Am I able to get back to the UK? Posting for traffic

[foodster]

Hi,

posting for traffic on AIBU.

I'm abroad in Germany at the moment with my 4 month old visiting family.

I'm due to fly back on Tuesday.

We've just read the announcement that Germany and other EU countries will ban all flights from the UK from midnight due to this new coronavirus variant.

Different news outlets report different things, some say it's only flights from the UK that are banned and others say that it's also flights to the UK.

I can't get through to Lufthansa - does anyone have more information about this?

Thanks x

Sorry...

www.theguardian.com/world/live/2020/dec/20/coronavirus-live-news-nsw-premier-to-provide-update-on-sydney-restrictions-as-northern-beaches-locked-down-uk-tightens-christmas-rules?page=with:block-5fdf846c8f08dd27861cdc4e#block-5fdf846c8f08dd27861cdc4e

"From midnight tonight until 31 December, all air traffic between Germany and the UK to be banned.

A source has told AFP that the incoming German suspension could be adopted by the other 27 EU member-states.

Germany’s decision will reportedly only stand until 31 December, when the UK is set to leave the European Union and will no longer be subject to directives from Brussels.

According to a government source, Berlin is already “working on measures” to extend the ban into January.

Exempt from the ban are:

Repatriation flights of aeroplanes and their crews
Postal, freight or empty flights
Flights with medical personnel in the interest of public health"

No, air travel has been stopped until at least 31st December.

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/world-europe-55385768

If you are British you will have to be repatriated some way or the other.
I don't know about Germany but I know that currently France and Netherlands have made it crystal clear that it was travel FROM UK that was affected, not the other way round.

There will be repatriation flights. If you can’t get any joy out of airline contact the embassy. Good luck.

reading the actual decree (as opposed to badly drafted news report) it seems that it only affects flights from UK to Germany, not the other way round.
Of course it's up to the airline as well to maintain the flights.
But again as a British resident and/or national you should definitely be allowed back, though some delay is possible

I have dual nationality ( German & British) and my baby only has British nationality.

Will contact the embassy. Thanks x

It's quite possible your flight will still go ahead. Flights from Amsterdam to the UK or Paris to the UK are still going ahead at present. There may be more news tomorrow.

Is Eurostar still running? You could potentially get a train to Brussels, then get the Eurostar to UK. Although you'll need to quarantine.

It’s unlikely the airlines will pay to fly empty planes out but the government may pay them to fly out for repatriation flight. Contacting the embassy is the right way forward. Good luck!

@andawaywego

Is Eurostar still running? You could potentially get a train to Brussels, then get the Eurostar to UK. Although you'll need to quarantine.

Belgium has implemented similar rules though again I believe it's about UK to the other country... but none of this is particularly clear at this stage and most importantly could still change.

Eurostar is stopping services from uk 10pm tonight

Being allowed in the country and flights operating are two different things. There will be no issue at the border if you're British but if flights aren't operating that obviously makes things difficult.
Sorry OP that sounds very difficult - hopefully the embassy can help. There will be a lot of people in this position and it is possible that repatriation flights might be organised

Can you reach Lufthansa at the airport from which you are due to fly out?

How wonderful that the government will end up having to pay to bring back people who chose to fly in the middle of a fast escalating pandemic.

I'm not sure there will be repatriation flights i'm afraid

I recall I think it was Raab saying that they would no longer be repatriating peopme if they chose to go abroad.

That was months ago though so may have changed.

@Brighterthansunflowers

How wonderful that the government will end up having to pay to bring back people who chose to fly in the middle of a fast escalating pandemic.

Since everyone is rule breaking can I be expatriated from a hotspot in the US back to the UK so I can see my son,mom and Nan for Christmas? I thought naught

@Brighterthansunflowers here have a few biscuits yourself and get off your high horse

The German aviation official notice ("NOTAM") doing the rounds that covers this is a bit vague as to whether UK operators will be able to "reposition" into Germany empty to operate repatriation services.... as others have said there's the commercial angle - the airline(s) will be reluctant to fly the empty leg UK- Germany.

On previous form I can't see UK Gov rushing to fund repatriation packages, certainly not initially...but fingers crossed and good luck to all those "stuck.."

Eurotunnel are operating from France into the UK, but obviously you need a car for that. Eurostar haven't tweeted yet about what they are doing.

I wasn't rule breaking. I flew to Germany 2 1/2 weeks ago when it was still allowed if you went to the airport straight away.

It was a full flight, maybe all the people on the plane were "rule breaking" including the flight crew and the airline.

I would have thought that foreign governments might allow planes in to collect people and get them out...fingers crossed

someone on another thread said that a Lufthansa flight this evening from the UK to Germany refused to let any British get off the flight. It allowed Germans in then sent the plane straight back.

@OhYouBadBadKitten

Eurotunnel are operating from France into the UK, but obviously you need a car for that. Eurostar haven't tweeted yet about what they are doing.

France has stopped all travel to/from UK tonight at midnight for the next 48 hours

@Brighterthansunflowers

How wonderful that the government will end up having to pay to bring back people who chose to fly in the middle of a fast escalating pandemic.

Sure she was quite happy to pay for a return flight.

Is there any need to be so pissy? You have no idea why she travelled.

LeShuttle have tweeted that traffic will be able to come in to the uk.

I would have thought that foreign governments might allow planes in to collect people and get them out...fingers crossed

If you look at the warnings being promulagted down the line from national aviation authorities you'll see ATM it varies, or is vague, or contains an outright ban on any aircraft arriving from the UK..

For example the Republic of Ireland is banning inbound passenger services, so a bit of wriggle room there,..
OTOH the Belgian notice ATM is a very blunt " All flt from United Kingdom forbidden to land on Belgian territory"