T


ravel Weekly news editor Ben Ireland was one of the first guests as Tui resumed its programme. He reports from Tui Blue Aura in Ibiza


W


earing a face mask is the single biggest difference to the flying experience


from the pre-Covid world, and it is worth stressing to customers that they need to be worn all the time. That means it’s on your face


from check-in, now predominantly self-service, to landing in destination, and your transfer. Masks must also be changed every four hours. At the airport, hand sanitising


stations were everywhere and there was an expectation to use them at every opportunity. Security is largely as before, with


more confusion about laptops and belts than anything else, and while it felt natural to remove the mask and pop it in my tray, you have to keep wearing it.


Boarding process The media flight was one day before services resumed in earnest, but Gatwick was eerily quiet. Staff said the


Passengers were


called in rows of five, which made a two-hour hop feel like boarding a long-haul flight


opening of pubs and restaurants would depend on footfall, with table seating only. In the No1 Lounge, masks are not obligatory, but are encouraged, so lounges could be an upsell opportunity for agents if they’re open. At boarding, passengers were


called in rows of five, which made a two-hour hop feel like boarding a long-haul flight. There were screens, and staff no longer touch your boarding pass or passport – you show them its picture page. On board, you’re asked not to


queue in the aisles for the toilet which, while no problem on our


relatively empty flight, might be more of an issue when services are busier. Announcements urge you to sit


down as much as possible and not use your own hand sanitiser – it is provided on board. Cabin crew hand you a plastic bag in which to dispose of masks and gloves. There’s no hot food, but most other snacks and drinks are available as long as you pay by contactless card. Cabin crew were well-trained on the changes so could answer any questions easily.


Temperature checks An arrival form must also be filled out, which can be done online in advance. Again, it’s comparable with arrival forms on long-haul flights - with a few Covid-related questions. On arrival, your temperature is


checked before passport control, which was not intrusive. Airport staff gave a ‘visual health assessment’, but I didn’t notice. You get to remove your mask briefly when using electronic passport scanners. When you fly back, you


must remember to fill out a UK government form within 48 hours of your return. It asks you where you’re staying and where you’ve been, and took about 20 minutes on the phone, which I did on my transfer. You might want to get it out of the way in resort. My conclusion? Flying abroad is


Ben: ‘Masks must be worn all the time’ 8 16 JULY 2020


basically the same…but with a face mask on.


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