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From check-in to flight to destination: What's it like to travel around the Philippines again
With tourist spots reopening after two years of lockdowns, it’s no surprise how excited travelers are to get out there again. But with the virus still around, how do you go about it?
The minute I stepped foot inside the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, throngs of masked passengers waiting in line greeted me. Mini alcohol bottles hung from their bags, as personal air purifiers from their necks.
It felt weird, but it was the good kind of weird. It seemed like everybody was on the same page, balancing being brave, being scared, and being walwal.
It helped that hand sanitizers and alcohol bottles were available for the public at check-in counters, as well as along airport hallways.
There were signs reminding everyone to keep a safe distance from each other, temperatures of everyone were taken, and disinfection mats were laid out.
The same is true for provincial airports. Bottles of alcohols were placed everywhere. Masked employees made sure different spots were sanitized before attending to new guests.
At the Busuanga Airport in Coron, there was even someone sanitizing bags and lugguages of those who just landed.
Flight attendants, meanwhile, made an extra effort to keep their passengers safe especially now that they are running on 100% capacity.
The staff of Philippine Airlines for instance consistently reminded its passengers to keep their face masks on during the flight (unless they needed to eat or drink), as they wore personal protective equipment including gloves and masks. They carried an alcohol spray bottle on one hand as they attended to the people’s needs.
At hotels, guests were provided with sanitary kits, already set up inside the room. They consist of alcohol, an ample amount of face masks, and even wipes! The sanitary packages seem like part of the new standard operating procedure across hotels.
Each room I stayed in had one, which surprisingly, would last for the whole duration of the guests' stay, even longer. Look: I was even able to bring some of them back home as I'd save them future use.
Restaurants in and out of the hotels now used silverware instead of the expected single-use utensils. It's assuring to see every inch of the table is sanitized before guests use them. They require guests to wear their masks, especially in buffets.
At the Abalone Buffet Restaurant in Cebu, customers were even required to wear plastic gloves for extra safety.
Both hotels and restaurants were consistent at checking the temperature of guests. And much like at airports, alcohol dispensers were placed right at the entrance for guests to use.
I noticed at beaches, tourists weren't masked. I suspect it had something to do with plans of swimming. Still, it was assuring to see passers-by in their casual wear, still in masks, alcohol bottles hanging from their bags.
I had a pen with me at all times to minimize touch points but such was the return and popularity of QR codes, I didn't anymore needed to reach for my pen.
Especially for plane travel, it's best to listen to authorities and do your check-in online ahead.
As a first time traveler since 2019, I can say that wandering the world again is quite a scary thing to do given the risks it imposes, but it was worth it. It helps that like me, people were being responsible.
What are you waiting for? Book that flight already. And in case you needed further convincing: There's a seat sale until March 28!
Safe travels, Kapuso! — LA, GMA News
