Hi all!
As Coronavirus makes its way around the news and our cities many people are uncertain about air travel. I recently took a plane for the first time since the Quarantine started and thought I’d share my experience.
I flew on Southwest Airlines from Tampa to Charlotte with a layover in Baltimore.
The airports were clean with reduced crowds as expected. You must wear a mask when you enter the airport and at all times unless you sit down to eat. There are multiple announcements about safety for those who need reminding and I also noticed many areas set up with hand sanitizing stations. The airports are trying to reduce touch points, so I did not have to show my ID as I usually would before getting on the shuttle to security check. Security was pretty standard, I just had to lower my mask to show my face when walking up to the first agent. All employees are wearing masks and gloves.
The restaurants are very similar to grocery stores with designated places to stand that are 6ft apart. The biggest note on food is that many of the restaurants were closed down. I would suggest bringing your own food if you are in a rush or have any dietary needs.
The Southwest gate had seats blocked in the waiting area to keep crowding limited. The boarding lines had signs reminding passengers to avoid crowding the gate. Southwest is only boarding 10 people at a time to further avoid crowds but boarding goes a lot faster than you think it would so the added precautions aren’t an issue. The crew did a great job helping board the plane quickly and keep everyone safe with the added stress all of these regulations have added.
Sitting on the plane you have to wear your mask the entire flight unless you are eating or drinking. The planes have open seating with the middle seats vacant. It wasn’t hard to find a row to myself since they are limiting passengers anyway. The food service on the flight consisted of only water and snack mix. All Southwest employees and crew are wearing masks with some also wearing gloves depending on their contact level. Each plane is cleaned in-between flights as well as deep cleaned at night by a professional service.
Overall the experience for me was pretty seamless and I didn’t feel uncomfortable flying. I actually felt that the planes were much cleaner than ever. If you feel anxious I suggest bringing your own antibacterial wipes, food, and traveling at a less popular time of day.
Remember this is my own experience and in no way am I making a political statement or being paid for my post. This is an informative post about current air travel based on the airline that I used.
