Fly Well. New QF Covid procedures

[AIRwin]

Looks like QF has already updated the Fly Well page to reflect mandatory face masks on all domestic flights:

Fly Well | Qantas

Find information on how we’re keeping you healthy while you fly with Qantas.

www.qantas.com

You're required to wear a mask on all Australian domestic flights.

Your face mask needs to cover your mouth and nose and must be worn unless you're under 12 years of age or have a medical condition.

When travelling within Australia, you'll need to wear your mask as soon as you enter the airport, and also inflight.

 

[Melburnian1]

Looks like QF has already updated the Fly Well page to reflect mandatory face masks on all domestic flights:

Fly Well | Qantas

Find information on how we’re keeping you healthy while you fly with Qantas.

www.qantas.com

You're required to wear a mask on all Australian domestic flights.

Your face mask needs to cover your mouth and nose and must be worn unless you're under 12 years of age or have a medical condition.

When travelling within Australia, you'll need to wear your mask as soon as you enter the airport, and also inflight.

*unless medically exempt e.g. asthma sufferers, or exempt for another health-related reason.

Yet of course QF still books passengers six across per whY row, that's how 'concerned' it really is.

 

[justinbrett]

There goes the beverage service in J

 

[milehighclub]

Yet of course QF still books passengers six across per whY row, that's how 'concerned' it really is.

So would you also suggest that all buses, trams and ferries also operate at a reduced capacity? Some of which are State run.

 

[justinbrett]

So would you also suggest that all buses, trams and ferries also operate at a reduced capacity? Some of which are State run.

NSW did
More than 3,300 extra services will be added to the public transport network across Sydney to temporarily increase capacity for physical distancing and provide more options for customers

 

[milehighclub]

More than 3,300 extra services will be added to the public transport network across Sydney to temporarily increase capacity for physical distancing and provide more options for customers

Excellent.

QF probably doesn't have to add services given that almost no one can travel at the moment, some not even intrastate. A whole bunch most likely to be stood down again. Sigh.

 

[Kiwi_Flyer]

There goes the beverage service in J

Not necessarily. NZ has had mask requirement for flights for months, and yet both Air NZ & JQ have food & beverage offerings.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Excellent.

QF probably doesn't have to add services given that almost no one can travel at the moment, some not even intrastate. A whole bunch most likely to be stood down again. Sigh.

Many US airlines blocked the sale of middle seats for a good proportion of last year. So that would be another option (like QF did for the scenic flights).

 

[Melburnian1]

So would you also suggest that all buses, trams and ferries also operate at a reduced capacity? Some of which are State run.

The difference is that buses, trams and ferries give people the ability to switch seats or standing positions. Original advice form govt was that COVID-19 exposure will only be a problem if one is with the same people for 15 minutes or more. Many trips on these modes are shorter, and if longer: switch position if one is concerned.

Need to read the findings of the Professor from Purdue Uni in the USA, Qingyan Chen if I remember his name correctly. He studied airborne virus transmission in aircraft. The results would not please Mr Joyce.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

The difference is that buses, trams and ferries give people the ability to switch seats or standing positions. Original advice form govt was that COVID-19 exposure will only be a problem if one is with the same people for 15 minutes or more. Many trips on these modes are shorter, and if longer: switch position if one is concerned.

Need to read the findings of the Professor from Purdue Uni in the USA, Qingyan Chen if I remember his name correctly. He studied airborne virus transmission in aircraft. The results would not please Mr Joyce.

Well, Qantas is relying on the somewhat misleading analysis of IATA which says transmission is as low as 1:27 million. But they have included all passengers since 1 January 2020... months before airlines stopped flying or reduced capacity.

A cheeky way of looking at the same data is that Qantas has operated around 50 repatriation flights, and on one of those infection was present. So instead of 1:27 million, it's a 1 in 50!!

 

[Melburnian1]

Excellent.

QF probably doesn't have to add services given that almost no one can travel at the moment, some not even intrastate. A whole bunch most likely to be stood down again. Sigh.

One odd feature (not QFd, but subsidiary JQd) was that on Friday 8 January (see the delays/cancellations thread), JQd cancelled 41 flights ex SYD and only operated (from what I could see) five. I didn't calculate the QFd cancellation rate on the Friday (bearing in mind that the airport websites probably opnly show 'flights cancelled' within the last seven days) but it was not as high (although obviously many fewer than it would normally operate).

 

[milehighclub]

Need to read the findings of the Professor from Purdue Uni in the USA, Qingyan Chen if I remember his name correctly. He studied airborne virus transmission in aircraft. The results would not please Mr Joyce.

I searched for this gentleman as per your recommendation. There was one link to an article about inflight air transmission. Seemed to also focus on the air nozzle. Anyway, I got to this and my head exploded.


Obviously it doesn't take into account the wearing of masks. I think if you want to add masks to the formula, you add after the K.

 

[downgraded]

The difference is that buses, trams and ferries give people the ability to switch seats or standing positions. Original advice form govt was that COVID-19 exposure will only be a problem if one is with the same people for 15 minutes or more. Many trips on these modes are shorter, and if longer: switch position if one is concerned.

Need to read the findings of the Professor from Purdue Uni in the USA, Qingyan Chen if I remember his name correctly. He studied airborne virus transmission in aircraft. The results would not please Mr Joyce.

But isn't that 15 minutes just completely arbitrary? Statistically it may be derived from something, but realistically you could be breathed on by a covid positive person within seconds and catch it. If they tracked contacts you'd been in contact with for 10mins or 5 mins, or anyone your covidsafe app pinged only once, the numbers would just be exponentially larger. As the BWS links have shown, possibly more accurate risk management though.

 

[Melburnian1]

I searched for this gentleman as per your recommendation. There was one link to an article about inflight air transmission. Seemed to also focus on the air nozzle. Anyway, I got to this and my head exploded.
View attachment 237463

Obviously it doesn't take into account the wearing of masks. I think if you want to add masks to the formula, you add after the K.

Passengers don't wear masks when eating or drinking. Some may remove masks when they feel a sneeze coming on. Others are exempt form masks due to their health.

However don't ask me to interpret the above formula as physics/chemistry were what I was not good at during school and uni.

 

[RichardMEL]

ugh the absolute WORST thing to do is remove mask when sneezing!!!

I understand the urge and yeah you don't want that in your mask but gah....

because how many feeling a sneeze come on will think to take off mask AND sneeze into the crook of your arm to hopefully contain the droplets? (sorry but that's just how it is)

 

[Melburnian1]

But isn't that 15 minutes just completely arbitrary? Statistically it may be derived from something, but realistically you could be breathed on by a covid positive person within seconds and catch it. If they tracked contacts you'd been in contact with for 10mins or 5 mins, or anyone your covidsafe app pinged only once, the numbers would just be exponentially larger. As the BWS links have shown, possibly more accurate risk management though.

All things may be possible, but I've not read media that confirms anyone has ever contracted 'it' on any surface public transport.

 

[VPS]

An epidemiologist told me if I have to get on a plane to turn the vent on full bore and have that blowing over my head the whole time because that air is a lot cleaner than anything else especially the toilets and the boarding tunnels

 

[BNEFlyer]

There goes the beverage service in J

I flew QF J this afternoon, wine was free flowing.

 

[nutwood]

An epidemiologist told me if I have to get on a plane to turn the vent on full bore and have that blowing over my head the whole time because that air is a lot cleaner than anything else especially the toilets and the boarding tunnels

I haven't heard that but that is exactly what I do every time I board. J on a 737 has three vents for two seats. If I'm on first I grab two and possibly nudge the third my way.
I understand the thinking re masks on board but not sure it's a great help. I had this conversation a few weeks back with a fellow passenger. Realistically, if there's going to be a meal service in J and my neighbour is COVID positive, a mask is not going to help. You can't eat and drink with a mask on. Possibly my two air vents might save me but a mask won't.
I figure a mask is of some use in the airport. Once you're sealed in that little can, put your faith in the plane air filters and keep your fingers crossed. A little paper mask won't help you if you're siting next to a spreader for two hours.

 

[craney]

I haven't heard that but that is exactly what I do every time I board. J on a 737 has three vents for two seats. If I'm on first I grab two and possibly nudge the third my way.
I understand the thinking re masks on board but not sure it's a great help. I had this conversation a few weeks back with a fellow passenger. Realistically, if there's going to be a meal service in J and my neighbour is COVID positive, a mask is not going to help. You can't eat and drink with a mask on. Possibly my two air vents might save me but a mask won't.
I figure a mask is of some use in the airport. Once you're sealed in that little can, put your faith in the plane air filters and keep your fingers crossed. A little paper mask won't help you if you're siting next to a spreader for two hours.

It is best to turn the a/c on full flow - How to Fly Safely: Dr. Sanjay Gupta's coronavirus podcast for May 28

"Another tip when you're on the plane. You know that little nozzle above your seat that regulates air? Turn that on. That's going to cause some turbulent airflow in front of you and possibly break up any clouds of the virus." - Dr Sanjay Gupta (medical correspondent with CNN)