bystand. Upstand. I'm the least confrontational person in the world, but these stories of flight attendants being assaulted are too much. There's a plane full of people. We don't have to put up with unacceptable behavior. Say something. Report it if you see it. See if you can help. You don't have to get physical if that's not your strength. But we cannot continue to ignore unacceptable behavior. The majority of people are upstanding people. So... upstand, don't bystand when you see something wrong. Otherwise....
Be kind. This should go without saying, but the airline employees don't like the situation any more than you do. Being kind can go a long way.
If your flight is delayed or cancelled and you need to find another flight, go with the other people to whatever desk the gate people direct you to, yes, but also start doing your own research on our phone. You might get through to an airline's customer service agents faster on the phone than standing in line. You should be dialing as you walk to the ticketing counter so that you are among the first in the phone queue. Also, if you know you're going to be stuck for a night in a place where you had no lodging, start looking for a place to stay. The airline will often comp lodging IF you will be delayed more than 24 hours, but the places they choose are not always the best, and they fill up fast with every other person who was on your delayed flight. Sometimes there aren't even enough rooms. So once you have figured out your next flight, work the lodging angle and see if there are openings at some hotels that have airport shuttles to and from the airport for you. You may have to pay for it, but you won't have to wait in a second line to be assigned a hotel and then wait for droves of other passengers to get to that hotel for your turn.
It's too late for me to take advantage of, though somehow I did make some great choices, but you might wish to consider researching what airlines and airports are experiencing the most cancellations and delays and which are experiencing the least to plan your trip. Here's a link to information as of the publishing of this article.
Travel has gotten a lot more hectic, but with the tips above, you should be able to retain at least some sanity. Are there tips we missed? Please tell us over on our Facebook page by commenting on our most recent post. You can also follow us there to see when a new article drops each week. Until next time...
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