Travel day: EWR –> HNL
“There’s something magic about airports, it’s like standing in a room with thousand doors”
Atticus
Friday April 16th
Today I leave for Hawaii!
So normally I am not a morning person. I like to sleep in until 9/10am on the weekends (11am/12pm if I was out the night before). But this morning was different. This morning I was going to HAWAII. When the sun peaked through the window at 6am I was refreshingly awake. Naturally I stayed in bed a bit longer, relaxed, checked my phone etc. and then got up to get my things together…all 3 bags. 1 checked suitcase, 1 tote bag to carry on, and 1 backpack. Yes I am a chronic over-packer (shocker) and it’s something that I’m working on. In all fairness 16 days is a long time and it’s my 2nd longest trip to date.
Departing from EWR during COVID, post initial vaccine roll-out
Getting there
By 7:30 am I was on my way to Newark airport. Luckily I had the best driver to escort me there (Hi Steli) and though I seemed calm the excitement was definitely building inside. The terminal drop off didn’t seem crowded at all (good sign). I kissed Stelios goodbye and was off of my way.
I realized I spoke too soon… upon approaching the kiosk section to get my bag tags it felt like a regular morning at Newark airport. Yes it was crowded. One of my airport pet peeves is people who don’t know how to use the kiosks. You would think by now:
1. 80% of people should know how to use them
2. There should be an employee at each kiosk area to help out people like my dad who are technology challenged (there wasn’t)
3. They would have installed more kiosks to keep things moving
The guy waiting in front of me rolled his eyes and definitely felt the same way.
Anyway my checked bag weighed in at exactly 50lbs. Fewh. Good to go!
Next: Airport security
A few years ago I upgraded to Global Entry to bypass the regular TSA lines and honestly it was the best travel decision I ever made. 100% recommend. Your status lasts for 5 years with a one time fee of $100. If you don’t want to pay the fee just open up a United Mileage Plus credit card – they credit you the $100 it costs to apply and you get a free checked bag on every United flight which basically pays for the annual fee itself if you fly more than 2x a year. However I will say that today the TSA Pre line was a bit longer than usual (nothing compared to the regular line I just prefer to breeze through security). I glanced over at the empty CLEAR line and while I do want to upgrade at some point, I can’t justify the annual cost yet ($120 annually as a Mileage Plus credit card holder). Probably next year once I start flying more domestically I’ll upgrade.
Once through security I stopped in CIBO Express to get some food for the plane ride since I had an 11 hour flight ahead of me. They were definitely channeling Amazon because this store had contact-less check out. (Upon Googling later apparently is IS Amazon’s technology.) Basically you swipe your credit card to enter the store and the scanners and cameras identify what items you take and automatically charge you on the way out. No check out lines. No hassle. It was pretty cool.
I finally arrived to the gate and the check in process to Hawaii was fairly simple. They asked me for my passport, QR code from the Hawaii gov site to prove I tested negative for COVID, and then gave me a wristband so I can bypass quarantine upon landing. I boarded the plane and to my delight still had no one on the seat next to me. I had checked a few nights prior and paid to select my preferred window seat in an empty row, banking on the fact that one person traveling alone wouldn’t pick the seat next to me…And it worked! WORTH IT. Easily the most comfortable I’ve ever been on a plane ride. With 2 seats all to myself I stretched out, ordered a glass of champagne, and relaxed. Cheers!
Thoughts on traveling during covid:
With the vaccine rolling out people seem over COVID and ready to travel, myself included. Today felt like any other day at Newark airport aside from the fact that everyone was wearing masks.
Thoughts on the plane:
It just feels SO GOOD to be on a plane again. That feeling of traveling to a new destination, ready to experience a different place, better climate. It instantly puts me in a better mood, a different mindset. I can’t wait to detach from the mainland and soak up the Hawaiian sun.
XO Steph