What's flying like today? (Experiences/news)

[MacMadame]

CNN says we can fly

The odds of catching Covid-19 on an airplane are slimmer than you think, scientists say

According to a new study, the risk of contracting the virus on a full flight is just 1 in 4,300, and the odds lower to 1 in 7,700 if the airline is adopting the middle seat open policy.

tinyurl.com

 

[Prancer]

Another article about the air on planes

 

[Immortelle]

I travelled from Brisbane to Perth (Australia) yesterday, pretty much as far as you can go without actually leaving the country, which we can’t do without permission yet. People going to Western Australia need to apply for a border pass and quarantine for 14 days, with a CV test on day 11.
Brisbane airport was quiet, probably at 20% of normal morning activity, food outlets were mostly open but almost all the shops were shut except for the newsagent/bookshop. We were given a mask and antibacterial wipe each when we boarded, but there was no social distancing as such on the plane. Most of the middle seats were empty but that was likely because the plane was only about half full. A few people wore their masks but most didn’t.
There was very little to eat or drink (granola bars and water) which was understandable but a bit mean for a 5 hour flight.
On arrival in Perth, we were left on the plane for 1.5 hours due to processing delays. Then we were ushered into what could be described as a half finished terminal extension which was part open to the elements and quite chilly in the late afternoon. We sat on plastic chairs and were taken into the processing area by police and army personnel in full PPE to have our temps taken and details recorded. We had to give a suitable quarantine address (either a hotel or private residence where isolation is possible) and download an app for police checks and location monitoring.
I understand why the WA government wants to keep the border shut to VIC and NSW but the system could be streamlined for QLD (and other low risk state arrivals) as we have fewer current cases than WA and no community transmission?

 

[Oreo]

I just flew from Los Angeles to London and back on Virgin Atlantic. There were only about 50 people on the plane each way. LAX (Bradley Terminal) was like a ghost town. On the flights you could pick any row you wanted to stretch out on. Nobody was near me. Everything was immaculately clean. You could tell they wiped down the entertainment screen. Speaking of entertainment, there were hardly any movies offered and usually they have tons. The environment onboard could not have been any more hygienic. Friends who have flown domestically in the US have said the planes are packed, but not so on these international ones because no one wants to quarantine in the UK (I did) and UK and European passport holders are not allowed in the US.

 

[PrincessLeppard]

There was a clip on the news about how flying is pretty safe as long as one is masked. The air cycles out every six minutes.

Alas, I can't go anywhere, so it's all irrelevant anyway.

 

[MacMadame]

Flying Soon? Here’s the Covid Safety Gear You Do—and Don’t—Need.

Online retailers are touting all kinds of protective gear for germaphobic travelers. While fliers really need to wear some of them, others just constitute overkill.

tinyurl.com

 

[allezfred]

Mr allezfred saw fellow passengers in full hazmat suits when he travelled last month....

 

[MacMadame]

Mr allezfred saw fellow passengers in full hazmat suits when he travelled last month....

It sounds crazy but in a lot of ways, I don't blame them at all.

 

[allezfred]

Transmission of Covid-19 on flight into Ireland linked to 59 infections

Study authors say outbreak shows potential for spread of disease during air travel

tinyurl.com

 

[MsZem]

United has a plan. No, not to break more guitars.

United will try testing passengers on New York-to-London flights. (Published 2020)

In a monthlong trial it hopes will build confidence in flying, the airline will offer rapid tests at Newark airport and only let those with negative results board.

www.nytimes.com

 

[missing]

Airlines are optimistic about increased bookings.

Airline after airline has reported encouraging holiday booking signs in the past two weeks – a welcome boost during a year of devastating financial losses – and executives appear confident ticket sales won't dive like they did in early July amid an increase in cases of coronavirus, which causes COVID-19.

 

[SandraMGfan]

Airlines are optimistic about increased bookings.

Airline after airline has reported encouraging holiday booking signs in the past two weeks – a welcome boost during a year of devastating financial losses – and executives appear confident ticket sales won't dive like they did in early July amid an increase in cases of ********, which causes *********-19.

3 weeks ago, I booked a trip to Hawaii for next August. It was an airline mistake fare and it comes to £405 return from London! (London-LA-honolulu). Means that I got 3 flights for the price of 1 and my delayed 40th gift to myself (was supposed to go next month)!
Airline honoured the deal - I guess they were just happy to get £1200 coming in!
I’m also at the point that by Aug 2021 I will have been stuck in my London flat for 18months and even without a vaccine - this is probably a risk I’ll be willing to take then! ...

 

[MacMadame]

Since I just got an unexpected 2 weeks off in Dec, I tried to convince my family to fly to Hawaii and hole up there. They weren't willing to fly at this time, however.

 

[once_upon]

3 weeks ago, I booked a trip to Hawaii for next August. It was an airline mistake fare and it comes to £405 return from London! (London-LA-honolulu). Means that I got 3 flights for the price of 1 and my delayed 40th gift to myself (was supposed to go next month)!
Airline honoured the deal - I guess they were just happy to get £1200 coming in!
I’m also at the point that by Aug 2021 I will have been stuck in my London flat for 18months and even without a vaccine - this is probably a risk I’ll be willing to take then! ...

I hope you planned enough time to quarantine in a hotel for a couple of weeks.

We've thought about it, but 2 weeks in a hotel not even a beach walk, was just not appealing.

 

[MacMadame]

I hope you planned enough time to quarantine in a hotel for a couple of weeks.

We've thought about it, but 2 weeks in a hotel not even a beach walk, was just not appealing.

I'd be completely shocked if the 14-day quarantine was still in effect by next Aug. They almost got rid of it now and there should be a vaccine by then that at least some people will be able to get.

 

[flyingsit]

Yeah, they’ve lifted the 14-day quarantine if you have a negative test within 48 hours of your flight.

 

[MacMadame]

Yeah, they’ve lifted the 14-day quarantine if you have a negative test within 48 hours of your flight.

I thought they put that on hold due to some technical issues? Oh, looks like it's back. Cool!

Anyway, I have mixed feelings about airline travel. Sometimes it seems safe and sometimes it doesn't. Depends on what article I read last!

 

[Japanfan]

Anyway, I have mixed feelings about airline travel. Sometimes it seems safe and sometimes it doesn't. Depends on what article I read last!

In the Canadian news, reports are being made almost every day about possible infections on planes - usually comes down to the rows in which a passenger was sitting.

I wouldn't want to fly right now. I don't want to go anywhere outside my bubble right now.

 

[MacMadame]

In the Canadian news, reports are being made almost every day about possible infections on planes - usually comes down to the rows in which a passenger was sitting.

Those are recent though. Up until now, I've been reading constantly about how the airplanes do all this stuff to improve their circulation and are very, very safe. The infection stories have been a bit of a shock and I am wondering if they will hold up.

 

[SandraMGfan]

Yeah, they’ve lifted the 14-day quarantine if you have a negative test within 48 hours of your flight.

That’s what I read too and it’s in 10 months time. So, I’ll be assessing around May probably on whether this is happening or not.
The uplift it gave my mental health was worth it last month even if it has to be rescheduled at a later date!

 

[allezfred]

The first thing I am going to do when all this shit is over is take a long flight to somewhere...

 

[Lizziebeth]

I would like to see my sister in Maine, but she has convinced herself that she's already had the crud and is doing things like going to church. I explained that I have not had the crud and that my immune system is less than reliable due to medications at the present time. I told her I would consider a visit if she would skip church and stay home for a week or two before I arrive. We will see what happens.

 

[allezfred]

The ECDC has updated its travel map for Europe.

The only green areas are the southwest of Finland and Greenland so travellers from those places do not need to quarantine when they travel to other countries.

The rest of Finland, Iceland and Ireland are orange. Everywhere else is red.

Re-open EU

reopen.europa.eu

 

[marbri]

The first thing I am going to do when all this shit is over is take a long flight to somewhere...

I want to take my mother to Ireland. She was finally booked to go last spring with my brother and his wife and we all know how that ended. Really want to knock that one off her bucket list asap, she isn't getting any younger and I have every finger and toe crossed she gets through this winter, gets a vaccine and then I am getting her ass on a plane the next day.

 

[allezfred]

I want to take my mother to Ireland. She was finally booked to go last spring with my brother and his wife and we all know how that ended. Really want to knock that one off her bucket list asap, she isn't getting any younger and I have every finger and toe crossed she gets through this winter, gets a vaccine and then I am getting her ass on a plane the next day.

Drinks on me when you arrive!

 

[Elka]

The ECDC has updated its travel map for Europe.

The only green areas are the southwest of Finland and Greenland so travellers from those places do not need to quarantine when they travel to other countries.

The rest of Finland, Iceland and Ireland are orange. Everywhere else is red.

Re-open EU

reopen.europa.eu

The map of Finland is a bit funny. We have more cases in the Helsinki region and up North close to the Swedish boarder. Also trucks coming in from Russia through South-East. But the rest of Finland is quite low.

 

[allezfred]

KLM Suspends All Long-Haul Flights

KLM suspends all long-haul flights and some short-haul ones from Friday due to the Dutch government’s new testing requirements.

loyaltylobby.com

Looks like this is going to effectively close the Netherlands to international air travel.

 

[allezfred]

https://twitter.com/peterwestmacott/status/1352658172037787649?s=21

 

[AxelAnnie]

I am not going to get on an airplane...........but I do think I will get another dog.

I have one of these and they are so wonderful. That ought to keep me flying

 

[Garden Kitty]

Interesting article in USA Today about travel credits many of which have reached their one year anniversary. They discuss what the extension policies are for different airlines as well as what chances you might have to get them extended.