Flying in a COVID world

Those of you who know me are aware that pre stoma my passion for travel was high, having grown up in the Middle East,I love learning about other cultures.

Post stoma I became a little “Argh” about flying, there are certain things that I worry about, (searches, lifting a heavy bag up to the hold, needing to empty my “prada” urgently during take off or landing, for examples). I wear my hidden disability lanyard these days and it makes thing a little easier that staff can identify that if I ask for help I’m not just being difficult 😉

Flying in a COVID world though?!

We have a “Casa” in Menorca that needs regular work and care, and with it being Papas 70th a big holiday was planned with families, so this year we booked a separate villa just up the road. Then lockdown happened…

We wrote the trip off, assumed it would not happen and started looking at how we could get there later in the year to do some work to the property and upgrades to keep it COVID-Safe for our future guests.

But then the air corridors opened and things looked up, stats for Menorca were very low and we plan to stay pretty isolated so started to look forward to going “home” but wanted to research…

(Research was spurred on by the fact that we hadn’t planned to buy travel insurance til June… And couldn’t bear to lose the money if we could help it. We were too late! Lesson learnt)

So what’s helped calm my nerves?

First of all, all airlines have been sharing their advice and rules to ensure that you know what you need to do. They started sending regular messages about 4 weeks out (this was the stage we realised our flight may not get cancelled)

Full of very reassuring guidance and updates, and the measures the travel industry have had to put in place sound great on paper.

I also spoke to people who had flown recently who said the trip was fine. Slow processes but that felt better.

I also found a great video from Swiss Air that explains HOW clean the air is inside a plane, well worth a watch… Here is the link

When a surgeon and specialist nurse tell you that the air in a plane is similar to that in an operating theatre and that as long as you are careful, wear a mask and wash your hands, they don’t see a reason not to travel, that also helps!

So, here’s the journey…

We’re up, we’re packed and we’re heading to Luton Airport.

Easyjet the next day started giving vouchers if you don’t want to fly.

Bugger, lost money on my MIL flight by moving it Friday!

Drive was fine, M25 quite pleasant to be honest. Parking was fine. We’d booked parking a while back, but as that car park was no longer open the Holidays Extra guys moved our booking to the Terminal carpark which was fine by us.

Going through security didn’t feel much different, except people were in masks. A large majority of people seem to think wearing a mask negates the need for social distancing though so we kept ourselves in out own little bubble.

It was VERY quiet. Unnervingly so… But I quite liked it to be honest. Seating is spaced out and no one comes near us, lush!

At this point I was looking for the BFF who was comimg with us, with family. We haven’t seen them since last year, I speak to her daily, and miss her so. THERE SHE IS! OMG OMG OMG!… Elbow bump, when all I want to do is cuddle her… Ouch.

Walking through the airport felt a little odd, spesh as I couldn’t ruffle the hair of my two godsons.

Think about the opening scene from Love Actually, airports are normally a hive of activity. Flight day was so different, very quiet.

Social distancing made a come back at the gate, hurrah! Very spaced out.

Boarding started a lot earlier than normal and everyone had to remove their mask when showing passports. We had our boarding pass on our phone, to be contactless, however, ground staff took my phone to swipe between them. She was wearing gloves but I did wipe the phone down after in case.

We made it on board, and again, where the process is slower than normal, I preferred it. Much more civilised. The plane wasn’t full, maybe 80%.

Once you’re sat, you are asked to stay seated. Captain had a chat asking us to respect the crew. No magazines, I normally like flicking through the articles and perfume I refuse to buy at “that price” – safety cards only.

Flight was smooth, toilet not needed (thanks loperamide!) and we disembarked the other side. Disembarking started at row one, and went row by row – and felt so much more civilised than the normal bun fight! I hope airlines keep this method!

Landing at Mahon was reassuring – socially distanced q’s, temperature checks and a feeling of calm – desperate to get through the gate to see madre y padre waiting

All in all, I preferred this way of travel…