Getting to Cairo from the United States by air: what to expect (especially during Covid-19)
Enjoying some extra room —every flight had the middle seat empty in each row. This picture was taken after being en route for over 20 hours—tired does not begin to describe it!
When I tell someone I am traveling to Egypt, some of the questions inevitably asked are:
-“What airline do you take?”
-“How long of a flight is it?”
-“Do you need a visa to go to Egypt?”
-“How much does it cost?”
And now that travel has changed drastically because of Covid-19, I also have fielded many questions regarding safeguards that are in place when traveling by air, and what types of restrictions Egypt has on foreigners entering Cairo for tourism.
Having just completed the trip from the United States to Egypt a day ago, I figured it would be a great time to write a blog post detailing my recent experience, add insight from the dozens of other times I have flown from the US to Cairo, and specifically address how Covid-19 has changed the process. During this post I will answer the above questions, along with:
-What you need to bring on your flight
-How Covid-19 has impacted air travel to Egypt
-Paperwork and visa requirements to enter Egypt
Let’s get started!
Flight basics
Egypt is located in northern Africa, quite a ways away from the United States. At the time of writing, there are only two options for a non-stop flight to Egypt from the US—flying EgyptAir from JFK Airport in New York City or from Dulles Airport (IAD) in Washington, DC. While these flights expedite the trip, each clocking in at just under 12 hours, it is not practical for U.S. Americans traveling from other parts of the country, for folks who want to fly a different airline due to status (EgyptAir is part of Star Alliance, just like the U.S.-based carrier United), or for the cost-conscious (these flights are often a couple hundred dollars more expensive than other options). I have flown the JFK - CAI flight on EgyptAir once and enjoyed getting to Cairo in record time from the U.S., but the fact that I had to make a connection from my home airport (MSP in the Twin Cities, Minnesota) did not save me all that much time.
Delta, United, and American all have options to fly to Cairo through their partner airlines in Europe, the Middle East, or Africa; none of these airlines fly to Cairo independently and they do not offer any non-stop options. Taking a one, two, or three-stop (yikes) flight through one of these airlines will add anywhere from 4-18 hours (or potentially more) to the trip than the non-stop option through EgyptAir, but the cost is universally cheaper. I have seen flights from MSP as cheap as $780 round-trip through one of these U.S. airlines; I usually expect to pay between $800-$1200 round-trip for a flight to Cairo from a major U.S. city.
Tip: often flights to Cairo will be much cheaper from a major airport in the Midwest or East Coast, like Chicago or New York. It never hurts to check prices from multiple cities, and to see if you can book an “open-jaw” itinerary, flying to a major airport on a cheap ticket (or even an award ticket), and then flying to Cairo round-trip on a more affordable ticket from the larger airport.
As for time, be prepared for a long journey, often with multiple stops. Since MSP is a Delta hub (and I love Delta!) I often fly SkyTeam on my way to Cairo. Itineraries I have flown include:
MSP —> DTW —> CDG (Paris) —> CAI
MSP —> FCO (Rome) —> CAI
MSP —> AMS (Amsterdam) —> CAI
MSP —> JFK —> LHR (London) —> CAI
The fastest itinerary I have had with connections to Cairo is by flying non-stop to Rome from Minneapolis (about 12 hours and then a layover of a couple hours) and then flying non-stop from Rome to Cairo (about 3 hours). The longest itinerary I have done included stopping for a layover in a U.S. airport and stopping for a whopping 8 hour layover in Paris, which I used to do a little sightseeing in the city and enjoy a coffee before continuing on to Cairo.
Tip: pack lightly (the baggage claim at Cairo Airport can be a headache—carryons are recommended), and then if you have a long layover, drop your luggage off at an airport storage locker and head into whatever city you are stuck in to stretch your legs and take your mind off of the long journey and all the waiting. Even with a layover as short as 5 hours, if you hustle, you can grab public transit into the city and catch a sight or two or enjoy a quick bite to eat.
What to bring on the plane
I plan on writing a separate blog post for what to pack for your Egypt adventure, so right now, I will focus specifically on what to bring on the airplane. Some things may seem like second nature, while others may be a surprise, even to seasoned travelers.
Passport: required to travel internationally—your passport will be needed constantly when you are in transit, so keep it handy, not buried in your luggage
Paper copies of boarding documents: this may not seem necessary, but these can come in handy to keep with your passport and have ready to go. Once or twice at the Cairo Airport I have been asked to show paper copies of boarding documents, and having them on hand saves the hassle of opening up an electronic copy and convincing an official of its validity
A pen: essential for filling out the arrival card (discussed in more detail below) and any other paperwork required. I have forgotten to bring a pen in my carryon so many times, and have had to borrow pens from others, or wait in line to use one of the very few public pens at the Cairo Airport.
An empty water bottle: tap water in Egypt does not taste great, and it is not recommended for folks who have not spent time living in Egypt to drink the water. Trust me, your body is not going to like it very much. Bringing an empty bottle or two and making sure to fill up at the last airport before Cairo can help ensure you will be fully hydrated before the journey from the airport to your place of stay in Egypt
Chargers for electronics: Most airports and planes will have options to charge your devices, and I recommended you arrive to the Cairo Airport with devices that are fully charged. Sometimes you will need your devices to show electronic copies of paperwork, use WiFi, or make a phone call. Outlets are not easy to find in Cairo Airport, so coming fully charged will help make your transition through the airport much smoother
Cash money (in USD): Having USD in cash will give you a leg up in two areas:
Egypt requires U.S. Americans to buy a visa (more info on that below) in order to enter Egypt, and this is done easily at the airport upon arrival, for $25 (at the time of writing). The only catch is that the visa must be paid for in cash. Bring exact change if you can.
The same window where you buy your $25 entry visa is also the window where you can exchange foreign currency for Egyptian Pounds (abbreviated as LE). Having cash in Egypt is essential, so while you are purchasing your visa, getting some cash from the same teller is a great way to save some time.
Paper copies of negative COVID-19 test(s): at the time of writing, a paper copy (not an electronic copy) of a negative COVID-19 test was required to enter Egypt from the United States, taken within 72 hours prior to the initial flight departure time. See the U.S. Embassy in Egypt’s website for more details. I decided to play it safe and I got two different Covid-19 tests, so that if one did not come back in time, or if I had problems with health officials at the airport with one test, I could show them the other. When I got to the airport, a health official glanced at my test while a pretty hectic pileup of people thronged behind me. It did not seem like the test was taken very seriously, but it definitely was required at the airport.
Proof of overseas medical insurance: at the time of writing, in addition to a negative Covid-19 test, the government also required proof of overseas medical insurance. I bought mine online by Googling “overseas medical insurance” and choosing a provider that sold insurance in my state. It took less than 10 minutes to sign up, and cost about $65 for one month of coverage. Once I signed up I got ID cards sent to my email that I was able to print out. Aside from writing down the name of the plan I purchased on my health declaration form (see below), I did not need to show proof of insurance or reference it in any way upon arrival.
Tip: The Arabic word for Egyptian Pounds is guinea (pronounced like the “Guinea” in “Guinea pig”). Sometimes Egyptians will also refer to their currency with the word masry (pronounced “MOSS-ree”, literally meaning, “Egyptian”). Aside from buying your visa with USD, paying for a hotel in USD, and potentially purchasing goods from the duty free shop in USD, try to use Egyptian Pounds for everything else, even if someone says they would like you to pay with USD.
Covid-19 and air-travel to Egypt
I noticed several key differences during my recent trip to Egypt due to Covid-19. Above I talked about the necessity of having paper copies of a recent, negative Covid-19 test (which was checked at the airport), and having proof of overseas medical insurance coverage (which was never checked at the airport). In addition:
-Masks: masks were required to be worn at all times (except when eating and drinking) at all airports and on all airplanes during my trip to Cairo. When travelers were not wearing a mask, or if they had finished eating/drinking and did not put their mask back on, they were reminded by an airline employee every time. Bring a comfortable mask, since you will be wearing it for a long time.
Once outside the Cairo Airport, however, mask wearing did not seem to matter anymore. Stay tuned—I will write another blog post about Covid-19 precautions in Egypt after I have been here a few weeks.
-Health Declaration Form: at Schipol Airport in Amsterdam, I was required to fill out a Health Declaration Form (pictured below), which I placed in a chaotic pile on a table upon arrival, after a health official checked my negative Covid test result. Definitely required, but not something it seemed officials took much interest in.
The Health Declaration Form I got in the Amsterdam Airport.
The Health Declaration Forms were left scattered on a table. Not sure how serious this is.
-Social distancing in airports and on airplanes: every flight I took had empty middle seats, except when travelers were from the same family. This meant not only more room for me to spread out and get comfortable, but also more opportunities to social distance. In a similar vein, every airport I traveled through had markings on the ground to show an appropriate distance to be kept between passengers, had certain seats and areas blocked off in order to ensure distance between travelers, and hand sanitizer stations everywhere. The Cairo Airport, however, was a different story. Social cues we take for granted in the U.S. like waiting in line do not hold the same importance in Egypt. Even though the Cairo Airport had markers noting appropriate social distance, people still crowded around each area like I have seen in the past.
Social distancing is not really observed in lines, despite the markings.
-Modified meal services: meal services were more sparse than what I am used to, featuring fewer items, and everything delivered at once. On each of my international flights with KLM, I received an entree, salad, and dessert, and also a snack bag. On my domestic flight with Delta, I received a snack bag containing water, a granola bar, and a bag of Cheez-its.
A hefty snack bag, courtesy of KLM, passed out immediately after a hot meal was served.
When you get to the Cairo Airport
After (potentially) numerous layovers and countless hours on airplanes and in airports, you have made it to Cairo! Here is a step-by-step guide of what to expect (and what you will see) when you arrive at Cairo Airport’s international terminal.
Tip: As mentioned above, lines and waiting your turn are not universal social concepts, and in Egypt often the person who gets helped is the one who pushes their way to the front (or walks around and goes directly to the front) of a queue and makes direct eye contact with the gatekeeper. This does not happen in every line at the airport, but if a situation is more undefined (like the new requirement to show negative Covid-19 tests and turn in health declaration forms) then folks will often try to be the next person helped instead of waiting in a single-file line. Either try not to let it phase you and find your spot in whatever resembles a line, or try your hand at being pushy—just don’t be physically aggressive and push people out of the way!
Once showing a health official your Covid-19 test and dropping off your Health Declaration Form, you will move toward the international arrival hall, and you will see several bank teller windows. These are the places mentioned before where you can both purchase your entry visa for $25 and also exchange USD for Egyptian Pounds. Once you have the visa sticker, DO NOT put it into your passport! A border security officer will do this for you.
Go to any one of the bank tellers like this one. Just pick the one with the shortest line.
Visa in hand (again, DO NOT put it in your passport!), you are ready to head to a border control officer.
During your flight, you will hopefully have received and filled out (are you happy you brought your pen on the flight?) an arrival card. If not, you will grab one off one of the blue counters and fill it out before getting in line.
Pretty straightforward—do not worry about providing your exact address when in Egypt—just putting down the name of the first hotel you will stay at will suffice. Only worry about checking boxes or filling out portions that are in English. The back side only needs to be filled out if you have minors with you.
The line for the border security agents is followed like a normal line would be at an airport in the U.S. After a quick conversation with an official (who will speak limited English), you will have the visa stuck in your passport, and will be ready to head to baggage claim.
Passport control line
Baggage claim at Cairo Airport is like at any airport, even if it takes a long time.
After passing through passport control and grabbing your bags, you have the option to stop at a duty free shop and pick up some alcohol, cigarettes, or whatever else you may want, and then you are ready to leave the airport and begin your Cairo adventure! Follow the flow of people to the baggage scanners, go into the “nothing to declare” line (if this applies to you), and head out to the arrival hall to your transportation from the airport to your place of stay in Egypt (addressed in a later post).
As you will hear many times from the countless Egyptians who will greet you authentically and warmly during your trip, “Welcome to Egypt!”
We would love to hear your thoughts! Drop us a comment with:
-Any specific questions you have about air travel to Egypt (including Covid-19 questions!)
-Any long flights you have taken (and how you survived) or interesting airports you have been to
-How our experience differed from yours if you have traveled to Cairo from the U.S. by air
