SOCIAL MEDIA

Wednesday, March 24, 2021

Traveling During the Pandemic

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You might have guessed from my lack of comments and interaction last week that we were in Mexico. We finally got to go on our long awaited vacation. This was our first time traveling during the pandemic. I mean, we have gone 3 hours (by car) over to California, but we haven't been on a plane in a year. So crazy to think about that. But I wanted to document some of the airport/travel stuff and then I will do another post on what it was like in Mexico during the pandemic. Plus our time in Mexico.

Now prior to departing, we were updated via American Airlines that we had to fill out a health survey to get into Mexico. We were given a link in an email and I filled out one for each of our family members and took a screen shot of each entry to have the QR code to show upon arrival into Mexico. This basically takes care of the forms you used to fill out prior to entering another country. But this time, it was more health and Covid related.

We were also instructed via email and at the airport that we must wear our masks at all times unless you are actively drinking or eating. We bought some disposable masks via Amazon (here) for us adults and then some for the kids via Costco (but you can find similar ones here on Amazon). The girls did great wearing their masks and only pulled them down under their noses a few times. Then we told them to bring them back up. And everyone on the airlines were amazing. 

Here are some shots from each of our flights just to give you an idea on what it was like flying right now.

Masked up and sitting next to my Aves. This was a small flight with only 2 seats on each side.

Rory and Sutton. They only took their masks down for the photo.


This was on our flight to Puerto Vallarta. I was sitting next to Rory's parents.

Look at how empty our flight was. Also, the guy behind us, we flew with his family to and from Mexico on all flights. We didn't know them, but now we do and have a lot of friends in common.

Our flight was again pretty empty on the way from Puerto Vallarta to Los Angeles that Rory and I each had one of the girls in a row to ourselves.

When we got on the airplanes, we were given sanitizing wipes to wipe down our whole areas. We used these plus some that we brought with us.

Now I also want to point out that most of our flights were pretty empty, but one of them was completely full. This means we were all sitting next to each other and it just seemed weird. If you have to social distance in the airport, but then you can sit right next to a stranger, it just didn't make sense. What Covid doesn't count on airplanes?

Anyways, another thing I wanted to point out that was very different was food and beverages on the plane. On our small flights that were an hour and a half, we were not given any food or drinks. Not even water. I wish they would have warned us about this as we would have purchased water in the airport. When we arrived in LA, we went searching for food and about 75% of restaurants and stores were closed. Luckily, we did bring snacks on the plane, but we wanted to get brunch or breakfast in the airport. In the international terminal, only a few things were open, so we all ate something from Starbucks and got coffees (steamers for the girls).

Now onto the flight from LA to Puerto Vallarta, we did get a bag that had the sanitizing wipes, a bottle of water and some biscuit cookies. And we were able to get as many bags as we wanted or needed. This was the same for the flight from Puerto Vallarta back to LA. And we did not get anything on the flight from LA to Reno. Just wanted to give heads up if you travel through any of those airports.

I am not sure if it is different traveling through other airports, but next time we travel, we will bring even more snacks and water bottles (that we can fill up in the airports).

Another change was when we were deplaning, they did it row by row. You had to keep seated until the row in front of you had left their seats and were on their way to the front of the plane. This allowed everyone to stay away from each other.

Another change we experienced was when we arrived in Mexico. When you get off the plane, you head directly to customs which was the same, but this time when you get to the line to enter, you walk through a temperature scan to see if you have a fever. You do this one at a time and then you show that you have filled out your health questionnaire. You also go through the temperature scan before you go through security in Mexico on the way home.

When you get to the customs station, they scan all of your QR codes, they ask you some of the same health questions again, then they ask each person to pull down their masks as they check your passports and stamp them.

Otherwise, everything else seemed pretty normal. They still called us up by group number to get on the airplane. You could still bring your personal belongings on the flight. They still offered flight entertainment. The flight attendants were still very nice. You got your bags the same way and loaded them the same way.

I have another change related to traveling in Mexico, but I am saving it for the Mexico post on what was different.

Next week and the week after, I will have my Mexico posts (our time there) including the traveling through Mexico.

Have you traveled by airplane during this pandemic?

22 comments :

  1. That is weird that they make you social distance in the airport, but then you were on a completely full plain. I honestly don't like to fly in normal circumstances, so I definitely don't plan on traveling by plane anytime soon...but this is all good information to know. Sounds like the girls did great!

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    1. It was weird for sure, but some parts felt normal. My husband said he is glad that he doesn't travel for work anymore because he remembers all the things that were a pain and bothered him. The girls did amazingly. They were a bit restless at times, but great overall.

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  2. I'm glad that you had a pleasant experience while traveling! I think they've made it pretty safe for people now minus having a full flight and sitting next to people LOL! xo, Biana BlovedBoston

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    1. I think they are doing a pretty good job. Just so weird to be in the airports and have things be this way now. But I did enjoy going on our first trip!

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  3. I'm glad you got to go! I am still too nervous to fly. I don't like being close to people in normal circumstances! I do like that they had it orderly with exiting the plane. People tend to get pushy with that!

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    1. Thank you. We are glad too. But it was definitely different going. I did enjoy how clean things were. It was nice that things were more orderly and extra precautions were taken.

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  4. It sounds like everything was really safe and smooth other than the one full flight you were on... that would definitely be weird being on a packed plane right now. It does sound like they have lots of precautions in place, though, so that's good. I'm just so happy for you that y'all finally got to go!! I can't wait to hear all about the trip!

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    1. It was weird. But overall it was pretty pleasant. I loved how empty the airports were. It made things a bit easier. I am happy that we went as well. It was a long time coming! I have some posts coming up about the actual trip!

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  5. Interesting. That's crazy the one flight didnt give anything - that would have instantly made me thirsty!!! I like they hand out sanitizing wipes to clean your area.
    I just heard yesterday about the filtered air on the planes is safe- maybe thats why they can put people closer together??? I konw I would have felt weird about it - but just guessing here.
    So glad you got to travel - I know how much you all love it. & love the girls did so well with it

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    1. It made us instantly thirsty and imagine having kids with you. They wanted water immediately as well. I love the wipes too. We wiped everything down all around us. That made us feel better too. I heard something about the filtered air too. I definitely did feel weird about it and mentioned it to Rory and my in-laws. They felt the same way. I love traveling and have waited for awhile, but I don't have anything booked at all and don't plan to for awhile.

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  6. Thank you so much for this! We are considering a trip to either Mexico or the Bahamas in May, and my biggest fear is making sure we have all the right tests done and documentation. SO glad you finally got to go on your trip <3

    Green Fashionista

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    1. Oh I have another post about the tests and how to not stress about it. It is all about the planning of the tests and what happens so I hope that helps. And I am glad that you are thinking of going someplace too. It was totally worth it and we felt safe.

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  7. We've traveled a few times, and we were really pleased with how the airlines operated everything! And here's my info regarding social distancing on planes...because of the HEPA air filters, it's safer for people to be within 6 feet of each other because, assuming everyone followed the protocols, the air is already purified. So glad you guys got to do this!

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    1. See that is what we thought about the planes being filtered, but we were not sure. Thank you for that info. I am so glad that we got to go too. It was a long time coming. I definitely looked at your posts for more info on traveling and how you felt.

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  8. Couldn't pay me to fly right now. I have to get out to California and see my father so I'll be driving. It sucks (3 day drive) but there's no way my son and I are going on a plane!

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    1. And that is ok. I know some people are not comfortable with it. We have only done driving when we traveled, but this was our first flight and we did feel safe. I don't know when we will fly again, but I am glad that we tried it out.

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  9. I'm glad your experience was ok! We haven't flown anywhere in over a year. We're thinking about a trip to Cali in maybe September, but we'll see. I don't like packed flights in general so I don't know how I would feel about it on a long flight during all this craziness.

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    1. It is a different experience for sure and that is why I wanted to document it. I am glad that we did go, but not sure when we will fly again. I am not even traveling for work and we don't have any plans to in the near future. But it was so nice to get out and go back to Mexico. Our longer legs were the empty ones. The short legs were the fuller ones, but that could be because it was a smaller plane.

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  10. I am so glad you got to go! I have heard that most airports and flights around us have been completely full/sold out as we were looking for a short trip either for April vacation or June... but our state still requires a full week's quarantine after return even with a negative test 5 days after travel and my husband just can not take two weeks off in row... Glad to hear it was pretty uneventful other than not getting snacks/ drinks on a few of the flights.

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    1. We are too! I didn't realize states were still requiring that. We did take a covid test and were negative, but didn't have to quarantine after. I wouldn't be able to take 2 weeks off either. That really sucks. It was pretty easy going for sure. I just wish we could have had food and drinks. Especially traveling with kids.

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  11. It's nice you were able to travel safely! We haven't even thought about leaving the country, haha! they keep closing the borders between states here if a case does get out from quarantine so we stick close to home, and if you are unlucky enough to have visited somewhere that had a case, or you were overseas, you need to quarantine in a hotel room for 2 weeks to make sure you didn't catch anything...and I'm not doing that with 2 little boys, haha!

    Hope you are having a good week :)

    Away From The Blue

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