Mask exemptions for airlines and Heathrow

emmajones1976

ripplyuk said:

It might be a lot simpler to ask your doctor for something to calm your nerves so that you CAN wear the mask. My GP usually gives me diazepam for situations like this. 

I would agree. Plus there are things you can do on the plane to mitigate it.

- Go to the toilet for a bit longer and more often than you usually do. You can take it off in there and have a breather. Dont sit in there for 10 mins at a time though as that looks suspicious for other reasons.
- Take you time eating and drinking. I made a can of Pepsi Max last me a whole hour last week. Eat slowly so it stays off longer
- I also spent most of the night return flight with it only over my mouth as the cabin crew spent the entire 2nd half of the flight gossiping in the back galley (I was in row 1). Lower it as often as possible, just slip it back up if you know they are approaching. Maybe ask for a window seat so you can avert your eyes out of the window often

and finally...

- You dont say where in Canada you are going. Consider breaking the journey up at Ottawa/St Johns if you are going to Vancouver/Edmonton.

Sandtree

emmajones1976 said:

Brie said:

@Thrugelmir - the mask exemption form would need to be carried about wherever I go.

Would this actually be valid in Canada signed by a foreign doctor? Something to investigate.

Worth checking but would be surprised if UK and Canadian medical qualifications weren't cross recognised... its not like its a letter from the local tribal witch doctor 

emmajones1976

Sandtree said:

emmajones1976 said:

Brie said:

@Thrugelmir - the mask exemption form would need to be carried about wherever I go.

Would this actually be valid in Canada signed by a foreign doctor? Something to investigate.

Worth checking but would be surprised if UK and Canadian medical qualifications weren't cross recognised... its not like its a letter from the local tribal witch doctor 

I agree, but we currently have a situation where a vaccinated UK resident going to Holland has to endure daily Covid testing just to go and sit in a restaurant because they dont recognise the NHS app, so anything is possible.

Going back to my list above - I get the impression that cabin crew are already sick to the back teeth of trying to enforce rules anyway, on the flight I was on last week there was the rule that you werent allowed to queue to the toilet, no attempt was actually made to enforce this at any point despite queues of 4 people building up at points.

Sandtree

emmajones1976 said:

Sandtree said:

emmajones1976 said:

Brie said:

@Thrugelmir - the mask exemption form would need to be carried about wherever I go.

Would this actually be valid in Canada signed by a foreign doctor? Something to investigate.

Worth checking but would be surprised if UK and Canadian medical qualifications weren't cross recognised... its not like its a letter from the local tribal witch doctor 

I agree, but we currently have a situation where a vaccinated UK resident going to Holland has to endure daily Covid testing just to go and sit in a restaurant because they dont recognise the NHS app, so anything is possible.

Well lets admit it... the NHS app is terrible... according to it the only appointment type I can book via it with my GP is a cervical smear test which as a cis male isnt that useful (though have considered trying and turning up for the nurses appointment for what I really want and see what happens)

emmajones1976

Sandtree said:

emmajones1976 said:

Sandtree said:

emmajones1976 said:

Brie said:

@Thrugelmir - the mask exemption form would need to be carried about wherever I go.

Would this actually be valid in Canada signed by a foreign doctor? Something to investigate.

Worth checking but would be surprised if UK and Canadian medical qualifications weren't cross recognised... its not like its a letter from the local tribal witch doctor 

I agree, but we currently have a situation where a vaccinated UK resident going to Holland has to endure daily Covid testing just to go and sit in a restaurant because they dont recognise the NHS app, so anything is possible.

Well lets admit it... the NHS app is terrible... according to it the only appointment type I can book via it with my GP is a cervical smear test which as a cis male isnt that useful (though have considered trying and turning up for the nurses appointment for what I really want and see what happens)

It shows the vaccines with a QR code, which is the only bit I am bothered about.

Anyway, we digress.

[Deleted User]

elsien said:

[Deleted User] said:

Have you tried different types of mask? If it's the closeness of the material you can get one that doesn't touch your lips etc.

You may have a hard time convincing a medical professional to sign off on this. Have you considered asking for therapy to help you overcome the phobia?

You have to remember that not wearing a mask may alarm other passengers, and some of them might have a religious exemption from being near an unmasked person. As such you probably need to warn the airline well in advance that you plan to travel unmasked, rather than just turning up with an exemption letter.

A religious exemption from being near am unmasked person? Is that really a thing? 

Really.

https://www.spaghettimonster.org/2021/09/vaccine-exemption-letters/

CKhalvashi

emmajones1976 said:

Sandtree said:

emmajones1976 said:

Brie said:

@Thrugelmir - the mask exemption form would need to be carried about wherever I go.

Would this actually be valid in Canada signed by a foreign doctor? Something to investigate.

Worth checking but would be surprised if UK and Canadian medical qualifications weren't cross recognised... its not like its a letter from the local tribal witch doctor 

I agree, but we currently have a situation where a vaccinated UK resident going to Holland has to endure daily Covid testing just to go and sit in a restaurant because they dont recognise the NHS app, so anything is possible.

Going back to my list above - I get the impression that cabin crew are already sick to the back teeth of trying to enforce rules anyway, on the flight I was on last week there was the rule that you werent allowed to queue to the toilet, no attempt was actually made to enforce this at any point despite queues of 4 people building up at points.

The NHS app is now recognised by the EU, including the Netherlands, but the printed PDF must be dated after November 1, which is the date the UK joined the EU vaccine passport scheme.

emmajones1976

CKhalvashi said:

emmajones1976 said:

Sandtree said:

emmajones1976 said:

Brie said:

@Thrugelmir - the mask exemption form would need to be carried about wherever I go.

Would this actually be valid in Canada signed by a foreign doctor? Something to investigate.

Worth checking but would be surprised if UK and Canadian medical qualifications weren't cross recognised... its not like its a letter from the local tribal witch doctor 

I agree, but we currently have a situation where a vaccinated UK resident going to Holland has to endure daily Covid testing just to go and sit in a restaurant because they dont recognise the NHS app, so anything is possible.

Going back to my list above - I get the impression that cabin crew are already sick to the back teeth of trying to enforce rules anyway, on the flight I was on last week there was the rule that you werent allowed to queue to the toilet, no attempt was actually made to enforce this at any point despite queues of 4 people building up at points.

The NHS app is now recognised by the EU, including the Netherlands, but the printed PDF must be dated after November 1, which is the date the UK joined the EU vaccine passport scheme.

For entry into the country: yes. For entry into domestic locations once there: no. Unless I missed this news.

Edit - ok, I clearly missed that news. Very handy given I am off to Holland in 2 weeks

https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/nhs-covid-pass-uk-accepted-eu-b1947553.html

CKhalvashi

emmajones1976 said:

CKhalvashi said:

emmajones1976 said:

Sandtree said:

emmajones1976 said:

Brie said:

@Thrugelmir - the mask exemption form would need to be carried about wherever I go.

Would this actually be valid in Canada signed by a foreign doctor? Something to investigate.

Worth checking but would be surprised if UK and Canadian medical qualifications weren't cross recognised... its not like its a letter from the local tribal witch doctor 

I agree, but we currently have a situation where a vaccinated UK resident going to Holland has to endure daily Covid testing just to go and sit in a restaurant because they dont recognise the NHS app, so anything is possible.

Going back to my list above - I get the impression that cabin crew are already sick to the back teeth of trying to enforce rules anyway, on the flight I was on last week there was the rule that you werent allowed to queue to the toilet, no attempt was actually made to enforce this at any point despite queues of 4 people building up at points.

The NHS app is now recognised by the EU, including the Netherlands, but the printed PDF must be dated after November 1, which is the date the UK joined the EU vaccine passport scheme.

For entry into the country: yes. For entry into domestic locations once there: no. Unless I missed this news.

Edit - ok, I clearly missed that news. Very handy given I am off to Holland in 2 weeks

https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/nhs-covid-pass-uk-accepted-eu-b1947553.html

It did slip largely under the radar, but definitely it's correct.