A few days ago I was due to travel home to my wonderful family from the UK to Lanzarote. However, any hopes I had were dashed when an airline employee refused to allow me to board my plane on the grounds that I did not have a negative Covid test.
I am exempt under Spanish regulations from providing a negative test for the simple reason that I've just spent nearly six weeks on a ship, been tested several times and cannot reasonably have a test 72 hours before travelling.
Last time home it was fine: very smooth and I was tested on arrival in Lanzarote. They were polite and respectful. This time, the police were called, but not because I was in any way aggressive or loud; I was calm and collected.
So to help save lives I've now had to travel on a bus, a train and London Underground to get from Luton to Heathrow, submit to a test costing 79 quid and await another flight to Madrid. Then it's a packed minibus to and from hotel in Madrid and on to Lanzarote the following day. If I was in any way afraid of this virus I'd be catatonic with fear now.
I had plenty of time in Heathrow so I found an Iberia airline manager and discussed the Spanish regulations with him. He was perplexed and told me that indeed I was exempt and there would be no issue from them.
I think airlines need to educate their staff.
Capt Paul Kersey
More letters
Inflation information request
What is the Union doing for the members to bring pay in line with the inflation we have had over the last five years, particularly in the offshore renewables sector?
Seafarers overlooked on VJ Day 80
The UK government's 80th anniversary commemorations of VJ Day seem to have left out the Royal Navy and Merchant Navy seafarers who played such an important part in the Pacific theatre of war.
Catch up with old Clan Line colleagues
The annual Clan Line reunion will take place this year at the Liner Hotel in Liverpool on Wednesday 1 October 2025.