From the moment you set foot in the airport until you get off the plane, coronavirus has changed almost everything about travel.
But it's one thing to read about the eerily empty airports, new boarding and seating procedures, and drastically reduced in-flight drink and snack service. It's another thing to see it firsthand. That's why we captured our recent trip from Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) to Washington, D.C.-Reagan (DCA) on video. See the strange new flying experience for yourself.
Read more: 9 Thoughts on What It's Like to Fly During Coronavirus
Two weeks after taking the first trip in this strange new world, a few things still stand out:
- Despite a modest resurgence in travel numbers nationwide, airports still often feel empty.
- Even airport lounges are like ghost towns, as you can see from this video
- Airlines are responding to this crisis differently, and that was obvious between my experiences flying American on the way to Washington, D.C. and Delta on the way back home
Coronavirus case counts are spiking across the country, and it's unlikely this crisis will be under control any time in the near future. Yet the demand for travel is still growing. Traveling is a personal decision, and one you shouldn't make lightly during a global pandemic. Beyond considering your health and the health of everyone around you, part of making an informed decision is considering what it’s actually like to travel during this pandemic.
We think it’s part of our jobs to show you.
This is just the first video we put together documenting the strange new travel experience. So be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel for future videos diving into the differences between flying American Airlines and Delta, capturing the new normal in airline lounges, and more.
Read more: Tips for Your First Flight During (Or After) Coronavirus
Hey Kyle, I am really curious about this topic, but have been unable to attend given the times these sessions are run. Do you record the content? It would be great to make it available to subscribers to watch on their own time.
We absolutely do, Maxine! Watch here or on social media for when we post the recording afterward. And if you have any questions, submit them here and I’ll do my best to answer them during the session tomorrow.
Was the outbound flight to DCA operated by American, or was it an American Eagle flight operated by another, partner airline? If it was not a mainline American flight, it might not be fair to compare it to a mainline Delta flight. Even in normal times, the level of service is different between the mainline carriers and small regional ones. (But since American is making a mess out of two of my upcoming trips, I wouldn’t recommend anyone book any travel with them for awhile, anyway.)