The writer, Beatrice Materu, in Amsterdam waiting for her flight to Poland. PHOTO | COURTESYBy BEATRICE MATERU
World travel has gained momentum in recent months with widespread Covid vaccination, and airports are once again busy and flights fully booked.
Although Tanzania never officially closed its borders or sky, we couldn’t travel abroad since other countries had closed theirs. Now more people are comfortable hitting the skies again.
I once read that, when flying, “pack your wallet and patience”. This came true on a recent 10-day trip to Poland.
I arrived at Terminal 3 of the Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar at around 9 pm, ready for my 11.59 pm flight. I was excited to be travelling again after nearly two years.
I was wearing my face mask, was fully vaccinated and tested negative for Covid-19 as required. I needed patience to keep my mask on for the three hours pre-boarding procedures, and then the nine-hour flight from Dar to Amsterdam, especially coming from a country where wearing of masks is not mandatory and was only recently introduced.
Ride-sharing companies such as Uber require all passengers and drivers to wear face coverings.“Passengers are reminded to wear their face masks at all times, except during meals and drinks,” says the announcer in airports and on the flight.
In Amsterdam, passengers from East African countries need to fill online forms before departure.
On our flight back through Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, the queue for Covid-19 check-in took so long that we had to run to our Dar check-in gate, and fill out another online form for the Ministry of Health.
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