BCE & CE, Acronyms, & New Rules

In the fall of 2020, I took a plane trip from Florida to New York. I wasn’t as nervous about safety as I was about what it would be like with all the new rules. Before the Covid Era I had to endure crowded terminals, packed to capacity seating, and rude, if not despotic, security staff. So I was taken by surprise when the opposites prevailed (shout-out to Jetblue, MCO, & HPN).

Like everyone else in the world, my life has been forever changed by the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic.  It occurred to me that there should be a new acronym to mark the passage of time: BCE (before the Covid Era) and CE (during the Covid Era). For me, the most dramatic difference was in air travel. Before Covid, I hated everything to do with airports and planes. The experience was more humiliating than a trip to the DMV and more frustrating than dealing with the USPS (love those acronyms). Below are some of my air travel experiences, before and during the era of Covid.

Right & Wrong

BCE: I was swept along by hordes of disgruntled travelers, in various stages of impatience, with the result that I’m herded into the wrong queue. Adding to my embarrassment I am strongly reprimanded by security personnel for being on the wrong line, and curtly directed to the end of the right line. Then I’m again reprimanded for not properly displaying my personal items, and failing to place my electronics in the appropriate bin. For these defiant acts, I am forced to undergo a penalty frisk on the sidelines and to give up my expensive 8.5 oz bottle of moisturizer.

CE: Reduced occupancy and social distancing guidelines gave me ample time to select the right line and prepare my belongings, according to clearly provided instructions. Courteous, helpful personnel kept the lines moving while maintaining social distancing. Instead of glares and one word commands, pleases, smiles, and thank you’s punctuated the conversations.

Personal Space

BCE: I am crammed between total strangers with whom I have to share an armrest on either side. To avoid rubbing elbows, I try to keep my arms close to my body and in my lap. If I’m lucky, both parties believe in personal hygiene and appreciate that silence is golden.  

CE: To respect social distancing measures, every other seat was assigned. I had plenty of elbow room, my comfort zone was maintained, and our mandated masks discouraged conversation. Everyone respected each other’s personal space and the new safety procedures.

No Standing in the Aisles

BCE: God forbid I needed to get into the aisle to use the bathroom, or I wanted to nap, uninterrupted. Beverage carts, snack baskets, miscellaneous items for sale made me feel like I was at the mall during Xmas season.

CE: No lines were permitted in the aisle. There was only one offering without options at beginning of the flight: one bottle of water, one bag of Cheese Nips, and one gluten-free health bar. Everyone got the same thing which was fair. That’s all folks! There was one pre-packed snack sack, no separate beverage orders, no alcohol, no blankets or headphones and no bottlenecks in the aisle. It was so quiet without all the usual interruptions, I actually fell asleep while sitting up, without fear of falling into my neighbor.

Stuff & Nonsense

BCE: I boarded late in the game because my row was at end of the list. The packed plane was full of people who ignored the carry-on rules and just stuffed their stuff into the overhead compartments. The frazzled stewardess had to find a space for my carry-on which was nowhere near my seat.

CE: There were fewer passengers, more overhead space, and the baggage rules were strictly enforced, without exception. The staff were relaxed and eager to help me get comfortably seated. Added bonus: there was no rushing, no jockeying for position or lack of overhead space. Best of all, there were no arguments and no complaining.

Respect Goes Both Ways

R-E-S-P-E-C-T:  everybody gave it and everybody received it, no questions asked. We all thanked the staff for their courteous service amid so many obstacles, and they graciously thanked us for our cooperation. BEST TRAVEL EXPERIENCE EVER! Why can’t every interaction be this way?

My trip was a real eye-opener. When respect for one another and the rules is shown, everybody is a winner. Just in case there’s some confusion about what respect is all about, here are two quotes that say it well:

“I don’t care if you’re black, white, straight, bisexual, gay, lesbian, short, tall, fat, skinny, rich or poor. If you’re nice to me, I’ll be nice to you. Simple as that.” ― Robert Michaels MD – 2007 – Graduation Speaker

“I’m not concerned with your liking or disliking me… All I ask is that you respect me as a human being.” – Jackie Robinson