Travel home horrors

Trying to travel home during COVID isn't as easy as one might think.

Many of you may not be aware the restrictions related to traveling in these current times – especially when flying internationally. The restrictions that we had to follow included getting a negative COVID-19 test. Luckily it did not matter which test we got so we could take the Antigen (rapid test.) Some other restrictions that were required by our airline was to wear surgical masks on the planes. You are also not allowed to remove your facemasks unless you are eating or drinking on the flights. Masking up for 10 hours straight was a bit of a struggle.

Hold on for this story, it was one I will never forget.

We had to fly out of Helsinki so our journey first started on Thursday. We were driven to a hotel by the airport in Helsinki the night before we flew out because our flights were at 7:20 am Friday morning. That night was pretty chill. I had to rearrange all my luggage because one of my suitcases weighed 57 lbs. and it could only be 50. Good thing they do not always weigh your carry on – mine was 31 lbs. Yep, you read that correctly. Figured that all out and then decided to try and sleep around 11. Let’s just say that night of sleep was not GOOD. Worrying about missing our wake up time and all that – maybe also a little bit excited to be going home.

Friday – the longest day of our lives, literally. We woke up at 2:30 to catch our taxi at 3 am to the airport. The reason we went that early was because we had to get a COVID test before the flight. We were told a few days later by the airport info desk that the testing opened around 3 am. Let’s just say that was not the right information. We sat at the airport until 5 am. The testing did not open and there were no airport workers anywhere. 30 minutes later we finally found a worker and asked when the COVID testing would be open. They said not until 10 am… WHAT. At this point we were freaking out because we knew we had to have a negative test to get on our flights. There were about 100 mini freak out sessions between now and about 10 am by all of us.

We found out that there was testing at the German airport that we were flying into so we decided to see if we could get tested there. We went up to the checked bag service desk and explained the situation and then we almost got through but because the Germany airport required a negative test upon arrival we were now screwed. They told my teammates that there were no flights until Sunday for their destinations. Heck NO, we did not want to stay 2 extra days for no reason. The kind sir that was helping us did not say anything about my destination city (aka Chicago.) I asked if there were any flights today still to Chicago – he said YES! WOOO. The level of excitement we felt in that moment cannot be described correctly.

We have to wait about an hour until we could go back up to the service desk to hopefully be able to transfer all of our flights to that flight. The flight left at 12:45 and would get us into Chicago by 7:45 pm CST. J changed her flight destination first and it was only €14 to change the destination. It ended up being the same for Lauren and Lindsay as well, only €14 each. We were all just very excited to be able to get back on US soil. Let me tell ya. Since I did not change my destination city it did not cost anything to switch my ticket. This was also all through the same airline that we were supposed to fly on…otherwise we would have had to purchase brand new tickets or wait until Saturday. So this 12:35 flight was a God sent.

All of this happened before 8 am. I would say that might have been the most stressful morning I have ever had in my entire life. I hope I never have a morning more stressful. We then went back down the elevator to wait in the COVID testing area so we would be the first in line to get the test and results – in case it was a tight with it opening at 10, having to wait 30 minutes for results and then going through security. We played a card game Skip-bo until the testing opened. We were lucky because they ended up opening the testing around 9. We all got our tests and results – NEGATIVE. €180 for the rapid Antigen test.

Around 10:30 they opened the check-in process for our flights. This meant we had to now check our bags (I had 2 checked bags, 1 carry-on and my backpack.) My whole life stuffed into those bags. No problems checking in THANK GOODNESS. After that we went through security. You are literally asked to take out any electronics, cords, liquids, anything that is not a regular travel item but you could keep your shoes on. Makes me wonder if the US Security does it just to make us uncomfortable going through. We finally got through and then bought some food before boarding our short flight to Frankfurt Germany. Finally, boarded the plane and was on our way back home. What a relief. Out of Finland – the country we did not leave for 8 months.

3 hours later we landed in Germany and right when we got off the plane the German police were there to talk to us and see all our paperwork and ask what we were doing in Germany. This was not a problem, we just had to show our paperwork (negative test results, passport, final ticket) now off to customs. This was a fun one again. When we left Finland, they did not stamp our passports with an exit stamp (this happens sometimes in certain countries when you fly over seas, some countries are more strict on the stamp process – obviously Germany is one of them.) So, that gave us a little problem with customs but eventually they let us through. I was just thinking the whole time “I don’t even want to stay in your country just let me go home.” Lol. This is also coming from a very tired woman. We then had to go through 2 more passport and negative test checks before sitting down at our gate. We had about 40 minutes before they boarded and I was finally on the last leg of my travel.

There were like 50 people on the huge 757 airbus. We were lucky that we got to have an entire row to ourselves. That is one of the only perks traveling with COVID. We were so hungry when we got on, they fed us about 2 hours into the flight. It was a salad, pasta, bread, cheese and some desert thing. I am not sure if it was really good or if I was just really hungry so it tasted amazing. On the flight I watched 2 movies but actually slept for about 4 hours on and off. This is a record for me. I am not blessed with being able to sleep anywhere. I think it was the fact that I had the whole row to relax and stretch out. We flew in close to the time of sunset so it was really pretty out when we landed. Once we landed it took about 20 minutes to get to the gate, about 5 minutes to go through customs because we were one of the last flights to fly into the airport that night. Then we just had to get our bags. We all got all our bags and then headed out. My Mom, Rose, came to pick me up and drive me home that night.

Finally, got out the doors and then saw her and it hit me – I was home! It felt so amazing to be back. It was also sad because I had to leave J, Linds, and Lauren. “Hey look Ma, I made it - Panic! At The Disco”!! My travel home story ends with a 4-hour ride home to Jacksonville, IL. Finally made it home and crashed… hard. I was so tired.

I was lucky that I was at my destination, the other 3 had to catch flights the next morning home because there were no flights home when we landed that night due to COVID, not as many flights being available. Luckily, they stayed in a hotel for the night – not at the airport! They all made it home by 2 pm in their respective time zones. It was so good to hear that they all made it home after this mess.

I would like to thank our club, Liigaploki, for giving us the choice to switch our flights and still leave on Friday. It was hectic but it made me grateful for all the flights I have flown that have been stress free.

What a year it was in Finland. I will write a post wrapping up my time in Finland and what my plans are for the summer and next year. Stay safe & healthy everyone.

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until next time,

jaelyn