Five Tips to Flying Safely During Covid
It’s the start of the holiday season and many people are asking me about whether it’s safe to fly.
While there’s no one-size-fits-all answer, after having flown ten flights since the start of the pandemic, I’ve some valuable first-hand experience to share.
But at the end of the day, use your best judgment. If it doesn’t feel right to travel, well then it probably isn’t.
Of course, it goes without saying. If you don’t have to travel - don’t. And if you feel unwell, definitely don’t!
The deplaning phase is the most dangerous because of the lack of social distancing when passengers crowd the aisles
Booking: choose your airline and aircraft carefully. Aim for one that still blocks the middle seat such as Alaska Airlines (in order to avoid for more physical distancing). Avoid booking narrow body aircraft such as the short hop Embrarer jets or Bombardier Q-400 series - though travellers living near smaller airports may not have much choice. If you can, splurge for Premium Economy or Business Class - especially on longhaul flights, where there’s more room to maintain your bubble. But remember - on smaller aircraft such as the Airbus A200 series or Boeing 737 series, Business Class is in a 2x2 configuration and tends to be full. In the back you may have more room to spread out in empty rows.
Try to board last and de-plane first! The most important piece of advice I’ve to offer is that, from what I’ve experienced repeated times, the least physical distancing occurs during these two phases of the flight - especially deplaning when passengers tend to get up, crowd the aisles and reach for their stowed baggage. If you’ve time, wait masked in your window seat until the congestion is cleared up. For this reason try to build extra time into connections. Also remember that when the aircraft is parked at the gate with doors open, chances are that air circulation is at a minimum and that the much-touted HEPA filters aren’t of much help!
Aim for a window seat. Stay masked up as much as possible and wipe down the tray table, arm rests, screens and remotes - and most importantly head rests (the filthiest surface according to a pre-COVID investigation by CBC Marketplace).
Keep the air flow at maximum. Bring extra masks and plenty of hand sanitizer. And once you’ve boarded and the aircraft seems too crowded for you, ask to be deplaned and re-booked on a later flight (most airlines still allow this).
Give plenty of thought to your methods of traveling to and from the airport. As much as possible travel in your own car. Avoid crowded commuter trains or busses. At airports which have remote or large terminals, skip the people mover trains and let your feet do the walking!
Avoid eating and drinking on the plane. Fill your tummy before hand, especially if you’ve access to the airport lounge. Take a potty break before boarding in order to avoid the airplane lavatories - which even in the best of times are germ bins! And remember - wearing a mask during longhaul flights can be uncomfortable but can save you from becoming infected. Experiment beforehand with a face covering which is both effective and comfortable! Lastly, the industrial-grade N-95 masks only protect you and not others. In fact, for that very reason, some jurisdictions require you to wear a medical mask over the N-95 mask!
