Masks are still required on public transport in France and Belgium; until that's scrapped, nothing will be changing. I do wonder what would happen if Belgium scrapped masks before France - would Eurostar still insist on masks on Brussels/Amsterdam services throughout, or just for the portion where the train passes through France?
Except that they haven't bothered to reinstate their cross-border trains, that were discontinued because of the COVID crisis...
It's just been announced that the compulsory wearing of masks FFFP2/3 or N95 masks on all public transport in Italy has been extended for another six weeks intil 15th June. That's going to be hugely enjoyable for our first trip from Paris to Milano on the new international Frecciarossa service on 11th May....and our onward journey to Tuscany.The indoor mandate is supposedly ending at the start of May, but there will inevitably be an 'exception' for public transport. Because, of course, the virus knows when you're on a train...
Utterly predictable. What's the point in extending it for six weeks when (ostensibly) this is based on case rates, which could change significantly in that time?It's just been announced that the compulsory wearing of masks FFFP2/3 or N95 masks on all public transport in Italy has been extended for another six weeks intil 15th June. That's going to be hugely enjoyable for our first trip from Paris to Milano on the new international Frecciarossa service on 11th May....and our onward journey to Tuscany.
The rationale I have heard is that people tend to spend more time in public transport and it is more crowded/confined than shops, and that people tend to have less of a choice over using public transport compared to places such as restaurants. It is considered too difficult to specify a "crowdedness" level at which masks become required on transport.
Quite honestly it's a mess.
If you look on Flyer Talk there seems to be no consistency with Flights to Munich Nuremberg and Berlin with BA all getting different treatment at seemingly the whim of the crew.
On BA's website it clearly states in the list of Countries no mask required in either direction on German Flights.
It also says they are required in Airports which is certainly not true in the UK and not in Nuremberg last night.
Might get an avios boost.
Been waiting 7 weeks for a Dusseldorf Hol Refund / 261 and expenses from the IT meltdown in late February.
I visited Cambridge last May, when the rule of six indoors was in place. When I was there I did notice people generally were sticking the rules more rigidly then in other places in England and there were more signs telling people to socially distance or wear masks than other places. We were told off for sitting somewhere we were not allowed to sit in cafe due to social distancing.
Fixed that for you
Is it supposed to be only if the destination requires masks? We were forced to mask* on a trip from Spain to the UK. What's the best email address to get a good response from them?Quick update had an E-Mail from BA today.
They apologised and admitted the crew briefing was out of date with masks not being required for flights from Germany to the UK.
Awarded 10,000 Avios Points
Let's avoid discussion of places within the UK that have endemic equilibrium deniers / vaccine effectiveness deniers (at least in this thread!)
I am boycotting Italy until they remove the mandate. On my last trip I hardly wore an FFP2 though, I made sure to wear either no mask or a breathable cloth mask as much as possible. I had plenty of water bottles with me at all times.It's just been announced that the compulsory wearing of masks FFFP2/3 or N95 masks on all public transport in Italy has been extended for another six weeks intil 15th June. That's going to be hugely enjoyable for our first trip from Paris to Milano on the new international Frecciarossa service on 11th May....and our onward journey to Tuscany.
I don't see how this justifies their denial of the effectiveness of vaccines or their refusal to accept that we are heading for endemic equilibrium
Unfortunately, my wife and I don't have that choice! We have work to do on the house and taxes to pay.
You have my commiserations, but we look forward to visiting you, and buying you a meal over there, when the Italian authorities finally see sense!
I flew with RyanAir last week. The food and drinks sales seem to be much higher than pre-mask days so masks may be more an economic than health benefit. People were definitely lingering over their purchases.
Four guards insisted on FFP2s but all the others didn't mind breathable masks being worn. When a guard demanded FFP2s it resulted in water bottles being consumed for most of those journeys
Indeed, it's a real shame. I'm thinking of visiting Scandinavia this summer but with France, Belgium and Germany stubbornly keeping their mask mandates (in particular Germany keeping an FFP2 one) there is no way I am doing it all by rail. I will simply have to fly to Denmark, where it's just Ryanair that mandate masks (and I will be giving them a wide berth - there are plenty of other carriers).
I'm going to sound like a stuck record but what is the end game for Germany? The Covid situation is about as good as it's likely to be so that implies masks will remain indefinitely. England hasn't had them for most of the past nine months and yet nothing bad has happened.