There is still pretty high compliance with mask use rule on flights from LHR to the US too, and those whom I’ve seen non-compliant while boarding or seated or moving about the cabin on my LHR-US AA flights have resulted in a grand total of zero diversions on my AA flights. But these are LHR-US flights where the AA pilots remind passengers — and sometimes even apologize — about the mask requirement applicable on board but not applicable at LHR.

I see more mask use by travelers at LHR than I do at CPH and ARN and OSL, but the vast majority aren’t wearing masks on the ground at LHR either. But when some of them get their positive test result for CPH, ARN and LHR flights bound to the US, it means more seats available on board and even a few more business class award seats showing up on the TATL US-bound flights — and even the returns — last minute. So even the lack of mask use in the Anglo-Scandinavian world has some upside for the TATL flyers heading directly to the US. At least while the US testing requirement is applicable. Now If only SAS were to more commonly reject more EU Digital Certificates of recovery for trips to the US, there may be even more space available to spread out on these flight. But they are sort of like AA at LHR: often accepting at a glance recovery certs that don’t technically meet the US requirement.