Our Flights from Europe to the USA During the Global COVID Pandemic

After nearly a year and a half abroad in Europe, with ten of those months in Portugal, we had to take three flights from Europe to the USA during the COVID-19 global pandemic.

We didn’t want to leave Europe or take those flights, but due to our residency status (and the pandemic), we had to leave Portugal before the holidays.

We could have flown to a few other countries that were still accepting US citizens during the pandemic. We could have stayed in those countries for three to six months each.

We wouldn’t have roamed free as if nothing serious was happening. We would have continued our hunkering down/social distancing, waiting out the pandemic. Abroad.

But the countries that could take us were in various states of border restriction flux, with winter health and safety not looking good.

With no guarantee or ideal solution in sight, we decided it might be wisest to head to our country of birth—a country that must take us in, no matter what.

We were not thrilled about going to back home due to many things happening there. We knew those things might extend our time there longer than we’d prefer.

But we also knew we could…

• hunker down during the most dangerous COVID-19 + influenza months

• attend overdue medical appointments

• order some much-needed items (luggage, clothing, + supplies)

• enjoy a cozy, warm, and slightly fancy apartment in a city (so we could walk to most places we’d need to go)

• apply for visas that would allow us to be back in Europe for as long as we desired (eliminating the requirement that we change countries every three to six months; eliminating the need to return to the USA to apply for future visas)

So we tried our best to handle this as safely as possible.

The first thing I did for this next leg of our adventure was purchase travel insurance that covered Covid-19 on its policy.

Choosing flights and where to stay in the States became a bit complicated at that time, with every possibility changing by the minute.

Due to the constant pandemic unknowns, we needed to find something we could focus on. Focusing on safety did the trick.

I typically spend as little money as possible when booking flights—about $300 to fly between the Pacific Northwest and Europe per person. And that includes checked luggage.

But I thought it wise to pay extra for this trip back, so as to “guarantee” (as much as possible) that we could…

• fly from Portugal to the USA without stopping in any other country

  • as we were not allowed in most other countries at that time

  • some countries were instating pandemic requirements that we could not meet

  • we had no legal paperwork explaining that the Portuguese government allowed us to overstay our time in Portugal by six months (our passports appeared in violation)

  • a border crossing reporting glitch might have charged us a large fee if enforced

• fly on airlines dedicated to high-quality sanitization

• fly on airplanes that were not fully booked

• book socially-distanced seats (with extra legroom)

• have enough time during layovers to eat at the airports (to keep our masks on when on the planes)

We researched and booked what seemed to be the safest airlines, connections, and seats. Then, later, all of our flights were canceled.

Fortunately, we were eventually able to rebook, but we couldn’t find as much protection during the second booking.

The airline that guaranteed social distancing shut down all their flights on our route, and the other airline no longer had the same socially-distanced seating available.

So we chose the next best flights, the next best seating, and paid just as much (somewhere between $1300 and $1600 total, though I was too anxious to ever look at that bill).

I still feel our health was worth these extra precautions during such an unknown experience because we had to spend seventeen hours inside airplanes.

Including transfers, layovers, and delays, this entire trip took three days to fly from southern Portugal to the Pacific Northwest.

Our First Airport (and Flight) Were Packed

Our first flight wasn’t supposed to happen. We had hoped to take a bus or train instead, but there was no guarantee they would operate.

Basically, buses and trains were in flux, accommodating last-minute COVID-19 changes.

A flight was the safest bet, as any single flight cancellation would guarantee a rebooking of all flights on the same ticket.

Arriving three hours early at the first airport, we were shocked when a crowd of visitors swarmed in around us, with most not respecting Portugal’s COVID-19 rules…

• masks were intentionally hanging below noses and chins (pulled down and kept there)

• visitors pushed in close to us and remained inches away the entire time (not six feet away)

• visitors were coughing, hacking, and yelling out to each other—inches from us

• these visitors came to Portugal for the Portuguese Grand Prix/Grande Prémio de Portugal (which, last we heard, was not going to allow crowds)

So one of us remained in line, hoping to handle this situation as quickly as possible. And one of us stood far away, waiting for it to pass.

But it didn’t pass. In fact, this situation took up our entire three hours.

COVID-19 signage and frequent loudspeaker announcements were fantastic, but not enough. We needed kind security officers in populated areas to prompt visitors to follow precautions.

Then this crowd of visitors packed tightly onto our flight. Someone had to practice her breathing.

Arriving at the Lisbon airport, we had nearly eight hours before our next flight. This was due in part to flight delays.

So we roamed the airport, bought supplies (hand sanitizer, snacks), ate hot meals (off in corners, by ourselves), freshened up, and prepared for our flight over the Atlantic.

We were so happy to spend most of this time walking (exercising) to tire ourselves out so we might sleep on the flight.

Boarding the plane in Lisbon, we were so relieved to see that it was near-empty. Everyone could stretch out and sleep on four seats if they wished. We still can’t get over that spacious feeling.

Landing in Newark, NJ, our bags were already officially checked through to our final destination. But we were instructed to still greet our bags in Customs and walk them a few feet to a carousel.

As luck would have it, when we arrived at Customs around midnight, our bags were sitting alone, the carousels were not operating, and nobody was there to process this Customs procedure.

So we waited nearby until 4 am. During that time, I washed up and changed my clothes.

Just as I began to relax, an airport employee began yelling at me and another took our bags. Yes, we were on the East Coast of the USA.

Next, I sped through security.

My partner received the most thorough security search ever. He wasn’t happy. COVID protocols were not followed. And all of his belongings were spewed all over, down the conveyor belt.

After we collected his things, we may have had to walk a few laps discussing this travel experience before we were ready to eat a hot meal. Waffles made everything better.

Boarding our last flight, we were so happy to see that it was a clone of our previous flight (near empty), with a flight attendant mandating that all wear their masks properly—no excuses.

We left a warm climate. Two of our airports were in warm climates. Two of our airports were in colder climates. But how did we dress?

My partner did a stellar job of wearing his favorite layered flight outfit: a base layer shirt, button-down shirt, travel blazer, nice pants, warm socks, and a favorite hat. He felt so comfortable.

I packed away all my favorite clothing and instead layered on items that I was ready to donate.

I had the notion that I’d peel those layers off and donate them along the way to anyone in need. But was too cold for me to remove my layers, so I had to wear all the things I no longer wanted.

We wore kn95 masks for the first time. We each had four masks so we could follow the health guidelines and change masks after each leg of the trip.

Changing our masks also made us feel a tad fresher during these days that we could not shower.

We also wore snug glasses. My sunglasses wrapped around (and helped me sleep). A certain someone wore comfortable clear safety glasses (that allowed him to see).

We brought gloves, carried hand sanitizer, plus packed sanitizing handy wipes.

Everyone knew so little about Covid at the time that all we could do was protect ourselves as told. We really didn’t worry that we looked funny.

In fact, I will always like the idea of civilization giving people a bit more personal space, even after this pandemic is over (it can calm people; people can more safely breathe).

I look forward to civilization continuing to practice some of this germ hygiene, even after this pandemic is over (so we can keep each other healthier and happier in the long-run).

This pandemic has reinforced just how much we value health, our planet, and how much we want to enjoy the meaningful things in this world—like travel.

So as soon as it’s safe to do so, we’re excited to continue doing what sustains us again.