We’re all tired of hearing ‘new normal.’ We’re tired of the constant stream of new and contradictory information about the global Covid-19 pandemic. We’re tired of it being politicized and we’re tired of not feeling comfortable hugging our friends and shaking people’s hands. We’re *definitely* tired of virtual meetings!
But look me in the eye and tell me, if you’ve traveled in the last few months, that you don’t love the empty airports. The mandatory empty middle seats…the sudden realization from airlines that they should be boarding flights “from the rear of the plane.”
Seriously? Did we really need a global pandemic for this shred of genius thinking to become evident? So what should you be thinking about if you’re need to travel during this new normal? Ah crap…I said it…
What to expect while booking a flight:
First off, there are a lot of cheap flights. You can likely find flights right now for cheaper than they’ve been in years for some destinations.
There’s also less flights. Unless you’re traveling a well-established route between major cities, don’t be surprised if you can’t get something direct. The smaller number of flights plus the mandatory limits on # of passengers to allow distancing means you should just be aware you may have to make a connection or two.
What to expect at the airport:
Don’t head to a regional airport hungry. I learned this the hard way. There’s still a lot of airports that aren’t running restaurants and shops during the pandemic. Unless you’re heading to a major hub airport, don’t expect that you’ll be able to find a fast food joint or restaurant.
There’s less people…and it’s glorious. This one speaks for itself. Shorter lines for check in and security, less people standing in the ‘walk lane’ of the people movers and it all makes for a less stressful start (or finish) to your trip).
What to expect on the plane:
More room. Are you liking the idea of travel during the pandemic yet? Most airlines are requiring middle seats to be left open and there’s often still not enough passengers to make the flight ‘full.’
My own experience is that cleanliness has improved on the flights, but you’ll still be required to wear a mask. If you’re an anti-masker, don’t get any bright ideas about putting up a fuss unless you really want to mess up other people’s days. There have been multiple reports of flights turning around due to one or two passengers who decided their refusal to wear a mask was more important than the safety and travel plans of the 100+ people sharing their flight.
At the end of the day, traveling during the pandemic certainly has its perks. Obviously you want to weigh your options carefully with regard to your own personal comfort as it relates to the virus. But there’s no denying the fact that the overall process is a little easier, a little faster, and a little more smooth than pre-Covid. Most of us only hope that airports and airlines learn some important lessons from this that lead them away from the last decades push to cram more and more people into smaller and smaller places. That may be the best possible outcome from this with regard to air travel, after all.
If you’re ready to see what it’s like for yourself, our friends at Flyadeal airlines can help you out. Safe travels!
