EJetter

I should clarify that this is what’s been issued to CityFlyer crew so I can’t comment as to longhaul destinations unfortunately.

vanmunchen

Called in to London City Airport this morning. Ostensibly to change currency (I live in walking distance) but Travelex is still closed. Very quiet there with about 70% wearing masks. Vast majority of arriving passengers were wearing masks.

1P

Booking a flight on the basis that you won't be asked to wear a mask seems to be asking for trouble.

MDTyKe

It's all starting to sound like a flight to Jeddah. Depending on the location, and where you are, needing to cover up.

skipness1E

I don't understand. What rules, laws or legislation requires this? The rules on board have always been in the realm of the operating carrier. US airlines don't allow anyone to congregate or queue for the bathrooms, certain Middle Eastern countries are bone dry. But BA don't align with either of these rules flying to the US or the ME. Surely the rules should simply be to don the mask at top of descent into the area which requires one on disembarking. Likewise a US-UK flight would allow masks off once seat belt signs are extinguished in the climb out. The notion that a carrier registered in England operating a British aeroplane under CAA regulations needs to have US FAA health mandates on British citizens over British airspace is an interesting one.

Can anyone quote me the relevant US or other legislation BA are being wary of here?

guv1976

Here you go:

https://www.transportation.gov/safet...federal%20law.

Here's the relevant part for international flights:

"This Order must be followed by all passengers on public conveyances (e.g., airplanes, ships, ferries, trains, subways, buses, taxis, rideshares) traveling into, within, or out of the United States as well as conveyance operators (e.g., crew, drivers, conductors, and other workers involved in the operation of conveyances)." (Emphasis added.)

​​​​

No airline -- foreign or domestic -- is forced to fly into or out of the United States. If a foreign airline chooses to serve the United States, it must comply with U.S. laws, rules, and regulations, including the emergency order issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Haagen Daz

What does the U.S. care, once a plane has left the ground?

RichieMc

Yes. That’s exactly right. The US banned smoking on all incoming and outgoing flights before the carriers themselves banned smoking. In 2000, you could smoke on Swissair from Zurich to Madrid, but not from Zurich to Chicago.

guv1976

That's a question best directed to the CDC. But if I had to guess, I'd say that the CDC is trying to protect the health of Americans who are likely to be on the plane -- and who are likely to be returning to the U.S.

mpkz

Are you seriously asking why the US cares about aviation safety standards at foreign airlines flying to the US?

corporate-wage-slave

The lawyers may be getting a little twitchy on this one. What if a USA based passenger duly attributed their COVID-19 infection to BA's failure to follow federal law and started procedings against BA on that basis? What if they booked an AA codeshare and found out late in the game what metal they were really on? If I was in BA Legal I would want to procede with caution.

KARFA

If that's the logic then no airline can remove face cover policies until the US does since any flight could contain a USA based passenger who may be connecting onwards to the USA. I am not sure I see it myself, and if that reasoning is correct I think it an overly cautious approach.

I am also not clear why this wasn't squared off before BA announced the change. Does no one speak to each other at BA or do they all work in silos?

Haagen Daz

Aviation safety standards? Like the 737 Max, you mean?

I specifically referenced flights going FROM the U.S.

paulaf

Any reports of masks off on tonight's flights?

lhrsfo

A strict reading, and reasonable interpretation, of the rules is that flights departing the USA only need to be masked wile still over the USA but not once over international waters.