My Experience Traveling Amid The Pandemic

For me this is the best time to travel if you are up for it. The lines are shorter, most of the planes are empty consequently the bathrooms are cleaner. If I have to give one piece of advice it will be bring your own pen or two and a ton of patience.
I recently flew to Sierra Leone (FNA) via Paris (CDG) and wanted to share my experience.

A lot has changed, and we have to be flexible and willing to adapt. If you are not willing to adapt, then stay home. On the flight to CDG, for example the blue surgical mask is the only mask allowed. You will be handed one, so your fancy mask, scarf, or whatever else you are using to cover your face will be replaced. Both flights were empty, so these flights were prime for social distancing.

CVG-JFK- DELTA
Delta flights board 10 rows at a time from back to front and medallion and first class can board at any time. Purell wipes upon entering the plane and a snack bag with water once we reach crusing altitude. Limited variety of alcohol is available on board. We were told we needed to conplete the NYC health form online which I did. When we landed at JFK there was a Delta rep as we approach the gate handing out the forms. The kicker is no one asked for the completed forms.

JFK-CDG- DELTA

1. Checking in- You need a NEG corona test result no more than 72 hours from your date of departure. For us here in the US that can be challenging but if you don’t have it then you will not be checked in. The covid certificate ia also verified before you board. This is a non negotiable.
2. Food- bring your food of you want to enjoy your dinner. The dinner tray is sparse.
3. Blankets and Pllows are no longer at your seat waiting for you. Ask and it shall be given to you.
4. Forms, Forms and more forms. We were asked to fill out three forms on the flight, one was a biodata form which was collected at the end of the flight and the other two are COVID attestation forms for France. I am a transit passenger so I am not sure who collects it.
5. Duty Free at JFK terminal 4 is not open, so are many other stores. I was pleasantly surprised to see some stores in CDG open and they have moved most if their duty free stuff outside.
6. Lounge Access. The lounge at JFK was empty and only had pre-packaged foods. The drinks were still flowing though and the outside patio was open. The lounge at at CDG is has a server for the warm breakfast. Pretty much the same things they had before the only difference is that its not self service.

• CDG – FNA-Air France
In all my preparedness I was not ready for what this leg of the journey had to offer. I was not ready!!! Again I was suprised how busy the airport in Paris was especially the flights heading to Africa.

Why is traveling to Sierra Leone or most places in Africa seem like an after thought for these airlines? Boarding was disorganized- no calling by zone, no acknowledging skymile members…nada, nyet.
As the time got closer to boarding people just lined up like they usually do. Announcements were made about mask but zero mention of social distancing. The flight was full….full, full. The minute I walked in to the plane all my preparation went out the window. I had to take a minute to regroup. I got my wipes cleaned my seat amid the stares of my seat mate and others, doubled up my mask and wore my protective glasses. I opted not to eat the lunch that was served so I can keep my mask on whilst everyone else has their mask off busy chomping away. Blankets and pillows were available as usual. This leg of the journey seem the same as pre-covid.

Lungi Airport (FNA)
Thank the heavens for a safe arrival. I was pleasantly suprised at tbe efficiency the airport in Lungi (FNA). Having done the required COVID test in tbe US and registered on the Sierra Leone travel website
The process was seamless. From the temperature checks to the COVID testing, I was out of the airport in 45 minutes.

• This is my experience as it may be different for other people or if they had a flight full of passengers. Most of the passengers on my flight with Air France were heading to Conakry, so only a handful of us disembarked in Freetown.

1. Bus takes you to from tarmac to terminal (there were only a set number of people on the bus)
2. At the terminal only five people at a time were let out of bus.
3. Temperature checks and hand sanitizing and your neagitve covid test certification. A blue bio data form is provided to fill out.
4. Head over to immigration (six feet apart markers in the floor)
5. Pick up luggage. The luggage actually arrived by the time I finished immigration.
6. Provide proof of payment for COVID and go through customs
7. Get COVID test
VOILA!! you are done.

The atmosphere is a fat cry from the USA. Masks were notably worn at the airport but the social distancing is a luxury.
Welcome to Mama Salone! Welcome home!