When did you last take a commercial flight?
Discussion
There still seems to be thousands of flights on the tracking sites, especially when USA wakes up. Aside from the cargo flights, how full can the planes be in the current climate? I managed a return trip to Germany in July which was about 1/3 full each way, but other than that, I have had no opportunity to fly anywhere since CV-19 hit and don’t expect to for several months.
Has anyone on here been on a commercial flight recently?
Has anyone on here been on a commercial flight recently?
I moved back to the UK after almost 6 years in Australia (yep, I must be mad, before anybody asks) just before Christmas and we flew SYD > HKG > LHR. Sydney leg was empty, it felt like there were more crew being shuttled than actual passengers.
The leg to London was another story, it seemed almost full. It was just before all the furore about HK banning incoming passenger flights from the UK, so a few flights to London were cancelled and I assume everybody was crammed onto our flight.
I can't say it was a particularly nice experience flying such a long distance at the present time. Sydney airport was a wasteland with nothing but duty free and a single convenience store open and HKG much the same (at least Cathay had a lounge open). The inflight catering was terrible and I was barked at by a stewardess for taking my mask off just as I was about to take a sip of water.
It's certainly been a bit strange, I spent pretty much every week of 2018-2019 on a plane at lest once, but can't say I really miss flying much at all.
The leg to London was another story, it seemed almost full. It was just before all the furore about HK banning incoming passenger flights from the UK, so a few flights to London were cancelled and I assume everybody was crammed onto our flight.
I can't say it was a particularly nice experience flying such a long distance at the present time. Sydney airport was a wasteland with nothing but duty free and a single convenience store open and HKG much the same (at least Cathay had a lounge open). The inflight catering was terrible and I was barked at by a stewardess for taking my mask off just as I was about to take a sip of water.
It's certainly been a bit strange, I spent pretty much every week of 2018-2019 on a plane at lest once, but can't say I really miss flying much at all.
Still been doing three or four commercial flights every month throughout the whole pandemic.
In some ways air travel has become far more pleasant. Transatlantic flights have been almost empty, some with 20 passengers on board, so even if it hasn’t been business class you’ll get a whole row to spread out and sleep. Short haul and Emirates flights have been fairly busy but still always had the middle seat free. Some of the US airlines have had it where their policy is to keep the middle seat empty - Alaskan for sure.
Passing through security is a five minute job in most places and you just get a lot more space to yourself. It’s just a lot more peaceful and quiet.
Clearly it’s unsustainable and wearing masks for 24 hours gets uncomfortable so this needs to end fairly soon!
As an aside, I’ve been told to isolate after two flights now, presumably because someone on board tested positive. The airlines have all your details so there’s no getting away from it!
Edit:
You didn’t ask, but hotels have been a bit miserable, although some are better than others. Breakfast buffets are generally a thing of the past, although the Russians and Indians don’t seem to give a monkeys and carry on with them! 😄 Some have buffets where you point out what you want and the staff serve you. Breakfast boxes are the order of the day in the states - a thoroughly miserable affair of cheap carbs and sugary juice.
In some ways air travel has become far more pleasant. Transatlantic flights have been almost empty, some with 20 passengers on board, so even if it hasn’t been business class you’ll get a whole row to spread out and sleep. Short haul and Emirates flights have been fairly busy but still always had the middle seat free. Some of the US airlines have had it where their policy is to keep the middle seat empty - Alaskan for sure.
Passing through security is a five minute job in most places and you just get a lot more space to yourself. It’s just a lot more peaceful and quiet.
Clearly it’s unsustainable and wearing masks for 24 hours gets uncomfortable so this needs to end fairly soon!
As an aside, I’ve been told to isolate after two flights now, presumably because someone on board tested positive. The airlines have all your details so there’s no getting away from it!
Edit:
You didn’t ask, but hotels have been a bit miserable, although some are better than others. Breakfast buffets are generally a thing of the past, although the Russians and Indians don’t seem to give a monkeys and carry on with them! 😄 Some have buffets where you point out what you want and the staff serve you. Breakfast boxes are the order of the day in the states - a thoroughly miserable affair of cheap carbs and sugary juice.
Edited by Crumpet on Saturday 30th January 13:05
rs1952 said:
March 10th 2020 when I flew in to LHR from Cape Town. Lockdown started 14 days later.
I've hardly left Wiltshire since then, let alone get on a plane...
Haha ditto, pretty much. My late Jan holiday in SA turned out to be extremely well timed, with hindsight. I've hardly left Wiltshire since then, let alone get on a plane...
Haven’t left the country since. Well, barely county either!
carreauchompeur said:
Tough times! 
Do you have to do anything to keep your qualifications in date?
Just simulator sessions at the moment to keep the licence valid. When we eventually do get back to flying, management have a system put in place to get us back up to speed gradually involving more simulator time and training flights.Do you have to do anything to keep your qualifications in date?
Feel very fortunate to still have a job, even if we are furloughed, many friends haven’t been so lucky
October 2019 to Bavaria for a few days. I had to check my photo album for the date, and this was the first pic I found:-
Luckily I didn't go for the large schnitzel!
This is in Freising, home of Weihenstephan, the oldest brewery in the world; unfortunately its bars and restaurant were closed for a wedding function; but in Bayern, you're never far from a good alehouse.
I'm now homesick for a place I've never lived.
Luckily I didn't go for the large schnitzel!
This is in Freising, home of Weihenstephan, the oldest brewery in the world; unfortunately its bars and restaurant were closed for a wedding function; but in Bayern, you're never far from a good alehouse.
I'm now homesick for a place I've never lived.
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