Before the world changed, I was in Qantas’ top five per cent of travellers. They told me this in an email, as though it was worth celebrating – they actually used the word ‘congratulations’ in the opening paragraph. To me, it just represented all the time I spent on aeroplanes. In 2019, I did ten long-haul flights for work and one for pleasure. I couldn’t tell you how many domestic flights I took but suspect it would be close to fifty. I had a tally at one point of the number of airbridges I’d walked but stopped counting when I got to 100 because I was feeling sad about it. 2020 was shaping up to be the same, but then that global pandemic thing happened and grounded pretty much all flights in and out of Australia. And me along with them. 

But before then, I was what you would call a seasoned traveller. I could pack in ten minutes, while going through my mental checklist to make sure I had all the diabetes supplies I’d require, as well as regular-people things. I was brilliant at calculating future time zone gymnastics so I wouldn’t find myself woken at 3am with an expired sensor or empty pump reservoir. 

I had my airport routines timed down to the minute. I knew I needed a cab at my house exactly 60 minutes before a domestic flight. That would give me enough time to breeze through the express security aisles, walk straight into the Qantas Business Lounge, order a takeaway coffee, walk to the gate, and get on the plane, just in time to watch the Qantas safety video that (lied) told me there was good coffee onboard. 

International flights needed a little extra time. I’d arrive at the airport no more than 90 minutes before flight time. Speed through the First Class check in (no, I was not flying first class, but Platinum status – thanks to all the flying – meant I was treated as though I was. At least until I boarded the flight!), dive for the shortest e-passport queue and speed-walk through duty free and find a window seat in the First Class lounge and wait for my flight to be called. 

I was that person at the airport who could tell which queues were moving quickest, understood that unpacking laptops/phones/removing jewellery PRIOR to getting to the front of the queue kept things moving, knew the best seats in the lounge, was recognised by lounge staff (the Qantas Business domestic lounge baristas knew my coffee order; I could easily get a pre-flight massage in the international lounge). Flying was tedious, tiresome, and far too frequent, but I had it worked out.

Right now, I’m at the airport, about to board an international flight for the first time since I returned home from ATTD in Madrid in February 2020. Getting to this point has been stressful. 

I’m terrified of people and I’m guessing there will be some on the plane with me. I don’t like my new passport photo. I’m beyond terrified at the thought of being away from home. I’m scared about getting COVID and not being able to return home. I’m confused about COVID requirements. I’m concerned about diabetes being a shit while in transit, even though that’s really not something I’ve had to contend with in the past. I’ve been worried all week that I’ve forgotten how to travel!

It took me forever to work out what to pack. I checked, double checked and triple checked diabetes supplies, packing them, and then unpacking them over and over. I couldn’t work out which charging adaptors I needed. I finally shut my suitcase, (after spending an age deciding just the right one to use), which I know has far too many changes of clothes, but I’ve lost the knack of throwing together a ‘conference capsule’ of just the right things to wear for just the right number of days. 

I couldn’t remember the layout of the airport – I walked by the elevator for the lounge and somehow found myself at a deserted part of the airport before I realised I was lost. I was worried about crazy-long airport queues but was pleasantly surprised at the efficiency of the whole check in process, so probably didn’t need the extra hour I gave myself to make sure I wasn’t running late.  

I feel like one of those people at airports who holds up everyone else because they don’t know when to have their passport ready and open at the right page, or their shoes off, or to unload everything from their pockets before going through the scanner. You know, one of those people that used to drive me to despair back before the world changed. 

As it turns out, the whole process of getting through security and passport control was effortless. My pump, CGM and OrangeLink were barely noted during the security pat-down. The only difference with 2022 travel as compared with 2020 travel is that I’m sporting a pink mask and had to show my vaccination certificate. I walked into the Qantas Lounge and was greeted with a ‘Welcome back’, and I nearly burst into tears. 

I can see my plane out the window from the lounge (I still remembered where the best seats are!) and have had my last Melbourne coffee for a week. I managed to deal with a little hypo (thanks to all the extra steps from getting lost!) without too much drama. It all feels oddly familiar and completely alien at the same time. 

In just over 25 hours, I’ll be in Barcelona. A real life conference seems so strange still, but I have a feeling that muscle memory is going to be strong there, and being around an incredible network of diabetes advocates (follow the #dedoc° voices!) is going to be an endless source of support and inspiration. Through it all – the anxiety and the stress of getting to this point – I’m so excited! Let’s see what ATTD 2022 has in store!

New passport!

DISCLOSURE

My flights and accommodation have been covered by #dedoc, where I have been an advisor for a number of years, and am no working with them as Head of Advocacy.

Thanks to ATTD for providing me with a press pass to attend the conference.