DEBORAH CROMBIE: I have always loved flying. Well, except for maybe my first first flight. I was thirteen and we flew from Dallas to Houston (!!!) for my brother's wedding. It was a prop plane and I was horribly airsick--for the first and last time, thank goodness. But since then, flying has always been a welcome adventure. Even in this era of the perpetually shrinking seats (uncomfortable even for a small person) I have looked forward to every trip with a fizz of excitement. I even love airports--all the bustle of people coming and going and the anticipation of my own journey. For someone who is not good with heights, I'm even surprisingly okay with turbulence.
I especially love the international departure terminal at DFW Airport (Terminal D.) Once through security, I have always felt like a bird set free, and for years I've taken a photo of the Dallas to London Heathrow departure gate, a little ritual to mark the start of the journey. Here's my photo from November 4th, 2019. Two minutes to boarding!
But, now, I don't know. My last flight was London to Dallas, the day before Thanksgiving, 2019, and even though I'm fully vaccinated, I'm having a little trouble wrapping my head around the concept of post-Covid air travel. Mask at the airport, mask on a short flight, okay, I can get there, I think. But a mask on a ten hour flight?? Eeek. How to manage eating and drinking? Not to mention sitting literally up against another person or people, for many hours, when we have been so contact averse for the past year. Then there's the constant sanitizing of hands and surfaces--your seat area is much germier than the airplane loos, apparently.
REDS, if you've flown (I think Jenn and Lucy have?) how was the adjustment? And if you haven't, how are you feeling about flying again?
RHYS BOWEN: I haven’t flown since late 2019 and have no plans to fly until much later this year when most of the population has been vaccinated. I too worry about keeping a mask on for ten or eleven hours, trying to sleep with a mask on. We do normally go Upper Class on Virgin so I’d get my own pod and not worry about someone breathing near me, but once in Europe all the seats are close together in one cabin. I am vaccinated but what about variants? It is a big concern, but I have to say that I am dying to travel again. Praying the world will return to normal soon and I can sit at a cafe in Paris, go to a pub in London and meet up with family and friends.
JENN MCKINLAY : I traveled by air three times during the pandemic (family tragedy), long flights from AZ to CT/MA and back, during the peak of the pandemic in both places, and it was fine. I’ll be flying again in a few weeks and I’m not worried at all. In fact, I’m less worried now than I was then because at least we’re finally getting vaccinated. I wear an N-95, scrub down my seat, and take a nap. Most of my fellow passengers were well behaved and respectful of the times we’re living in. Personally, I can’t wait to travel internationally. As soon as we get the all clear, I’m outta here. LOL.
LUCY BURDETTE: We flew last May and were scared to death, but at that point things were not as bad as they’ve gotten. Next week we’ll be flying to LA to see our daughter and grandchildren. (and son-in-law of course.) We’re vaccinated, and loaded with sanitizers and wipes, and I keep buying more masks (don’t tell John!) I’ll be nervous, but we’re so eager to see them after a year. And I too am dying to fly internationally. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens--right now much of Europe looks horrible.
HALLIE EPHRON: I can’t say that I love flying. Traveling, yes. But getting there is never half the fun. Needless to say I do not fly first class. Steerage is more like it, and usually not direct. Making connections is stressful, though eventually I’m usually happy to end up BEING somewhere else. Especially somewhere exotic - our last trip was to Panama watching birds and walking our feet off. And I do miss going to writing conferences and connecting with so many old friends.
HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: I used to be terrified of flying. I mean--beyond terrified. Once I took the train from Boston to Chicago (23 hours) so I wouldn't have to make a 90-minute flight. Now--somehow--I actually love it. But I had to fly to Florida on March 11, 2020. I was insanely scared, and then I had to be in the Palm Beach airport, then in a hotel, then at an event (where I cowered in the hall while 250 people had a buffet!) then back in the airport, then on the plane home. It was--awful.
But. I do like flying in general. I love looking out the window (tetris!), and I love how intently I can work. But now, today, I cannot imagine--CANNOT IMAGINE--getting on a plane.
It’s irrational, I think. Isn’t it? With two vaccines?
But, ah. They told us exactly how to stay home and we did that.
But how do we now--re-enter?
DEBS: That's the thing, isn't it, Hank? Re-entry. I'm glad some of our more adventurous REDS are paving the way. READERS, have you flown? Are you planning to fly any time soon? Any tips for adjusting to travel in a post-Covid world?
And just for fun, tell us about your first-ever plane flight!
