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 you’re 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 you’re 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 19, 2020, 2:14 pm
#91
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: ABZ/NCL
Posts: 2,943
Stopped at the airport? Or on the way to the airport?
I do live in Tier 4, only 15mins away from Heathrow, so being stopped on the way there at 6am will be highly unlikely I think.
So basically as long as they cannot 'prove' I live in Tier 4 when doing check in etc I should be fine? What about asking for purpose of travel etc?
Before anyone says if it's not essential as listed by the government I should not travel, I have not seen the love of my life for over 9 months due to travel restrictions, so we are meeting in a 3rd country just after Xmas to spend 1 month together. I'm not wasting 4 weeks of annual leave and a few Łk, not to mention the mental health effect, as this trip is 100% essential to me.
I do live in Tier 4, only 15mins away from Heathrow, so being stopped on the way there at 6am will be highly unlikely I think.
So basically as long as they cannot 'prove' I live in Tier 4 when doing check in etc I should be fine? What about asking for purpose of travel etc?
Before anyone says if it's not essential as listed by the government I should not travel, I have not seen the love of my life for over 9 months due to travel restrictions, so we are meeting in a 3rd country just after Xmas to spend 1 month together. I'm not wasting 4 weeks of annual leave and a few Łk, not to mention the mental health effect, as this trip is 100% essential to me.
Dec 19, 2020, 2:15 pm
#92
Join Date: Mar 2020
Programs: British Airways GGL/CCR, Hilton Diamond & Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,612
exactly, just say you have started a travel blog / journalist, seems to work for a lot of people on here!
Dec 19, 2020, 2:16 pm
#93
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 879
Yep, I read the regulations and it would seem to be a ban like the lockdown and not advisory like the FCO guidance. Hence why you will find most insurance companies will not cover and it will be specialist insurance providers who will charge excessive fees for the policy.
To save anyone the hassle battleface does NOT cover the ban for cancellation. Firstly assuming you take out insurance now, it says Cancellation cover only applied when the policy is in place before the booking and you were not aware of the restriction.
It excludes cancellation due to prohibitive regulations by the government of any country, or delay or amendment of the booked Trip due to government action.
But also, any claim which arises directly or indirectly from You not being allowed to board a flight, train, sea vessel, coach or bus for any reason. So Border Force officer not allowing you to board despite checking in, you are on your own.
The loop holes I see, legally of course. You go to a Tier 1 area and stay there until departure. You make a business meeting in a foreign country to support for travel. You could in theory take out a cottage or home rental in a tier 3 zone or move to a family member outside as your in a social bubble and fly when your ready.
Dec 19, 2020, 2:18 pm
#95
Join Date: Mar 2020
Programs: British Airways GGL/CCR, Hilton Diamond & Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,612
Yep, I read the regulations and it would seem to be a ban like the lockdown and not advisory like the FCO guidance. Hence why you will find most insurance companies will not cover and it will be specialist insurance providers who will charge excessive fees for the policy.
To save anyone the hassle battleface does NOT cover the ban for cancellation. Firstly assuming you take out insurance now, it says Cancellation cover only applied when the policy is in place before the booking and you were not aware of the restriction.
It excludes cancellation due to prohibitive regulations by the government of any country, or delay or amendment of the booked Trip due to government action.
But also, any claim which arises directly or indirectly from You not being allowed to board a flight, train, sea vessel, coach or bus for any reason. So Border Force officer not allowing you to board despite checking in, you are on your own.
The loop holes I see, legally of course. You go to a Tier 1 area and stay there until departure. You make a business meeting in a foreign country to support for travel. You could in theory take out a cottage or home rental in a tier 3 zone or move to a family member outside as your in a social bubble and fly when your ready.
To save anyone the hassle battleface does NOT cover the ban for cancellation. Firstly assuming you take out insurance now, it says Cancellation cover only applied when the policy is in place before the booking and you were not aware of the restriction.
It excludes cancellation due to prohibitive regulations by the government of any country, or delay or amendment of the booked Trip due to government action.
But also, any claim which arises directly or indirectly from You not being allowed to board a flight, train, sea vessel, coach or bus for any reason. So Border Force officer not allowing you to board despite checking in, you are on your own.
The loop holes I see, legally of course. You go to a Tier 1 area and stay there until departure. You make a business meeting in a foreign country to support for travel. You could in theory take out a cottage or home rental in a tier 3 zone or move to a family member outside as your in a social bubble and fly when your ready.
Dec 19, 2020, 2:22 pm
#98
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 491
I don't think so. And I don't think they would. I don't think the Government wants this policy in front of the Supreme Court one bit. Telling foreign citizens that they can't leave the country? I don't think they'd uphold it. But if this policy stops 75% of the people who would have traveled, from traveling, then good enough for them I guess?
Dec 19, 2020, 2:23 pm
#99
Join Date: Mar 2020
Programs: British Airways GGL/CCR, Hilton Diamond & Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,612
Dec 19, 2020, 2:24 pm
#100
Join Date: Mar 2020
Programs: British Airways GGL/CCR, Hilton Diamond & Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,612
Dec 19, 2020, 2:24 pm
#101
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: London
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 81
I don’t expect you to know, but just what my concern would be.
I only throw this out there, as the wife of a friend of mine (dual UK/SA citizenship), was unable to return from South Africa for 6 months after flights stopped earlier in the year - there were repatriation flights available, but I understand these were expensive and their insurance wouldn’t cover the cost.
Dec 19, 2020, 2:33 pm
#103
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 879
The telegrapth article was at https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/202...tests-flights/
same article non paywall https://www.euroweeklynews.com/2020/...ut-of-britain/
Dec 19, 2020, 2:40 pm
#104
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: UK
Programs: BA GfL & GGL, FB Platinum, MB Titanium, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,403
Overnighting at the Sofitel T5 after flying down earlier today for a connection tomorrow.
Hopefully it will be drama free at check-in.
Hopefully it will be drama free at check-in.
Dec 19, 2020, 2:47 pm
#105
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: Mucci, BAEC GGL/CCR, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Ambassador, Stena Gold
Posts: 1,094
