The past week has been both stressful and exciting for me, to say the least. After healthily making it out of six crowded domestic short-haul flights during the pandemic just the week before, the most intense journey was yet to come: I was booked to fly long-haul during the pandemic. And I mean very long – 16 hours nonstop from LA to Abu Dhabi and four hours from Abu Dhabi to Lahore, Pakistan. Including the layover, that’s a 24-hour journey!
I’m usually not the type of person to dread such long flights. In fact, last year I took the exact same flight from LA to Abu Dhabi on my way to Sri Lanka and the experience was quite comfortable. However, after having read so much about the special measures that airlines put in place to fly long-haul during the pandemic, I prepared myself for a completely different experience. And while I still advise you to stay where you are if you can, I decided to write about my experience and compile tips for those of you who have to fly long-haul during the pandemic.
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Why Did I Fly Long-Haul During The Pandemic?
Starting in March, my boyfriend and I had been staying in California for almost five months. We had originally planned to stay there for no more than two months and travel to his home in Pakistan in May. However, our hopes to leave the US in Spring quickly vanished when one airline after another halted its operations and more and more countries restricted international travel.
The situation unsettled us greatly and we grew more nervous every day. It wasn’t just the California lifestyle that was difficult for us to adapt to. Or our concerns due to a lack of affordable healthcare in the US in case we really needed it. What worried us the most was my boyfriend’s visa.
I’m privileged to be a German-US dual citizen. This means I can enter the US anytime and stay, study, and work there for as long as I want. However, my boyfriend came to the US merely on a six-month tourist visa. This means that he’s allowed to enter the US for tourism purposes but is not allowed to stay any longer than six months.
With no flights back to Pakistan, leaving the US became a battle against time. Repatriation flights were extremely expensive and disorganized and visa extensions are rarely granted. Therefore, we were extremely relieved when Pakistan finally resumed international flight operations again and I was determined to go with my boyfriend.
Read more: A Quick Reminder Of Passport Privilege
What Is It Like To Book International Long-Haul Flights During The Pandemic?
Why booking flights during the pandemic is so complicated
One of the reasons why I advise against international travel during the pandemic is bureaucracy. As if entry requirements for other countries weren’t already confusing enough during normal times, the travel restrictions enacted due to the pandemic are constantly changing and make everything even more complicated. On top of that, airline policies can also change quickly and cancel all flights from another country without prior warning.
So what does that mean for the flights you’ve purchased? Depending on the airline, you might be lucky to get a full refund if you can’t make your flight but most of the time, airlines just give out vouchers that may not be very useful if you have to leave asap. And then there’s also a very unfortunate proportion of people who never saw their money back.
Our booking disaster
I had booked my flight out of LA for May with Etihad Airways for around $420 while my boyfriend still had his return flight ticket with Saudia Airlines. However, roughly a month after booking our tickets, Pakistan, UAE, and Saudi Arabia all halted international flight operations. When the UAE and Pakistan started to allow international flights again, my boyfriend decided to request a refund from Saudia Airlines and book a new flight for around $500 with Qatar Airways while I was able to change my Etihad flight for free. Both of our new flights were out of New York since there were no operations out of LA yet. We went ahead and booked domestic flights to New York as well.
Fast forward ten days before our planned departure, Qatar Airways suddenly decided to cancel all economy class tickets out of New York and my boyfriend was left without a flight again. Luckily, we stumbled across an Etihad Airways flight out of Los Angeles for 700$ that my boyfriend quickly purchased while still waiting for his refund from Qatar Airways. I changed my flight reservation to the same flight out of LA, again without a fee, and booked return tickets out of New York.
After that, we just waited for our departure date in fear something might change again. After having lost over $200 already, another flight cancellation would have probably resulted in a mental breakdown.
Read more: Escaping Coronavirus Pt. 1: Lunar New Year In Qingdao
Preparing To Fly Long-Haul During The Pandemic
Preparing to fly long-haul during the pandemic was pretty similar compared to my regular routine for long flights, with a few additional steps:
- I constantly monitored both my flight status and the entry restrictions of my destination
- I also double-checked the airline’s baggage rules since some airlines and routes restrict carry-on baggage
- Although not required by my airline or destination at that time, I arranged a COVID test within two days before my departure
UPDATE: Starting from August 1, Etihad Airways requires all passengers flying to/transiting in Abu Dhabi to present a negative COVID-19 PCR test result before boarding.
- I made sure to pack a sufficient amount of paracetamol. I tend to get higher temperatures often, which might unnecessarily raise some alarms during temperature checks
- Although usually supplied by the airline, I packed a good amount of masks, hand sanitizer, and vinyl gloves
Checking In
I arrived at the airport three hours prior to departure. Despite having already filled out the online check-in, I still had to wait in line at the airline’s check-in counter since it was the only one open. Social distancing was strictly enforced and only one additional person was allowed to help with my heavy luggage.
Since I’m not a Pakistani national or overseas Pakistani, the airline staff had to verify my ETA (electronic travel authorization) and check travel restrictions to enter my destination. The process took a while but I was eventually checked in without any problems. However, we did see another US passport holder get denied check-in.
We eventually passed security, which was visibly less crowded than during normal times and proceeded to our gate. To our shock, almost all shops in the international terminal were closed – a stark contrast to the domestic terminals I had passed through to the week before.
My In-Flight Experience During The Pandemic
Upon entering the airplane, the flight attendants, who were all thoroughly dressed in PPE (personal protective equipment), took our temperature.
The flight was relatively empty so most families or individuals were assigned entire rows for themselves. After taking our assigned seats, the flight attendants passed out small wellness kits containing multiple surgical masks, hand sanitizers, and vinyl gloves. Things that are not only useful during the flight but also afterward.
Following the safety instructions video, another video introduced the less obvious measures Etihad Airways takes to keep its crew and passengers safe. This includes the thorough cleaning of aircraft after every flight and an air circulation system that exchanges the air inside the cabin every three minutes. The airline seemed to work very hard to make it as safe as possible to fly long-haul during the pandemic.
The flight itself was long and smooth. While there appeared to be no restrictions of standing up in the aisle, most passengers tried to max out on their sleep during this 16-hour journey. Two meals and one snack were served as usual and the cabin crew was available anytime, which made it quite comfortable to fly long-haul during the pandemic.
Connecting Via Abu Dhabi And My Onward Flight To Pakistan
We touched down in Abu Dhabi on the afternoon of July 22. It was my fourth time transiting through Abu Dhabi within a year but I had never seen the airport this empty. Although I’m usually always down for a quick layover vacation in Abu Dhabi, leaving the airport was impossible this time due to the emirate’s entry restrictions.
I passed to my gate fairly quickly and encountered a very full waiting area for my flight to Lahore. It’s perhaps interesting to note that on both my flights, I was the only non-Pakistani person, so the large majority I encountered transiting through Abu Dhabi Airport was also Pakistani.
Social distancing was strictly enforced during security check and bording by spreading out lines and seating.
When boarding my connection flight, the flight attendants were again dressed in full PPE and took passengers’ temperatures. This time, however, there seemed to be much stricter rules to make it safe to fly during the pandemic: Middle seats had to be kept strictly free, and after boarding, a flight attendant took a photo of the cabin to prove that passengers were spread out correctly. This seemed to be a requirement by the PCAA (Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority), to whom the airline had to send the photo. Masks and health declarations were required as usual.
Read more:
Can You Leave The Airport During A Layover?
Traveling To Pakistan During The Pandemic: Everything You Need To Know
Useful Tips To Safely Fly Long-Haul During The Pandemic
Many things about international long-haul flights have stayed the same, whether during the pandemic or not. However, there are a few tips to keep in mind to make it both safe and enjoyable to fly long-haul during the pandemic:
- Bring sufficient medical-degree masks with you and make sure to change them every few hours. If you wear a mask for too long, its dissolving fibers and accumulating bacteria can cause infections.
- Avoid taking off your mask as much as you can. Do so only to eat, drink, or change your mask.
- Sprinkling a few drops of water inside your mask can keep your skin moisturized.
- Always wash or sanitize your hands after touching a “high-risk surface” such as door handles, as well as before ingesting anything.
- Try to suppress coughing, even if it’s just a single small cough at a time since it can scare other passengers unnecessarily.
- Avoid standing up to go to the lavatory or stretch if there are a lot of other people waiting.
- Cabin service may be slightly reduced, however, it’s still extremely important to stay hydrated when you fly long-haul during the pandemic. Therefore, don’t shy away to call over a flight attendant to bring you water if you need it.
Conclusion
All in all,I found it surprisingly comfortable to fly long-haul during the pandemic. Although there were some visible safety measures in place, they didn’t affect my flying experience to a large degree. Etihad Airways’ regulations for international flights seemed a lot stricter than what I experienced during my six US domestic flights the week before. However, I think the most effective measures are what the airlines have in common: mandatory masks and frequent air exchange. This makes it very safe to fly long-haul during the pandemic and I’m happy to say that I tested negative again after arriving in Pakistan.
The most nerve-wracking thing to expect when you fly long-haul during the pandemic is by far the planning part. Due to the volatility of travel restrictions as well as financial hardship for the airline industry, rules can change or flights get canceled from one day to another. This can seriously drain your bank account in many unexpected ways. Therefore I recommend that if you have to travel internationally during this current pandemic, double-check the airline’s special cancellation policy and opt for the most flexible one.
Read more:
Escaping Coronavirus Pt. 1: Lunar New Year In Qingdao
How To Visit Abu Dhabi’s Grand Mosque During A 3-Hour Layover
Traveling To Pakistan During The Pandemic: Everything You Need To Know
It can be a struggle, for sure. Did the airline allow for extra empty seat between the passengers?
The empty seat rule was strictly enforced on my second flight to Pakistan. My first flight was relatively empty so most people automatically had the rows for themselves.
It was so interesting to read about your international travel experience. I love the tip of putting a few drops of water in your mask to keep moisturized!!
Absolutely. I first came up with that idea a few years ago in Korea when I found a mask that had special moisturizing pads in it.
Sounds like it went well. Glad they are enforcing empty seats because it sounds like US domestic flights are super crowded. Stay safe!
Yes! Well, it depends on the airline. I heard that a few US airlines also block seats but definitely not Spirit Airlines!
Dang! What a crazy world we live in. Thanks for the tips!
What a crazy time! Thanks for the tips.
Sorry you had to experience so much stress to get there! We had a lot of adventures too in March to come back home as everything started to close up. Lost a lot of money on non-refundable flights… But we are happy to be healthy at least! Good to know they provide people with essentials like sanitizers and masks now!
Aww I’m so sorry about the money loss! But I’m also glad you managed to stay healthy!
Really great info in this blog, Arabela. It actually convinced me getting on a plane right now seems like something I will keep avoiding… but I am glad you tested negative after your flights & that the airlines are taking measures are working to keep passengers from getting covid on their flights.
Yeah I agree that although the safety measures seem very efficient, the nerve-wracking uncertainty of whether you can actually make a flight makes flying extremely difficult these days.
Wow. I’m so glad you guys finally made it. I’m leaving the UK as well because my visa is about to run out. And thanks for the tips about wearing a mask and staying protected and changing it every few hours. Great advice.
thank you for writing about your experience – I have been wanting to hear someones personal story on a long-haul flight during this time!
Wow, glad you made it. That’s a lot of stress before the flight.
It certainly was haha!
Thanks for sharing your experience! It was so interesting to read 🙂
I’m glad to hear that!
Wow, your experience booking the return flight sounded terrible! I’m glad it all worked out in the end and you were able to secure a flight. Also, great tips on surviving a long haul flight especially with all of the changes.
Thank you so much 🙂
So glad you guys made it back safe and sound! Your tips are so helpful for those that will have to fly during these crazy times.
Thanks!
Awesome post! Its always interesting to read about what other people experience with flights, especially international flights these days. Thanks for sharing!
Flight travel is so much in flux these days…rules and regulations are changing every minute but it is incredibly brave of the staff to provide services and take care of the passengers in these challenging times. Long haul flights are more complicated and I wonder what the new normal of flying will be like.
Absolutely! I completely admire all the flight attendants working so hard during these times.
This is a really useful post. I have my first flight in 2 weeks since the pandemic and was unsure what to expect – this has been really helpful
I’m wishing you a safe trip!
It’s fascinating to see the different approaches to what airlines are and are not checking. For example, I flew internationally with British Airways and they did not do temperature checks, though I think I might have been more comforted if they had. The treatment with Etihad seems a lot more thorough than that of BA – providing masks, temperature checks, they seem to have it covered.
Great to get an insider view of what it’s like now even though international travel is not happening for us now. Good ideas.
Wow what a crazy time – these are really good tips and glad you made it to your destination safely!
This was an interesting read, I’ve been curious how travel has been internationally for passengers! Stay safe out there! 🙂
Thanks for sharing your experience. It is a challenging time indeed but I’m glad things worked out for you!
I am so glad you were able to eventually get a flight out! I’d probably be nervous to do such a long flight knowing people would be taking their masks off a lot to eat including me but I am glad to hear you guys made it through! Thanks for all the tips!