Happy Independence Day!
Can you believe we are in July? I am amazed at how the months of April, May, and then June flew by! It has honestly felt like a blur. I will admit that I have enjoyed having my kids home with constant chatter, music playing, and laughter. I am treasuring the time. It will be August in a blink and out the door they will go, away to school again.
What are you doing this summer to enjoy your days at home? Maybe you are prepping for a yummy backyard BBQ tomorrow? I hope you all have a fantastic Independence Day with your family!
Fly me to the moon, or maybe the Kennedy Space Center!
On our trip last weekend, we stopped for a visit to the Kennedy Space Center. The entire complex is not open right now, but we did see the outdoor exhibits and a few of the museums. Everything is very clean and masks are required. We went through bag check and then temperature checks before allowed inside.
The Rocket garden has giant rockets from the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo programs. We walked the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame to see many American astronauts remembered and honored. One of my favorite exhibits was a close up view of the Space Shuttle Atlantis. One of only 3 still remaining that actually entered space.
It was an awesome day of exploring and learning! If you are interested in a visit this summer, reservations are required and must be made by purchasing available tickets online.
Flying with Airlines today
Air travel is a thread that connects every corner of the world. It has changed the way we travel, making it easier and safer than ever before to explore far-off places and return home safely. But the world has changed. The coronavirus has ground the world to a halt. Suddenly, a journey through the skies has become dangerous—or has it? It turns out that many of America’s top airlines have been doing their part to make sure that their passengers are safe and healthy. Here are some of the things they are doing to combat the coronavirus.
Did you know that the air inside a plane is actually cleaner than most homes and buildings? It’s true! The air inside airplanes is not recycled, as many people think, but pumped in from the surrounding air through special filters. These are called HEPA filters and they replace all the air in the cabin every 2-3 minutes. Each of the major airlines has HEPA filters installed. The only risk comes from people right next to you who sneeze or cough during the flight. As for surfaces you might touch in-flight, there’s a plan for that.
Join us for an overview of 4 major carriers for an update on safety below.
American Airlines is requiring face masks for all passengers except for very small children and those with a condition that prevents them from wearing one. They serve food in individual wrappers and no longer use glassware. Instead, they use disposable utensils and cups. American has not socially-distanced their seating, but they do clean each aircraft throughout the day, especially for international flights.
United Airlines has taken a more individual approach to COVID prevention. In order to board, all guests must wear a mask. It is recommended that passengers should bring their own, but United does provide masks for those who forget. Like American, United has exemptions in place for small children and customers with certain conditions. United has also modified their terminals to reduce contact for guests and employees. At this time, touch screen check-in kiosks are not available, but guests can use the app to check in and then use the new touchless kiosks to print their luggage tags. Sneeze guards have been added at check-in counters and gates, and boarding passes will now be self-scanned. The boarding process will be different as well. United now boards fewer people at a time, and guests board from back to front to reduce crowding in the aisles of the plane. As they board, guests are provided wipes to clean their seats, which are alternately flipped. Inflight snacks and drinks will be provided, but flight attendants will not refill drinks. Instead, guests will receive a new cup each time they have emptied their glass. Customers will also throw their drinks away themselves in order to reduce contact between individuals. After every flight, the plane is electrostatically sprayed, and all hard surfaces used by customers are wiped down. If a passenger is confirmed with COVID-19, the plane is taken out of service and undergoes a deep clean. The airline is operating at limited capacity, but if a plane is fuller than expected, guests will be notified in advance and offered a rebooking or a travel credit. Finally, United has taken measures to make sure that their employees are safe and healthy. Temperature checks are required for all employees, and all employees on board the plane are required to wear face masks.
Delta Airlines has done a spectacular job in implementing preventative measures. From the minute guests arrive in the terminal, Delta has taken steps to keep their guests safe. All check-in kiosks are cleaned multiple times daily, but if guests prefer a contactless experience, they can check in for free on the Delta app. Inside security, Delta cleans all their terminals and has placed plexiglass partitions and hand sanitizer at every gate desk. They are operating at limited capacity to enforce social distancing while still providing their signature service. As of July 2, they have begun serving select alcoholic beverages on international flights. They now also provide a snack bag to every passenger, domestic and international, which includes crackers, cookies, and water. Snacks and non-alcoholic drinks from home are also welcome. Of course, every plane is electrostatically sprayed after each flight and all surfaces are cleaned rigorously. The airline has even opened a new division of their company that deals strictly with health and safety, which includes doctors from the CDC. They have given training and information about safety practices to all their employees in order to keep guests safe.
Southwest is the most thorough and sanitary of all the major airlines. They clean their planes for 6-7 hours every night, using electrostatic spray and disinfectant. They thoroughly clean every single surface, including the buttons above seats, windows, and carry-on compartments. The terminal is no different. Hand sanitizer and sneeze guards are available at check-in kiosks, ticket counters, and gates, which are all sanitized multiple times a day. Southwest also sanitizes their baggage claim, which is unique among their competitors. At the gate, guests are boarded in groups of 10 and social-distanced while in line. On Southwest, it is standard practice to choose your seat, so guests can sit as far apart as they feel comfortable. Families can board and sit together, and they will not be social distanced from each other. If there are two parties in the same row, the middle seat is left open as much as possible. They have suspended any food and drink for the time being except for water and snack mix on flights over 250 miles. As with the other airlines, Southwest requires all passengers and employees to wear masks, with similar exceptions.
The world can be a scary place right now, but air travel does not have to be. Each of these companies is working overtime to ensure that all of their passengers are as safe as possible. In fact, it could be argued that airplanes are cleaner now than ever before. So keep adventuring, keep exploring, and keep cruising the highway in the sky.
Thinking beyond airplanes…..
Did you know that space tourism is a real thing? NASA has said that in the future tourists will be allowed to visit the International Space Station for around $35,000 per night plus the charge from Boeing or SpaceX to take them there. Fox Business recently estimated this to be around $60 million per person.
Virgin Galactic is forging ahead to create a new age of space travel. They are taking deposits for private travel to the edge of space. Hundreds of flights have already been sold at the price of $250,000 per seat!
While I don't know anyone who can afford to fly into Space right now, isn't it amazing to think that we may one day be able to venture beyond the earth, or even the moon?
We can dream of future days as we work to make the world we live in a healthier, happier, more unified place. This weekend, let's celebrate our beautiful United States of America, celebrate our freedoms, and be thankful for our great country.
In gratitude,
April
"As global citizens, we have a responsibility to protect all communities, both at home and around the world. Travel embraces all colors and cultures and celebrates what humankind shares in common as well as the differences. In a world that can feel deeply divided, travel unites.” - Matthew Upchurch, Virtuoso
