Frontline travel workers go the extra mile in this stressful travel season!
- Every country has different public health requirements and expectations
- and different documentation
- and different names for the same documentation
- and the requirements sometimes change daily
- and they can conflict with one another
- and a country’s online documentation submission date might be 72 hours ahead of travel
- yet require negative test result for submission
- which cannot be done any more than 48 hours ahead of travel
- yet require negative test result for submission
- and different documentation
- COVID surge + travel requirements + holidays = shortage of covid tests
- especially in small-ish midwestern cities
- where a 1 hour rapid pcr test will cost you some coin
- and won’t come with a QR-coded e-document
- which some airlines require for boarding
- and won’t come with a QR-coded e-document
- where a 1 hour rapid pcr test will cost you some coin
- especially in small-ish midwestern cities
- Germany closed its borders to those traveling from England effective 19 December at midnight
- because England is a red zone plus variant, the worst on Germany’s scale
- exemptions for German citizens or residents or critical care workers
- I’m not any of those things
- exemptions for German citizens or residents or critical care workers
- USA is a hotspot too, just one tier down
- because England is a red zone plus variant, the worst on Germany’s scale
- British Airways books maybe 1-3 tickets per day for travel from Chicago to London to Germany
- and they don’t have any flights from London to anywhere in Germany
- because Germany won’t let them
- and for ten days before travel, British Airways insists that there are no problems with those bookings
- until day of flight and time to board
- when they act surprised
- then claim that Germany is closed to everyone and suggest you travel somewhere else or go home
- until they realize that you know better
- then they rebook you on another airline/route
- with a smile
- and they don’t have any flights from London to anywhere in Germany
- Finger-pointing and shifting blame is still very much a culture in air travel
- but so is taking the time to make things right
- The international terminal at O’Hare International Airport is outside of security
- which means any hike (or run) from a domestic terminal to international terminal (or back) requires TSA security check
- and I’m capable of doing that, several times in one day
- and sometimes TSA agents remember your face
- and even name
- and are really really nice (sometimes)
- which means any hike (or run) from a domestic terminal to international terminal (or back) requires TSA security check
- Lufthansa rocks
- Airline mileage status impacts solution options
- American Airlines responds to thank-you tweets right away
- so it is worth getting the name of that person who was awesome
- British Airways doesn’t respond instantly
- I hope the kudos still get passed on
- Lufthansa rocks
- and have the poshest first class cabins ever
- they claim to be the only ones who serve caviar
- who knew?
- they claim to be the only ones who serve caviar
- and have the poshest first class cabins ever
- Frankfurt Airport is beautiful!
- and, as expected, gates Z69 to A15 is a long long walk
- and is it Murphy’s law that the line stops moving as soon as I get in it?
- and my boarding starts in minutes?
- and people are gracious, letting several of us cut the queue in order to make our flights
- with smiles
- in a variety of languages
- I love humans!
- I cam capable of surviving a travel day extended to 28 hours
- and still catch (the right) train from the Berlin Airport
- get off at the correct stop
- leave from the right exit
- and find the hotel
- grateful for good guidance
- and still catch (the right) train from the Berlin Airport
- I’m not the only one who’s travel has been rearranged by all of the above
- and it’ll all be okay
- Travel and the people and places and experiences are one of my favorite things.
- full stop.
