Has Anyone Flown Commercially Lately?
Paxing All Over The World
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 10,842
Likes: 328
From: Hertfordshire, UK.
This is not about any recent travel of mine but this report in a South African paper is very interesting in contrasting air travel in South Africa and the USA within the last week.
Business Live South Africa
The reporters name is 'Justice Malala' that is not a title, his given name is Justice.
There are some introductory paragraphs before he describes travelling JNB to IAD and connecting to IAH then to LAX.
Business Live South Africa
The reporters name is 'Justice Malala' that is not a title, his given name is Justice.
What three American airports taught me about Covid-19 and political leadership
Measured against SA’s public health measures, the US’s efforts seemed negligent at best and criminal at worst
29 June 2020 - 06:00
Last Sunday I landed in Washington, DC, from SA, one of the nations Trump included in the class of “!!!!hole countries”.
But I was immediately struck by how scarily lackadaisical the US government is about limiting the spread of the coronavirus compared to SA and, perhaps, other countries. Measured against SA’s public health measures, the US’s efforts seemed negligent at best and criminal at worst. It’s chalk and cheese, a true tale of two countries.
Measured against SA’s public health measures, the US’s efforts seemed negligent at best and criminal at worst
29 June 2020 - 06:00
Last Sunday I landed in Washington, DC, from SA, one of the nations Trump included in the class of “!!!!hole countries”.
But I was immediately struck by how scarily lackadaisical the US government is about limiting the spread of the coronavirus compared to SA and, perhaps, other countries. Measured against SA’s public health measures, the US’s efforts seemed negligent at best and criminal at worst. It’s chalk and cheese, a true tale of two countries.
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 158
Likes: 10
From: Farnborough Hants
^
I suspect that "Justice (for) Malala" is a pseudonym..... if not, then it's highly coincidental at this time.
And didn't POTUS declare some months ago that the USA had conquered covid-19 and there was nothing to worry about? This may have gotten through to a majority of their population?
Hard to believe that just over 2 years ago I spent a week's vacation in DC, visiting many of the Smithsonian museums, the White House Visitor Center etc etc :-(
I suspect that "Justice (for) Malala" is a pseudonym..... if not, then it's highly coincidental at this time.
And didn't POTUS declare some months ago that the USA had conquered covid-19 and there was nothing to worry about? This may have gotten through to a majority of their population?
Hard to believe that just over 2 years ago I spent a week's vacation in DC, visiting many of the Smithsonian museums, the White House Visitor Center etc etc :-(
Paxing All Over The World
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 10,842
Likes: 328
From: Hertfordshire, UK.
I have seen a lot of UK people in the last couple of weeks who have forgotten the meaning of 'social distancing' and, today, friends told me of one care home where staff still do not wear face masks.
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,488
Likes: 35
From: Hong Kong
Have they got PPE to wear? I've had to send masks from HKG to UK for a friend whose mother is terminally ill but the nurses who attend daily to help with palliative care don't have sufficient PPE for all the patients they have to visit.
Joined: Jun 2007
Aviation Qualifications: Spotter
Posts: 1,885
Likes: 501
From: Beyond the Blue Horizon
Paxboy
Just go back of my first long haul flight, and cannot say it was much fun. Long check in time even in Business, and face mask apart from when drinking and eating. On the plus side terminals quiet, immigration quiet (on nodding terms now with them having flown through lock down), and the G&T and views are all still good. It was good to be getting back into a routine even if slightly different but will have to get used to it, as there will be a lot more between now and Christmas, to catch up on the last few months workload.
Cheers
Mr Mac
Just go back of my first long haul flight, and cannot say it was much fun. Long check in time even in Business, and face mask apart from when drinking and eating. On the plus side terminals quiet, immigration quiet (on nodding terms now with them having flown through lock down), and the G&T and views are all still good. It was good to be getting back into a routine even if slightly different but will have to get used to it, as there will be a lot more between now and Christmas, to catch up on the last few months workload.
Cheers
Mr Mac
Joined: Jun 2007
Aviation Qualifications: Spotter
Posts: 1,885
Likes: 501
From: Beyond the Blue Horizon
Asturias 56
Well it used to be 1.5hrs in Business, but I was on 3hrs, and I was told they are trying to get 4 hrs ! I am not sure that time is required, as the terminals and flights are still quite quiet, but I guess they are planning for when there are more passengers. It will be a while before I get used to this type of service on long haul, somehow not too bad just going into Europe, but the longer hops are going to be a real pain. However with that length of check in times there is less chance of missing flights due to traffic issues on M62 /60, so one silver lining !!
Cheers
Mr Mac
Well it used to be 1.5hrs in Business, but I was on 3hrs, and I was told they are trying to get 4 hrs ! I am not sure that time is required, as the terminals and flights are still quite quiet, but I guess they are planning for when there are more passengers. It will be a while before I get used to this type of service on long haul, somehow not too bad just going into Europe, but the longer hops are going to be a real pain. However with that length of check in times there is less chance of missing flights due to traffic issues on M62 /60, so one silver lining !!
Cheers
Mr Mac
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 421
Likes: 38
From: London, UK
In 1982 the 20.30 AF to to Paris was the last flight out of T2. With cabin baggage you could check in on the gate 20 minutes before flight time, no checks prior. My dad used to aim to drop me at the terminal Sunday evening 30 minutes before departure. From memory it was a scheduled 1 hour but usually much quicker. There was an Air Cameroon (I think) flight arrived at the next gate in Paris around the same time. If they landed first, immigration took longer than the rest of the journey combined. Beat them and I was in bed in the 7th arrondisement by midnight.
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,155
Likes: 112
From: There and here
I flew intra-Europe in the last few days. Airports were like the Marie Celeste, actually a pleasure. The aircraft was full, which surprised me as I was under the impression that there was meant to be spaces between passenger, or is that now yesterday's news ? I wasn't on a holiday route, so was amongst single/pairs of adults etc. Overall a pleasant experience.
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 158
Likes: 10
From: Farnborough Hants
Reports in the British Press that there were just 3 immigration/passport desks open in LHR T5 at the start of this week-end, with queues taking 5 hours or more to get through, obviously compromising social distancing with the large numbers and bottlenecks at the desks. This seems totally unacceptable to me, surely the Home Office get the numbers of expected passengers from the airport/airline well in advance, along with expected arrival times, so they should have a very good idea of passenger numbers throughout the day
PPRuNe Handmaiden
Joined: Feb 1997
Posts: 4,910
Likes: 184
From: Duit On Mon Dei
I came back from Portugal last week via easyJet into Luton. Straight through the automatic gates, no questions asked about the PLF. Folks with children had to see a Border Force person. I can see how that can cause issues if there's a lot of families coupled with a lack of BF officers, it would be carnage. As was seen in Heathrow.
All the other airports I've operated into, like Biggin etc, have not asked to see the PLF. All they did was ask "have you filled in the PLF?". (We have)
All the other airports I've operated into, like Biggin etc, have not asked to see the PLF. All they did was ask "have you filled in the PLF?". (We have)
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 17,701
Likes: 2,045
From: Reading, UK
I came back from Portugal last week via easyJet into Luton. Straight through the automatic gates, no questions asked about the PLF. Folks with children had to see a Border Force person. I can see how that can cause issues if there's a lot of families coupled with a lack of BF officers, it would be carnage. As was seen in Heathrow.
All the other airports I've operated into, like Biggin etc, have not asked to see the PLF. All they did was ask "have you filled in the PLF?". (We have)
All the other airports I've operated into, like Biggin etc, have not asked to see the PLF. All they did was ask "have you filled in the PLF?". (We have)
The other explanation would be that the system simply isn't working. Surely not.
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 82
Likes: 15
From: Birmingham - UK
Flew EMA-CFU on 30th July and returned on 2nd Aug. A much different experience with both sides being a ghost town on the outbound leg. Strict enforcement of the Greece PLF on the way out in EMA with people being turned around at the gate. However no test for us on arrival in CFU which is supposedly pre-determined. Load was around 80-90%.
Return flight was a different story. CFU airport was actually quite busy with 6/7 outbounds back to varying destinations but the load was only around 50% on our RYR flight, if that, meaning a very spaced out flight. Again strict checking of the UK Gov PLF prior to immigration in EMA with several people taken aside to a dedicated area with ipads in booths where I guess they are made to fill them in there and then.
Overall a different but pleasant experience due to the quietness of the airports even though I know this is bad for the airlines/economy, obviously. Wearing a mask really isn't an issue for the duration either.
Return flight was a different story. CFU airport was actually quite busy with 6/7 outbounds back to varying destinations but the load was only around 50% on our RYR flight, if that, meaning a very spaced out flight. Again strict checking of the UK Gov PLF prior to immigration in EMA with several people taken aside to a dedicated area with ipads in booths where I guess they are made to fill them in there and then.
Overall a different but pleasant experience due to the quietness of the airports even though I know this is bad for the airlines/economy, obviously. Wearing a mask really isn't an issue for the duration either.
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,064
Likes: 8
From: Either the back of a sim, or wherever Crewing send me.
I travelled on a large leisure airline from Manchester to Dubrovnik a week ago and saw no difference with check in times at all. Remember, just because an airline says check in “opens” 3 hours before departure doesn’t mean you have to be there then, most close check in about 30-45 minutes before departure, as long as you are there by then you’re fine.
Joined: Jun 2007
Aviation Qualifications: Spotter
Posts: 1,885
Likes: 501
From: Beyond the Blue Horizon
Johnny F@rt Pants
In July when I did the trip with Qatar that was what they were wanting. I have not done LH since, just hops into Germany and check in has been std 2hrs for these. I have more LH trips in Sept with EK from Manchester and Germany so will see what they are looking at then. The situation is fluid as we all know, and subject to change. The mask thing though is not fun on the long hops for me at least.
Kind regards
Mr Mac
In July when I did the trip with Qatar that was what they were wanting. I have not done LH since, just hops into Germany and check in has been std 2hrs for these. I have more LH trips in Sept with EK from Manchester and Germany so will see what they are looking at then. The situation is fluid as we all know, and subject to change. The mask thing though is not fun on the long hops for me at least.
Kind regards
Mr Mac
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,064
Likes: 8
From: Either the back of a sim, or wherever Crewing send me.
I have not done LH since, just hops into Germany and check in has been std 2hrs for these.
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 158
Likes: 10
From: Farnborough Hants
^
Interesting....... I am due to fly LHR-TXL later this month.... a bit of an anomaly to find that Lufthansa do not fly this route !
2 hour check-in for a 2-hour flight will be interesting, having to wear an asphyxiant all the time (otherwise known as a face mask). Also LHR have cut right back on parking, and I noted yesterday that now, at any time of day or night you have to call for the transfer bus from long-term to terminal 5. Does this mean that passenger numbers are falling still further, or that passengers are simply avoiding LHR's own car parks??
Interesting....... I am due to fly LHR-TXL later this month.... a bit of an anomaly to find that Lufthansa do not fly this route !
2 hour check-in for a 2-hour flight will be interesting, having to wear an asphyxiant all the time (otherwise known as a face mask). Also LHR have cut right back on parking, and I noted yesterday that now, at any time of day or night you have to call for the transfer bus from long-term to terminal 5. Does this mean that passenger numbers are falling still further, or that passengers are simply avoiding LHR's own car parks??