At the beginning of the pandemic, all forms of travel were intensely shut down to protect the people of America and the world from the fast spreading coronavirus. It has been over a year since the pandemic hit, and after a few months of the virus on the rise, airports opened back up, allowing U.S. citizens to travel.

The opening of airports and airline transportation provided a challenge for airlines with keeping their passengers safe, and not adding to the spread of the virus. Earlier, airlines were flying less passengers by not selling the middle seat; although passengers are required to wear masks and required to show negative Covid test results for some flights, many airlines are starting to sell more seats for each flight.

Due to the pandemic, schools have been mostly online year round, making it easier for students and their families to go on getaways and spend time out of town because of the flexibility with school. LSHS students have been able to travel safely this year despite COVID, whether it be to go visit colleges, going on a relaxing vacation, or sports tournaments.
Senior Sammy Mcfadden recently traveled to the big island of Hawaii. “I actually felt extremely safe traveling there. In order to even be allowed to get on the plane and go to the island, I had to take two Covid tests; one three days before and a rapid test at the Kona airport,” Mcfadden said.

Senior Ginny Hurley has traveled to California, Texas and Idaho during the pandemic and has had pretty different experiences in each state. Hurley enjoyed the spaciousness of airplanes with the middle seats being empty and less packed. Hurley felt safe when in public when she was wearing her mask, as well as everyone else. She did have some concerns though while traveling. “My biggest concern while traveling during the pandemic was catching it at the airport just because there are so many people you pass by, coming & going from god knows where,” Hurley said.

Idaho and Texas have been hotspots for COVID-19 outbreaks, but in Boise, Idaho it is slightly different. “In Boise, everybody for the most part wears a mask unless you go outside of the city,” Hurley said.
Many high school students travel year round for competitive non-school sports, and it plays a tremendous role in their college careers, but that was put on halt at the beginning of the pandemic. However, when traveling opened back up, many athletes were able to start traveling again.
Senior Samaya Morin has been able to get back to traveling to play competitive beach volleyball. Morin has traveled to Texas, Arizona, Florida and California during the pandemic. Although she felt safe when traveling she still had some concerns.
“My biggest concern while traveling was getting it and not knowing, then giving it to people with compromised immune systems, but I do get tested after every time I travel,” Morin said.

With summer just around the corner, it can be expected that more people will be traveling despite the pandemic, as well as most Americans being vaccinated by that time; and feeling more comfortable traveling.