This was not my first attempt to fly back to my home town Kolkata.
I and my sister were stuck in Delhi due to ongoing pandemic lockdown.
In the past, I tried to book a flight on 25th May but it got canceled last minute the reason was Kolkata as the city was severely hit by cyclone Amphan. The cyclone had caused a lot of damage to the airport, so relief and restoration work was underway.
After which I opted for a credit shell from indigo and waited for the next announcement.
#Tip: Please book flight tickets directly with the airline.
West-Bengal government announced that by 28th may 2020 domestic airport will resume in Kolkata.
I checked for 28th May but no flights were showing on the indigo website. Then I checked make my trip there Vistara and Spicejet flights were showing. As I had the credit shell in Indigo Airline I was looking for Indigo Airlines only. I thought maybe last minute it will show for 28th May but till 26th night no flights were showing for Indigo airline. So it clicked in my brain as Delhi has 2 flight slots and Spicejet and Vistara Airlines already got there don't think Indigo Airline will get there a slot for 28th May. So I checked for 29th May and it was there. The first attempt was failed to book tickets for 29th May due to technical error so we tried a second time with fingers crossed and we got the tickets.
Price: Rs.10,000/- per person.
Anyway, I was ready with packing and tickets and continuously checking new rules and regulations. We set up the Arogya Setu app individually and did web check-in. ( Mandatory by Government)
The Day 29th May 2020:
Cab ( Uber ) came around 6:30 AM, reached to the Indira Gandhi terminal T3 ( all domestic flights are operating from T3 only).
Before entering the airport we got to print out of our boarding pass from Boarding pass print kiosk ( as we web checked-in already through our phone we just needed the print). To get print you can scan the bar code or just type in the PNR no., bar code thing failed in our case so I have to do the PNR no. thing ( I want to avoid any surface touch at any cost but nothing to do ).
Mask and gloves on we went to baggage UV scanner in which our luggage got sanitized ( but in my mind " cross-contamination is a thing"). I was carrying a 7 kg handbag and a 15 kg check-in bag (up to 20kg check-in bag is allowed now in Indigo Airline). To enter the airport we showed our id cards and boarding pass to security people via glass shield then showed Arogya Setu app green status to health check-up guard. The health guard took our temperature and allowed us to enter. We went to get our baggage tag print through a kiosk and pasted it by our self. If bag tag print is not working you can simply write your PNR no. and destination in a plain paper and stick to your check-in bag.
We went to counter to drop our Check-in baggage once we did that we proceed to the security check counter. Meanwhile, I saw immigration counter it was dead ( I was simply lost in my past travel experiences.when I used to line up and waited for my turn for immigration clearance.Golden days to fly other destination and stuff).
People were maintaining social distance in the security queue. I showed my boarding and went to the X-ray counter for handbag scanning. I put up my cellphone and laptop in the scanning tray and waited for my turn to get scanned. So this time no stamp on my boarding pass. The security lady checked through a long metal detector and in computer clicked OK to board. I went to collect my stuff.
To my surprise many retail, food restaurant, and pharmacy were open but liquor shops were closed. The smoking room was also open. Vistara lounge was closed.
We walked till gate no. 47 like old-time in walking escalator.
After 2 months lockdown, this was the first social encounter I was happy because I was traveling again and paranoid because of the corona virus at the same time.
After reaching to gate no. 47 we saw in all benches middle seats were marked cross due to social distancing. We sanitized our gloves and dare to drink some water which we brought from home ( the Delhi one). My sister went to the toilet with Pee safe toilet sanitizer.
Our flight got announced and asked to collect Face shield, mask, and sanitizer. As I was already wearing a mask just cleaned the face shield with sanitizer ( for my peace of mind) and put it on.
People who have seat no. in last rows were called first to maintain social distancing. The crew makes sure everyone wearing masks and shields.
No inflight meals and no gathering of people around the washroom.
As soon as the plane landed one person stands and air hostess asks him to please be seated but after a few moments, no one followed social distancing to get out of the aircraft. At baggage counter belt to maintain social distancing marks were there but no one followed.
At kolkata airport retail shop were closed.
To exit again you have to through temperature check and have to sign self-declaration form for 14days self-quarantine with all details like phone no. and address.
Didn't get the point of using the Arogya Setu app and gloves as cross-contamination can't be avoided. You have to sanitize your hand and try to not touch surfaces.
#Tip: Do not touch your face until you reach your home and sanitize each and everything.
For any query DM me on my Instagram page:trailer.travel https://www.instagram.com/trailer.travel/