From Karachi to Copenhagen

Allia Bukhari pens her account of travelling during the pandemic

A brief account of what travelling is like during a global pandemic

With mandatory mask wearing and compliance to physical distancing rules, travelling with precaution is the new reality

The Covid-19 pandemic has greatly transformed the way we travel, making international trips a distant dream for many. With majority of countries still not open for tourism and embassies demanding a “worthy” purpose to issue visas, travel enthusiasts find themselves in an unending and unsettling quagmire. Most are relying on staycations and domestic travel to ‘satisfy wanderlust’ while some are only travelling when it’s absolutely necessary. Nonetheless, it is taking a lot to plan a trip, given the limited number of possibilities, as the Coronavirus fear still persists around the world and some countries witness a ‘second wave’. Luckily, Pakistan has managed to flatten the virus curve as per the government’s statististics but measures worldwide are still in place to prevent and deal with potentially new outbreaks. With additional requirements, compliance to the physical distancing rules and mandatory wearing of masks, gloves and other personal protective equipment (if possible), travelling with precaution is the new reality.

Karachi to Copenhagen

I took an Emirates flight to Copenhagen — in a necessary, life-changing move — and departed in what was the first international travel experience during a pandemic. While I was hoping to see greater measures enforced at Karachi Airport to ensure safety, long queues at the check-in and boarding counters and a lack of adherence to social distancing practices by passengers didn’t really serve the purpose. The staff, before issuing the boarding cards, would verify the Covid-19 tests and hence the process took slightly longer. The seating arrangement, on the other hand, was adjusted in a way to ensure distance.

Travellers had their PCR tests checked multiple times, twice at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport and again at their destinations, including the transit points. Dubai is particularly strict in this regard and more so if it is your final destination. Upon arrival in Denmark however, most passengers and myself weren’t asked to show Covid-19 tests but the free testing service near the airport has been initiated to assist as many arrivals as possible and increase the testing capacity. The EU countries, as of now, are only accepting passengers who have a legitimate reason to travel — which was the case with me — hence tourism from outside the region is still banned.

The flight experience

The Emirates crew, donning PPEs, welcomed passengers on board with travel hygiene kits and health cards for those landing in the UAE. The flight from Karachi to Dubai was full to its capacity, much like under normal circumstances and the one seat empty policy was no longer enforced. I was lucky to have a seat empty right next to me though, much to my relief.

My other flight from Dubai to Copenhagen did not have many passengers and physical distancing rules could easily be followed. The meal served was not a ‘modified’ version either — something Emirates staff has introduced on short-haul flights in light of Covid-19 — and was fit for a King.

Transiting through Dubai

The Dubai Airport seemed quieter than usual with strict physical distancing rules put in place to curb the virus spread. ‘One empty seat’ policy was being implemented in the lounge and the Duty Free seemed less crowded. Being a hub for international travel, some terminals were still hosting a large number of flights with passengers thronging the airport with every new arrival. Masks are compulsory and sanitising is encouraged.

What you need to know

Marred with uncertainty till the last minute, your departure is solely dependent on a negative Covid-19 test these days. Nearly all international airlines flying from Pakistan have made the Coronavirus tests compulsory and the results are expected to be not older than 96 hours. Hence even when planning travels, or transiting through a few destinations, you can only board a flight once declared negative! In case tested positive, make sure to quarantine and wait for another 14 days — as suggested by most laboratories — to plan your journey and only once recovered. Stay safe and travel with care!