First Time Flying Since Lockdown

Traveling for the first time since mid-March and the COVID-19 shutdown, I worried I’d have difficulty getting an Uber to take me to the airport.  I was wrong.  The Uber car arrived even quicker than usual.  The driver wore a mask and there was sanitizer and cleaners available next to the seat I sat in.  I had my own sanitizer spray and wipes too.   He had his side window open a few inches, circulating the air.  The driver was as nice as Uber drivers usually are and helped with my luggage.  I felt perfectly comfortable and safe.

On this late Sunday morning, Chicago’s O’Hare airport seemed a ghost town.  Social distancing was quite easy, with so few people in the terminal.  Staff were present to assist with check in and staff were visibly cleaning as I walked through the terminal to get to my gate.  The airport was really clean and smelled fresh.  I even visited the ladies room, as I arrived early and had quite a long wait.  I thought that the check in process might be slower than usual, with the 6 feet distancing and other safety measures in place.  Again, I was wrong.

I was pleasantly surprised.  Check-in with TSA pre-check took about 5 minutes in total.  The gate was in a rather remote area of the terminal.  I walked for some time and saw fewer than 10 people along the way, and most were airport staff.  Arriving at my gate, there were 8 people other than me in a span of three gates.  I walked past darkened Starbucks and other food venues - none of them were open.  I was thankful that my two apples had not been confiscated at the security check.  With a couple hours to spare, I knew that those apples would be enjoyed.

I felt blessed that the experience was peaceful, safe, clean and seamless.  I didn’t really miss the noise, chaotic feel and all the people sitting on floors and pretty much heavily packed into the airport of the past.   I do hope that the usual bustle and vibrancy of a busy airport seemed a thing of the past.  Perhaps a new normalcy that is somewhere in the middle will be the future - Vibrant, orderly and busy, with less of the chaos and packed in feeling? 
Time will tell……….

Sharing the light,
​Mary

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