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The author, Melkorka Licea, at New York's JFK Airport.
Melkorka Licea

Flying amid coronavirus was one of the best experiences of my life

by

Heading to JFK for my May 20 flight home to Seattle, I prepared myself for the worst. I drenched my palms in hand sanitizer, strapped on a KN95 mask and had an army of Clorox wipes in my purse at the ready. I even vowed to skip my traditional Bloody Mary at the terminal to avoid the risk of contracting germs — a previously inconceivable thought to me.

But instead of the miserable toxic wasteland that I envisioned, I was greeted by a very different reality.

Streets that were normally backed up with bumper-to-bumper traffic were nearly empty as my dad and I approached Terminal 8 by car.

Inside the airport was no different. The check-in line for Alaska Air — usually packed with dozens of people — had only seven passengers.

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Melkorka Licea

And everyone was respectful about maintaining at least 6 feet of social distance, a courtesy barely observed at my local grocery store in Bushwick, Brooklyn.

“The security line has to be worse,” I told myself. Wrong. It was even more pleasant.

I waited all of three minutes before reaching the noticeably jovial TSA agent who joked with each flyer, an abrupt departure from the disdain I was used to.

At the gate, I got to choose my own empty row to settle into before boarding. I did get a little nervous as we filed into the plane, but my anxiety was quelled when I realized there were no passengers in the middle seats.

I even enjoyed sleeping with my mask on since I could unabashedly let my jaw hang agape without anyone noticing.

While I kept waiting for the monster from “The Twilight Zone” to hop onto the wing and ruin my perfect trip, I had no such misfortune. The biggest foul of the day? The $5 SmartWater I was forced to buy.

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Melkorka Licea

After what felt like a click of my ruby slippers, we were already landing in the Emerald City.

Did I get the coronavirus? I hope not. But I do know one thing for certain: Out of the dozens of flights I have taken around the world, this was easily the best experience I’ve ever had.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t condone flying during a pandemic. The only reason I did is because my mom is very sick and needs my help.

But if you have to fly, don’t worry — you’ll enjoy the lack of turbulence.