Flight check

How does the airport-to-arrival experience in this age of Covid protocols differ from airline to airline and airport to airport? Our reporter found out by flying Gatwick-dublin with easyjet and back with Ryanair

THE AIRPORTS

GATWICK: Only North Terminal is currently operating. The shuttle from South to North was quiet, with passengers observing face coverings rules. It was a Sunday morning but North Terminal was a lot busier than I expected. Even at 7am the Red Lion, a Wetherspoons outlet, was packed and there was a steady line of people queuing to get in. The place operated a QR Code (track and trace) stipulation. Those whose camera phones couldn't pick this up were asked to fill out a short form, with personal details, before entering. Once inside, tables were distanced at least two metres apart from each other and patrons were encouraged to order food from an app. I was surprised that Boots and Whsmith were not limiting the number of people moving in and out. Many of the fashion retailers were closed, although this might have been because it was early on a Sunday. Nearly everyone but not all - was observing the face covering requirements whilst travelling through the airport. There were plenty of hand sanitiser stations throughout the terminal and dedicated ‘PPE bins’, marked for the disposal of face coverings and gloves only. In some areas of the airport, a one-way flow system was in place.

Dublin: It was late afternoon on a

Thursday and the airport was very quiet. I was carrying only hand luggage but Plexiglas screens have been installed at the check-in desks to minimise contact between passengers and airline staff. All passengers are asked to wear a face mask during their full airport journey and once airside there were several vending machines disposing these. Many retail shops were closed and the large Duty Free area didn't have many takers. One large bar was serving alcohol but only when ordered with food bought somewhere in the airport (a bag of crisps seemed to fulfil this requirement). A large group were laughing, joking and moving around the bar without face masks, and gathering at the counter despite signs saying 'table service only', which made myself and a few others feel uncomfortable.

SECURITY

GATWICK: Although there were plentiful open lines and I was through the body scanner quickly enough, it seemed like more bags than usual were being directed into the 'to search' channel, which meant there were a number of people hanging around waiting to have their hand luggage checked. Mostly this was because small liquids hadn't been put into plastic bags or, even pettier, they had been deposited in two plastic bags instead of the allowed one. In the circumstances, this seemed over-zealous and counter-productive to have groups of people waiting in the same small area. This was the only time at Gatwick I felt that social distancing measures were laxer than they needed to be.

Dublin: I went straight to security, where floor markers had been put in place to maintain social distancing. I noticed a member of staff sanitising a pile of security trays and was told that if a body search were required security staff would wear a full-face visor. I was through and walking airside in less than five minutes.

BOARDING

EASYJET: The gate number was announced 45 minutes before departure. I immediately headed to gate 55C - a 10-minute walk - and went straight onto the plane.

There was no one staffing the check-in desk, which had a protective screen in place, with passengers able to walk straight through and down the jet bridge.

Tickets - mobile phone downloads have come of age during the pandemic - were