Returning to Hong Kong During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Personal Journey

Wow! The journey back from India to Hong Kong was nothing short of a challenge. Navigating the complexities of travel during the pandemic was tough, even if not entirely impossible. To sum it up — it was a mix of frustration, resilience, and relief. Here’s a closer look at the hurdles I faced:

1. Paying Business Class Rates for Economy Class Tickets
The cost of flights was an absolute shock. We found ourselves paying business class prices for economy class tickets — a financial hit that felt surreal. With limited flights available and strict safety protocols, airlines were charging a premium, making it nearly prohibitive for many travelers.

2. Hong Kong’s Record-Breaking Quarantine Measures
Hong Kong’s quarantine regulations were among the strictest in the world. A 21-day quarantine was mandatory, much longer than the 14-day standard imposed by most other countries. Only Macau and Hong Kong had implemented such prolonged quarantine measures at the time. For those of us returning, it meant an extended period of isolation and the challenges that come with it — both financially and emotionally.

3. The Financial Stress of Self-Booking
One of the most taxing parts of the journey was the financial burden of managing bookings on our own. In pre-pandemic times, booking travel was often straightforward and affordable. However, during the pandemic, it became far more complicated and costly, with…