Flying and traveling in times of Corona bring new surprises every day. Actually, even the smallest remote area should have arrived by now that the passport is no longer sufficient in most countries when entering the country. Actually, because the opposite is still the case.

While there are some people who believe that if they travel and a dose of rudeness coupled with threats to complain, they are exempt from PLFs, tests and so on, this group is a tiny minority. This is particularly exhausting for the staff, but unproblematic, because if they play long enough, the police will simply be called and they will then take over.

A real problem group are travelers who say they never want to hear about entry forms, test obligations and so on. It is very naive to believe that you can now travel again like before the corona pandemic. From the point of view of this customer group, the airline or travel agency is always to blame. It is the basic duty of the passenger to inform himself about the entry regulations and to fulfill them. And when it's “entry denied” it can get expensive.

Still confusion within the EU

Nevertheless, it is shocking that the EU countries have still not managed to create uniform travel rules for the Schengen area in almost two years of pandemic. The differences are still very large. Malta practices 1G, Austria controls tightly by air and hardly at all by land and, for example, in Italy or France you have to be unlucky if you are controlled at all. Nevertheless, the countries named as examples require proof of the corona status and, if necessary, the completion of forms. What for?

Precisely this question could not be answered conclusively, because in the case of chains of infection, the (electronic) paperwork is of little use, because tourists in particular have long since left the country when possible contact tracing begins. And let's be honest: after your return, would you, for example, heed the instructions or contact the health authorities of the holiday destination?

Thanks to the General Data Protection Regulation, the health authorities cannot really exchange such PLF data across borders. This is neutral because everything has its advantages and disadvantages. But will the paperwork last forever? Hopefully not, because many travelers are already overwhelmed with the flight number field.

Morocco locks tourists out

What does winter bring? Wait, because the signs are extremely different. Some countries, including Denmark, Ireland and the UK, have finally closed the issue of Corona and the next lockdown has been declared in Latvia. In Germany, according to Jens Spahn (CDU), everything should be “almost great” and in Austria you are waiting again to see what Germany does and if it takes too long you just go the Austrian way and do something that is then called a “political decision” is titled. In any case, it is time to learn to live with Corona, which will not vanish into thin air, and to look ahead. Unfortunately, there is no other way, because the economic survival of many industries and thus also their employees hangs by a thread.

Just yesterday evening, the government of Morocco provided clear evidence that one should continue to be careful when booking vacation trips. Nonstop flights from Germany, UK and the Netherlands have been banned since midnight. The reason for the procedure: Too high incidences. Even the German Foreign Ministry anticipates that Morocco could soon cover other EU countries with flight bans. Wasn't it just a few months ago that banning non-stop flights would be of no use? Morocco still allows so-called direct flights (at least one stopover) and transfer connections. So if you really want to go to the African state, you will find your way.