Traveling Again

 After more than a year staying close to home, Iko and I finally headed to the airport for some real travel.

At 1400 on Thursday (5/26) afternoon we set off for SeaTac airport, destination, Maui, to visit our younger son, Dean, and his wife Katrina. We were both fully vaccinated and had received negative test results so had hopes of an uneventful trip.

Hawaii is doing a delicate balancing act by encouraging tourists critical to their tourism economy all the while trying to reduce the odds of importing new virus cases. To meet their requirements, we registered with Hawaii's Safe Travel site and completed the health form. After Honolulu, Maui has the most tourists so they have additional guidance, including downloading an app that alerts if  the bearer has been near someone who tests positive.

Three days before departure we were tested by Carbon Health (one of the few providers partnered with Hawaii) for one of the two tests authorized by Hawaii. Tests cost $170 each and are not covered by insurance. Our results, and the needed QR code, posted 24 hours later on the Carbon website. I downloaded and printed those for future use, then uploaded the QR codes to the Hawaii Safe Travel Site. 

Having jumped through the preliminary hoops, we felt prepared to plunge back into travel so headed to SeaTac allowing plenty of time for unforeseen delays. Part of that cushion was used right after we left Edmonds. Traffic from Northgate to downtown Seattle was taking 40 minutes so I hopped over to Hwy 99 and went through the new tunnel and out to the airport that way. Got parked and into the terminal just a little over two hours before flight time.

 Checked baggage and made our way to the special Hawaii Clearance desk. Here is where prior knowledge paid off. We produced passports, vaccination records, Hawaii Safe Travel QR code and those critical QR codes from the pre-travel negative Covid testing. This stop took about ten minutes but the result was a serial-numbered white wristband for each of us.

The flight to Maui was uneventful and, thanks to that wristband, clearance through Maui airport was uneventful too. Seeing the wristband and that I had my passports, downloaded exposure app, vaccination records and printed QR codes in hand, one of the guards at the exit from the screening room beckoned us forward, didn't even look at our documents, and directed us right on down the passageway toward baggage claim. 

I estimated that more than 50% of the passengers on our flight didn't have wristbands. They were stuck in the screening area doing paperwork and getting Covid tests. According to the Maui travel info site, most would be required to self-quarantine for two weeks or the duration of their stay if shorter. I'm not sure how long it took for those poor souls but most looked disheartened as they saw the wristband wearers breeze right on through. 

The kids picked us up at the airport and we were relieved to have cleared the hurdles and to be free from the self-quarantine facing others. 

During this time of year, Hawaii time is three hours behind PDT. We claimed our baggage a little after 2200 local time, so it was a long day for a couple of old-timers.

More tomorrow from Maui.