Fear of Flying
I’ve flown a lot over the last 30 years and have never been afraid of getting on a plane — until now.
A week ago, the airlines announced confidently they could stay financially aloft during the virus crisis. Yesterday, they asked the US Government for a 50 Billion Dollar bailout package.
Flights are now almost empty and more and more being canceled. Even seasoned travelers are facing the reality that it’s nearly impossible to stay out of corona-range on a flight and in an airport.
How quickly our routine can change. Just last week, I confidently ventured from NYC to San Francisco to visit my healthy 83-year-old dad to help him with some long overdue house projects.
Though apprehensive about the possible travel restrictions that could be imposed during my trip, I wanted to see my Dad and frankly, was concerned it could soon get tougher to fly across the country. Glad I went then because I would not now.
Getting on an airplane has its normal fears ranging from: Will there be a huge line at TSA Pre? Will TSA flag me because I forgot to take out my conditioner or new facial micro-needler from my carry-on? Will I get an aisle? Will the person assigned next to me really need two seats but squeeze into one? Will there be little kids behind me, with stressed-out parents? Will there be a storm coming that either traps us waiting on the tarmac for hours or causes enough turbulence to make beverage service impossible?
Will my row partner use literally 10 Clorox wipes to scrub down her entire area — seat, wall, window, tray, screen, armrests and herself. Unlike the previous, normal preflight fears, this far-fetched scenario came true on my trip. This 20’s, polished young woman with furrowed-brow enthusiasm sanitized her space and made me worry that she was next going to come after me with her wipes! Strip my hands of Purell and my face of the moisturizer I had just applied.
(FYI — while getting settled in my seat, I did look behind me before reclining. The plane was half empty so I reclined with fearless abandon.)
I didn’t have any wipes. Was I being inconsiderate not wiping down my area? I felt embarrassed. But then a wave of comfort when I remembered that I’d already passed through the dirtiest place in the airport — the security checkpoint trays that carry more germs than the public toilets.
When I arrived at JFK to check-in I was surprised to find an unusually long line at the Delta Sky Priority area (Yep, I know. A First World problem). Odd, since the rest of the terminal was nearly empty of travelers. “Why?”, I asked myself. Are only people with Gold Status and above traveling?
Instead of the typical Tuesday morning in March biz travelers, the line was mostly couples. They ranged in age from 20s to 50s. Several wore Panama straw hats and floral print shirts and dragged suitcases topped with neck pillows. Ahhhh, so this is what privileged, childless New Yorkers do in a crisis — take advantage of the cheap travel deals and flee the City to sit on a beach before all hell breaks loose. Like now, a week later.
As I waited in line my nose started to tickle. I needed to scratch it but held back. I started to tear up but was afraid to show a sign of illness in this crowded line of well-heeled, savvy travelers. Suddenly, I had to stifle an urge to sneeze. I panicked and stuck my head into the wide opening of my large satchel bag trying to hide my face. I sneezed as quietly as possible while holding the bag open in mid-air. I hoped people would think I was looking intently for something in the bottomless pit of my bag.
I imagined that had I let loose my sneeze, I’d be reported and masked security agents would bring me to a quarantine area.
Thankfully, my visit with Dad was successful. When I asked him if he was concerned about the economy or contracting the coronavirus, he replied, “Somethings gonna get us all. Hopefully not sooner but later.” I envy his cavalier attitude. Perhaps it’s the wisdom that comes with age. After all, he’s lived through other crises — WWII, Vietnam and eight decades of social change.
Like many people, we have canceled our Spring vacation flights. My husband’s grounded. He used to fly at least a week or two each month for his advertising job. The silver lining — I get to see him a lot more.
I hope Delta will extend all our SkyMiles status’ since we aren’t flying anytime soon.
