Tripologist travel tips: British Airways crew don't have to be vaccinated - how can they fly to Australia?

With British Airways' policy of not mandating vaccinations for its staff, how will BA manage its resumption of flights to Australia at the end of March? L. Lawrence, Drummoyne, NSW.

British Airways will soon recommence its Australia service with flights into Sydney, and therefore the regulations determined by the state of NSW apply to its incoming flight crew. According to those regulations, unvaccinated flight crew arriving from overseas must self-isolate for 14 days or until they depart Australia by aircraft. Vaccinated crew must self-isolate until they return a negative RAT, to be taken within 24 hours of arrival. Unvaccinated flight crew also face more stringent regulations than vaccinated crew regarding transport to their place of isolation.

As you mention, British Airways is one of the few international carriers that requests but does not require crew to disclose their vaccination status. Passengers are required to wear face masks on BA flights. A "what to expect on board" video on the BA website shows cabin crew wearing surgical masks, but not the more effective P2/N95 masks.

I'm travelling through the UK in September and am trying to work out the best way to roam about in Cornwall, through Newcastle and into Scotland. Are B&Bs the go? I'll have a hire car. If I get ill with COVID will I be covered by National Health? P. Lovel, East Burwood, VIC

B&Bs are a wonderful way to travel in the UK. They're quirky, they're an extension of the owner's personality and tastes, you get to meet the locals on their own turf and they're pretty decent value. They also vary a lot so you need to check independent reviews. I've travelled in the UK using Sawdays (sawdays.co.uk) to plan my overnight stops. It's a discerning collection of B&Bs, self-contained accommodation and small hotels. The website has a handy map that pinpoints their location and you can check reviews on the same place.

Another good resource is the Good Hotel Guide (goodhotelguide.com), which has a section devoted to the editor's choice B&Bs.

The UK has a reciprocal health care agreement with Australia which means you'll be treated under the National Health Service's public health care system. That's a great backup, but you really should not be travelling overseas without travel insurance.

I'm trying to understand which COVID-19 rules apply to me during an extended trip to Spain, France and the Netherlands. When I enter those countries, do I need to follow the rules for travellers from Australia, or the less strict rules for EU travellers? Also a tip re getting a Swiss COVID pass to use around Europe, this depends on the canton. A hotel address in Geneva was not accepted, but we got passes using the address of a hotel in Zurich. J. Shrubb, Turramurra, NSW

Make sure you comply with the more stringent rules that apply to travellers coming from Australia. The distinction is generally made to separate travellers who live within the EU from those who do not. Those from the EU will usually have the EU digital certificate, and easier access, but that certificate is not available to anyone vaccinated in Australia.