For anyone emerging from Covid exile who might be eager to travel again, be prepared to check your carry-on luggage. The planes are jam-packed, just as they were in olden days. The big difference now is that you're suffocating in a face mask for five or six hours. Also, don't forget to pack a lunch unless you can live all day on one tiny pack of minature toy pretzels.
A few days ago I completed my third cross-country trip during the Covid-19 pandemic. My first trip was almost exactly one year ago, in mid-May 2020. I flew from West to East coast for my mother's burial (the word "funeral" is completely inaccurate). Flight options were extremely limited in those early days of pandemic hysteria. Most planes were sparsely populated. I had to take what I could get, on an airline I had rarely used before, and stay buckled up for constant changes.
Among the dizzying array of travel changes pinging my text and email were departure times, arrival gates, terminals, and connecting flights and cities. Not even airline employees could explain what was going on. Had it not been for one blessed airport employee who whisked me (via speeding wheelchair) to my connection at a far-flung terminal, I would have missed my mother's burial. I still wonder if Mom sent him my way.
My second trip was at Christmas time, to visit grandchildren I hadn't seen in more than one year. Again, flights were few and changes were many. There were still not many people traveling at Christmas, and middle seats were blocked empty, but that is no longer the case. On this most recent trip I took a total of five flights, traveling to family visits in two states, and all the planes were fully loaded. I've noticed that a flight attendant's voice never sounds happier than when it is announcing, "We have a completely full flight today! Every seat will be occupied."
There is an upside. I have never seen planes so sparkling clean in my life. Before Covid, I used to get strange looks when I whipped out my wipes and started cleaning my tray table, armrests, light bulb button and seat belt buckle. Nowadays I'm more likely to be asked if I can spare one or two for my seatmates.
Cross-country travel has always been somewhat daunting to me, but in these days of Covid it's especially rugged. The surprises never seem to stop. When I returned home and dragged my bags to the ride share area, my phone app informed me that there were "few drivers" and I would need to wait one hour for a pickup. That's a new wrinkle. I hailed a taxi instead, gladly forking over a few extra bucks just to get home before midnight.
Despite such challenges, it's worth it to make the effort, take the trip, and tolerate the logistical turbulence. It's a small price to pay for reconnecting with family. As a new summer stretches out before us, I wish safe and happy travels to you and yours. Remember to pack some patience.
