Recent Air Travel Experience

Hi Guys,

Curious to know if any one had travelled recently especially via air and that too internationally - how was their experience compared to pre-covid in relation to following (or anything else that is worth mentioning) at either source and/or destination city/country -

  1. Your own state of mind prior to travel e.g. anxious/normal
  2. Traffic levels at the airport - e.g. generally at Tulla, 2/5 mins drop-off spots are generally full - how was it this time?
  3. How was airport?? I am guessing very few people
  4. Check-in queues?
  5. Boarding time/queue
  6. Number of people in the plane
  7. Comfort (or lack of) of travelling with PPE
  8. Do they still serve meals etc.
  9. Easiness of manoeuvring on streets at foreign location

Anything else you can think of…

Comments

  • +3

    I'm guessing you know the answer to all of these questions op.

    • +1

      not necessarily all of them…..e.g. in US/UK media reports suggests that international travel is back to normal from restrictions/rules perspective…so is there still hesitancy/fear…just curious to know…

  • +3

    Have only travelled by air domestically, but basically the same as pre-Covid except you have to wear a mask and there is not many people in the airport.

    • +1

      This. And SA folk make you check in as you move through the terminal away from the gate. No such thing at Sydney Airport

  • +1

    I travelled in Sept 2020 during the lockdown. Airport was dead quiet. All stores closed in Melbourne Airport except for one small cafe serving take away coffee. It was surreal as there were no car queues at the drop off area, no queues at the check-in counter and the airport was abnormally quiet.

    Since travel was restricted, boarding was quick and there were only approximately 60 people on the whole flight.

    Only wore a mask and they still served meals with disposable cutleries. Service was cut down to the minimum (Singapore Airlines) and you hardly see the flight attendants during the whole flight.

  • +2

    You should ask the guy that went to CDG (Paris) recently on OzB.

    That post heated up the atmosphere for a lot of people and saved on winter heating a few days.

    • +1

      It'll be different because that OP travelled FIRST CLASS and wouldn't need to line up for anything. (Unlike the rest of us plebs!)

  • +1

    I felt completely normal, apart from getting the tests prior to leaving.
    Traffic was quiet, same with the terminal. No need to turn up 3 hours before, as immigration in Melbourne only opened 1hr 30m before departure. No check-in queues.
    Boarding time for my flight was 10min before scheduled departure, even managed to leave on time
    Probably around 12 people on my flight.
    Didn't really notice any difference wearing a face mask on the flight.
    Yes had a full service of meals, and still same as before, press the buzzer if you want snacks.
    Streets were I went, Paris and London, were busy, but felt like it was a normal day minus tourists.

    I travelled between May 2021 and Arrived back in Aus 2.5 weeks ago. I fly out to Tokyo again in 2 weeks.

    • I've wondered, how do you organise the pre flight test?

      Do you just turn up to the drive through testing sites? and ask for proof via a hotline?

  • +1

    Your own state of mind prior to travel e.g. anxious/normal:
    Fine, excited and thankful to FINALLY be back in the air!

    Traffic levels at the airport - e.g. generally at Tulla, 2/5 mins drop-off spots are generally full - how was it this time?:
    ABX and SYD a couple of times at both - Great. no real traffic or wait.

    How was airport?? I am guessing very few people:
    Not many at all. Was in the lounge (SYD) which appeared to be reasonable.

    Check-in queues?:
    Nope, only at the lounge bar! ha!

    Boarding time/queue:
    I was too busy drinking, so waited for the screen to change to 'final call'… ha!

    Number of people in the plane:
    50% +/- each time.

    Comfort (or lack of) of travelling with PPE:
    Fine. masks on pretty much everyone all the time. Although, there was a guy in the lounge one of the days that looked like he could have been the first person to ever carry C-19. He was coughing, talking and very poorly managed. Surprised he was allowed to be out in public at all, let along on a plane! (Figured id just drink more to kill any potential nasties!)

    Do they still serve meals etc.:
    Nope, just snacks.

    Easiness of manoeuvring on streets at foreign location:
    Yep, just fine.

    • Thanks all for info….

  • Your own state of mind prior to travel e.g. anxious/normal

    50/50

    Traffic levels at the airport - e.g. generally at Tulla, 2/5 mins drop-off spots are generally full - how was it this time?

    Fine, didn't use the drop off. Parked onsite

    How was airport?? I am guessing very few people

    Surprising busy, the lounge was full!

    Check-in queues?

    Slightly better than normal

    Boarding time/queue

    Normal

    Number of people in the plane

    About 3/4 full

    Comfort (or lack of) of travelling with PPE

    Wearing a mask doesn't bother me. This is the only PPE you have wear.

    Do they still serve meals etc.

    Depends on the airline, but yes they do if part of your ticket.

    Easiness of manoeuvring on streets at foreign location

    No idea, but I would guess the 'same'.

    and that too internationally

    Well here is the thing, not that many have done international flights in recent times……

    • Thanks for taking time

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