The Adventures Begin!

Kevin and I sat at the kitchen table on the morning of our flight with several outstanding questions that left us uneasy about a smooth departure. Our initial check in to our United flights required not only our passport info but several documents uploaded: our negative CO

VID test within the 72 hour prior as well as a Czech passenger locator form(all completed per Viking Know before you go infopage). Our status was (yellow)pending and we had no boarding passes. We called the Viking travel hotline and spoke to Jarvis. He thought we also needed a German passenger locator form since we landed in Munich, for a transfer to Prague. He took down our questions and contact number and said he would call back once he got info from the airlines(United and partner Lufthansa). To our surprise he did call back with exactly what we needed. He informed us that once the RDU airline agent sees our documents (negative COVID test and Czech locator form, already uploaded) they can get us our boarding passes and get us all checked in. Also our baggage (1 free checked each) would be checked all the way thru to Prague. He also let us know that customs would be only in Prague. A very good first impression for Viking!

Armed with this reassurance Kevin loaded up the 4 suitcases and our 2 carry-ons in the car, so Jack could deliver us to the RDU airport for our long journey across the pond.

Our route consisted of 3 legs. RDU to Chicago(2.5hrs), Chicago to Munich(8hrs) then finally Munich to Prague (1hr). The fights were mostly on time. At RDU, just as Jarvis described, we showed all our documents, got our boarding passes for all 3 flights and checked our 2 large bags all the way to Prague! Theresa bought a sandwich and munchies to share on the flight prior to boarding and additional beverages were purchased on board! There was a 3+ hour layover in Chicago so there was time to walk the concourse to get some movement prior to the long confinement in a tight economy section of the plane. While waiting in the gate area an announcement was made to validate our boarding pass to see if it said ‘Flight Ready’. Ours did not, so up to the gate agent to again present all documentation and in return get reprinted boarding passes with the required ‘Flight Ready’ inscribed. The 8 hour trip to Munich was brutal. 

Theresa found some movies to watch while Kevin was entertained by the in flight status maps with outside temps of -80F and the slow flight path over Newfoundland and the tip of Greenland. We are just too old for red-eye flights. Theresa got a few hours rest but Kevin paced the aircraft as his legs demanded movement! He even became a bit delusional thinking he lost his glasses at one point. He enlisted a flight attendant as well as a groggy Theresa into the search. Only to discover he was wearing them! 

As we approached our Munich destination Kevin found both cities of Kiel and Kassel on the flight map within range of our path!

Once we landed in Munich, there was a long walk to the connecting gate and an unexpected immigration check. We presented all COVID docs and passports again and were able to proceed.

The gate in Munich required no document checks at all, however we were surprised that after we entered the gate according to our assigned group number, we walked the ramp to descend 3 flights of stairs with carry ons to the tarmac to load a bus that would transport us all to the aircraft. It was a small aircraft so most everyone crammed into the extended bus like a Tokyo subway, without regard for 6 ft social distancing. Then all piled out in a not so orderly fashion to ascend the steps to the plane. The FILO (First In Last Out) group numbers seemed meaningless at this point!

It was a short flight to Prague thru some thick fog. We claimed our luggage and proceeded to the exit displaying our locator form one more time.

At the exit we were delighted to see the Viking greeter! From here on Viking would be there to coordinate, transport and answer all our questions!

There were a total of 10 Viking passengers on the flight. All were loaded in a nice large van for transport to the hotel in the city of Prague.

Observations:

• Airports were not that crowded!
• Everyone was fully masked, not any issues.
• Lines did not use 6ft spacing
• KN95 masks(required for Viking, hotel and Prague) are not comfortable and impossible to sleep with. Don’t know how healthcare workers do it!

Challenges:

• Theresa needs to wear every clothing item she packed.
• Kevin needs to use all the electronics he bought.
• 6 hour time difference to ET, 9 hour difference to PT
• The expected temperatures are highs in the 40-50F, much different than the typical ‘escape the cold’ destinations for these nomads.