What to expect when flying

With warm weather and an increasing proportion of North Carolinians over 18 having received at least the first dose of the vaccine, here are answers to the questions people have about air travel.

Posted 6:06 p.m. Mar 26, 2021 — Updated 6:06 p.m. Mar 26, 2021

Liisa Ogburn

With 34% of North Carolinians 18 and over now having received at least one dose of the vaccine and the weather warming up, more are beginning to consider traveling. While the Centers for Disease Control still recommends people not travel until a higher proportion of the population are vaccinated, some grandparents who have been fully vaccinated are wondering what traveling by air might look like—especially those who have not seen new grandchildren born during the year of COVID.

Arriving at Raleigh Durham Airport on the Thursday before Wake County’s Public School System spring break for a work-related trip, there were no porters checking bags on the curb and a pretty sparsely-populated terminal. Only two out of eight lines available for security check were open, with a relatively short wait.

Everyone in the terminal wore masks. Prerecorded messages warned those who refused to mask that they may be asked to leave or turned away from boarding their flight. At 7 pm, only one place to eat was open, 42nd Street Oyster Bar, with tables spaced at over six feet.

Upon entering the plane, the stewardess offered each person a sanitizing wipe. I had expected passengers to be spaced out, but most seats were filled. In both the airport and the plane, we were reminded repeatedly that “Wearing a mask is a federal requirement.” Furthermore, the stewardesses circulated around the cabin doing seatbelt and mask checks throughout the flight.

The connecting airport to our destination, Charlotte-Douglas Airport, however, was much more packed.

Some things to know:

While we were not required to show proof of a negative COVID test upon check-in, international passengers traveling to the US are. That said, the CDC recommends everyone travelling to be tested 3-5 days before traveling, even those who have been vaccinated. (We brought our proof of negative test results and vaccination cards with us.)
Check what restrictions are in place for your destination. This can vary region to region based on positivity rates and other factors.
Avoid crowds and stay at least six feet apart from those not traveling with you.
Wear a mask covering your nose and mouth. The CDC recommends double-masking, based on a new study out of Harvard.
Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds after using the bathroom and after you have been in a public place or use a hand sanitizer which is at least 60% alcohol. (Each passenger is allowed to carry on a small bottle of hand sanitizer of up to 3 ounces).
While most restaurants no longer offer paper menus to avoid cross-infection, American Airline did provide its magazine at each seat. I would think twice before perusing a magazine others may have touched.
Eat ahead of time. Refreshments may not be offered on the plane, which makes sense given eating or drinking would necessitate taking off one’s mask. Bringing your own refreshments would limit interaction with a flight attendant, reduce moving around the cabin and coming in contact with others, as well as enable you to eat or drink at a time when the majority are not.

To view all CDC recommendations, visit: here

Suggest A Correction