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What It's Like To Fly Internationally & Domestically Right Now

March 2, 2021

I get it, you’re anxious, you’ve been watching the news, they only talk about the negatives of flying right now so there must only be negatives to flying right now. Nope, uh uh. Wrong. I felt super safe through every step of my travels and the travel industry is doing an amazing job of keeping everyone safe and enforcing CDC guidelines! (I am not a professional in that manner or claim to be, this is purely my personal experience, my story, and my own opinions.) Here is my experience of what it was like to fly internationally and domestically right now!

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Background...

I was feeding into the media and was nervous to fly. I was quarantining and only going outside for work and essentials. Then I started to realize, Covid could be anywhere. It could be on your package or on the food you bought from the grocery store. I started thinking about it and the reality is, it’s one of those viruses, that just like the flu, it can hit you anywhere with no rhyme or reason.

So, I made a choice. Do I live in fear and never leave my house? (Which I have to leave my house because I don’t work from home.) Or do I live my life?

I chose to live my life safely, mask on, and wet wipes in hand. I started to visit my friends who had had babies earlier in the year and grab drinks with friends who were depressed from being alone in their apartment for months (almost a year because they were afraid to bring anything around their elderly parents just like me.)

Being out and seeing people gave me the courage to go fly out and see my friend’s baby belly in NYC right before she headed back home to give birth at a local hospital near her family. I couldn’t miss my best friend’s moment. Her first baby and during such a crazy time!

That was my first experience flying domestically during the pandemic and it calmed all my nerves. So then, when a friend asked me to go to Mexico because he needed to get out of his apartment or he’d go crazy, I took the opportunity to celebrate my birthday and had the adventure of a lifetime!

Flying Both Internationally & Domestically During Covid

For the most part, Covid protocol is the same whether you fly domestically or internationally. The major differences are during check in.

I flew from Cleveland Int Airport, Ohio to Newark Int Airport, New Jersey. I planned to stay at my friend’s house in New Jersey while I visited my friend with the baby belly.

My second trip was to Cancun. I flew from Cleveland Int Airport, Ohio to Charlotte Int Airport, North Carolina (layover to Cancun). On the way back I flew Cancun Int Airport, Mexico to Miami Int Airport, Florida (layover to Cleveland.)

Check-In – Masks are required the whole time you are in and around the airport. The check in process was the same as usual where you check in through an agent or a kiosk. There were not many people checking in so it was an easy process for me to use the kiosk and print my own tag for my luggage. Everything was set up to cut down on as much contact as possible.

Security– Social distancing was enforced with stickers on the ground to space out passengers as we checked in. Once we got to the scanning machine it was business as usual and everyone pretty much crowds together as they wait to be scanned. The process is still the same, liquids in clear bags, shoes and jackets come off, and you push your own items into the machine. The only major change was that you are now permitted to bring a 12 fl oz hand sanitizer bottle while other liquids are still 3.4 fl ozs. (Click Here for the latest TSA Requirements.)

Inside Airports – Things are generally back to normal. Stores and restaurants are open again with lots of plexiglass around while enforcing social distancing and limiting the number of customers permitted at a time. Masks are required at all times. Tables are spaced out to encourage social distancing and there are stickers on chairs, every other seat that say you cannot sit on those seats. Hand sanitizer is just about everywhere you look.

In Flight Experience – Generally speaking, refreshments are not provided on flights that are less than 4 hours. I was offered water, but that was it. You are allowed to eat and drink what you brought on to the flight but you must keep your mask on while you do. (Aka – Since you must wear a mask for the whole flight, you have to lift mask up to take a bite or sip, then replace mask as you swallow.) Seating was 50/50. When I flew to NYC they crammed us all on to one plane. Every seat was taken. When I flew the layovers to Cancun and back, they moved us around so that there was a lot of social distancing. I imagine it is because a lot more people are flying Cleveland to NYC more often than Cleveland to Charlotte or Miami. I’ll still give American Airlines a shout out because they did such a great job with social distancing!

The Difference Flying Domestic During Covid

Check In – No tests were required to fly between states. However, the rules are always changing. Before flying, I had to fill out a voluntary online form that said I would agree to quarantine once I landed. If I were to fly into NYC, they require a voluntary quarantine in order to leave the state. I think they are going to remain voluntary, but you still have to fill it out in order to fly.

It is always changing and some States have voluntary paperwork and some have required restrictions. (Click Here for the latest restrictions.) Make sure you do your research. For example, my cousin was driving to college across States from Maryland to New York and they decided to visit my aunt in Massachusetts on the way. They were able to make a reservation online for a hotel, but when they reached the hotel, the State of Massachusetts was not allowing people with other State IDs to stay. They had to get a hotel in the nearest other State which was New Hampshire! So, they got a hotel right on the border of New Hampshire!

Be sure to check your hotel regulations before you check in!

The Difference Flying Internationally During Covid

Check In – It’s a process now, but you can get most of it taken care of before you go to the airport. Just think of it as more paperwork you need to show to board the flight. Now, you can get most of it done online to make it even faster. The major thing is that you have to test negative for Covid.

The travel industry is doing a great job of making it convenient! Some airports have testing on location, while hotels and resorts offer on-site testing at their property! It’s easier than ever to find somewhere convenient to get a test. They also offer a discounted rate for quarantining.

Here’s 3 Steps to make it even easier…

1- Each airline has it’s own service platform through their app. (Click Here for American Airlines Example)

2- Click Here for in depth steps to take to travel between Countries, you just type in from which two Countries you are traveling and it tells you everything you need to do.

3- Click Here for the CDC’s latest Covid Travel Requirements.

The main thing to remember with international travel is that a lot of countries are closing borders when Coronavirus numbers go high. For example, Turks and Caicos, Providenciales Islands was just talking about closing borders last week and The Netherlands is still under a complete lock down. Everything there is still closed.

Places like Mexico which rely on tourism are open and welcoming everyone with few restrictions. It could be easy for you to get there, but it may be hard for you to get back, depending where you are from as Countries are constantly changing their rules. While on vacation, we met a girl from The Netherlands. While she was with us, the polices changed twice and by the time she was leaving, she had to fly into Germany and drive back to The Netherlands! All flights to The Netherlands had been cancelled.

Then, what happens if you contract the virus while you are out of the country? In most cases, if you test positive for the virus, you just need to quarantine for two weeks. To fly, you then just need your positive test and proof of quarantine to board. Covid can remain in your system for up to 3 months so there is no need to retest for a negative outcome.

Refer to the CDC’s latest updates for more information. Just stay on top of the required paperwork and you’ll be fine.

Additional Things To Keep An Eye On...

Sometimes tests are a false positive. Test again at another location if you are asymptomatic!
You don't have to pay to stay at a resort to quarantine! Get a cheaper hotel or AirBnB!
Each State and Country has it's own rules!
Even though a city is easy to visit, it doesn't mean museums, restaurants or bars are open!
Things are changing constantly!
Have a Plan B!

I had so much anxiety before I traveled and once I was at the airport I felt silly for worrying. They have everything under control and down to a science. If something unexpected happens, airlines and hotels are being more flexible than ever offering credits and refunds for changes in plans.

I hope this helped to take away some of your fears and anxiety! People are still traveling every day for work, for leisure, and for visiting family.

Now with the vaccine out, things will hopefully get even better faster! Just do what you can to be safe and continue to live your life! Covid has shown us just how short life is. Make sure you live it!

Lastly, and most importantly, if you still do not feel safe traveling right now, DO NOT travel-shame or judge those that do! You never know someone’s real reason why they need to travel!