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Posh in Progress

Is Flying Safe During COVID? This is What it Was Like for Me.

By Stacey Freeman Leave a Comment

flying safe during covid 2
Is flying safe during COVID? I don’t have a crystal clear answer for you – it’s more nuanced than that. But I can tell you that there are ways to be safer than not, so I wanted to share my experience with you. 

If you follow my blog, you know that travel content is a big part of what I do. Prior to March, I traveled on an airplane at least once a month. This spring alone, I was scheduled to travel to Montreal, San Francisco, Slovenia, and Italy. Going from traveling every month to not traveling at all was quite an adjustment. I turned down some opportunities to travel simply because I didn’t think it was a great decision for myself, my family, or the broader community.

But here’s the thing – I actually still don’t think traveling is the best decision. However, I’ve also gotten to a place with COVID when I question how much to continue to isolate at home but also try to live a somewhat normal life. That’s the challenge right there. Our lives aren’t normal. So do we stay at home, and avoid all unnecessary travel? Or do we resume some sense of normalcy in our lives? This is a question I’m still struggling with. 

I have traveled this summer. I did a few road trips, including one to San Diego and one to Lake Arrowhead. Road trips felt a lot more manageable to me because I only drove a couple of hours from my home. We didn’t have to stop anywhere between our home and the hotels so there was limited exposure to other people. Both hotels we stayed at offered a lot of safety protocols during our stay and required mask-wearing at all times, except for at the pool or while eating at the restaurant. Overall, road trips felt pretty safe to me. There is always a risk when you leave your home, but these road trips felt very low risk.

But back to flying. Is flying safe during COVID? The short answer is, it would be safer if you didn’t fly at all. There are certain things about flying that make it nearly impossible to social distance. Plus, there are still a lot more people at the airport and on the plane, in close proximity to you, than if you were to simply stay home. 

The longer answer is, there are ways to fly more safely than others. Here are a few tips to help you decide if and how you will fly during COVID.

1. Choose Your Airline Carefully

Some airlines are doing more than others to allow for better social distancing on their flights. For example, I flew on Alaska Airlines. They did not allow me to sit next to anyone, even in first class. In coach, all of the middle seats were open. However, my friend flew American, and they packed the flight. There was no social distancing and the middle seats were also full. All airlines are implementing better cleaning procedures, so that is less of a concern for me. However, the social distancing piece is definitely something to consider when choosing your airline.

2. Consider an Upgraded Seat

I was shocked to learn that first-class tickets to Alaksa were only $200 more than regular coach tickets. Thus, I chose to upgrade to first class for my recent trip to Sitka. I know that not all people have the luxury of paying more for their flights, but if you are able to get a seat with extra legroom or more space, I would highly encourage it. The more space you have, the more socially distanced you will be. I felt pretty secure on the plane. Although there were people in front and behind me, there was no one next to me, so I did have a lot of breathing room. 

When considering flying safe during COVID, you also want to consider which seat to choose. I also did some research and found that window seats are a better choice than aisle seats in terms of safety. You are more likely to contract the virus on the aisle simply because more people will pass you than if you’re in the window. 

3. Invest in Good Face Coverings

My sweet friend brought me an n95 mask and a face shield to wear on the airplane so I felt extra protected. Honestly, the face shield was a lot to manage. When I breathed, it often fogged up the shield. However, I did try to keep it on as much as I could to ensure the highest level of protection. Masks are required at all times at the airport and on the flight. However, you are allowed to take it off to eat or drink. I would just suggest ensuring you buy a quality mask. Sure, it’s not fun to breathe with a heavy-duty mask for too long, but the ultimate goal is to stay protected, so the annoyance is worth it.

4. Bring Sanitizing Wipes

I brought a pack of sanitizing wipes and hand sanitizer with me. When I first sat down, I used a wipe to wipe down the armrests, the window area, the seat in front of me, the tray table, and the seat belt. That way, I could ensure I wasn’t touching other people’s germs. I also used another wipe before I ate or drank anything. I even wiped down the rim of the glass they gave me with my beverage. 

5. Pack Your Own Snacks

The airline did provide food and drink, although more limited than normal. Thus, I would suggest you bring some food and drink with you. I always carry a reusable water bottle with me. I also packed some almonds and protein bars so I had healthy snack options since my flight wasn’t direct. Although restaurants were open at both LAX and Seattle’s airports (where my layover was), I didn’t want to deal with one more potential way to come in contact with COVID, so I thought avoiding restaurants was a good call. 

6. Schedule COVID Tests

flying safe during COVID
Alaska required me to have a negative COVID test within 72 hours before I arrived. Thus, I was tested just three days before I left and received a negative result. I am getting retested again next week, after 7 days at home, to allow for the optimal incubation period to ensure I am COVID-free. Even if you don’t have symptoms, you could be carrying the virus, so I think it is wise and best for public health to get tested again. 

I hope these tips are helpful for flying safe during COVID. Ultimately, the best decision is to stay at home as much as possible. However, if you are going to travel, I hope these tips will help. 

Tagged With: airplane, COVID, flight, flying, flying safe, travel

About Stacey Freeman

I am a Style Maven, Mommy, Educator, and Traveler.

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poshinprogress

POSH IN PROGRESS - Since 2013
Fashion • Mom Life • Recipes • Travel • Beauty
Executive Director - UCLA Bedari Kindness Institute
📍 Los Angeles

Dr. Stacey Freeman
MLK weekend vibes💙. It has been so warm in LA w MLK weekend vibes💙. It has been so warm in LA we spent all day at the beach yesterday. Today, we are taking in local parks and another gorgeous day. But, my heart is heavy with the state of our world. 
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Today, as we celebrate an important figure in the fight for Black equality, I’m choosing not to share one of his famous quotes because that’s too easy. Simply sharing his words without considering or sharing my perspective about the current state of our country feels disingenuous at best.
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I’ve struggled with how to talk about the insurrection because I still find it all so shocking. And the fact that I am shocked is a problem. That our country can be so divided that it’s difficult for me to even fathom how people could participate in this divisiveness.
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The insurrection happened on my birthday, as I flew to Puerto Vallarta. Landing in Mexico and learning about what was happening felt surreal. I still can’t wrap my head around it, honestly.  What scares me the most is the hate. The idolizing of a white supremacist ideology is terrifying. It terrifies me for my children. For their safety. For their lives.
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I understand that a lot of hate is spurred by fear, lack of understanding and discomfort. Today, I hope we can all think about how to be more open to thoughts and perspectives that our different than our own. Be more accepting of people who look different, who have different cultures and life experiences. Today, I hope we can all collectively try to confront every human interaction from a place of love and kindness. If we all spent a little more time considering the other person’s life or story, I think we’d have a lot more peace and happiness. #mlk #mlkday #mlkweekend
“I’ve left my heart in so many places...” . “I’ve left my heart in so many places...”
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Puerto Vallarta, I love you. And I’ll see you soon💙.
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Shop my look 👉🏼 http://liketk.it/36a3f #liketkit @liketoknow.it #LTKtravel #LTKcurves #LTKunder50 #puertovallarta #travelblogger #travelblog #hostedby #hosted #villpremiere
Happy Saturday friends! Did you know January is oa Happy Saturday friends! Did you know January is oat month? I love oats so I wanted to try a new cookie recipe. 
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New on poshinprogress.com, I’m sharing this easy and yummy oatmeal scotchies recipe. My kids absolutely loved them and I think yours will too! Link in profile for the complete recipe. #oatmealcookies #cookierecipe
#ad One of my goals for the new year is to focus o #ad One of my goals for the new year is to focus on balance. With the kids back to school, it can be hard to find time to make meals. That's why I love having @Progresso Toppers soups on hand because they make quick and  tasty lunch options when I'm super busy. They are so convenient - and the soup also comes with a topper for the perfect crunch. They come in five different flavors and are ready in minutes. All five flavors of the Progresso Toppers are made with quality ingredients and no added sugar, or artificial flavors, or colors. If you're looking for a quick, convenient and delicious lunch option, definitely check out Progresso Toppers! #progresso #progressotoppers #takeacrunchbreak
Does anyone else have the January blues? . After Does anyone else have the January blues? 
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After the high of the holidays, I find myself feeling kinda sad in January.
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Last week in Puerto Vallarta was such a dream but I’m definitely feeling the post-vacation blues. 
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Don’t mind me, I may be posting these vaca photos for awhile. Take me back 😭. @villapremiere @enroute_communications #puertovallarta #travelblog #travelgram #hosted #hosteby
“Meet me where the sky touches the sea” 💙. “Meet me where the sky touches the sea” 💙. 
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I’ve received a lot of DMs about traveling to Puerto Vallarta. New on poshinprogress.com, I’m sharing a full blog recap, including my thoughts on traveling during the pandemic and the experience we had.
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Here’s a bit about where we stayed —  @villapremiere — is doing a fantastic job at keeping their employees and guests safe. Everyone is required to wear a mask; social distancing is maintained at all restaurants and public spaces; staff do not enter rooms except for room cleaning when the room is empty; hand sanitizing stations are present throughout the resort; hotel capacity is capped to ensure proper social distancing. I honestly felt very safe. If you have any other questions, please dm me or leave your questions below. 
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📸 @robertoestrada 
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@enroute_communications #puertovallarta #villapremiere #hosted #hostedby #travelblog #travelblogger
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