Boardgrrrrl
Active Member
So we're just back from the island after a fab (but strange) 12 day break. The only real issue I had was the bloody heat. Second time I’ve been in August and second time of catching a few days of 37-40° temps and 75% humidity - not fun with a 7 year old to entertain - meltin' hell 
So travel-wise, despite all the fuss of checking the government travel advice eleventy-billion times, and having the kiddo in tow, it was problem-free.
We only took hand luggage, so getting through Stanstead was a breeze! We were sitting with pre-flights beers in our hand around 25 minutes from walking through the door.
What I could see from the Ryanair queues is that they were moving at a reasonable pace – they were just huge! But then I suppose that’s August for you.
On board, the flight only had about 40 people on it and felt really strange not to feel the buzz of a plane full of people anticipating the carnage to come.
Arriving in IBZ, all we were asked for at passport control was the Passenger Locator form QR code, and with only 40 people to check, we were outside waiting for a taxi within about 10 minutes.
For the Fit to Fly test before coming back, we took tests with us from C19 which we purchased before we went. It was pretty straightforward and we got our results in about 9 hours, but with hindsight, next time, I’d just use one of the companies that come to your hotel and do it for you. Way less hassle than trying to fill forms in on your phone after a carajillo or two
The passenger locator form to come back to the UK was also pretty straightforward. I hid myself away from the kiddo with a glass of white wine and took my time making sure it was all correct before submitting.
Coming home, the queues at the airport check in desks were HUGE but with only hand luggage, we hit the departure lounge after about a 10 minute queue to get through security. Airport staff just checked at the gate that we’d got our return test and PLF completed. Hairy moment when my hubby’s PLF wouldn’t load on his phone. Luckily I took a screenshot of it on my phone before sending it him.
Return flight was about half full so plenty of space to stretch out and have a kip (well…as much space as a Ryanair flight allows)
Then back in the UK, the queues at passport control were around 25-30 minutes but there were 2-3 other flights in the mix with us, so to be expected. I didn’t see anyone getting their paperwork checked so I assume all your tests and forms are linked to your passport number. Our hotel in Ibiza ran out of printer toner so we just had the QR codes on our phones ready but they never asked for them.
Day 2 test was completed before 9:30am at our local chemist but again with hindsight I would have just gone for the cheaper Randox option (we paid £89). Results all clear.
I’ll do a review of a very strange August on the island later, but I hope this helps some of you who are thinking about travelling. It’s not as daunting as it first appears, and if you sack off taking hold luggage it makes things a whole lot quicker in the airport.
Flights booked October half term already
So travel-wise, despite all the fuss of checking the government travel advice eleventy-billion times, and having the kiddo in tow, it was problem-free.
We only took hand luggage, so getting through Stanstead was a breeze! We were sitting with pre-flights beers in our hand around 25 minutes from walking through the door.
What I could see from the Ryanair queues is that they were moving at a reasonable pace – they were just huge! But then I suppose that’s August for you.
On board, the flight only had about 40 people on it and felt really strange not to feel the buzz of a plane full of people anticipating the carnage to come.
Arriving in IBZ, all we were asked for at passport control was the Passenger Locator form QR code, and with only 40 people to check, we were outside waiting for a taxi within about 10 minutes.
For the Fit to Fly test before coming back, we took tests with us from C19 which we purchased before we went. It was pretty straightforward and we got our results in about 9 hours, but with hindsight, next time, I’d just use one of the companies that come to your hotel and do it for you. Way less hassle than trying to fill forms in on your phone after a carajillo or two
The passenger locator form to come back to the UK was also pretty straightforward. I hid myself away from the kiddo with a glass of white wine and took my time making sure it was all correct before submitting.
Coming home, the queues at the airport check in desks were HUGE but with only hand luggage, we hit the departure lounge after about a 10 minute queue to get through security. Airport staff just checked at the gate that we’d got our return test and PLF completed. Hairy moment when my hubby’s PLF wouldn’t load on his phone. Luckily I took a screenshot of it on my phone before sending it him.
Return flight was about half full so plenty of space to stretch out and have a kip (well…as much space as a Ryanair flight allows)
Then back in the UK, the queues at passport control were around 25-30 minutes but there were 2-3 other flights in the mix with us, so to be expected. I didn’t see anyone getting their paperwork checked so I assume all your tests and forms are linked to your passport number. Our hotel in Ibiza ran out of printer toner so we just had the QR codes on our phones ready but they never asked for them.
Day 2 test was completed before 9:30am at our local chemist but again with hindsight I would have just gone for the cheaper Randox option (we paid £89). Results all clear.
I’ll do a review of a very strange August on the island later, but I hope this helps some of you who are thinking about travelling. It’s not as daunting as it first appears, and if you sack off taking hold luggage it makes things a whole lot quicker in the airport.
Flights booked October half term already
this must be a wind up?
