Travelling in the new normal - Part 1

Sharon Court on 27 September 2020
I think I can safely say 2020 has not been the year any of us planned, I like many of you have had numerous trips cancelled and moved to next year, which is now looking very busy.

I love my holidays, I will be honest I go away at least three times a year as it is the only way I can totally relax and get away from the treadmill of life, I then come back recharged with a little bit of firsthand knowledge of a destination and ready to help you my lovely clients go on amazing trips.

In what has been a hard year for the travel industry, who knew unravelling a trip would be so difficult! and being there for my clients 24/7 as always throughout lockdown and beyond, I was in need of some sunshine and sometime lying on a sun lounger with a good book or two, very last minute just 4 days before I took the opportunity book a holiday to Rhodes - Greece.

Travelling in the new normal is different to what we are used too, I wanted to share with you my experience and thoughts on each aspect of my holiday journey,

Prior to Travel Greece has a passenger locator form (PLF) which needs to be completed outside of 48 hrs before departure, it is a simple form asking for passport details, home address and where you are staying along with your flight number, then at 10pm the night before your flight you will receive a QR code which you have to show at check in and also on arrival in Greece

Stansted Airport The airport was very quiet, some people would describe it as a ghost town! I was shocked by how quiet it was at 0730 in the morning when it would normally of been very busy, as you enter the airport there are hand sanitising stations for you to make use of, and as soon as you enter the airport you need to wear your mask, Costa & M&S where open in the arrivals area but that was it.

Check in I Flew with Jet2, their check in was well managed with social distancing observed at all times, there were a couple of flights to Greece & Turkey all checking together, there was staff on hand to guide you to where you needed to be quickly and safely, all staff were wearing masks.

Security This was the busiest place of the whole airport, lots of people but markings on the floor to stay 2m apart and everyone did, you were then guided to the security belt by a member of staff and this area was then sectioned off with Perspex screens keeping you apart from your fellow passengers, again there was a hand sanitising station as you exited the security area.

Departure Lounge Shops open, restaurants open, seating areas had seats blocked off for social distancing, very few people in the departure lounge, this is when it really hit home how quiet the airport was. I had breakfast in one of the restaurants, tables were socially distanced and all staff wore masks, when you are sat at a table eating/drinking you do not need to wear your mask.

The Flight It was busy, it is compulsory to wear your mask on board & everyone did, the cabin crew were very hot on checking this as they walked through the cabin, there was a normal drinks/snacks service and even duty free. You were not allowed to move around the cabin or queue for the toilet, you just had to keep an eye of the vacant sign before moving from your seat and this worked well. The best part which I hope they keep when this is all over, when exiting the plane a member of cabin crew worked their way through the plane allowing one row at a time to get up collect their bags and exit the plane so there was not that usual mad rush the minute the plane wheels touch the ground and the seat belt sign goes off.

Rhodes Airport As with Stansted it was very quiet, passport queue had social distancing markers on the ground and moved quickly, once through before collecting your bags you passed through an area where your QR code (confirmation of passenger locator form) is checked and the Greek authorities complete random Covid testing. I do not know how they choose who to test, but I was not tested. You are then free to collect your bags and head out to your transfer. Masks are compulsory on coaches, transfers and taxis. It took 23 minutes from standing in the Passport Queue to being sat in my transfer! I wish it was like this all the time.

Please take a look at Part 2 for my experience in resort and coming home ………………...