In August, we traveled internationally during COVID-19 with our four kiddos, one big, loveable Golden Retriever, and about 1,000,000 bags. If a similar trip is on the horizon for you, here's our story and my tips for how to make the trip as safe as possible, and (hopefully) less stressful.
Thankfully, we made it safely, and stayed healthy, during our two-day international trip from D.C. to Kyiv
Family and pet travel during COVID-19: our story
The pandemic has shaped our world so much so that it's hard to remember a time when life was normal. We are not quite a year into this thing, and yet, it feels like a lifetime ago that kids were routinely in school, people were unafraid to hug and shake hands, and life threw so many activities at us to take part in and enjoy. One of those activities, of course, was travel.
Here is how a big international trip went for us. (*Please keep in mind that this took place during the summer, and things may have changed since then).
The airports
We departed out of Washington Dulles Airport (IAD) with our crew, 12 bags, four car seats, dog, and massive dog crate. If you know IAD, you know that it is usually SLAMMED. It was decidedly not so in August. We were asked to arrive at the airport three hours prior to our departure in order to get our Golden, Kosmo, checked in. While the check-in counter and security went quickly and smoothly, checking in the dog and verifying his documents did take a long time, so I definitely recommend following the airline's advice on arriving super-early if you are traveling with a pet.
Once we got Kosmo settled and our bags tagged and through, security went smoothly and quickly. We arrived at our KLM gate as boarding began - bingo! No waiting around.
In terms of pandemic procedures, we were all wearing masks except for our 1-year old. IAD employees were also properly masked up, social distancing protocols were in place at check-in, security, and in the boarding area, and hand sanitizer was widely available.
First flight (Washington, D.c. — Amsterdam)
We were fortunate enough to fly KLM from Washington, D.C. directly to Amsterdam, and then on to Kyiv the next day. KLM was extremely gracious with our large brood and our 1,000,000 bags. They were great with the children, handing them a small gift upon boarding, and helping us out when we needed to remove a food tray, allowing us to walk up and down the aisle ad nauseam with a boisterous toddler (if you know, you know), and bringing extra drinks or blankets when the kids needed them.
Keeping the mask on for the entirety of the flight is challenging. Our flight to Amsterdam was seven hours. I imagine on a 14-hour flight, it could be really difficult to keep the mask on the whole time, but we do what we need to do in order to keep ourselves and others safe. The kids, on the other hand, didn't seem to have a problem with it. My tip to you is to make sure you have a proper-fitting, comfortable mask - and bring several, just in case you find that what you have on is not working, and you need to change it out.
Our flight was -- maybe -- half full, which meant we had TONS of space to spread out. We managed two entire aisles to ourselves. That part was sweet.
No one on our flight was in the business of overtly flaunting the rules, either, which made the flight go smoothly. Hallelujah.
The layover
Because the European pet transfer centers were closed at the time (and may still be, so check . . . ), we had no choice but to remove our bags and the dog from the airport and go through the entire process of re-checking everyone and everything back in the next day. This part was a BEAR. Because of the nearly 24-hour layover, we opted to stay in the Amsterdam Hilton Schiphol Hotel, which is connected to the airport. This was SO KEY, because with 12 bags, 4 car seats, a dog crate, 4 children, and a dog, we had -- ahem -- a thing or two to carry. You better believe that we filled up five full carts and pack-muled our kiddos from customs all the way to the Hilton. This was not an easy journey after a long flight, but everyone handled it like a boss. I'm not really sure what our other option would have been? Leave a luggage cart or two sitting in arrivals and come back for it 30 minutes later? Nope.
Jet-lagged much? 3pm Amsterdam time at the Hilton Schiphol Hotel
Similar to the flights, the hotel was quite empty. The Hilton staff was helpful and accommodating, and the hotel is dog-friendly - a huge plus for those transiting Amsterdam with furry friends. We booked two rooms, both of which had a certification of prior, sanitized cleaning. The hotel's main restaurant was closed for dining, but they did have an open bar and dining area in the lobby where you could order and enjoy food and drink, and the kids could spread out and play. This was helpful, as our rooms were small. The hotel also had a really nice area to walk around outside - with a pond and green space. Kosmo certainly appreciated it, as did my kids, who needed the fresh air and a chance to run post-flight.
Second flight (Amsterdam — Kyiv)
Checking in the following morning in Amsterdam went smoothly, but again, the three-hour prior arrival was necessary to get Kosmo ready for boarding. All social distancing protocols were followed, staff and passengers wore masks, and hand sanitizer was everywhere. Yay for hand sanitizer!
We continued on KLM, this time from Amsterdam to Kyiv. On this flight, however, mask-wearing broke down. A smaller plane meant fewer empty seats, and about half of the passengers wore their masks incorrectly (over their mouth, but below their nose). This was stress-inducing, but unfortunately, there was not much we could do about it. Turns out that half the population of Kyiv wears their mask this way, so it was a sign of things to come (!). As we de-planed, a uniformed soldier took our temperatures.
Arrival in Kyiv
Ukraine, at the time, did not have any quarantine rules, other than to wear masks indoors and on public transportation. When we arrived, the weather was so nice that we were able to spend ample time outside at parks and gardens. We also dined outdoors at cafes and restaurants. COVID is raging in Ukraine and the health system is sub-par, so we continue to stay at home and/or outside, even though the weather today is a balmy 18 degrees Fahrenheit. Yikes!
International travel with the dog
Booking Kosmo was definitely the hardest piece of the puzzle on this trip. Harder than traveling internationally with a 1-year old, for real. We tried for months beforehand to figure out the best way to get him to Kyiv. We wanted him to fly out with us, but United was not flying pets (at the time), and European pet transfer centers in Frankfurt and Amsterdam (our two main connecting points) were closed. We booked on United months early, hoping that they would change their pet regulations by August. Didn't happen. We booked on Austrian, hoping that we could fly through Turkey (where the pet transfer center was open), but our U.S.-government issued tickets wouldn't allow us to fly at Austrian's price point. Finally, we were able to book two separate KLM tickets for each family member, and the dog, in order to make it work. The only way to stay together and get Kosmo to Kyiv with us was to take a layover. Not perfect, not recommended if you don’t have a pet, but it worked - - and we are all now here, together, safe and sound. KLM was excellent in handling Kosmo, so I highly recommend them if you want your furry friend properly taken care of.
Kosmo, our four-year old Golden, chilled out during our layover in Amsterdam.
Five tips for family and pet travel during COVID-19
1. Choose your airline wisely.
Most of us know by now that some airlines are doing a great job of spacing passengers out and mandating that passengers wear masks, while others are not. Do your research and figure out which airlines are being the most responsible before you jump at the cheapest ticket price. Since you'll also be traveling with kiddos, you'll want to choose an airline that is good with kids. If your furry friend is with you, this also becomes super-important. Pro tip: KLM is a dream for traveling with pets.
2. Wear a comfortable, well-fitting mask (and bring extras).
Trust me, you are going to want a comfortable, breathable, effective mask for your journey. That mask goes on before even entering the airport and comes off after you depart the terminal at your destination, so we are talking about wearing a mask for a long time, especially if you have a long international flight. Take several (for you and the kids). Switch them up if one gets uncomfortable. Switch them up in the kiddos get food all over them. Switch them up if you drool all over them when you doze off. You get the point. Lots of comfortable, well-fitting masks. My favorite one for myself and my kiddos? Athleta. We have always had good luck with these masks. They are breathable, adjustable, and actually quite fashionable.
3. Stock up on hand sanitizer.
This is a no-brainer. The airports were well-stocked with hand sanitizer, but you are going to want to have many small bottles available when you feel like you need it. I like to clip one or two bottles of kids’ hand sanitizers directly onto their carry-ons. This way, they always have them handy.
4. Check in super early if you are flying with a pet.
The airline will tell you to arrive at check-in three hours early. You'll balk at that. However, it actually does take this long -- without a line -- to get your furry friend all checked-in for boarding. Make sure all your ducks are in a row regarding vaccination paperwork, pet passports, and any other documentation that the destination, and airline, require. You don't want the stress of your pet being rejected at check-in. Check, double check, and triple check that you have all that you need. Some veterinary offices will prepare your pet with all that they need for an international journey - take advantage of this!
5. If you have to layover, stay at a hotel connected to the airport.
If you have to claim your luggage and your pet during your layover, and that layover is long, stay at a hotel connected to the airport. I can't imagine how we would have transported our bags, dog crate, and pet in several taxis to a hotel . . . downtown . . . during COVID. Make your life easy!
