BiLA member Chris O’Neill recently flew from Heathrow to LAX. Here is his report of the current Covid-19 protocols for transatlantic passengers.
I chose to view this trip with a sense of humour.
Arriving at Heathrow’s T2 terminal just after Christmas en route to LAX I made a beeline for the Virgin Atlantic customer service desk. A lady in a VA outfit sat there swiping through her phone. She looked mildly annoyed as I spoke. She told me to check the website for updates on Covid test requirements.
I had been double-checking with the VA website, GovUK and the CDC websites. It seemed GovUK was getting the updates and publishing them first, followed by the CDC press releases (sometimes 24 hour delays) and then arriving on the VA website – but with the previous posts still up and not scrubbed (12 hour delays).
I waited about an hour or so for the Collinson Covid test (antigens for the USA, fifty quid, done). Fastfood virus testing. Twenty minutes later I had my test results in hand and made my way through the T2 car park to the Hilton Garden Inn across the way, where I was booked in for the night.
Next morning, I strolled back into T2 via the connecting bridge from the hotel and was the first to check in. I had booked Premium Economy so I could have two bags and also be in a smaller cabin with less people around me.
The Terminal was pretty empty and I breezed through. At the gate, they collected the Passenger Attestation Form I’d had to print off the VA website to confirm I was Covid-free and if I wasn’t then I could be arrested at LAX. They did not collect the antigen report.
The staff on board cleaned the loos and surfaces constantly through the flight. Announcements assured us this brand new A130 plane had a special air filtration system (hopefully not made by the team at Collinson) which killed EVERYTHING and that fresh air was being pumped in from outside constantly. Flight was great, seats were awesome, cabin was maybe one third full, service was terrific.
At LAX, we were informed we could only get off ten at a time as the CDC were inspecting paperwork. I was met at the end of the jetway by a lady who looked like she’d been in the airport since the Christmas party – her festive outfit looking a bit old hat now we were closer to New Year, but hey, we’ve all been there. She sing-songed at me in a Texas drawl that she was with the CDC and I immediately looked round for Dustin Hoffman and his ‘Outbreak” squad but instead Office Christmas Party grinned at me with lifeless eyes as she asked if I had been around anyone with Covid recently. I gave her a simple “no” and she informed me I was “free to go”.
I had my Green Card in hand, holding it up so every camera would see it and hopefully stop watching me. A wave of joy washed over me as I entered the Customs Hall and saw that those hideously useless passport machines that do little other than photocopy your passport and give you a bad selfie were switched off. I was beckoned to one of the Customs desks, thankfully getting the rather jovial chap out of the group instead of one of the more aggressive ones. I was through in about three minutes and almost exploded with happiness when I saw the baggage carousel downstairs already had our luggage coming out- fastest unload EVER.
I walked out of the secure area, one of the Customs dogs sniffing at my WH Smith bag that was now bereft of sandwiches, and past a group of Customs officers who were yammering to each other and grabbing anyone who literally looked them in the eye. And then I was in tunnel and out into LAX proper.
The best advice I can pass on is a) have a good attitude b) triple check everything c) have print outs d) expect ANYTHING and e) stay safe.
Best wishes for 2021 and happy trail
Chris O’Neill
