Opinion | Intercontinental Travel during the Pandemic
It is like a horror flick in many ways. Where is everyone? Did I wake up in a post-apocalyptic world? Airport terminals are nearly empty. An international flight to a major hub like Amsterdam from NYC has only 29 passengers. Nearly everyone is wearing masks.
Yes, my traveling companion and I are still never-been-infected (we think) survivors of this pandemic and recently we were fortunate enough to travel to the US from Spain and back. We’re US citizens with Spanish residency; without both, we never would have been able to travel. It’s a privilege not many people have.
Traveling itself was pretty hassle-free—if I overlook the five cancelled flights along the way, one only three days before departure and another during my stay in the US. Though a bit eerie, flying in nearly-empty planes is certainly more comfortable than the packed flights that used to be the norm. We experienced no long lines, no need to fight over overhead compartment space and, on arrival, we zipped through passport control. There was no full-contact grabbing for luggage at baggage claim, either. If that is the travel experience of the new normal, bring it on. But, really, how can the airlines survive with such a scarcity of travelers? Many just will not. And then what will international travel become?
On-The-Ground Observations
In the US, we stayed with family in upstate New York. If you remember, New York had a terrible beginning to this public health crisis, but pulled through and is one of the bright spots. Leadership really matters, and while Governor Cuomo has his faults, his strong leadership guided the response of the institutions and people of New York to be one of the lowest and sustained infection rates in the US if not the world. The state is slowly and very methodically opening up based on clearly articulated criteria. The contract tracing system is in place; we were checked up on each day (they did not, however, contact us till day five). In New York, nearly everyone is wearing masks, even kids four years old and up. Masks are worn in the classrooms of the schools giving in-person instruction. But, for some reason I saw very few masks in playgrounds for kids—or parents. Go figure.
There were lots of signs everywhere about the continuing danger of COVID-19 and every business had clear measures in place. A Trader Joe's had a socially distanced line outside which was two blocks long on a Monday afternoon. Speaking of food, there was a graham cracker shortage! In the summer, local in-state camping was about the only vacation option and camping equals s’mores (roasted marshmallow placed while still hot on a slab of chocolate sandwiched between graham crackers). New York City felt the same as Upstate in many ways, but there seemed to me to be less mask wearing. Fugetaboutit... But, now there are some hotspots particularly in Brooklyn that are bringing the possibility of a section of the city being locked down again, particularly in neighborhoods with large Orthodox Jewish communities who will not wear masks and continue to have gatherings in large numbers.
People carry on and endure. But there, just like Barcelona, people are tired of pandemic life—the new normal is not as much fun. An end to all the restrictions and the hassles of hyper-vigilance are nowhere in sight, leaving everyone feeling weary. A sense of gloom pervades even though things are relatively good in New York and the weather is beautiful with the bright colors of the fall foliage bursting forth. People do not socialize as much; they do more solitary things. Wearing masks in public detracts from personal interactions, making this limited social contact harder, less rewarding than before.
So Many Unanswered Questions
It was wonderful to see family and friends on our recent trip. I am looking forward to going back and have already booked another flight for February. I expect it will be cancelled numerous times and I know I need to be on top of that and be patient. There is no way of knowing if travel will be opened up by then, or become more restrictive. There may be new requirements, like having a COVID-19 test prior to departure as already exists for travel to some countries. Will there be a vaccine by then? Will it be safe, or a rush job? Will it work for me when the standard is 50% effective? Will quarantine on either end of the flight be in place. Will it be more strictly enforced? If the flu season and COVID-19 crush our healthcare system (as appears to be happening now again in Madrid) will it be safe to leave our little bubble?
Back here in Barcelona now, I have loved ones who are sick. Just the sniffles. Do they have COVID-19? We don't know yet. (Will we ever know?) But, as a precaution, we have to self-isolate for a few days. Who knows, we may be as much a danger to them as they are to us. When will this end? Or will it?