Dec 19, 2020, 10:20 am
Last edit by: realgaga
Latest guidance
From Heathrow Airport Limited, 22:14 GMT 19 Dec
Following UK Govt. advice, if you are in Tier 4, you should not be travelling unless it is legally permitted. If youre in Tiers 1-3, you can still fly from Heathrow but should carefully consider whether you need to.
In light of the new tier restrictions, passengers should NOT plan unnecessary time at the airport. Please allow 2 hours ahead of departure for short haul flights and 3 hours for long haul flights.
More information can be found here
List of countries and territories currently restricting travel from the UK, from CWS's post 294, last updated at 18:30 GMT.
- Albania (till January 6th)
- Algeria
- Argentina
- Austria
- Belgium
- Brazil (post 589)
- Bulgaria
- Canada
- Chile
- China (Mainland)
- Colombia
- Croatia
- Czech Republic
- Dominican Republic (406)
- Ecuador
- El Salvador (also South Africa)
- Estonia
- France (48 hours for the moment)
- Finland
- Germany
- Gibraltar
- Hong Kong (also South Africa)
- Hungary
- India
- Iran
- Ireland
- Israel (also restricting Denmark and South Africa)
- Italy
- Jamaica (2 weeks, see post 397)
- Jordan
- Kuwait
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Malta (339)
- Mauritius
- Morocco
- Netherlands
- North Macedonia
- Norway
- Oman (all countries)
- Pakistan
- Panama (also South Africa, post 409)
- Peru
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania (from this afternoon, this morning's flight has gone ahead).
- Russia (1 week for now)
- Saudi Arabia
- Seychelles (until end of Jan - ref BA Holidays agent)(461)
- Singapore (from 2359 on Dec 23)
- Slovakia
- Spain (343)
- Sweden (also Denmark) (362)
- Switzerland (also South Africa)
- Tunisia
- Turkey (also Denmark, NL.)
From Heathrow Airport Limited, 22:14 GMT 19 Dec
Following UK Govt. advice, if you are in Tier 4, you should not be travelling unless it is legally permitted. If youre in Tiers 1-3, you can still fly from Heathrow but should carefully consider whether you need to.
In light of the new tier restrictions, passengers should NOT plan unnecessary time at the airport. Please allow 2 hours ahead of departure for short haul flights and 3 hours for long haul flights.
More information can be found here
List of countries and territories currently restricting travel from the UK, from CWS's post 294, last updated at 18:30 GMT.
- Albania (till January 6th)
- Algeria
- Argentina
- Austria
- Belgium
- Brazil (post 589)
- Bulgaria
- Canada
- Chile
- China (Mainland)
- Colombia
- Croatia
- Czech Republic
- Dominican Republic (406)
- Ecuador
- El Salvador (also South Africa)
- Estonia
- France (48 hours for the moment)
- Finland
- Germany
- Gibraltar
- Hong Kong (also South Africa)
- Hungary
- India
- Iran
- Ireland
- Israel (also restricting Denmark and South Africa)
- Italy
- Jamaica (2 weeks, see post 397)
- Jordan
- Kuwait
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Malta (339)
- Mauritius
- Morocco
- Netherlands
- North Macedonia
- Norway
- Oman (all countries)
- Pakistan
- Panama (also South Africa, post 409)
- Peru
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania (from this afternoon, this morning's flight has gone ahead).
- Russia (1 week for now)
- Saudi Arabia
- Seychelles (until end of Jan - ref BA Holidays agent)(461)
- Singapore (from 2359 on Dec 23)
- Slovakia
- Spain (343)
- Sweden (also Denmark) (362)
- Switzerland (also South Africa)
- Tunisia
- Turkey (also Denmark, NL.)
London/SE England in Tier 4 + countries with UK flight ban : impact on BA travel
Dec 20, 2020, 11:11 am
#226
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Trinidad & Tobago
Posts: 437
I'd also be interested to know if the regulations touch upon in the above post. I do not see anything specific in regards to foreign citizens returning home with British family member(s).
I have friends travelling home to the U.S. tomorrow. It's a family of three. Two Americans and one British national (mother, daughter, and father). They live between both countries and are heading to the U.S. for the next few months. They live in London (Tier 4).
I have friends travelling home to the U.S. tomorrow. It's a family of three. Two Americans and one British national (mother, daughter, and father). They live between both countries and are heading to the U.S. for the next few months. They live in London (Tier 4).
Dec 20, 2020, 11:13 am
#227
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: ABZ/NCL
Posts: 2,943
Also worth noting that US citizens use the E-Gates at LHR so it is very likely they will not even encounter a Border Force Agent anyway to ask them.
Dec 20, 2020, 11:16 am
#228
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 64,069
They probably would be OK, but they are at risk of being asked the details behind the reason for the travel by the Border Force. If it is essentially a Christmas gathering in Tier 4 then this could be problematic. If it is to provide respite care then that would be OK, if the person travelling was having a health crisis then that may be OK.
Dec 20, 2020, 11:20 am
#229
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
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Posts: 64,069
Heathcare crisis may well be a reasonable excuse, but if I was a Border Force officer I may ask whether someone living with them already is able to provide necessary assistance. You don't actually have the right to visit someone in their own home with a healthcare crisis unless it's a death bed visit, however there are complex care exemptions allowed. A US citizen doesn't have a right of entry, and there was a case of someone denied entry during Lockdown 1.0 since the Border Force did not consider supporting a new mother to be permissable (accepting there may have been more to that particular case).
Dec 20, 2020, 11:31 am
#230
Join Date: Oct 2017
Programs: BAEC Silver, Flying Blue Platinum; Hilton Gold, IHG Diamond, Marriott Titanium, Wyndham Diamond
Posts: 791
I away from the UK visiting my parents in Portugal and am now seriously concerned about being able to return. I'm a permanent resident but not a national, would I even be allowed on a repatriation flight?
Dec 20, 2020, 11:33 am
#231
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: 38,000 feet
Programs: LH HON, BA GGL, AF Plat, EK Plat
Posts: 6,435
if you live in UK you will be allowed to go home as permanent resident. I am sure not all flights will stop (famous last words)...
Dec 20, 2020, 11:37 am
#232
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
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Posts: 64,069
Nationality isn't mentioned at all in the relevant SIs, they apply across the board, and you aren't advantaged or disadvantaged by nationality, thankfully. People are allowed to return to their home, but since I see that France and Germany are now restricting flights, along with the others previously mentioned, and the Move Directorate has called an emergency meeting for tomorrow morning, it may be worth thinking of plan B, depending on the date of your planned return and whether you have anything important on the day after your proposed return.
Dec 20, 2020, 11:43 am
#233
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: London, Paris
Programs: LH HON, AF Platinum
Posts: 2,001
You'll probably be able to go between the EU and the UK prior to January 1, which countries is questionable. The text from the France ban:
What's likely to be the case is that in 48 hours, transportation will be possible but negative PCR test required to enter France.
The statement from French Prime Minister Jean Castex said: "The 48-hour time limit is intended to achieve two objectives:
"To allow time for coordination between EU Member States in order to define a common doctrine on the regulation and control of travel from the United Kingdom;
"To prepare operationally for the secure reopening of flows from the United Kingdom from December 22nd, based on a mandatory testing system at the start of the journey;
"We will pay particular attention to the specific situation of French nationals who plan to return to France to spend the festive season with their families. We are already encouraging them to make arrangements for a PCR test in the coming days."
"To allow time for coordination between EU Member States in order to define a common doctrine on the regulation and control of travel from the United Kingdom;
"To prepare operationally for the secure reopening of flows from the United Kingdom from December 22nd, based on a mandatory testing system at the start of the journey;
"We will pay particular attention to the specific situation of French nationals who plan to return to France to spend the festive season with their families. We are already encouraging them to make arrangements for a PCR test in the coming days."
Dec 20, 2020, 11:51 am
#234
Join Date: Oct 2017
Programs: BAEC Silver, Flying Blue Platinum; Hilton Gold, IHG Diamond, Marriott Titanium, Wyndham Diamond
Posts: 791
Nationality isn't mentioned at all in the relevant SIs, they apply across the board, and you aren't advantaged or disadvantaged by nationality, thankfully. People are allowed to return to their home, but since I see that France and Germany are now restricting flights, along with the others previously mentioned, and the Move Directorate has called an emergency meeting for tomorrow morning, it may be worth thinking of plan B, depending on the date of your planned return and whether you have anything important on the day after your proposed return.
Dec 20, 2020, 12:14 pm
#235
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Gold, *A Gold, Hertz President's Circle, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 529
Where countries have banned flights BA appear to have one or two flights tomorrow or the couple of days after - then thats it.
Dec 20, 2020, 12:21 pm
#236
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
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Posts: 64,069
I'm planned to return on the 28th but am flexible forwards or backwards. My current plan (not B, think we're in C or D now!) is to get to Dublin and then take a bus to Belfast, then find some way to get from there to England. I might have to cross the border illegally though! Wish me luck for dragging two suitcases across the Donegal and Tyrone moors! (only semi-joking)
More seriously, insofar as I proffer unserious advice, I can see flights greatly reducing in number, but the car ferries will probably be the last to stop. So Portugal-CDG-CQF-DOV-ZLX (how is that for IATA coding?) will probably work.
Dec 20, 2020, 12:32 pm
#237
Join Date: Oct 2017
Programs: BAEC Silver, Flying Blue Platinum; Hilton Gold, IHG Diamond, Marriott Titanium, Wyndham Diamond
Posts: 791
Donegal will be a bit wet, so you'll need your wellies. And your big coat.
More seriously, insofar as I proffer unserious advice, I can see flights greatly reducing in number, but the car ferries will probably be the last to stop. So Portugal-CDG-CQF-DOV-ZLX (how is that for IATA coding?) will probably work.
More seriously, insofar as I proffer unserious advice, I can see flights greatly reducing in number, but the car ferries will probably be the last to stop. So Portugal-CDG-CQF-DOV-ZLX (how is that for IATA coding?) will probably work.
wrt your more serious advice, I did have to look a few of those up (DOV was obvious, but the others far from), but it sounds doable. I'm actually booked with AF so I already have a ticket for the LIS-CDG leg anyway! Wonder how they'd react to that proposed rerouting though
Dec 20, 2020, 12:42 pm
#238
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: UK
Programs: IC Hotels Spire, BA Gold
Posts: 8,679
18 months ago? What was the travel restriction back then?
Dec 20, 2020, 12:47 pm
#239
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Location: ABZ/NCL
Posts: 2,943
ZLX is Zalingei in Sudan!
Dec 20, 2020, 12:48 pm
#240
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: London, UK and Southern France
Posts: 18,378
Well, the current French ban affects all UK-->F traffic including cars and ro-ro freight traffic. That said, I would hope that they would be reinstated before the 28th (otherwise the impact on travelers will be the least of our worries in the UK).