A Few Tips and My Experience Traveling Post-Covid19

Recently I traveled from DFW > CHS. I departed Dallas May 27, 2020 and returned home from Charleston on June 03, 2020. Here's what it was like, and a few tips if you're traveling at this time.

I travel a bit for work, but currently I find myself - like so many others - without any upcoming business trips displayed in my AA mobile app. And I've got to say, I hate that feeling... (So much so, that I recently booked a personal trip for early December, taking advantage of an incredible AAdvantage Award redemption, and a stellar Amex Membership Rewards conversion to Singapore Airlines, for my first ever trip to Tokyo; flying in premium cabins on all legs and booked with only points! I've just got to have an upcoming trip, or I feel...grounded. Pun intended.)

Since I've got some time until my Tokyo trip, and because I've recently realized I'm going stir-crazy (but for real...) working from home and isolated from the world, I booked a week long trip to visit my brother, sister in-law, and one-year-old niece; and stay at their new home in beautiful Charleston, SC. Here's a pic that pretty accurately depicts our uncle/niece relationship.

Expectations Set From Suppliers

If you've been following the updates from suppliers during the gradual return of travel in a post-Covid19 world, you've likely noticed a number of statements, promises, and promotions to set the expectations for what travel will be like. From social-distancing, mask requirements, cleanliness protocols, and general Covid19 commitments; travel suppliers have released enormous marketing campaigns touting their efforts to keep us safe, while simultaneously tugging at our heartstrings and emotions around the effects of this pandemic. Unfortunately, I found their efforts to be mostly a PR thing, and not really helping in any way to keep me healthy while traveling. As an industry, we need to help advocate for the return of travel, but that also means calling it like it is so that we can set the appropriate expectations for travelers.

The Reality of My Experience

Departing from Terminal D, with a last-minute gate change to Terminal A, I was able to experience a few views of what travel is like from DFW. From the start, entering Terminal D was really something to see... As DFW's international terminal, Terminal D is normally very busy throughout all hours of the day. For the first time ever, I arrived to a ghost town. Literally no one else entering the terminal at 8:49am on a Wednesday.

Once inside, I discovered my first tip to post-Covid19 travel: various security checkpoints, counters, and stores are closed. You can check the DFW Airport App for Covid19 impacts/closures, but it was last updated on April 29.

Tip #1 - Various Counters, Checkpoints, and Stores are Closed

Once I found an open security checkpoint, I noticed social-distance stickers placed on the floor in the queue. Travelers were keeping appropriate distance throughout the line, but once I showed my ticket and proceeded to the screening area I noticed that social-distance rules were not followed. Instead, like normal, travelers were herded together at the tables/bins before the x-ray. At DFW, TSA Precheck lines were closed, but presenting my ticket notified the TSA agent to place a Precheck placard on the x-ray belt in front of my luggage, and after she screamed "PRECHECK!" the regular Precheck privileges were extended.

Once inside Terminal D post-security, I experienced another fascinating sight of an empty terminal.

Terminal D had very few stores open, and some that were open had limited options.

As all Admirals Clubs are currently closed (but planning to reopen June 22,) I searched Terminal D for coffee and breakfast. I found a closed Starbucks and an open Chick-fil-A, serving a limited menu of 3 items. Again, the queue had social-distancing floor stickers, but after I placed my order and moved over to wait for my food, I entered into a large group of fellow travelers waiting closely together for their orders. DFW has closed seating areas for both opened and closed restaurants by placing barricades and signs blocking entrances, which limits the areas you can congregate and disrupts normal walkways and space. This resulted in groups of people in small spaces. I decided to wait for my food from a distance, across the hall.

Terminal A was much busier than Terminal D, and it was more challenging to avoid other passengers. Mostly sparse at DFW but scattered throughout CHS, there are social-distancing reminders on digital screens and physical signs.

I didn't notice any hand sanitizing stations in either CHS or DFW. The restrooms at both airports featured the normal messiness, including sinks with empty hand soap dispensers. Which brings me to my second tip, and overall theme of my trip: Be prepared to advocate for your own well-being. Among a few other essentials, I traveled with my own hand sanitizer and used it throughout my trip. I think traveling with the right expectations is helpful, so don't rely on anyone else to help keep you clean and well. Take control by being prepared with what you need to ensure your health to the best of your ability.

Tip #2 - Be Prepared to Advocate for Your Own Well-Being

Currently, all airlines "require" masks while on-board, and most travelers inside the airports were wearing them. If you're looking for mask/face covering options, I'm a fan of the "neck gaiter" scarfs, and picked up this one from Amazon. I think it's more comfortable than a mask because it won't make your breath fog your glasses, but I still wouldn't say it's comfortable.

Boarding both flights, gate agents repeatedly reminded travelers that face masks were "required" at all times on-board the flight, with exceptions for eating and drinking. They also mentioned that food and beverage services were suspended for all classes. Going from DFW>CHS all passengers were boarding with masks. A passenger attempted to board without a mask, and the FA stopped him. She reminded him that masks were required, and that he needed to put one on before he boarded. The passenger said "I've been flying all day and I haven't worn a mask, I'll be fine." He then walked past the FA and boarded. The FA rolled her eyes, said something to the pilot, but then resumed boarding the remaining passengers. Two other passengers boarded without masks, and the FA said nothing to them. After the normal safety briefings, the FA read a new message aloud the PA system, reminding us that masks were required but to also be respectful to our fellow passengers, as they may have personal reasons preventing them from wearing masks.

This seems to be pretty common, as airlines are caught in the middle of having to both create new policy and enforce that policy. There's a great NYT article describing this, and how "airlines instructed their employees not to enforce the rules that had been promoted to travelers." It's an awkward situation, because as a passenger witnessing a fellow passenger ignore a direct order of the flight crew, I felt compelled to do something, which explains the introduction of their new announcement about being respectful to the non-mask-wearing passengers...

I was fortunate to get my upgrade on both flights, and since AA flies their Embraer 175 on this route, I snagged one of the four single window seats up front. Both flights were nearly full. Once boarding was complete, passengers were notified that they were allowed to move to a different seat to better distance from other passengers, if a seat was open and after they informed the FA of their desire.

Tip #3 - Expect the Unexpected

Final tip for traveling right now: expect the unexpected. I think this holds true during normal travel, but especially post-Covid19. Normal travel is filled with disruptions and obstacles, and you've got to be prepared to encounter any (and sometimes all...) unexpected changes and hurdles. Personally, I think it makes for a more enjoyable trip to roll with the punches and not allow yourself to become agitated when things aren't perfect. We're in a weird time for travel right now, and until we figure out exactly what the new normal is, expectations should be set appropriately. If you're going to travel today, take responsibility for your well-being, be considerate of others, and be ready for disruptions.