My husband’s dream has been to spend winters in Florida, away from the cold, snow, and ice. Since his cancer and treatments in 2012, that dream became even more important to him. He feels the cold more quickly and deeply. He has a cousin who lives in Florida full-time. I have a brother, uncle, and cousin who live in Florida, and summer Florida camping trips are part of my family history, visiting another uncle who lived in various Florida locations (our dad was a teacher, so summer holidays were travel season — with four kids in the back of a car!!). Walt Disney World was a draw for us in 2009. Vero Beach in 2012 and 2013, then a family gathering in Fort Lauderdale in 2016.
Typically, it’s a multi-day drive toward the sunshine or an exciting flight from Hamilton or Toronto to Tampa, knowing that palm trees will greet us as we land. Then COVID-19 stopped us in our tracks. We drove back home in March 2020, expecting to return on our usual schedule after the COVID-19 scare was over. SCREECH! Not so fast. Like many other Canadians, we chose to follow the Canadian government’s advice to avoid non-essential travel (although I have to say that “essential” turned out to include a much wider range of activities than I consider essential — but I digress, sorry).
For other Canadians who chose to travel to Florida as usual last winter, they enjoyed activities outside and received their vaccines before we did at home. Free of charge. How strange is that? We heard that they were careful, wearing masks when inside and gathering only in small bubble groups, if at all. Pretty much like we did here.
So this fall, we decided to head back to Florida for a month and see if we felt comfortable returning for a winter vacation in the new year. This article is really being written to tell you about our experience before, during, and after our flights down and back. At the very least, I hope you find it interesting. Ideally, it will help you in your preparations if you plan to travel this winter.
In October, when we were finalizing travel details, the U.S.-Canada border was “closed” so flying was our only option. The convenience of Hamilton’s John C. Munro International Airport was not an option for us as Swoop and Westjet were not flying to Florida. Today, the airport’s website, flyhamilton.ca, says that “Transport Canada is easing the restriction on international flight arrivals. Effective November 30, 2021, international flights carrying passengers will be permitted to land at Hamilton International.”
So, Toronto Pearson International Airport, here we come. We expected a longer wait at the airport on departing, so arrived at 6:30 a.m., more than three hours early. We had our proof of vaccination and negative COVID-19 test results in hand. Not having used the ArriveCAN app before, we downloaded it and tried to complete as much information as possible in advance. Nope: we learned that you can’t input your information until 72 hours before your arrival back in Canada. Oh well, we were as prepared as we could be. Two adults heading off, masked, and with our hand disinfectant and wipes ready when needed. As usual, we had done our online check-in with the airline the day before. We needed to drop off one checked bag, then planned to have breakfast and wait comfortably at our departure gate.
Hmmm, think you are prepared? HA! First, we had to figure out step one, a line that was down at the far end of the entry hall. Then, we had to come back to the original area where airport staff directed us to the appropriate line for our flight. Eventually, airport staff directed us to security, where I lucked out because I was carrying a laptop. We were pulled out of line and advanced beyond most others waiting at that point. Still, we were in a line that was the longest I had ever seen. Three separate gathering spaces, all filled to the max with people waiting. Everyone was relaxed and airport and airline staff were very helpful. There were so many flights leaving that we were shocked to see how busy the airport was.
Social distancing? Forget it. Didn’t happen. People in line behind us were missing their flights and we were getting worried that we would too. The distance we had to walk to our gate was huge, and we ran to arrive at our gate JUST in time for the flight departure time. No breakfast, no washroom pit stop. Then we hear that the flight is delayed by half an hour. Good! But now we’re on the plane and can’t leave.
So we wait.
For two hours.
Everyone on the plane wore masks until it was refreshment time, and then everyone had their masks off. The flight was full, but we felt comfortable. The experience made us very aware of the difficulties people with mobility issues would have, and the challenges of travelling with young children. In hindsight, we would still travel, although it must have been even more challenging for those with less physical stamina. We enjoyed our usual excellent Air Canada flight and arrived at the always-impressive Tampa International Airport.
Not once were we asked to show our proof of vaccination or negative COVID-19 test. We were stunned, as were other Canadian friends who had the same experience.
Next, we experienced the Florida warmth and the Florida COVID-19 reality. An immediate drop into fantasy land where very few people were wearing masks (of course, we were) and hugging was back in fashion (not us!). Our experience was that we lived in Florida like we do here: wear masks indoors, only dine out on an outdoor porch or patio (we did twice), avoid large gatherings, stay aware, and be prepared. It felt great to play pickleball outside, go for walks or cycling, visit a local garden, and play golf. We avoided shopping and only had a rental car for a week, so that helped us stay closer to home as well. We had heard of shortages in vehicle rentals, but we had no problem getting a rental car for a week. Many of our friends had shipped their cars down, similar to the previous year.
While we were in Florida, we researched options for getting the PCR test that we were required to have before getting on our return flight. A range of locations offered them, from $183 per person to $129 per person. Eventually, we settled on a drive-through CVS pharmacy location, which provided the test (for free!), and sent our results by email within 48 hours. One of the challenges was that no location guaranteed the results on time for your flight, and misinformation abounds. The test needs to be completed within 72 hours of your departure time.
Then we input our info into the ArriveCAN app. “It only takes minutes to help keep each other safe” says the Canada.ca website. Right. It is free, and the instructions are clear. Except for the documents required, it was straightforward to complete. Adding photos of your proof of vaccination took several tries. No cell phone or no skill in using one? No experience with an app? Very challenging.
We received our negative results and uploaded them to the ArriveCAN app, after needing to register online for the CVS site. Again, a challenge for those less comfortable with technology. Planning ahead, we left early for the airport, allowing more than three hours given our earlier experience. Very straightforward in Tampa airport, no additional locations to line up, and we arrived at our gate with time to spare for breakfast. Our flight was delayed slightly, but we boarded and had a great Westjet flight back to Toronto.
Where we could not leave the plane.
Flight staff told us that the airport had instructed them to keep us on the plane due to COVID-19 distancing requirements. Then, those with connecting flights were allowed to deplane, after showing proof that they truly were catching a connecting flight.
We waited.
When we were able to deplane, we arrived to the busiest arrival area we have ever seen, anywhere. First, used the kiosks to answer the customs questions, then joined the end of a line longer than we were in when we left Toronto. Those with NEXUS had an easier arrival than most of us, so that might be an opportunity for you to investigate if you plan to travel across the border regularly. When we eventually arrived at the customs counter, it was relatively quick and our passports were stamped. I thought we were on our way, yay!
Not so fast. The sticker on my passport was not green like my husband’s.
Ding, ding, ding, I can’t win with a lottery ticket EVER, but I have been selected for random COVID-19 testing.
The good news was that they did the test right in the airport, and the results I received by email several days later indicated that the result was negative.
Then off to baggage pickup. By that point, we had been so long since the plane landed that our luggage was not on a carousel. It was sitting in the middle of the baggage area with the rest of the bags from our and other flights. I didn’t see anyone checking that the baggage taken belonged to the person taking it, but thank goodness mine was there. My patient son-in-law had been waiting over two hours for us and we left the Toronto airport at 7:16 p.m. after leaving our home at 9:30 a.m. I can’t even imagine what a “regular” international flight day would have felt like.
As a result, we have suggested to our family that, in our opinion, it is not worth a week-long trip to Florida to go through that travel experience in both directions. Save it for another time. We look forward to crossing the border in our vehicle at some point this winter, and will try to keep up-to-date on the ever-changing requirements of Canada and the U.S. for border crossings.
For those who are travelling this winter, be sure to get help with the technology if you need it. It takes longer than you expect. Allow loads of time for waiting. We were concerned about some of the people we saw who certainly had difficulty standing in those lines for such a long time. There is no seating to relax in. If you have a walker, that might be helpful as you wait in line, even if you might not usually travel with it. Bring acceptable snacks with you so you have something to eat when you need it. Missing meals is not helpful in staying calm on travel days. And rest when you can. Airport experiences during COVID-19 are a true test of your patience. We appreciate all of the travellers who stayed calm throughout (that wasn’t everyone, I assure you) and are so grateful that most of the children travelling kept occupied and relatively quiet in a very busy environment.
This may be the perfect winter to enjoy Ontario!
Sources:
Government of Canada. Use ArriveCAN to Enter Canada. Url: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/coronavirus-disease-covid-19/arrivecan.html (accessed December 8, 2021).
Hamilton International Airport. Destinations Map. Url: https://flyhamilton.ca/airlines/destinations-map/ (accessed December 8, 2021).
