D
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So I am now safely in Italy 
and thought I'd share my experience flying (from London).
Check-in has been divided by destination country, given different requirements (temperature checks, forms, Italy not allowing hand luggage, etc) even within EU/Schengen countries. There is a priority line, but it seemed to be the slowest because it’s mixed and the agents have to manage multiple requirements. “Stand here while we get someone to come take your temperature” (10 minutes later...). Then someone else had to find the self-declaration form for Italy, which looked like it was made on a mimeograph machine and ran half off the page. The non-priority line was probably faster.
Security was largely the same except shoes had to come off (not the usual practice in the UK).
Lounges are all closed. All of the restaurants in the terminal were closed except one Pret. I stopped counting the line at 70 people. Despite restaurants being closed, luxury shopping is open - Prada, Rolex, etc. I was about to offer to buy a Rolex if I could get a coffee with it, but fortunately there was a WH Smith with canned cold coffee.
Social distancing signs are everywhere.... except at the gates. So after all that social distancing, you all crowd together at the gate. There’s not even an attempt - no seats blocked off, etc.
The plane boards from the rear in increments of five rows. You hand in your self declaration form as you board (presumably the agents then give it to the government?). No one checked it beyond a cursory glance. Business boards last. Use of overhead bins is not allowed on flights to or from Italy. (I’m not sure of the reasoning - germs? Or discouraging people from gathering in the aisles?) I’m told that airlines must check a bag that would have qualified as a cabin bag for free. Banning use of overhead bins was apparently a compromise that allowed airlines to sell middle seats (some of which were occupied on this flight).
As you board, everyone gets hand sanitizer, a wipe, and a sealable bag for trash.
With reduced in-flight service, BA seems to be setting the maximum number of rows as “business” - 10 rows on this plane. The meal came in a little box - the amount of plastic is sinful. There is a snack and water provided in economy - nothing for sale, and nothing in the seatbacks except for the safety information.
Upon landing in Italy, disembarkation was done by row in groups of four. Passport control was normal, with e-gates in operation. EU/EEA citizens enter with no questions or additional documentation*. I did hear non-EU citizens, e.g., man using an American passport, being questioned about place of residence. The immigration officer accepted this man’s word that he lived in London and did not require proof.
Baggage claim took 45 minutes due to virtually everyone having a checked bag.
And it goes without saying, but masks are required from the time you enter your departing airport to the time you leave your arrival airport, except when eating / drinking. Your mask gets lowered during check-in and boarding for ID checks (with attendants behind plexiglass).
*Not encouraging this, but it is a loophole for (dual) EU citizens living abroad. At least in Italy, there’s really no check at the point of entry to Schengen where you are coming from or where you ordinarily reside.....
and thought I'd share my experience flying (from London).Check-in has been divided by destination country, given different requirements (temperature checks, forms, Italy not allowing hand luggage, etc) even within EU/Schengen countries. There is a priority line, but it seemed to be the slowest because it’s mixed and the agents have to manage multiple requirements. “Stand here while we get someone to come take your temperature” (10 minutes later...). Then someone else had to find the self-declaration form for Italy, which looked like it was made on a mimeograph machine and ran half off the page. The non-priority line was probably faster.
Security was largely the same except shoes had to come off (not the usual practice in the UK).
Lounges are all closed. All of the restaurants in the terminal were closed except one Pret. I stopped counting the line at 70 people. Despite restaurants being closed, luxury shopping is open - Prada, Rolex, etc. I was about to offer to buy a Rolex if I could get a coffee with it, but fortunately there was a WH Smith with canned cold coffee.
Social distancing signs are everywhere.... except at the gates. So after all that social distancing, you all crowd together at the gate. There’s not even an attempt - no seats blocked off, etc.
The plane boards from the rear in increments of five rows. You hand in your self declaration form as you board (presumably the agents then give it to the government?). No one checked it beyond a cursory glance. Business boards last. Use of overhead bins is not allowed on flights to or from Italy. (I’m not sure of the reasoning - germs? Or discouraging people from gathering in the aisles?) I’m told that airlines must check a bag that would have qualified as a cabin bag for free. Banning use of overhead bins was apparently a compromise that allowed airlines to sell middle seats (some of which were occupied on this flight).
As you board, everyone gets hand sanitizer, a wipe, and a sealable bag for trash.
With reduced in-flight service, BA seems to be setting the maximum number of rows as “business” - 10 rows on this plane. The meal came in a little box - the amount of plastic is sinful. There is a snack and water provided in economy - nothing for sale, and nothing in the seatbacks except for the safety information.
Upon landing in Italy, disembarkation was done by row in groups of four. Passport control was normal, with e-gates in operation. EU/EEA citizens enter with no questions or additional documentation*. I did hear non-EU citizens, e.g., man using an American passport, being questioned about place of residence. The immigration officer accepted this man’s word that he lived in London and did not require proof.
Baggage claim took 45 minutes due to virtually everyone having a checked bag.
And it goes without saying, but masks are required from the time you enter your departing airport to the time you leave your arrival airport, except when eating / drinking. Your mask gets lowered during check-in and boarding for ID checks (with attendants behind plexiglass).
*Not encouraging this, but it is a loophole for (dual) EU citizens living abroad. At least in Italy, there’s really no check at the point of entry to Schengen where you are coming from or where you ordinarily reside.....
)
