Positioning as pax with Crew ID

[360BakTrak]

Morning all

Has anyone positioned on a commercial flight using crew ID from a red or amber country into the UK IAW the government website? Did you have any issues on arrival and what extra paperwork did you have to produce at immigration, if any?

Currently in a 'Red' country and need to get back for some work, but don't want to get thrown into a hotel quarantine if I don't jump through all the hoops!

Cheers

[wiggy]

Positioning/deadheading into an English airport as part of a duty/travelling into "the United Kingdom in the course of their work or are otherwise required to travel to the United Kingdom for work purposes"?

From what I've heard the website you referred to covers it, though it might be worth having a roster/proof of next duty handy...

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-travellers-exempt-from-uk-border-rules/coronavirus-covid-19-travellers-exempt-from-uk-border-rules

Section headed:

"Aircraft Pilots and Crew"....

[Globally Challenged]

For us (BizJets) it’s the airlines not recognising us as crew positioning on duty (with the exception of KLM/Air France) so getting past check-in without COVID tests required of pax is the issue whereas UK Border Force obviously do understand the rules.

So if you are positioning on your own airline you will be fine.

[Alrosa]

Perhaps see if your company will provide a brief letter on official paper with your details and reason for travel, this is what my employer has provided for sim duties etc. in other countries.

My recent experience flying from an amber country to the U.K. was that the U.K. border force were aware of the exemptions but as others have said, airline staff may not be.

Generally the more paperwork you have the better (never thought I’d say that ...)

Expect long queues on arrival into the U.K. ...

[360BakTrak]

Thanks all.

I'm corporate so will be flying an airline home for some work back there. No uniform with me here so I'll just have to load up on paperwork, take crew ID and get a Covid test prior, and cross my fingers! I was more concerned about UK Immigration having an issue, check in staff at departure hadn't crossed my mind! I'll make sure I'm well prepared with plenty of paperwork printed out!

Thanks again. Won't be happening for a few weeks but I'll post here with an update.

[Mister Geezer]

Two of my colleagues did this recently with there being no fuss on arrival into LHR, after showing their ID to immigration. Both were not wearing uniform. It would seem that the biggest challenge was dealing with ground staff prior to departure, that perhaps don't know the rules. It may help to print and carry the legislation from gov.uk.

There are rules for performing Lateral Flow Tests after you arrive in some situations but I can't remember who it applies to. Have a careful read of the rules before you go.

Edited to add that both colleagues were travelling from a red country.

[360BakTrak]

Thanks Geezer.

Out of interest, do you know if your colleagues had to join the, reportedly, horrendous queue through immigration to present their crew ID, etc, or is there a seperate 'crew' channel'?

[Mister Geezer]

They both arrived at T2 at LHR and there is no separate crew channel there however, on those occasions, I was told the queue moved quickly.

[360BakTrak]

Many thanks

[Sharklet]

About 10 days ago I positioned from Barcelona (amber list) to London to revalidate my LPC in the sim (not under airline duty). The layover was about 24 hours.

Whilst the guidelines clearly indicate you are exempt from travel testing requirements and quarantine, I paid for the antigen test (cheaper than PCR) as my 'pre-departure' COVID test as a back-up.

The sim centre created a letter justifying the reason for travelling.

Check-in staff at BCN required my crew ID, UK PLF (which stated that I was exempt) and letter from the sim (I highly doubt they read it fully).
Upon landing at LGW, officers (before immigration( verified my reason for travel and checked my crew ID.
Immigration officers did not ask for any proof other than a verbal declaration.

Let me know if you need more info.

[360BakTrak]

Thanks Sharklet, useful info. I had planned to do a pre-dep test as well as a back up. I'm currently in a 'red' country so hopefully it will be as hassle-free as your experience.

[Dufo]

Few weeks ago I flew into CDG from DXB commercially to operate out of CDG next day. In uniform, with a fresh PCR in my hand. That wasn't sufficient for paranoid clowns as I had to do another test at the airport (of course they shouted our test queue # only in french), was given a piece of paper to sign in french only (and after asking what am I signing threatened to be detained at the airport unless I sign it), then given a 10 day quarantine which I happily ignored.

What a :mad:. Not much better than arriving to another world's top five latrine called Sharjah and being treated as creators of Ebola and HIV because we had a stopover in Mumbai.

[PilotLZ]

Being treated like rabid certainly doesn't help all the stress pilots have had to endure in the past 15 months. I wonder when will that be recognised as a safety matter.

[360BakTrak]

And the government site has been updated to say this;Red list countries Applies if you have been in a red list country (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/red-amber-and-green-list-rules-for-entering-england#red-list) in the 10 days before you arrive in England.

If you travel in any part of the aircraft that is accessible to any passenger for any part of the journey, for example the aircraft cabin, you need to 

If you live in the UK and you travel in a part of the aircraft that is not accessible to passengers, you do not need to quarantine.

If you do not live in the UK and you travel in a part of the aircraft that is not accessible to passengers, you must (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/booking-and-staying-in-a-quarantine-hotel-when-you-arrive-in-england quarantine in a government approved hotel and take a COVID-19 test on day 2 and day 8.[/url)quarantine in the place you are staying (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/how-to-quarantine-when-you-arrive-in-england), except while you are undertaking the exempt activity or travelling as part of your work.

When you are in a red list country you should take additional precautions to minimise contact with others.Evidence You should show a crew badge or ID.

So that screws any corporate work that involves commuting............great.

[FlyingGasMain]

Hi 360BakTrak

I was wondering how you learnt of this most recent change to the red list country rules for aircrew ? Did your company tell you about it, or did you get an email from the UK govt / Border Force ? The rules have changed very recently as you say and the company I work for is aware but the relevant page on the UK Govt website says ‘updated 19th May 2021’, so somethings a bit odd. Maybe when they changed the rules they didnt change that date on the page.

When I last went home by airline about a month ago, the rule was you could come home from a red list country but had to do 3 lateral flow tests on days 2, 5 and 8 after getting home and record the results.

The rules dont seem very well written and dont stack up well with the rules for amber list countries. I think they’re (maybe understandably) written for airline crew and dont consider the possibility of commuting crew, be they airline or bizjet crew.

This latest change is going to affect me and some others I work with, so we’re trying to get some clarification about what happens in certain scenarios involving red list countries and coming home to the UK.

[360BakTrak]

Hi FlyingGasMain

The rules were as you say, but someone posted here on 19th June (then deleted the reply) stating the rules had just changed so I re-checked the website to find the new requirements, but the page update still shows May 19th.......strange.

If you get any clarification I'd be grateful to know, either here or via PM please. :ok:

Many thanks

[FlyingGasMain]

We put together an email to Border Force this morning asking about our situation as we were due to return after visiting a red list country. Theyve just replied to say the rules have changed again for aircrew. Im not sure if the 2 are connected ! At first glance on the UK Govt website it seems they have more or less gone back to what they were before this change we’ve been talking about. So, good news I think.

[360BakTrak]

Interesting.....it's changed back! Maybe it was an error and your email highlighted it? Anyway, hopefully it'll stay the same and I can start getting some work again! I'll keep checking the website just in case!

[Alrosa]

Arrived from an Amber list country travelling on BA 2 days ago - arrival into LHR T5. I was wearing my airline uniform and ID.

Within seconds I was approached by an airport employee, asked if I was exempt (yes) and escorted into a line for ‘exempt’ travellers.

I was seen by a border control employee within seconds who asked for my passport and nothing else, and within 5 seconds of the passport check I was through, no further questions asked.

I must admit I was astonished, but it seems if you are able to fall under an exempt category, the chances are you will be processed very quickly (at least at T5..).

[Globally Challenged]

Similar experience last week - barely stopped moving.

[360BakTrak]

All went smoothly from red-list country to LHR. Check in at departure only glanced at company letter & PLF. The PLF was closely scrutinised at the gate and lots of typing into the computer ensued....seemed a bit late by that point! Boarded the flight, landed T5 and everyone was bussed to T4. Border Force only wanted to see passport, PLF & company letter. At no point was crew ID asked for as per the .gov website. I was then issued a 'hotel quarantine exempt' pass and left the terminal. Unfortunately as T4 isn't fully operational none of the 'Hoppa' buses were running, so if you aren't getting picked up you'll have to cab your way to freedom. Hopefully normality will resume soon...............