FNC [today’s flight returned to LHR]
Oct 20, 2020, 4:18 am
#31
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I'm guessing because it's one of the only places with decent-ish weather where the young libertarians can go without being banged up when they get back. I considered it myself for a while.
Oct 20, 2020, 4:24 am
#32
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If they just dis-embark as domestic no checks either...
Oct 20, 2020, 4:26 am
#33
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EDIT: as to whether those on the Jet2 flight needed one I am honestly not sure. When arriving at LBA I am not even sure whether they would have been taken through international arrivals or domestic.
Last edited by KARFA; Oct 20, 2020 at 4:40 am
Oct 20, 2020, 4:30 am
#34
Join Date: Apr 2012
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I think BA on this occasion made the right decision. Having flown into FNC many times the approach can be treacherous with winds changing at a moments notice.
Diverting to Porto Santo not the best idea as limited resources , a diversion into LIS wd then require a quarantine on return if the crew went out of hours or no improvement in the weather which subsequently meant a hotel stay.
By returning to LHR there is an abundance of hotels, BA own staff at hand.
Hope you managed to get away and enjoy ur break
Diverting to Porto Santo not the best idea as limited resources , a diversion into LIS wd then require a quarantine on return if the crew went out of hours or no improvement in the weather which subsequently meant a hotel stay.
By returning to LHR there is an abundance of hotels, BA own staff at hand.
Hope you managed to get away and enjoy ur break
Oct 20, 2020, 5:07 am
#35
Join Date: Nov 2017
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And crew must fill out forms for each arrival, even if they leave again. This means that some crews are having to fill out two forms on the same day. I don’t know where you got the impression they don’t have to... it’s very clearly detailed on the gov site that they have to.
Oct 20, 2020, 5:08 am
#36
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Funchal, and the islands nearby, have a lot of potential for visitors young and old, and certainly have better weather than the UK. Just off the top of my head - there is series of spectacular walk ways across the island's hills and mountains showcasing wildlife unique to the island, the botanic garden is well renown, the food options are diverse and affordable including fish dishes unobtainable anywhere else, the island has 90 cycling routes (and fortunately e-bike hire facilities, it is a bit up-and-down) and unique swimming options even mid winter.
Oct 20, 2020, 5:10 am
#37
Join Date: Nov 2017
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SOP in this situation is to arrive through the international channel. This is because they’ll have been reported as ‘lifted’ out of the UK and should be immigration cleared back in - there could easily be people onboard who need visa clearance with entry stamps, for example. any exception would have to be authorised by local UKBF managers.
Oct 20, 2020, 5:17 am
#38
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Crew are strictly forbidden from ‘arriving’ as domestic passengers if their aircraft has landed out of the UK. I don’t know if any local easements in Scotland, but in London they will have their passes confiscated immediately if UKBF has cause to believe it’s happened.
And crew must fill out forms for each arrival, even if they leave again. This means that some crews are having to fill out two forms on the same day. I don’t know where you got the impression they don’t have to... it’s very clearly detailed on the gov site that they have to.
And crew must fill out forms for each arrival, even if they leave again. This means that some crews are having to fill out two forms on the same day. I don’t know where you got the impression they don’t have to... it’s very clearly detailed on the gov site that they have to.
Oct 20, 2020, 5:21 am
#39
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SOP in this situation is to arrive through the international channel. This is because they’ll have been reported as ‘lifted’ out of the UK and should be immigration cleared back in - there could easily be people onboard who need visa clearance with entry stamps, for example. any exception would have to be authorised by local UKBF managers.
But we are digressing away from BA here....
Oct 20, 2020, 5:25 am
#40
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Most passengers are not checked either for PLFs, only around 20-30% on average are checked. I am afraid an individual PLF still needs completing whether you are checked or not, this is the same for crew. Crew use the same online one as passengers, albeit they can tick the relevant box for exemption from self isolation.
Oct 20, 2020, 5:56 am
#41
Join Date: Sep 2019
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It should not be forgotten that it's a (trained) captain, only, landing and that mandatory wind limits are enforced (said to be one of the only airports in the world where this is so). Regarding the flight deck requirements, I have wondered whether BA have shipped over the 'qualified' Gatwick crews to LHR, or whether they have trained up additional flight crews for this service which departs exclusively from Heathrow, for the time being.
BTW: Reids, as suggested above, is one of the more venerable hotels on the island. There are more modern and probably more appealing ones for a younger clientele.
Oct 20, 2020, 6:43 am
#42
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SOP in this situation is to arrive through the international channel. This is because they’ll have been reported as ‘lifted’ out of the UK and should be immigration cleared back in - there could easily be people onboard who need visa clearance with entry stamps, for example. any exception would have to be authorised by local UKBF managers.
Oct 20, 2020, 10:53 am
#43
Join Date: Nov 2017
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I didnt think there is any 'lifting off' from UK, and as far as I was aware, UKBF does not have records of when one leaves. indeed even when you ask for all information held on you they only have the entry dates and locations (through Subject access request). So unlike our USA friends, I dont think the 'UKBF' computers' would have been an issue in this case - and indeed it would have made more sense to patch them into domestics.
Similarly, and with respect, what ‘makes more sense’ is also completely irrelevant. The fact of the matter is that there are clearly defined procedures for this situation, and these involve in every case pushing passengers through the international channel. UKBF policy states that exceptions can only be authorised by a senior UKBF manager, and any airline taking what you may think is a ‘common sense approach’ will find themselves in serious trouble.
Oct 20, 2020, 1:12 pm
#44
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Which is one of the things that makes travellers nervous of a trip to FNC, when choosing a holiday. It's not helped by sensationalist DM stories about 'the most dangerous airports in the world'.
It should not be forgotten that it's a (trained) captain, only, landing and that mandatory wind limits are enforced (said to be one of the only airports in the world where this is so). Regarding the flight deck requirements, I have wondered whether BA have shipped over the 'qualified' Gatwick crews to LHR, or whether they have trained up additional flight crews for this service which departs exclusively from Heathrow, for the time being.
BTW: Reids, as suggested above, is one of the more venerable hotels on the island. There are more modern and probably more appealing ones for a younger clientele.
It should not be forgotten that it's a (trained) captain, only, landing and that mandatory wind limits are enforced (said to be one of the only airports in the world where this is so). Regarding the flight deck requirements, I have wondered whether BA have shipped over the 'qualified' Gatwick crews to LHR, or whether they have trained up additional flight crews for this service which departs exclusively from Heathrow, for the time being.
BTW: Reids, as suggested above, is one of the more venerable hotels on the island. There are more modern and probably more appealing ones for a younger clientele.
Fisrt stay there but have to agree with you that Reid's is amazing for young families...
Oct 20, 2020, 1:51 pm
#45
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