Sunny beaches, snowy slopes, dry desserts and magnificent views have been put on hold for many since the pandemic took over mid-March of last year. People have been advised to stay home to stop the spread of COVID-19.
So when people see others out and about there can be frustration. A trend that’s appeared in the last year is travel shaming, or people shaming others for going out of town or not staying home.
Travel shaming is nothing new, but since the pandemic began the definition has changed. Travel shaming used to mean getting shamed for visiting the same locations each year or simply not traveling anywhere at all.
Since the pandemic, many events shifted to virtual, and life began to take place online. People who post pictures of their travels on social media seem to receive backlash for not staying home.
Kathlynne King, a passenger on a flight, said she was traveling to go see her family since a loved one passed away. She said she wants people to keep kindness in mind “because we are all trying to be safe.”
Most airlines are following CDC guidelines by having every other row available for their passengers and excluding middle seats. Additionally, passengers are required to wear face masks and have their temperature checked before boarding the aircraft.
Depending on the location, passengers may have to show a negative COVID-19 test result before boarding.
“Traveling is no different from going to Walmart,” said Vicky Amerson, who arrived in Omaha from a Denver flight. “You wear your mask, and stay away from as many people as you can.”
CNN business reported that nearly 1 million Americans traveled domestically on Christmas Eve in 2020, more than projected. But, CNN said people seem eager to get out of their homes and ready to do travel with precautions.
Maybe travel shaming will go back to the days of making fun of family and friends for visiting the same spot each year, rather than shaming them for going out of their house at all.
