Flying to Paris During COVID19
Hey Au Pairs!
As the school year comes to a start and you finalize your au pair plans for the year you might find yourself soon having to board a flight. The idea of boarding a plane during this pandemic can seem a bit unnerving, so I wanted to share my experience of flying from Madrid to Paris to au pair and share some tips with you!
To find out more about my flight experience keep on reading!
Airport and Flight Experience
I flew to Paris from Madrid on the 5th of July to start au pairing and as the days approached my departure date I found myself feeling increased emotions of anxiousness. The airport was the last place I wanted to visit. I had originally planned on taking a half empty coach bus into France from Spain, but my au pair family offered to buy my ticket and who am I to deny them the joy of paying for my flight?
So, I put on my brave face, packed extra masks and gloves in my carry on, along with my hand sanitizer and antibacterial wipes. I also packed a small lunch to munch on at the airport that way I wouldn’t have to enter any of the shops or restaurants at the airport.
Once I got to the airport I was made to show my boarding pass to security officers guarding the entryway in order to enter the airport. People who didn’t have one were not permitted entry. After checking in my luggage and getting past security I wiped down any surfaces I was to sit on or touch and read a bit before boarding commenced.
All around me I noticed designated waiting spots for people to start lining up at each two meters apart. Seating arrangements in the airport were also made to be socially distant. Once boarding opened up we were required to have our temperatures read and anyone with a high temperature was denied boarding. Once seated on the plane I wiped down my seat, and the tray surface in front of me. We were also made to wear our masks during the entire duration of the flight. I wound up falling asleep minutes into the flight and woke up in Paris two hours later.
All in all, I felt safe during my journey from the airport in Madrid to Paris. I washed my hands frequently, kept my mask on at all times, and wiped down any surfaces I would later touch. Recently, I’ve read articles where experts have stated the chances of catching Covid19 on flights is slim, but that anyone flying should still remain cautious.
My Tips
Once at the airport wash your hands frequently!
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
Bring an extra mask, hand sanitizer, and if you can some disinfectant wipes!
Social distance!
Pack your own lunch or bring some snacks (plus airports can be so expensive!) to avoid going into common areas.
Avoid contact with anyone who is sick.
Have you flown recently during this pandemic to start your au pair journey or will you soon? Let me know in the comments down below!