Thanksgiving during the pandemic: Our team's travel plans for this year

Last month, I took my first flight since the pandemic began. I opted for a long-haul journey in Emirates' exclusive first-class suite, and the experience was as safe and luxurious as it could get, even with the various health protocols in effect.

This Thanksgiving, I'm flying again. It will be my first domestic air travel adventure amid the pandemic, featuring a one-stop flight to Albuquerque, New Mexico (ABQ) and a direct flight from Los Angeles (LAX) to Newark (EWR) for my return.

Fortunately, I secured upgrades ahead of time using my United PlusPoints and booked a paid business-class ticket for my return flight.

A road trip through the Southwest has been a long-standing item on my bucket list. We’ll be covering around 2,000 miles as we travel through New Mexico, Arizona, and California, starting in New Mexico and concluding our adventure at Los Angeles International Airport, with plenty of exciting stops along the way.

We’ll finish our journey with a flight back to Newark (EWR) on United's 787-10 Dreamliner — remarkably, I managed to score a one-way ticket in the airline's Polaris business class for just over 400 dollars.

I'm not the only member of TPG planning to travel this Thanksgiving. I checked in with the team to find out who else is hitting the road and what reassured them to make the trip.

Nathan Richardson, Executive Vice President

Summer Hull, Director of Travel Content

This Thanksgiving, my family of four will be flying with Delta to visit national parks out West. For the winter holidays, we plan to reunite, as it has been a year since we last saw my in-laws. We’ve rented a lovely house on the beach in Florida in the 30A area since it’s accessible for all of us. Plus, being off-season means we can rent spacious homes for a fraction of the peak season price. We will ensure to do some form of quarantine and/or pre-travel testing before gathering in one home, following the approach we’ve taken for similar trips with friends this year.

Clint Henderson, Senior News Editor

This year’s Thanksgiving is a mix of emotions for me as my lease in New York City ends on Nov. 25. That week, I’ll be storing my belongings and flying to my father’s ranch near Butte, Montana, the day before Thanksgiving on Delta Air Lines. I’m not anxious about flying. I believe Delta, along with Alaska, has done an excellent job managing the coronavirus. I appreciate that Delta continues to block middle seats during the holidays — ensuring I’m not too close to anyone. Despite COVID-19, I’ve traveled quite a bit this year and have felt safe while taking many precautions. I’m truly sad to leave NYC, but it’s only temporary until the TPG offices in New York reopen, and the silver lining is spending Thanksgiving with my father in the stunning Big Sky Country.

Nick Ewen, Senior Editor

For the past five Thanksgivings, I’ve traveled to Europe. In fact, my soon-to-be 6-year-old daughter has never celebrated the holiday within the U.S. Unfortunately, we had to postpone our trip to Santa's Lapland, and given the current rise in COVID-19 cases in Florida, we’ve decided to enjoy a quiet holiday at home — indulging in good food, watching movies, and cherishing quality time as a family of three. However, we’re hopeful to recreate this year’s trip for Thanksgiving 2021!

Melanie Lieberman, Senior Travel Editor

I’ll probably be reuniting with my family in Connecticut this Thanksgiving. Due to the pandemic, I took the plunge and recently purchased a car (I even used part of the purchase to earn bonus points on The Platinum Card® from American Express during a promotion). I’ve already visited eight states and will likely plan a few side trips during the holiday to see friends, go hiking, enjoy apple picking, and maybe fit in another camping trip or two before the weather gets too chilly! I’m not worried about flying, but I’ve really enjoyed driving around and rediscovering local spots. Plus, with public transport and flights, apple picking is out of the question: Trust me.

Andrew Kunesh, Senior Reporter

My girlfriend and I just purchased an electric car, and we’re embarking on our first long road trip. Our itinerary includes driving to Kansas City and Chicago to visit our families, with stops in Columbus and St. Louis along the way. I’m looking forward to hitting the road and exploring the EV charging network across the U.S.

Katie Genter, Reporter

Some of my family members are planning to gather in Charleston, South Carolina. I currently have a four-night reservation at a Staybridge Suites in the area, utilizing points to benefit from my IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card's fourth-night free perk. However, since we plan to drive our RV to Charleston, we might cancel the hotel and stay in our RV if campsites are available. The current strategy is to meet with family in smaller groups throughout the Thanksgiving week rather than on Thanksgiving day itself. I anticipate that most of our family get-togethers will take place outdoors with masks and social distancing to reduce risk.

In summary

Most of my TPG colleagues have chosen to spend this Thanksgiving holiday close to home, which is understandable, particularly with the recent rise in coronavirus cases across the United States.

As for me, while it may seem unusual to take my first domestic flight now, research indicates that the likelihood of contracting COVID-19 on an airplane is quite low. I’ve reserved the last row of first or business class for all three of my flights, ensuring that my girlfriend and I have as much space as possible onboard. We’ll also be wearing properly fitted N95 masks and plan to avoid eating or drinking during the flight to keep our masks on the entire time.

It might not be the most comfortable travel experience, but our aim for these flights is to prioritize safety — we’ll save the fun for when we can properly distance ourselves on the ground.