Flights to and from the region this summer

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alan
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Flights to and from the region this summer

Post by alan »

The newspapers today are reporting that Ryanair has said that it had seen a doubling in the number of UK bookings to destinations in the Mediterranean compared with seven days earlier.

We have a Ryanair flight booked from Stansted to Perpignan at the end of July. My daughter has a flight booked also with Ryanair in August from East Midlands to Carcassonne, We are then back in September with Easyjet from Gatwick to Toulouse and returning home from Montpellier to Gatwick.

It would be interesting to know whether people also have flights to and from the region booked this summer as, when and if those flights take place with their experience of the “new normal” both for the flights and airports.

I shall report on how we find things with our proposed journeys.

Alan
Ted & Jemima
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Re: Flights to and from the region this summer

Post by Ted & Jemima »

Hi Alan

We would urge caution because, to our knowledge:
* Carcassonne airport has not yet announced its reopening to commercial flights (we live nearby)
* Ryanair's business methods are, urm, (allegedly) unscrupulous
* Ryanair is taking bookings/money for flights that do not yet exist as part of its heavy-handed campaign to persuade the UK government to lift post-virus restrictions.
These issues are written up in the press.

We hope your arrangements work out well, but these are uncertain times and some businesses have a lot to potentially lose for their shareholders. Sadly, customers are just part of their games.

Yours,
Ted & Jemima
http://findinglanguedoc.com
alan
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Re: Flights to and from the region this summer

Post by alan »

Thanks both

Yes, there is a great deal of uncertainty at present.

We should have been flying with Ryanair from Bristol to Beziers next Monday and that flight was cancelled so we re-booked Stansted to Perpignan at the end of July rather than asking for a refund. The Carcassonne flight in August and Montpellier flight in September were booked last year.

I don't think we would be making fresh bookings for this summer just at the moment.

Alan
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Re: Flights to and from the region this summer

Post by Ted & Jemima »

Following up our earlier post, news emerges today that Carcassonne airport will reopen for commercial flights on 3 July:
https://www.lindependant.fr/2020/06/26/ ... 950848.php
It seems a long time since we've had the noise of daily Ryanair flights landing low over the town. Businesses will be happy. But inevitable that a minority of Brits will bring the virus with them from 'herd immunity do-nothing strategy' UK, leading to a cluster of cases locally. Particularly now that the proportion of people wearing masks in town & socially distancing has dropped dramatically since deconfinement. Oh dear!

Be careful out there,
Ted & Jemima
www.findinglanguedoc.com
alan
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Re: Flights to and from the region this summer

Post by alan »

That will please my daughter, her husband and children who are planning to fly into Carcassonne in early August and spend a holiday at our house in Port Vendres.

Having worked on the front-line in the NHS with Covid 19 patients this year, she deserves a holiday. I know she will not travel if she or any one of her family is showing symptoms. Of course she may be asymptomatic but she has taken every precaution. The fact that she has recently tested negative on an antibodies test may be testament to the precautions she has taken.

I do hope that the restaurants, bars, ice-cream vendors will appreciate the Euros they'll be spending in PV and Collioure.
alan
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Re: Flights to and from the region this summer

Post by alan »

With the resumption of regular flights into the Region, it would be really good to hear from people who have been passengers of their experiences not not only on the flight but also at the airport with regard to the "new normal".

Alan
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Re: Flights to and from the region this summer

Post by GrahamC »

We flew BHX to PGN. Absolutely no problems whatsoever. BHX was deserted, we were the only two people in security. PGN passport control happily compared passport photo with our masked visages;)
Anthea & Tim
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Re: Flights to and from the region this summer

Post by Anthea & Tim »

We flew Bournemouth - Girona. Plane 50% full. No problems at either airport and both airports quiet. GRO are not (yet) able to accept the QR code on the e Spain Travel Health Form. So need to download, complete and sign the paper version. Blank copies are available in the airport and are checked in the baggage collection area after passport control.
alan
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Re: Flights to and from the region this summer

Post by alan »

We travelled yesterday from Stansted to Perpignan, took the bus to the station and train to Port Vendres. The flight, bus and train all departed on time. Infact, the flight arrived well ahead of schedule.
We were expecting Stansted to be quiet, which it was, and the plane to be less than full, which it wasn’t. As far as we could see, there wasn’t an empty seat and there were lots of people meeting arrivals at Perpignan.
The procedures at Stansted seem all very satisfactory although there was not much social distancing going on in the queue to board the plane, disembark or pass through passport control at Perpignan. Everywhere, including at the airport, on the plane and on the train, we noticed just how many people were wearing masks incorrectly. They really can’t offer any protection to the wearer or to others if worn about the chin with mouth and nose exposed.
On the plane, one of us was seated alongside a young woman with no mask at all but was wearing a badge to indicate that she was medically exempt. This is all very well for the wearer but not for others. We wonder whether Ryanair requires sight of a medical report before allowing someone to board without a mask or whether it is a matter merely of self-certification. Had the plane not been full, we would have asked to be moved and we don’t see how this could have been refused.
Anyway, we are here. We enjoyed a lovely meal sitting outside at a favourite restaurant in PV last night and were much relieved to find that all was well with our house, which we hadn’t visited since the end of February.
nickiwynne
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Re: Flights to and from the region this summer

Post by nickiwynne »

Hello Alan,
So pleased you are here and had a safe journey.
After a week here we have seen extremes of COVID-19 precautions in place...... a restaurant in Arles sur Tech where the waitress wore a visor, sprayed our hands with anti bac before we sat down and then our table and chair legs with mosquito repellant (I am a bit concerned we may have long term problems with this assault of chemicals but we won’t have caught COVID-19 that evening!).
On the flip side we have seen the same customer in a bar in Amelie fist bump some friends as he arrived, then go on to clench fists with one of the drinkers before kissing him on both cheeks.......
So some inconsistencies..... and Correct mask wearing seems to be a bit of a challenge! The teacher in me wants to go round telling people to cover both nose and mouth but there may be reasons why that is not possible.
We are continuing to maintain social distancing, getting through a lot of hand gel and practising our hand washing routines frequently.....and having a wonderful time.
Enjoy your stay,
Nicki
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Kate
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Re: Flights to and from the region this summer

Post by Kate »

Glad to hear you’ve both arrived safely. Have a fantastic time while you’re here. I think we have to try and forget about Covid at the same time as not forgetting about it, if that doesn’t sound like gobbledygook! :lol: I mean we have to be really careful but not let it run or ruin our lives as we never know what tomorrow may bring. Have fun.
nickiwynne
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Re: Flights to and from the region this summer

Post by nickiwynne »

Thank you, Kate.
I’m sure we shall!
Take care,
Nicki
alan
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Re: Flights to and from the region this summer

Post by alan »

Yes thanks to both of you and enjoy the sunshine; we are.

Alan
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Re: Flights to and from the region this summer

Post by alan »

We flew back yesterday from Perpignan to Stansted. Everything was on time and we were quite impressed by the social distancing arrangements at Perpignan airport. This time everyone seemed to be wearing a mask where they should have been but not all masks were being worn properly. Not much social distancing on the flight though.
nickiwynne
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Re: Flights to and from the region this summer

Post by nickiwynne »

Hello,
Glad to hear you got back safely.
We travelled home by car on Thursday/ Friday and had another very easy journey.
We had neglected to organise the telepeage gadget in advance but were quite relieved we hadn’t as we didn’t have to queue at any tolls.... the roads were very quiet again (a bit busier around Rouen but we did travel down on a Sunday) and we stayed in a functional but spotless and very COVID aware hotel in Loches- which is the most beautiful place and merits a proper visit one day.
So our experience of driving from the channel to the med has been very positive.
The ferry felt a bit of a throwback to our student days and when we lived in Brussels in the 90s but it made a change......
Just hope it’s not another year before we can get back to Amelie.
Take care and stay safe wherever you are,
Nicki
alan
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Re: Flights to and from the region this summer

Post by alan »

Hi Nicki

Glad you had such a positive experience of driving down. We are at home enjoying the sunshine on the South Coast but have flights booked on the Birmingham to Perpignan route in September'

My daughter and her family flew into Carcassonne from East Midlands on Saturday on plane just half full. she said there was heavy traffic at Carcassonne but all else went well. Hopefully, they won't have to quarantine on returning to the UK.

Alan
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