Written by: Claire O’Connor
International travel is not only the foundation of my career but also of my personal life. Born in the green countryside of southern Ireland and now settled in the hustle and bustle of Toronto, as an adult, jumping on a plane for me was as second nature as it was to jump on my pony as a child. Since immigrating to Canada, I’ve been so privileged to make multiple trips to my homeland each year—until the pandemic hit.
For the past 18 months, like so many living in downtown Toronto, I’ve survived restricted movement within a shoebox-sized apartment and, at maximum, provincial travel. This was the first time in the decade I’ve lived in Canada that I didn’t have the luxury of taking a plane home to Ireland or travelling anywhere.
Fully vaccinated and fully unsure of what to expect, I booked a flight to return to Irish soil earlier this month. It was a new feeling for me to not be 110% confident, excited, or clear about a flight routing I have completed countless times. This time, I will admit, was the most excited I’ve ever been to travel, but elements of anxiousness tapped into my thoughts because I didn’t know what travelling with COVID-19 policies and protocols would look like.
To summarize: Respectful, efficient, leisurely, comfortable, and clean all ring true, from my check-in at Pearson Airport in Toronto to the Arrivals Hall in Dublin.
Check-in: Arriving at Pearson, Canada’s busiest airport, the Departures Hall was busier than I’d expected but by no means at the levels I’d faced before the pandemic. I was pleasantly surprised to see everyone being respectful of personal space, practicing high standards of hygiene, and wearing a mask correctly. The check-in process was quick and efficient. The desk itself had a transparent, solid screen between the passengers and staff, so each passenger could briefly lower their mask to show their passport photo matched their likeness. At check-in, the staff was very diligent regarding asked-for documentation. I was prepared with the Irish government’s website on my phone to help, along with a smile, which is the best thing to bring on any trip.
Based on my experience, I recommend being familiar with your documentation and storing them in an orderly fashion, perhaps with labels, to easily identify and present upon request. If you have a printer with paper, it’s very easy to collect all the required documents before check-in. My top tip is to add a little patience to your smile—you just need to remember one country’s policy, but the airport staff must recall those of the entire globe.
Security: Next I was on to security, which was the most leisurely and clean experience I’ve ever had. My boarding passes were checked twice, at the start and end of the empty line before the body checkers. In-between my temperature was checked—here was the only snafu I met. The first thermometer got an unclear reading, prompting an alarm and worried reaction from the staff. This was promptly resolved by a senior staff member’s re-check, who explained to both myself and the staff member who first took my temperature (she was in training) that the machine wasn’t used correctly on the first attempt. As I progressed through security, the body scanner alarms rang, but that was expected as I have some metal in my leg. The security staff was again respectful and efficient as I was taken aside, where they reviewed my surgeon’s letter and double-checked me with a handheld scanner.
Similarly, security in Dublin Airport maintained high levels of efficiency. Since my flight landed early in the morning, there was a low volume of foot traffic at Customs which made for a very comfortable process that was enhanced by a very warm “Welcome Home, Claire.”
Duty-Free & Departure Gate: Pearson always impresses me with its grandeur and amenities. I was more than surprised to see every store open, as they had the approval to do so about a week before my trip. Every store and lounge area looked like new, maybe due to the cleanliness policies. I didn’t take time to shop, as I wanted to minimize my movement, and headed straight to my departure gate. Here was the busiest part of the airport I’d seen, yet every second seat was taped off to ensure social distancing was maintained. It was nice to see every passenger comfortably abided. Excitement was in the air as passengers shared stories of how long they had been away from their Irish homes and loved ones or had dreamt to travel to Ireland and the time had finally come.
Boarding & Flying: The traditional, structured boarding plan was rolled out when the time came to board—the difference I noticed most was that passengers respectfully waited for their zone to be called rather than forming lines beforehand. Each seat was clean and outfitted with a care package that included a fresh mask, hand sanitizer, and wipes. The aircraft was near capacity—I saw only one empty seat! It was mentioned there were 100 vacant unpaid seats, which I thought must have been allocated to children under two (who typically would be seated on their parent’s lap) to make sure everyone was as comfortable as possible. The flight was just over six hours. We flew through the night, and the majority of the flight people remained in their seats, wearing their masks. The only stage a mask was okay to be removed was once your entire row had a meal and the aircrew had stepped to the next row. The mask had to be replaced if staff came back during your meal—for example, to bring milk for your tea. As the wheels hit the runway in Dublin, the cabin was filled with enthusiastic applause and thrilled cheers. No mask could muffle the excitement, relief, and overall joyous emotions on board.
All in all, if everyone is respectful of the rules, flying in a pandemic was much more efficient, leisurely, and comfortable than I’d expected.
Claire O’Connor is an Account Manager from our Toronto office.