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Has Anyone Flown Commercially Lately?

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Has Anyone Flown Commercially Lately?

Old 8th Aug 2020, 12:58
  #81 (permalink)  

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I returned to the UK on Thurs, Heathrow this time. I did the PLF about an hour before checkin. This time I used the automatic gates with no hassles. Travellers with children had to go through the "old school" gates and see a Border Force officer. They had to show their PLF.
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Old 9th Aug 2020, 07:31
  #82 (permalink)  
 
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I flew back from Toronto last week on Air Canada and had the same experience - did the PLF the night before and went through the auto gates, didnt see a soul on entry to the UK..
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Old 14th Aug 2020, 10:32
  #83 (permalink)  
 
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I flew into the UK yesterday and neither the airline's online or check-in stages advertised the fact the PLF was necessary in an obvious way. It was rather like all the small print at the bottom of the screen at the end of a TV commercial, legally there, but somehow not.

I was surprised that they needed SO much information on the online form, it went on and on. It could have been half the length and been effective. A man within earshot was pleading with the gate staff to provide a way for him to complete the form as someone who didn't own a smartphone! He was getting very stressed and the staff were unable to help, it just didn't compute.....
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Old 14th Aug 2020, 11:17
  #84 (permalink)  
 
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I find it a very sad reflection on the UK that getting "back home" always seems to be the worst part of any travel. Having been born here (UK) and lived all my life here, why do we make it so long and stressful a process to return home after being away for a few days? Sometimes I have looked at the queues of "non-Brits" waiting to get into the UK at Heathrow and wondered just what sort of first impression they get when faced by lengthy queues to often woefully understaffed desks - this coming quite possibly after a long-haul flight where the last thing you want to do is stand in line for a few hours just to clear "formalities"
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Old 14th Aug 2020, 13:19
  #85 (permalink)  
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One of the ways you know that you are back home at LHR - the toilets are rarely clean.
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Old 15th Aug 2020, 09:18
  #86 (permalink)  
 
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I'm hesitating to use public transportation. People seem to not care a lot with the rules anymore. Rush instead distance, impatience instead care.
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Old 15th Aug 2020, 12:43
  #87 (permalink)  
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Waito Welcome to the Cabin of PPRuNe. Your anxiety is shared by many. I have found (here in the UK) that people are queuing properly distanced outside a supermarket - but when they go inside, they revert to 'Standard Operating Procedure' and forget.
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Old 15th Aug 2020, 14:15
  #88 (permalink)  
 
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That's been my experience outside the UK too. Yesterday I had to shop at a busy time and was almost panicked by the near total lack of social distancing discipline (which had generally been good until lately). I felt like screaming, "Hey people, the virus is still very much around - show some sense"! Even the chatty neighbours are back to standard distancing I note too! This relaxation of basic precautions by many concerns me.
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Old 16th Aug 2020, 05:53
  #89 (permalink)  
 
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There does seem to be a 'forgetting' of the dangers when in more crowded areas, supermarkets, parents outside schools at pick up/drop off, queues for food/drink establishments. I had a business woman standing behind me in the queue for our flight the other day having a very animated conversation with mask lowered spewing possible virions out, seemingly oblivious to any effects. The queues for passport control at LHR were also more 'cosy' than I would've liked, people just in mindless mode trying to get through as quickly as possible. Much of our behaviour is autonomous in nature, but times have changed, for how long who knows, but changed times calls for changed behaviour.
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Old 19th Aug 2020, 05:46
  #90 (permalink)  
 
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I’ve flown four sectors London - Italy. I’m not in a hurry to do it again. However you look at it, my risk of getting Covid is orders of magnitude higher travelling than my day to day life. Add in the issues of the potential need to quarantine either end, or deal with Covid at destination, and it just isn’t worth the trouble.

And it is stressful, time consuming and mindless.

in T5 at LHR, unmanaged and unnecessary ‘snake’ queues to check in (30 - 40 minutes) due to understaffed desks, while Multiple supervisors look on bored. Staff mask compliance 75% at best. Lip service social distancing arrangements in the terminal (just look at the random seat blockers and the security). Minimal sanitiser provision. Minimal food and drink options both on the ground and in flight. ‘We care about your safety, here is a tiny wet wipe.’ No paperwork tests on incoming passengers, I’d be amazed if the take up rate for the self declaration is much more than half.

bologna arrivals a time consuming zoo.

malpensa pretty good.

venice, 30 minute queue to get in the terminal. Terminal reconfigured for one way traffic but contradictory signage leads you to closed escalators and lifts. Car hire desks at the centre of a maze.

this industry is obviously in trouble, but it is also self harming.


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Old 19th Aug 2020, 09:10
  #91 (permalink)  
 
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You'd have thought that the Italians of all countries would have things well organised by now.

A curious question, why didn't you avail yourself of the train system in Northern Italy ? All your destinations are well covered by the system and perhaps less of a chance of exposure, that perhaps at airports is higher these days. Hopefully after the summer rush is over, the airports will get their act together and have a cohesive strategy to funnel the passengers in and out of their establishments with minimal stress and time consumption.
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Old 19th Aug 2020, 14:51
  #92 (permalink)  
 
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"why didn't you avail yourself of the train system in Northern Italy "

there have been some issues regarding trains with various Ministries issuing contradictory advice and rules. Its not much better than flying plus you have even longer exposure. With the UK Govt current quarantines flying is just about the only way to get to Italy without passing through France by train or car
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Old 19th Aug 2020, 14:53
  #93 (permalink)  
 
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I did. Flew London / Italy, then cars and trains in Italy. Bologna / Milan and Bolzano / Verona / Milan by train. The trains are excellent, and on long distance trains (and the Malpensa 'express') alternate seats are blocked. Carriages are 'one way' (one door to enter, one to leave). Sanitiser everywhere, social distancing routinely practised at stations. Mask compliance 100%. Regional trains are not as strict but are comfortable and not that busy. Where I work, meeting rooms have restricted numbers and everyone wears masks except at their desks. Restaurants and hotels are well organised, hygiene measures well thought through, it varies but compliance levels much higher than in London.

Overall, Northern Italy is dealing with Covid far more effectively than the UK. As reflected by their numbers.

Whether they will be able to hold the line given the number of foreign visitors in the North is an open question, but it won't be for want of trying.

Last edited by SLF3; 19th Aug 2020 at 14:55. Reason: Clarity
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Old 5th Sep 2020, 08:19
  #94 (permalink)  
 
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Originally Posted by Mr Mac
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.
Cheers
Mr Mac
I note this was a long haul flight. My question is, what type of mask did you wear? I am referring to the comfort factor so one that is easier to breathe through, and all the rest of the comfort factors when wearing a mask. I am dreading wearing one for 10/11 hours when the time comes that I am able to fly again down to SA. I think I might need to be knocked out for the duration! Thanks.
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Old 5th Sep 2020, 15:24
  #95 (permalink)  
 
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Helol
I use soft cotton masks which have ties that go behind my neck and the other loops behind my ears. The cotton does not rub on your skin as much as the paper alternatives, and is not so tight as the one which are used in chemical or dusty environment's. We use the latter at work, but in the environment's mentioned, but I would not consider wearing one for multiple hours on long haul flights. You are obviously allowed to remove them when eating and drinking, and I would suggest you chew very slowly and drink even slower or more often
Cheers
Mr Mac


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Old 5th Sep 2020, 17:54
  #96 (permalink)  
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Here is another clver clogs:
Man avoids wearing face mask on Tenerife flight by making tube of Pringles last four hours

It was on easyJet.
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Old 5th Sep 2020, 20:33
  #97 (permalink)  
 
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Originally Posted by PAXboy
Does chewing gum count as eating
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Old 6th Sep 2020, 18:05
  #98 (permalink)  
 
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Well, I have survived to tell this tale....
LHR T5 to TXL Friday 28 August, return journey Friday 4 September.
No attempt at distancing by BA, both flights were full (maybe 1 or 2 empty seats, but middle seats were being used).
Plane boarded and deplaned by rows of 5 seats, from the back to embark and from the front to disembark. On landing both times , a few people did stand up and attempt to retrieve luggage fom overhead bins but announcements were made reminding them to stay seated until their row number was called.
Check-in time was 2 hours in advance of departure time but this was excessive due to reduced numbers at both airports; due to traffic issues on the M25 I arrived about 1 1/2 hours before departure from Heathrow and almost exactly the 2 hours at Tegel ... plenty of time to kill until boarding. Most but not all shops are open at Heathrow T5 but with a limit on numbers of people permitted at any one time (as expected) but this wasn't an issue... personally I find the barriers and security staff at the shop entrances off-putting (not just at Heathrow but in town centres too).

Tegel - on the basis that there are few passengers and that the airport is scheduled top close in the near future, not all the shops were open but I reckon that over half were. No facility to get "free" water from a fountain once through security/emigration. Only way would be to buy from kiosk or machine (TXL has its own, pratically unique way of doing things).

Immigration at Heathrow T5 is a farce, the queue snakes back and forth on itself so not possible to observe social distancing. No requirement to self-isolate when arriving from Germany, but those in the queue around you could be from countries where the virus is rampant. As per about 50-% of occasions, the auto-gate dd not work for me, so further queueing to see an Officer who was pleasant and efficient, and I was asked to show my Locator Form on my smart phone (and he scanned it). By the time this was dealt with, my case was already on the luggage belt. Only one exit was open to get into the terminal though, and of course it was the furthest one from where our bags were delivered.

Nevertheless, not too bad an experience at both ends... around an hour from airport to hotel in Berlin (by TXL bus then tram, both of which were about 1/3 full), and around an hour to get home from T5 (by my car).

My biggest concern was the passenger next to me on my return flight - wearing an athletics vest top, and shorts. Totally inappropriate clothing at the best of times IMHO, but in these times, potential for "fluid contact" via sweat from bare skin is much increased.

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Old 7th Sep 2020, 10:46
  #99 (permalink)  
 
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Originally Posted by Helol
Does chewing gum count as eating
Helol
If Bojo / Trump have anything to do with it probably yes, however in the real world in which the rest of us live, I would say no.
Cheers
Mr Mac
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Old 7th Sep 2020, 10:47
  #100 (permalink)  
 
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Originally Posted by PAXboy
Paxboy
Unfortunately comes from near me as well
Kind regards
Mr Mac
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