Mask wearing - from 27th Jan ‘22
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 193
Mask wearing - from 27th Jan ‘22
Apologies if I’ve missed a thread on this. Given mask wearing will no longer be mandatory from 27/01/22 in England does anyone know whether this will apply to T5 and how does this affect masks on flights?
#2
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
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I think this will be like last July when the legal mask mandate was dropped in England - both LHR policy and BA policy (along with every other UK airport and airline) continued to be that you must wear one. I can't see that changing for a while yet I am afraid.
#3
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC Gold-GGL
Posts: 1,191
I read an article a few weeks back about how the airline industry likes to hang on to regulations even though technology and other measures render them unnecessary (liquids limits, shoes off, strip down to your undies if you're Mary Beard, etc etc), the article speculated that masks will remain a permanent feature on aircraft despite the ventilation on an aircraft being vastly superior to that in your average city centre office block.
I hope the author isn't correct but I am inclined to agree with Karfa that they won't be going away any time soon.
I hope the author isn't correct but I am inclined to agree with Karfa that they won't be going away any time soon.
#4
Join Date: Oct 2017
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Posts: 1,640
From a lot of UK airlines perspectives it may be easier for now to keep a blanket rule for all flights, as opposed to navigating the differing requirements and jurisdictions of all the countries they fly to and from.
#5
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 8,774
I read an article a few weeks back about how the airline industry likes to hang on to regulations even though technology and other measures render them unnecessary (liquids limits, shoes off, strip down to your undies if you're Mary Beard, etc etc), the article speculated that masks will remain a permanent feature on aircraft despite the ventilation on an aircraft being vastly superior to that in your average city centre office block.
The masks is currently a massively difficult one because of the varying regulations throughout Europe and beyond, as well as the political and public perceptions around it. But I can tell you that no airline wants mask requirements to stay for long. They are incredibly disruptive and divisive, particularly for ground staff and crew.
#6
Join Date: Jul 2003
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Spike
#7
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2020
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Dont be fooled - Mask Wearing isn't going away anytime soon
You're still going to be required to wear the mask regardless of after Jan 27th.
its here to stay for the foreseeable future. Mask up and don't be selfish.
its here to stay for the foreseeable future. Mask up and don't be selfish.
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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What are you on about, it was very much on topic?
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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I imagine an individual speaking their mind, nothing wrong with that in a forum?
#13
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: living near Malaga
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And of course if you're flying to or from other countries they may have their own mandates in place.
I can't see it changing from where we are today anytime soon. Been wrong a million times before about thousands of things but can't see BA or LHR going all in and scrapping masks at this stage.
Just my opinion....
I can't see it changing from where we are today anytime soon. Been wrong a million times before about thousands of things but can't see BA or LHR going all in and scrapping masks at this stage.
Just my opinion....
#14
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Join Date: Aug 2014
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Maybe the pandemic ended in the UK by government decree but the rest of the world will keep it for a while longer, so it will likely be masks for anything related to international travel for the foreseeable future...
#15
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: London, Babylon-on-Thames
Programs: BAEC Blue (back to Earth)
Posts: 1,510
With England leading the way to COVID being endemic from pandemic according to the WHO, over the summer you'll see mask wearing easing on board. If you want you're old life back, and I REALLY, REALLY do, then the mask wearing virtue signal has to end.
If we don't have to wear then in a cinema, then BA should make them voluntary on board. Feel free to wear proper surgical masks if you like, but we have to move towards the exit on this in the summer. Are cabin crew REALLY gonna get insistent on a LHR-EDI in July?
If we don't have to wear then in a cinema, then BA should make them voluntary on board. Feel free to wear proper surgical masks if you like, but we have to move towards the exit on this in the summer. Are cabin crew REALLY gonna get insistent on a LHR-EDI in July?