Stop using the overhead bins to avoid the risk of gatherings in the corridor of the carriers. Alitalia has already provided indications among the companies
by Biagio Simonetta
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Stop using the overhead bins to avoid the risk of gatherings in the corridor of the carriers. Alitalia has already provided indications among the companies
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3 ‘of reading
The coronavirus he carried his carry-on baggage away. That’s right, starting from 26 June 2020 the suitcases that we usually put in the overhead bins are prohibited. The classic small trolleys often included in the price of basic airline tickets, enough when you leave for a few days. The arrangement comes directly fromEnac (the national civil aviation body), which in a communication to carriers following indications from the Ministry of Health sent in the past few hours, has made known three new directives concerning air travel.
The new directives of ENAC
First of all, as far as temperature measurement is concerned, «the check must be carried out before accessing the aircraft (if the temperature exceeds 37.5 °, access on board must be prohibited)». As far as hand baggage is concerned, passengers are allowed to carry on board «only baggage of a size that can be placed under the seat in front of the assigned seat». For health reasons “the use of overhead bins is not allowed”.
And then again: as regards “the self-certification by the passenger stating that he has not had close contact with people with COVID 19 disease in the last two days, before the onset of symptoms and up to 14 days after the onset of symptoms “and” the passenger’s commitment to communicate, for the purpose of traceability of contacts, to the carrier and to the competent territorial health authority, the onset of symptoms Covid-19 appeared within 8 days of disembarking from the aircraft »ENAC has announced that a model has been provided by the Ministry of Health which must be completed by the passenger – preferably electronically – and delivered to the airline before departure.
Because they ban the use of overhead bins
But why is the use of overhead bins prohibited? The reason is not to be found in the eventual sanitization of the baggage before bringing it on board, but in the intention to avoid gatherings during the boarding phase. The arrangement of the trolleys in the overhead bins, in fact, is a time when getting in close contact with other passengers in the corridor is very simple. By excluding this possibility, and leaving the only baggage on board to be only small and can be placed under the seat, the classic pre-take-off queues are eliminated.
What companies do
Now the real puzzle concerns those who have already purchased a ticket that includes the classic trolley on board with dimensions of 55 x 40 x 20 cm (those approved by all companies). The ENAC provision does not refer to any obligations for carriers to transform hand baggage into hold baggage. And this could cause more than some discomfort. Alitalia it is among the very few companies that have already clarified, and on its website we read: «From 26 June, following the provision of the Ministry of Health and implemented by ENAC, on all flights operated in Italy, the use of overhead bins for the storage of hand luggage in order to protect the health of passengers. It will be allowed to bring on board only small luggage that can be positioned under the seat, such as, for example, women’s bags, backpacks, computer holders, however, not exceeding 36x45x20 cm. We invite passengers to drop off their baggage at the airport at the Check-in / Drop-off desks for boarding in the hold free of charge ».
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