Covid19: Lufthansa requires face masks [May 2020-September 2022]
Aug 25, 2022, 9:39 am
#481
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: ZRH
Programs: LX HON***, FB Silver, BA Silver, Bonvoy Gold, Hyatt GP, Hertz Gold, GHA Black
Posts: 830
On LX in/out Germany no masks anymore. Was on a ZRH-HAJ today all relaxed.
Aug 25, 2022, 11:04 am
#482
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,172
Currently the rule is a surgical mask or a FFP2/KN95/N95 without a vent.
Aug 25, 2022, 11:05 am
#483
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Geneva
Programs: LX SEN, AFKL Platinum, BA Bronze,
Posts: 5,635
Short haul: Couple of days ago crew was enforcing at boarding but so many pax had not even brought a mask that they ran out of masks to hand to pax & didnt enforce with the last handful of pax.
Long haul night flight: No enforcement in the FCT transfer and no enforcement for F pax turning left immediately. The flight consisted. basically of pre departure drinks, meal, sleep and breakfast so no opportunity to enforce had the crew wanted to.
Long haul night flight: No enforcement in the FCT transfer and no enforcement for F pax turning left immediately. The flight consisted. basically of pre departure drinks, meal, sleep and breakfast so no opportunity to enforce had the crew wanted to.
Aug 25, 2022, 12:06 pm
#484
Join Date: Jul 2019
Posts: 7
Mostly yes. Unlike in most other countries it's still mandatory in public transport, as oliver summed it up. But the number of people not complying is growing by the day.
It's strange that as quickly as I was used to not wearing a mask at all when on holiday (been the Scandinavia, the Baltics and the UK recently), you quickly are used to wearing it again here. If everyone is doing it, you just join the mass.
German law always states "FFP2 or equal standard". hugolover wrote N95, but FFP2 is what it is. (K)N95 are equally accepted though. From my understanding they are all same anyways, just different name of the very similar certification (FFP2 Europe, N95 US, KN95 China).
It's strange that as quickly as I was used to not wearing a mask at all when on holiday (been the Scandinavia, the Baltics and the UK recently), you quickly are used to wearing it again here. If everyone is doing it, you just join the mass.
German law always states "FFP2 or equal standard". hugolover wrote N95, but FFP2 is what it is. (K)N95 are equally accepted though. From my understanding they are all same anyways, just different name of the very similar certification (FFP2 Europe, N95 US, KN95 China).
Aug 25, 2022, 12:34 pm
#485
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Zurich / Europe / New York
Programs: LH, BA, AA
Posts: 1,309
Makes no sense only on planes and trains … but not in extremely crowded terminal and lounges etc.
Aug 25, 2022, 1:12 pm
#486
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: my heart is on the shores of the north Italian lakes
Programs: LX Senator Lifetime, Relais&Chateaux Club5C, ex ! "Amanjunkie", ex LHW LC, hate chain hotels
Posts: 2,515
LH in a serious competitive disadvantage
And regarding mask enforcement on LH, if you turn left you are automatically "more equal than others", like while flying with the "Flugbereitschaft".
Last edited by behuman; Aug 25, 2022 at 1:27 pm
Aug 25, 2022, 2:30 pm
#487
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,172
Gentle reminder to keep the political opinions out of this forum. Flyertalk has a lovely forum for that kind of discussion: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/omni-366/
Regards Oliver2002
Mod M&M forum
Regards Oliver2002
Mod M&M forum
Aug 26, 2022, 2:19 am
#488
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,172
LH is not amused:
Christina Foerster, member of the Executive Board: We rely on the personal responsibility of our guests. Passengers should be free to decide whether they want to wear a mask or not. In airplanes, high-performance filters clean the air. In this respect, it is difficult to understand why stricter rules should apply here than in other areas of life, such as in restaurants or supermarkets. Because most other countries already rely on voluntariness, this German special path is difficult to explain and enforce.
The European authorities for aviation safety (EASA) and health (ECDC) already recommended in May to forego mandatory requirements for the wearing of masks during air travel.
That is why Lufthansa is now demanding improvements. The Bundestag and Bundesrat still have to approve the law. It is to come into force on 1 October 2022 and apply until 7 April 2023.
In addition, the federal government has extended the entry regulation until 7 April 2023. No tightening is currently planned there. The regulations for virus-variant areas remain in force. Here, testing is compulsory before departure and transport is prohibited for non-German citizens. Other EU countries have already abolished comparable regulations.
Federal German government wants to tighten mask obligation New Infection Protection Act prescribes FFP2 mask
The German Federal Cabinet today passed the new Infection Protection Act. It continues to make masks compulsory on board aircraft. Whats more, it requires passengers over the age of 14 to wear an FFP2 mask. Until now, there was also the option of using a surgical mask. Lufthansa criticizes the planned tightening.Christina Foerster, member of the Executive Board: We rely on the personal responsibility of our guests. Passengers should be free to decide whether they want to wear a mask or not. In airplanes, high-performance filters clean the air. In this respect, it is difficult to understand why stricter rules should apply here than in other areas of life, such as in restaurants or supermarkets. Because most other countries already rely on voluntariness, this German special path is difficult to explain and enforce.
The European authorities for aviation safety (EASA) and health (ECDC) already recommended in May to forego mandatory requirements for the wearing of masks during air travel.
That is why Lufthansa is now demanding improvements. The Bundestag and Bundesrat still have to approve the law. It is to come into force on 1 October 2022 and apply until 7 April 2023.
In addition, the federal government has extended the entry regulation until 7 April 2023. No tightening is currently planned there. The regulations for virus-variant areas remain in force. Here, testing is compulsory before departure and transport is prohibited for non-German citizens. Other EU countries have already abolished comparable regulations.
Aug 26, 2022, 3:48 am
#489
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: my heart is on the shores of the north Italian lakes
Programs: LX Senator Lifetime, Relais&Chateaux Club5C, ex ! "Amanjunkie", ex LHW LC, hate chain hotels
Posts: 2,515
why not just follow EU directives
Of course not, given that a huge part of LH revenue comes from transit traffic through FRA and MUC. People have other choices like LX and OS, just rebooked two flights today via VIE and ZRH. (And yes, I will wear a FFP2 mask on narrowbodies)
If rules going against EU directives are applied by a country, this country should also effectively police thoses rules. It can not be that flight attendants have to enforce this. They are not paid for this and I wonder why the unions do not protest yet. Put a Bundespolizei agent on each flight or better two
.
Even Italy (which was overzealous regarding Covid), maintains the FFP2 obligation in public transport (occasionally enforced by police force, NOT the train crew - so keep your glass of Prosecco handy, it works), but dropped the requirement on planes following as a "good" EU member the directives.
If rules going against EU directives are applied by a country, this country should also effectively police thoses rules. It can not be that flight attendants have to enforce this. They are not paid for this and I wonder why the unions do not protest yet. Put a Bundespolizei agent on each flight or better two
.Even Italy (which was overzealous regarding Covid), maintains the FFP2 obligation in public transport (occasionally enforced by police force, NOT the train crew - so keep your glass of Prosecco handy, it works), but dropped the requirement on planes following as a "good" EU member the directives.
Aug 26, 2022, 6:29 am
#490
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: LHR/ATH
Programs: Amex Platinum, LH SEN (Gold), BA Bronze
Posts: 4,489
It's such a shame Germany is doing this. It's preventing me from flying Lufthansa, and I am sure I am not the only person. Even during Covid LX was much more chilled about masks than Lufthansa, I would just drink something the whole flight so would only really need it for boarding and deplaning.
Why doesn't Lufty just not enforce it anymore, it's not like the German Government can do anything about it, what are they going to do, fine the national carrier for refusing to enforce it? At this rate when will they remove the requirement? Being quadruple vaxxed and masked still doesn't prevent infection it seems, so what's the point?
How strict are they these days on the planes with LH? They shout at people at the gate, like at LHR? I mean in London there are no masks ever anywhere, so it must be weird suddenly being shouted at to wear a filter mask when even during the height of covid the UK never required a filter mask anywhere!
Why doesn't Lufty just not enforce it anymore, it's not like the German Government can do anything about it, what are they going to do, fine the national carrier for refusing to enforce it? At this rate when will they remove the requirement? Being quadruple vaxxed and masked still doesn't prevent infection it seems, so what's the point?
How strict are they these days on the planes with LH? They shout at people at the gate, like at LHR? I mean in London there are no masks ever anywhere, so it must be weird suddenly being shouted at to wear a filter mask when even during the height of covid the UK never required a filter mask anywhere!
Aug 26, 2022, 6:34 am
#491
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: LHR/ATH
Programs: Amex Platinum, LH SEN (Gold), BA Bronze
Posts: 4,489
You are required to wear a mask on public transportation in Germany (trains, bus, aircraft etc). Lufthansa requires you to wear one on board. Enforcement of the wearing during flight is not very rigorous. A mask is offered while boarding if you are not wearing one.
Currently the rule is a surgical mask or a FFP2/KN95/N95 without a vent.
Currently the rule is a surgical mask or a FFP2/KN95/N95 without a vent.
Short haul: Couple of days ago crew was enforcing at boarding but so many pax had not even brought a mask that they ran out of masks to hand to pax & didn’t enforce with the last handful of pax.
Long haul night flight: No enforcement in the FCT transfer and no enforcement for F pax turning left immediately. The flight consisted. basically of pre departure drinks, meal, sleep and breakfast so no opportunity to enforce had the crew wanted to.
Long haul night flight: No enforcement in the FCT transfer and no enforcement for F pax turning left immediately. The flight consisted. basically of pre departure drinks, meal, sleep and breakfast so no opportunity to enforce had the crew wanted to.
Aug 26, 2022, 6:47 am
#492
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 11,582
Absolutely none. LH is a stronghold in central Europe, and is competitive is several markets. There is absolutely not a single shred of evidence this is affecting travel pattern. Anecdotes of people avoiding LH because of this are just this, anecdotes. And this is relatively clear that airlines did not ditch masks because they saw "a boost in their business". All of that is just a wet dream of people not understanding demand in the airline market.
Figures for Q2 of 2022 are not out yet but preliminary signs is that LH will make very good: https://www.lufthansagroup.com/en/ne...ay-travel.html
Figures for Q2 of 2022 are not out yet but preliminary signs is that LH will make very good: https://www.lufthansagroup.com/en/ne...ay-travel.html
Aug 26, 2022, 2:01 pm
#493
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: OSL/IAH/ZRH (time, not preference)
Programs: UA1K, LH GM, AA EXP->GM
Posts: 38,265
Aug 26, 2022, 2:18 pm
#495
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: OSL/IAH/ZRH (time, not preference)
Programs: UA1K, LH GM, AA EXP->GM
Posts: 38,265