“Pakistan 🇵🇰 ~We Head For The Airport Tonight!”

• November 27, 2020
• By Pen
• 4 Comments

We are currently counting down the hours till we get to fly, in the wee hours of a 1:30AM outbound flight! We will not arrive at our final destination of Armenia, till two planes, two layovers, two more country stops and 22 hours later.

In the meantime, it’s interesting to note, as we had to deal with, yet, another required PCR test, before departing Pakistan, we feel like groundbreaking pioneers in the new COVID19 Travel Rules. Not only that, but slowly, it would appears there is more of a global regulation and streamlining going on. This is good for a smoother process, but do we ever, really want to get good at dealing with pandemics? ….meaning….we don’t need anymore pandemics!

In this latest case of PCR testing we did, just yesterday in Islamabad, we tried to avoid the expense, because we will never leave the airports we fly into. (in Dubai and Russia). I called Pakistan International Airlines (first plane) to inquire about the necessity of testing, since Dubai was not our final destination, and we were only transiting to another airline to continue on our journey. In this case, Dubai is the country that is requiring the negative PCR test result, not the country of our final destination of Armenia. PIA told me to contact the Dubai Embassy to find out. When I called the Dubai Embassy, I was told to contact PIA. Anyway, I was getting nowhere real fast, so we got the test we were told to get, so we could depart Pakistan. $70 we will never see again. We arrive in Dubai as transit passengers, and do not leave the airport.

Though there is room for further improvements in streaming the health regulation processes, there is good news, as we have experienced some improvements for a better way of doing things; requirements for traveling during a pandemic. From the time we left; or I should say tried to leave Santorini Island in Greece, following three months of lockdown, back in June, it was stressful and confusing on so many levels. Because at that time, the Port Police and the City Police did not agree on on how we got to move forward to leave Santorini, during a pandemic. As a result, we were really stuck! This would include being denied to purchase ferry tickets without the port authority’s permission, and the port authorities wanting to see “papers,” and yet we had the island city police telling us to leave, go home, get out, NOW! Yes, the police, while in their station on the island, were yelling at us. They would not let us buy a ferry ticket, unless it was to go back to Athens, and directly to the airport to fly home. They wanted to see a flight itinerary of us going home, and only then would they let us buy our ferry tickets. (btw, ferries had only just resumed operating, after lockdown) Going back home was not our radar, and we have continued to travel to nine more countries, since leaving Greece. (Wow, we loved Greece and will treasure our memories during the three months we got to stay)! Anyway, going back to the states had not been on our radar for a long time. I held my ground then, and we continue to do so. I’ve involved our US Embassies in a couple of cases, and this first time was while on Santorini Island; to our embassy in Athens via phone. I was told we did NOT have to return to the states. This was our choice where we went after leaving Greece. After speaking on our behalf with authorities, it was never clear to the consulate what “papers” they insisted on seeing, either.

We have seen a movement towards a more regulated COVID19 testing, for the comings and goings for those of us who continue to travel.  THANK GOODNESS!

In the beginning, since June, finding a place to get the required Covid19 test has not been smooth; it was so bad the first time, we walked right into a COVID19 ward, by accident, while in Kosovo. When we found the PCR testing area on the hospital grounds, we had to wait an hour in a room with sick people, who were also getting tested, while men in full white suites with breathing masks attended to everybody. For us, it wasn’t as unnerving, since we have already gotten the virus, six months before, but for others, this was not very streamlined or safe, as far as prevention; while getting tested, as per requirement to move to another country. To be more specific, back then, it was not normal to request a PCR test, UNLESS one felt symptomatic. We kept saying, “we are not sick, we have no symptoms, we are fine.” Only to be asked, “What are you doing here, then?”

Since that first test, we have been been tested four times, strictly for the purpose of travel; a continuing requirement for entering a new country (some, but not all countries require testing) Anywho….What has changed over the months, is a more more efficient and streamlined process. 

Now, it’s much easier to find a testing site in a capital city, and now, in some countries, mobile testing has been introduced. We had a medical van come to our hotel in Turkey to test us. It was super smooth, but ended up being more expensive than what we were told. But, it was easy.

Another improvement is the results of said testing are delivered via email, saving us the additional time and expense with taxis and exposure in clinics, returning to the clinic to pick up results. Now, with emailed results, we have had no problem getting the hotel or guesthouse reception to print our our results for us, which is a document that will be expected to be shown at ticketing, at the airport.

Onboard, now, are the Airlines, too (no pun intended, but….), since the negative PCR test needs to be presented at checkin, before receiving our boarding tickets, we are asked first thing at the clinics, upfront, who we will be flying with; including flight itinerary proof from the airline, being shown at clinic. This indicates to me, the clinic has a link from various airlines at their airport, to send the results. HIPPA is not a thing?

It would appear, the medical clinics and hospitals are now expecting us to show up, versus, us showing up and the staff wondering why we are there. (Language issues and all) 

Progress for the hardy travelers!