Read on Twitter
1.
Thread time!
Subject - air travel in a pandemic, in case anyone’s interested in our experiences last week travelling to and from Sicily.
We travelled with @British_Airways from Heathrow T5
Thread time!
Subject - air travel in a pandemic, in case anyone’s interested in our experiences last week travelling to and from Sicily.
We travelled with @British_Airways from Heathrow T5
2.
We were one of the first flights out to Palermo following lockdown. The crew said it was only their second roster.
Getting to the airport was easy - we did a meet & greet valet park thing with the car... easy enough
We were one of the first flights out to Palermo following lockdown. The crew said it was only their second roster.
Getting to the airport was easy - we did a meet & greet valet park thing with the car... easy enough
3.
Then it was masks on and into the terminal. Which was not busy, but not empty either. Everyone seemed to be wearing masks - some face shields as well. It’s mandatory to wear them in the airport & on the plane (with a very few exemptions)
Then it was masks on and into the terminal. Which was not busy, but not empty either. Everyone seemed to be wearing masks - some face shields as well. It’s mandatory to wear them in the airport & on the plane (with a very few exemptions)
4.
Check-in was easy. @British_Airways staff were lovely, friendly and reassuring behind a protective screen. But they weren’t wearing masks (suppose they didn’t need to with the screens)
Check-in was easy. @British_Airways staff were lovely, friendly and reassuring behind a protective screen. But they weren’t wearing masks (suppose they didn’t need to with the screens)
5.
In the spaciousness of T5 with only 15% or so of all ‘normal’ flights departing, social distancing was easy & everyone wore masks. Going through security was easy, people largely observed at least 1m distance guidelines. Security staff either wore masks or were behind screens
In the spaciousness of T5 with only 15% or so of all ‘normal’ flights departing, social distancing was easy & everyone wore masks. Going through security was easy, people largely observed at least 1m distance guidelines. Security staff either wore masks or were behind screens
6.
There was plenty of hand sanitiser and we used it.
But not all the shops were open & food joints mostly closed. One Pret was open - I didn’t fancy queuing so we had a sarnie from @WHSmith which was a bit shit. But hey!
There was plenty of hand sanitiser and we used it.
But not all the shops were open & food joints mostly closed. One Pret was open - I didn’t fancy queuing so we had a sarnie from @WHSmith which was a bit shit. But hey!
7.
Then it was boarding time - we had to get on that shuttle thing to the gate. Which was ok, again all were masked & we managed to maintain a good distance from anyone else (2m or so) though I don’t think this would always be possible
Then it was boarding time - we had to get on that shuttle thing to the gate. Which was ok, again all were masked & we managed to maintain a good distance from anyone else (2m or so) though I don’t think this would always be possible
8.
Boarding the plane out was good. BA staff did a decent job and boarding was by rows. For the most part people only got up when their row was called... but actually on the plane... that was when the fun started
Boarding the plane out was good. BA staff did a decent job and boarding was by rows. For the most part people only got up when their row was called... but actually on the plane... that was when the fun started
7.
The flight was full! Like, no empty seats, no social distancing. @British_Airways told us they had defumagated the cabin. We were given ‘Personal Protection Kits’, which were basically hand wipes to - er - wipe stuff with
The flight was full! Like, no empty seats, no social distancing. @British_Airways told us they had defumagated the cabin. We were given ‘Personal Protection Kits’, which were basically hand wipes to - er - wipe stuff with
8.
The crew was great: a credit to BA. Most of the passengers were fine too... but one or two just put their masks under their noses (like, what’s the point?)
Then one bloke a couple of rows back started coughing like a bastard 30mins into the flight
The crew was great: a credit to BA. Most of the passengers were fine too... but one or two just put their masks under their noses (like, what’s the point?)
Then one bloke a couple of rows back started coughing like a bastard 30mins into the flight
9.
I turned round to see this 60-odd year old bloke, mask off, coughing away - which continued on and off for much of the flight. He didn’t seem able to put on his mask / want to, despite it being mandatory
I turned round to see this 60-odd year old bloke, mask off, coughing away - which continued on and off for much of the flight. He didn’t seem able to put on his mask / want to, despite it being mandatory
10.
Anyway we arrived safely. Disembarking was difficult. It was again supposed to be by rows but it seemed BA were on a tough turnaround; they announced rows before previous rows had got off. Result - no social distancing in ailse. Coughing man kept coughing, no mask on
Anyway we arrived safely. Disembarking was difficult. It was again supposed to be by rows but it seemed BA were on a tough turnaround; they announced rows before previous rows had got off. Result - no social distancing in ailse. Coughing man kept coughing, no mask on
11.
Worth noting at this point that air filtration in planes is excellent: HEPA filters are fine enough to cut out Covid, all air in the cabin is filtered every three minutes or so, which significantly reduces risk
Worth noting at this point that air filtration in planes is excellent: HEPA filters are fine enough to cut out Covid, all air in the cabin is filtered every three minutes or so, which significantly reduces risk
12.
We hired a car, wiped everything down, set off. Destination: an agri-tourismo place in the mountains near Polizzi Generosa.
It was beautiful, family run, people inside wearing masks. But the elderly Nonna worried me - what if we were bringing Covid into their home?
We hired a car, wiped everything down, set off. Destination: an agri-tourismo place in the mountains near Polizzi Generosa.
It was beautiful, family run, people inside wearing masks. But the elderly Nonna worried me - what if we were bringing Covid into their home?
13.
Although they were happily taking bookings through Experia, it still weighed heavy on my mind that we could be asymptomatic carriers. Suddenly it felt we were putting other people’s lives at risk, even if we weren’t
Although they were happily taking bookings through Experia, it still weighed heavy on my mind that we could be asymptomatic carriers. Suddenly it felt we were putting other people’s lives at risk, even if we weren’t
14.
After three nights we moved to stay at an AirBnB - again, with a family, this time by the coast. We kept our distance but once more, Italians are very family oriented and there were three generations welcoming us, so I couldn’t help worrying... ‘what if’ etc
After three nights we moved to stay at an AirBnB - again, with a family, this time by the coast. We kept our distance but once more, Italians are very family oriented and there were three generations welcoming us, so I couldn’t help worrying... ‘what if’ etc
15.
Three days by the beach doing nothing were very enjoyable. In the evenings, we ate outside at restaurants - Sicilian seafood
is amazing & it felt safe
Three days by the beach doing nothing were very enjoyable. In the evenings, we ate outside at restaurants - Sicilian seafood
is amazing & it felt safe
16.
All through the holiday though we were very conscious of every cough, every throat clearance, every sneeze etc. I definitely did not want to end up stuck in Sicily with Covid
All through the holiday though we were very conscious of every cough, every throat clearance, every sneeze etc. I definitely did not want to end up stuck in Sicily with Covid
17.
Before travelling we had to register with a Sicilian health app. They contacted us each day, asking how we were; we were mandated to reply. All accommodation & contact details had to be supplied. If we had got ill, I think we’d have been cared for
Before travelling we had to register with a Sicilian health app. They contacted us each day, asking how we were; we were mandated to reply. All accommodation & contact details had to be supplied. If we had got ill, I think we’d have been cared for
18.
While we enjoyed our holiday, there was definitely an underlying anxiety on my part, through it all. Not so much for myself, but in case I’d caught & taken the disease into someone’s house.
While we enjoyed our holiday, there was definitely an underlying anxiety on my part, through it all. Not so much for myself, but in case I’d caught & taken the disease into someone’s house.
19.
On the way back, I saw several people on the plane & in the airport wearing their masks under their nose, as if the exposed nose & emissions from it were exempt from Covid spread. It actually made me quite angry... like this twat, walking up the ailse not fully protected
On the way back, I saw several people on the plane & in the airport wearing their masks under their nose, as if the exposed nose & emissions from it were exempt from Covid spread. It actually made me quite angry... like this twat, walking up the ailse not fully protected
20.
...even if you don’t think masks work (how do you know categorically?) you should wear them out of consideration for others when inside & where distancing isn’t possible. It can’t do any harm.
...even if you don’t think masks work (how do you know categorically?) you should wear them out of consideration for others when inside & where distancing isn’t possible. It can’t do any harm.
21.
The terminal was virtually empty on our return. We had to fill in a UK gov tracing form on our phones via QR codes dotted around the terminal before going through immigration. Easy enough. Be interesting to see if we get a call. Hopefully not!
The terminal was virtually empty on our return. We had to fill in a UK gov tracing form on our phones via QR codes dotted around the terminal before going through immigration. Easy enough. Be interesting to see if we get a call. Hopefully not!
22.
We picked the car up - I was suddenly aware the driver wasn’t wearing a mask or gloves. Another risk. So we wiped everything down as best we could (steering wheel, gear stick, radio etc) before driving home.
We picked the car up - I was suddenly aware the driver wasn’t wearing a mask or gloves. Another risk. So we wiped everything down as best we could (steering wheel, gear stick, radio etc) before driving home.
23.
And that’s about it! Now we’re back home - 13 days to wait now until we’re in the clear. Strange times indeed. Would I do it again? Probably...
The end!
And that’s about it! Now we’re back home - 13 days to wait now until we’re in the clear. Strange times indeed. Would I do it again? Probably...
The end!
