Two weeks ago, I was on a flight returning to Washington, D.C. News of the coronavirus outbreak in the United States had just hit the airwaves, so we were all a little more cautious and tense. But besides the occasional medical mask, it was a normal flight.
Now, few people will venture near the airports. Airlines are grounding 75% of their international flying, and some U.S. carriers are reducing domestic flights by up to 50%. The travel restrictions, though necessary, have resulted in such sharp losses that the Trump administration is considering a bailout for several airlines heavily affected by the pandemic.
There are still some willing to take the risk and travel. Young adults are eager to take advantage of the cheap flights, and others must continue to travel out of necessity — either for work, or just to get home. Their mindset is pretty simple: As bad as the coronavirus might be now, it could always be worse.
“This may be bad, but it’s no worse or better than any other travel crisis that’s hit,” said Mike Sullivan, a 35-year-old Dallas-based financial consultant. Sullivan was still traveling for work the week before, but shortly after, his firm decided to ground all travel for the time being. “In time, this will go away, and in 18 months, we’ll all be back to complaining about high fares and packed airplanes,” he told the Wall Street Journal.
Because the coronavirus outbreak is a rapidly developing situation, travelers have been met with unexpected disruptions. Sudden cancellations, hourslong customs lines, and even shutdowns have plagued domestic airports across the nation. Some have had their temperatures checked by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention personnel upon arrival, and passengers arriving from international destinations have been told to self-quarantine for at least seven days.
Other travelers have been met with eerily empty airports, vacant flights, and easy upgrades. Social distancing has been surprisingly easy to practice on most flights, said 56-year-old Lisa Chester Schroeder, who flew to Los Angeles from Nashville last week.
Schroeder, like so many other travelers, is just trying to find some sense of normalcy. “I do think we need to take it seriously,” she said. “But I am going to keep on going with my life.”
