Full Plane COVID testing - BA to Crete (CHQ)
Jul 21, 2021, 10:36 am
#46
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Jersey
Programs: BAEC gold
Posts: 522
Jul 23, 2021, 9:39 am
#47
Join Date: Jan 2007
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 23
Chania data point 23 July. Only interested in testing those over 12 not double vaccinated. Despite this still a bit chaotic though!
I guess that this + previous posts backs up the assertion on the Greek PLF website that testing is random. The collective FT experience seems to prove the point.
I guess that this + previous posts backs up the assertion on the Greek PLF website that testing is random. The collective FT experience seems to prove the point.
Jul 23, 2021, 11:16 am
#48
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: London, UK.
Programs: SQ LPPS, A3 *G, BA Silver aiming for Bronze
Posts: 1,506
Even internally in Greece there are checks on anyone travelling to the islands, a vaccination certificate is inspected at ATH on check in and there can still be testing on arrival on the islands. Greece wants to keep the islands safe and while a tad inconvenient the testing is fine and as far as I've seen, well managed.
Jul 28, 2021, 9:22 am
#49
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: OW
Posts: 226
Data point: fully vaxxed and on LHR-CHQ today - easily 90% of adults on flight tested on arrival. All very efficient - was in CE so given passport back just after luggage collected, and result received with an hour. Seems to differ to some experiences above but it was definitely more a case of “random selection” for those escaping the test requirement.
Jul 28, 2021, 10:36 am
#50
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Gold; Marriott Plat
Posts: 147
I flew into CFU on Saturday. Lead passengers on the PLF were sent for testing, other passengers sent straight to baggage reclaim. I kept my passport the entire time. Waited in a "waiting area" for 15 mins before my name was called and told I can leave. Also received an SMS with the result. My bag arrived 2 mins after I did.
Jul 31, 2021, 4:13 am
#51
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: LHR
Programs: BAEC GGL & CCR / QF LTG
Posts: 829
Data point 30 July for CHQ
- I’m double vaccinated, partner is not (-ve PCR tested)
- Flew CE in row 1
- Disembarked at CHQ via front and rear doors with a bus to the terminal
- First at COVID checkpoint after passport control
- I was allowed through to baggage collection showing the NHS PDF of my vaccination status
- Partner was required to undertake rapid test. Was very efficient, passport held for 15 minutes until valid test confirmed. Text received about 40 mins later confirming -ve result.
Alas my bag did not leave LHR, but that’s off topic!
Jul 31, 2021, 4:26 am
#52
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2021
Posts: 67
Sounds like they have improved the process - when we arrived it felt like it was their first time. Good news.
Surprised about the bus transfer as we were allowed to walk across the apron with plane on Stand 1 / Gate 16 into non-Schengen arrivals. Same on why back. We were pleased about that as we wasn’t too keen on the a sardine-packed bus transfer.
PS: For your return, the check-in staff had no idea what VeriFLY was (called a supervisor to check). Insisted on seeing the PLFs and COVID tests for each passenger. Heathrow was quite quiet at 20:40 and we had only 5 mins in the snake for eGates.
Surprised about the bus transfer as we were allowed to walk across the apron with plane on Stand 1 / Gate 16 into non-Schengen arrivals. Same on why back. We were pleased about that as we wasn’t too keen on the a sardine-packed bus transfer.
PS: For your return, the check-in staff had no idea what VeriFLY was (called a supervisor to check). Insisted on seeing the PLFs and COVID tests for each passenger. Heathrow was quite quiet at 20:40 and we had only 5 mins in the snake for eGates.
Aug 1, 2021, 4:45 am
#53
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: AA Concierge Key, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 31
We flew BA 622 LHR-ATH yesterday, and they just looked at the PLF and CDC vaccination certificate (we are Americans). It didn’t look like they were testing anyone, although we were in CE and some of the first off the plane.
BTW the disembarkation was strange — when we landed and pulled up to the gate they wouldn’t let anyone stand up until their row was called. We couldn’t figure out if this was a BA thing or a Greek thing.
BTW the disembarkation was strange — when we landed and pulled up to the gate they wouldn’t let anyone stand up until their row was called. We couldn’t figure out if this was a BA thing or a Greek thing.
Aug 1, 2021, 4:47 am
#54
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2014
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 12,258
Its currently a BA thing and I really like it. Calm and easy should stay going forward, in my opinion
Aug 2, 2021, 1:24 am
#55
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 309
A recent flight to EDI had stairs attached to the rear. They offloaded by row number, from the front! Then, while the people in row 1-6 were still queued at the rear they asked rows 7-12 to go and so on
I was in row 7, I got off last because rows at the back were announced before the aisles were clear. The aisle was jammed.
Aug 20, 2021, 9:06 am
#57
Join Date: Oct 2018
Programs: British Airways Executive Club, Miles & Smiles, Skyteam, Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honours
Posts: 145
Aug 20, 2021, 10:24 am
#59
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: A3*G,BA Silver
Posts: 2,012
I spoke to one of the guys at Thessaloniki airport last week. He was working in the testing area. It’s usually for people who are not vaccinated according to him.
Aug 20, 2021, 12:40 pm
#60
Join Date: Oct 2018
Programs: BAEC, Skywards
Posts: 50
Santorini yesterday. 2 vaxed adults and a tested teen. Had the plf and certificates visibly in my hand when we got to the immigration officer and he said ‘put it away”, stamped our passports and we were off…..no extra testing