Amid COVID-19 travel bans, airlines resume flights to Europe – what is it like?

If you want to fly from London to Lisbon from today, May 1, several airlines promise to take you there. This despite COVID-19’s continued travel bans in Europe for all international tourists. Budget operator Wizz Air It is apparently resuming flights to a large number of destinations in Europe this week. So are Ryanair and British Airways. Wizz Air and BA are selling flights to Lisbon from Saturday and throughout the week. Wizz Air from Luton, BA from Heathrow.

BA’s “Book with Confidence” jingle seems a bit out of place. How can a consumer book with confidence when an airline is selling flights to places that are blocked? Portugal’s borders in terms of 30 European countries are currently closed to all tourists and most foreigners until at least May 15. At that time, the EU will re-evaluate its travel ban on the coronavirus, which could easily be renewed.

Similarly for Wizz Air’s slogan “Carefree Booking, Now Cheaper” on your Facebook pageAs it attracts people to “Book a flight now”. Following up on the airline’s promise last week to offer “very low fares” to rekindle the market, a London-Lisbon ticket will cost as little as £ 12.99 each way in the coming weeks, though not as cheap as £ 69.99.

But again, Portugal is locked up and tourists are not allowed, like the country newspaper Public reports. Even the movement between Portugal and Spain is strictly controlled, he says, excluding tourism between neighbors.

Even with the Portuguese government’s announcements on Thursday that the country’s state of emergency will become a “state of calamity” as of May 3, tThe travel ban remains in place. There is no indication that Portugal’s gradual reliefBlocking measures in the coming weeks extend to tourism.

According to the US Embassy and Consulate. USA In Portugal, current travel restrictions mean that “only Portuguese citizens or returning foreign residents may enter Portugal until May 18, 2020 … Travelers should be prepared for additional travel restrictions to apply with little or no notice effect. ”

Furthermore, Portugal is also among the countries that the British Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommends its citizens not to visit. So would you try to fly to Portugal right now for tourism? I certainly wouldn’t. And where the hell will you stay? Since almost 95% of the country’s hotels are currently closed according to The New York Times.

In fact, how can any of these airlines re-enter the European skies with such force in May when there are still European blockades? Wizz Air is restarting flights from Luton to 15 destinations this month despite coronavirus blockades. Others available on their reservation page are Budapest in Hungary, Bratislava in Slovakia and Belgrade in Serbia. Since May 2 there are flights to Tenerife, in the Canary Islands of Spain. However, local officials say the islands may be closed. all international tourists possibly until October, but not before July. So does Wizz Air have these flights to be covered by passengers who are exempt from the travel ban to Europe, such as citizens, residents and medical personnel? So far there is no response.

Since mid-May, Ryanair has also been selling flights to numerous European destinations from London Luton, including Barcelona, ​​Athens (at a cost of £ 332 per one-way trip), Bologna and Nimes, despite travel bans to tourists national and international in all these countries. Even as Italy, Greece, Spain and France begin to deploy quarantine measures, none of the relaxations for now extend to foreign tourism.

Starting this weekend, Ryanair also offers regular flights from London Stansted to Budapest. This despite the fact that Hungary’s borders are closed. The airline seems to be enjoying watching customers run in circles on an endless cancellation and refund tape.

Wizz Air also offers daily flights from Luton to Budapest, and apparently sells them. “There are only 3 seats left at this price,” says its booking page for Saturday’s flight.

The contradiction is causing great confusion and undoubtedly more refund pain among passengers.

It seems that there are more and more booking traps everywhere by airlines eager to make money quickly. Unless, as I mentioned earlier, ticket sales are targeted only passengers exempt from European travel bans.

If that was the case, surely this would be mentioned in the reservation process? However, there is no indication, for those tempted by the ticket bonanza, that the trip is not open to anyone. None of the airlines that currently sell tickets to Europe clarify the travel restrictions in force in the countries for which fares are available.

In an article in The Telegraph Wizz suggests that flights “are to provide essential service” to those who need to travel. “But it does not explain this to potential customers.

This as thousands of consumers are already fighting for rebates for canceled flights booked weeks ago. However, airlines are now increasing ticket sales to places that no tourist can visit. How The Telegraph Article warns “Many customers will now not be entitled to a refund for canceling their reservation” as the FCO advises against traveling.

The Wizz Air movement is raising the eyebrows of many sectors. “There may be a need for some essential travel, but not giving the option to cancel without penalty seems like a cash take,” the judges Which? Travel Magazine in the UK.

“Which ones? Travel stated that the decision had been made so that Wizz Air does not have to cancel flights, which means that it will not be legally obliged to reimburse reserved passengers who decide not to travel,” he says. Weekly trips.

For former BBC newscaster and travel consultant Paul Charles, Wizz is “arguably the most irresponsible airline in the business right now.”

Interestingly, the airline says nothing in a press release about routes to and from Romania that are again suspended “with the extension of existing travel restrictions.” “Therefore, routes to France, Germany, Italy, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Spain, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands remain suspended until May 14 inclusive,” he says. But travel restrictions have also not been lifted at several other destinations it is selling.

Sanitary measures and sweetener on board social distance

Wizz Air says COVID-19 health precautions are a priority as it is set to take off again. All cabin crew will wear masks and gloves.Disinfecting wipes will be delivered to passengers. The aircraft will be disinfected overnight, it said in a statement.

Wizz Air says it too may allow more space between passengers as travel restrictions are eased. Chief Executive Jozsef Varadi said Reuters the central seat of single-aisle aircraft can be vacated to allow “A degree of social distancing on board”. “Basically we would be blocking a third of the planes,” he said. “A 180 seats would become a 120 seats”.

Leaving sanitary measures aside, make sure you know your rights before pressing the reservation button. Don’t think you can go on vacation to Europe just yet, just because suddenly there are a lot of flights offered by airlines.

While there are whispers at the EU level of a special type of COVID-19 passport to allow Europeans to go on vacation to Europe once the pandemic is under control, such a plan is far from seeing the light of day. Even if it happens, it is not intended for British travelers or other non-European foreigners. Everyone may have to wait many more months to get the green light to travel to Europe.