{"id":1604593,"date":"2021-09-30T13:15:04","date_gmt":"2021-09-30T17:15:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/divine.ca\/?p=1604593"},"modified":"2022-01-07T19:11:31","modified_gmt":"2022-01-08T00:11:31","slug":"what-it-is-like-to-fly-internationally-during-covid-19","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/divine.ca\/en\/what-it-is-like-to-fly-internationally-during-covid-19\/","title":{"rendered":"What It Is Like To Fly Internationally During COVID-19"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>I have my first international trip in almost two years under my belt. I\u2019d be lying if I didn\u2019t say that getting on that plane was emotional \u2013 in a good way. As a <a href=\"https:\/\/divine.ca\/en\/travel-with-kids-covid-style\/\">travel writer<\/a> that did not travel, I\u2019d begun to question my entire existence but that\u2019s a story for my therapist. Asking my Uber driver to head to Terminal 3 gave me a sense of both calm and elation all at once.<\/p>\n<p>The airport wasn\u2019t busy at all &#8211; which makes sense as technically we are still traveling for essential purposes only. (It is at this time that I would like to specify that my trip was for work). A general lack of people meant that line ups were short, social distancing was possible and touch points were limited. In fact, I\u2019ve never seen the airport cleaner.<\/p>\n<p>There were three things that I needed to get on a plane leaving Canada:<\/p>\n<div class=\"sbi-embed-wrap\">\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media sbi-embed\" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CT9wNcVgWYb\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\">\n<div style=\"padding:16px;\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CT9wNcVgWYb\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <\/p>\n<div style=\" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\">\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 19% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;\"><svg width=\"50px\" height=\"50px\" viewBox=\"0 0 60 60\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\"><g stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><g transform=\"translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)\" fill=\"#000000\"><g><path d=\"M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631\"><\/path><\/g><\/g><\/g><\/svg><\/div>\n<div style=\"padding-top: 8px;\">\n<div style=\" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;\">View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\">\n<div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\">\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: auto;\">\n<div style=\" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\">\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CT9wNcVgWYb\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A post shared by Natalie Preddie (@_nattyp)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/platform.instagram.com\/en_US\/embeds.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<ol>\n<li>A passport<\/li>\n<li>A negative COVID-19 test<\/li>\n<li>Proof of vaccination<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>I printed off the two latter documents which made it easy to present when necessary. Funnily enough, no one asked to see either until I reached the gate. Here is the small print surrounding each of these documents:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Must be more than 6 months from expiration date.<\/li>\n<li>Must be a molecular COVID test taken within 72 hours of your departure. (These tests cost upward of $150 CDN).<\/li>\n<li>Depending on your destination, certain vaccine combinations may not be recognized. I highly recommend checking the entry guidelines for any destination you plan on visiting. This can change day to day so please check regularly.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>The plane was clean, and we were given disinfectant wipes on boarding. To be honest, even pre-COVID, I wiped down my airplane seat (especially the tray), but it was nice to see airline staff participating in these health measures. \u00a0Overall, it was an ideal experience for \u2018getting back on the travel horse.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>The trickier part is getting back in the country. Here is what you need:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>A Passport<\/li>\n<li>A negative PCR or NAAT COVID test<\/li>\n<li>Proof of vaccination<\/li>\n<li>Receipt code from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.canada.ca\/en\/public-health\/services\/diseases\/coronavirus-disease-covid-19\/arrivecan.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ArriveCAN<\/a> app<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Unlike Toronto Pearson airport, we were not getting past check-in\/bag drop without these four documents. Quite a few of the other passengers weren\u2019t aware of the ArriveCAN app so consider this your fair warning. Here is the small print regarding each of these documents:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>As above.<\/li>\n<li>Ensure that you book a <a href=\"https:\/\/travel.gc.ca\/travel-covid\/travel-restrictions\/covid-vaccinated-travellers-entering-canada#testing-positive\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>molecular covid test<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 the only test accepted at the Canadian border. The wrong test can leave you with a hefty fine and forced quarantine. It can be difficult to find COVID testing facilities at your destination. Luckily, many hotels and resorts offer in room pre-travel COVID testing. Find out your options as soon as you arrive so you aren\u2019t scrambling to find a testing site. Note that these tests are pricey (upward of $199 USD) so build that into your budget.<\/li>\n<li>I recommend keeping a printed copy of your <a href=\"https:\/\/travel.gc.ca\/travel-covid\/travel-restrictions\/covid-vaccinated-travellers-entering-canada#entry-vaccinated\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">vaccine receipt<\/a> in your passport, so it is always available. Some people choose to laminate their receipt which is also a great idea.<\/li>\n<li>Make sure you download the ArriveCAN app before you leave the country. Before you head to the airport, the app requires you to fill out a survey. You will need to upload proof of vaccine, proof of your negative COVID test and to comprise a quarantine plan, should that be necessary. Based on your answers, the app will create a unique code that must be shown to airline agents in your departure destination and custom agents on arrival. You cannot enter Canada without this code.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>When customs agent asked for our receipt code, he made a few notes and put a green sticker on our passports. Once we collected our bags, we flashed our green sticker, walked through the departure doors and went home.<\/p>\n<p>This was not true for everyone.<\/p>\n<p>For those passengers not fully vaccinated, they were directed to an onsite COVID testing booth in the terminal. From there they were tested, given quarantine instructions, and some were given rapid tests to take at home in 3-5 days. Of the fully vaccinated passengers, one or two were randomly selected for the same procedure.<\/p>\n<p>Overall, traveling internationally was a smooth procedure, so long as one was fully vaccinated and aware of the required documentation at every border. The COVID tests are a very pricey endeavour but necessary to protect one another from this nightmare virus continuing to attack Canadians. Would I travel again? Depends. If there is one thing we know about COVID-19, it\u2019s that we just don\u2019t know.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Make sure that you check the regulations of the country that you are visiting and the airline that you are taking well in advance. Requirements may change. Read more travel advice from Natalie Preddie on <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nattyponline.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Adventures of Natty P &amp; Co.<\/a> and follow her on Instagram <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/_nattyp\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">@_nattyp<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"post-excerpt\">I have my first international trip in almost two years under my belt. I\u2019d be lying if I didn\u2019t say that getting on that plane was emotional \u2013 in a&hellip;<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/divine.ca\/en\/what-it-is-like-to-fly-internationally-during-covid-19\/\" class=\"button button-primary button-effect\"><span>View Post<\/span><span><i class=\"cs-icon cs-icon-arrow-right\"><\/i><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":80,"featured_media":1604594,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[9356,9357,9358,9359,9360,9361,9330,9362,9355,9261,9354,9353,6450,9352,9351],"powerkit_post_featured":[2],"class_list":{"0":"post-1604593","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-travel","8":"tag-air-travel-from-canada-to-the-usa","9":"tag-arrivecan","10":"tag-canada-international-travel","11":"tag-canada-travel","12":"tag-covid-test","13":"tag-fly-internationally","14":"tag-international-travel","15":"tag-international-travel-after-covid-vaccine","16":"tag-international-travel-restrictions","17":"tag-pcr-test","18":"tag-pearson-airport","19":"tag-toronto-pearson-travel","20":"tag-travel-writer","21":"tag-usa-travel","22":"tag-vaccine-receipt"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/divine.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1604593","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/divine.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/divine.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/divine.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/80"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/divine.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1604593"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/divine.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1604593\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1606127,"href":"https:\/\/divine.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1604593\/revisions\/1606127"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/divine.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1604594"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/divine.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1604593"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/divine.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1604593"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/divine.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1604593"},{"taxonomy":"powerkit_post_featured","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/divine.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/powerkit_post_featured?post=1604593"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}