Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Would you fly with COVID

139 replies

wannabetraveler · 18/07/2023 00:26

We have a family trip planned for Saturday; transatlantic to see family. My parents haven't seen our kids in a couple of years and it was a chance to really show the kids my home country. this is a big trip with multiple stops (I think 7 different hotels in two countries over a period of 3 weeks) costing around $15K and a year in the planning. Car rental, train tickets, excursions, etc.

My son (primary aged) just tested positive for COVID. Full vaccinated of course. Mild symptoms.

I called the airline and they no longer do COVID-related change fee waivers. COVID is no longer considered a national health emergency. I'm of the opinion that we test on Friday evening and if he's negative, we go ahead and travel (masked, of course.) If he's positive and/or feeling unwell, we see if two of us can delay by 2-3 days and the rest of us go ahead as planned. My husband thinks we should postpone or cancel (until when, I don't know.) Travel insurance doesn't cover cancellation for illness (yes, major cockup on my part.)

I'll be honest, I don't really consider COVID a big deal now; we are all fully vaxxed and wear masks whenever we feel unwell. I don't think the risks of masked travel are high enough to cancel the trip.

What would you do?

OP posts:
ChubbyChinook · 18/07/2023 00:30

It may not be a big deal to you, but for those of us that are immunocompromised it's a very BIG DEAL. Just because it won't hurt you, doesn't mean it's ok to spread COVID around on planes. Please don't fly while testing positive, this is why I can still not travel abroad, the risk of sitting next to you while positive is too great.

Lavender14 · 18/07/2023 00:32

*covid is not a big deal FOR YOU. but for the immuno-compromised person sitting near you on the plane or doing their job serving you I'd say its still a big deal. If you're all testing negative then no reason not to fly but I would delay if I was still testing positive. If you'll lose your money regardless then I'd wait until the day of the fight to test everyone and make sure all negative, if you'd save anything by cancelling in advance then I think you need to weigh up the cost difference. Lesson learned with the insurance.

timegoingtooquickly · 18/07/2023 00:37

Why did you test?

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Covid-19 Flying Holidays
Emmarjayne · 18/07/2023 00:37

It's not just the immunocompromised that you Need to think about, you also need to think about other people's holidays. If it gets passed on people will come down with it midway through there holiday that they've also paid alot of money for.

IveHadItUpToHere · 18/07/2023 00:38

Covid is still a big deal with numerous possible health complications. Your DH is right.
We have vulnerable family members. Every time I consider booking flights to visit my wider family, some selfish thread like this crops up and I realise I'm going to have to wait even longer.

justasking111 · 18/07/2023 00:38

I'd go because we've no testing facilities where we live so no-one has a clue whether it's a cold, hayfever etc. There's no requirement in our hospitals, surgery or dentist

ShabbyChic999 · 18/07/2023 00:39

I'd do as you are suggesting, if your ds is still positive have him and one parent follow the rest of you

NeedToBookAGetaway · 18/07/2023 00:41

Yeah id still go without a 2nd thought, and I've lost people to covid. Because i wouldn't test.

Middlelanehogger · 18/07/2023 00:42

YWBU to test

I've done a whole bunch of flights in the last few weeks and there have been people travelling with nasty-sounding coughs on every one of them. Kind of gross tbh, but the point is you'd be making a sacrifice that's ultimately pointless, and if your son barely has any symptoms and isn't testing negative when you fly he'll probably be the healthiest person on the plane...

NeedToBookAGetaway · 18/07/2023 00:42

@IveHadItUpToHere ,think you'll be waiting forever then tbh. As its never going to go. It's always going to be here im afraid.

Kay286 · 18/07/2023 00:42

Yep is still go as I wouldn’t no I had it - no need to test !

Original poster
wannabetraveler · 18/07/2023 00:45

I wish we hadn't tested, to be honest. We had a couple of spare tests and I thought it made sense to check.

Ignorance is bliss, for sure.

OP posts:
Tiswa · 18/07/2023 00:46

Why did you test - that said yes I would on the e weekend given it is nearly a week

Mammamia2023 · 18/07/2023 00:48

As someone who is immunocompromised and still has to get regular vaccinations I have no idea why you have tested. I’m supposed to test but don’t. For me I can’t go through my life stressing about other people, it’s up to me to keep myself as safe as possible. All the colds/hayfever that are about with every snotty sniff and sneeze I can’t be stressing about what ifs. If you hadn’t tested I’d assume you would think it was a cold and travel regardless?

ZannahStop · 18/07/2023 00:49

Go 🤷🏽‍♀️

InSpainTheRain · 18/07/2023 01:02

Just go. There are no rules to stop you, and therefore insurance won't pay out.

merrymelodies · 18/07/2023 01:10

Don't go. You tested and now you know that if you went, you'd be wilfully putting people's health and lives at risk. Karma's a bitch.

milkysmum · 18/07/2023 01:11

Most people are not testing so they would have no idea if the sniffle they are currently experiencing is actually COVID. They would be on the plane regardless. I would not cancel this trip now given the circumstances. We cannot continue to halt our lives forever for this. If he is well enough to travel I'd be going.

Pawpatrolsucks · 18/07/2023 01:12

NeedToBookAGetaway · 18/07/2023 00:41

Yeah id still go without a 2nd thought, and I've lost people to covid. Because i wouldn't test.

Same

WeWereInParis · 18/07/2023 01:14

I don't know why you'd test with no intention of acting on the results. What was the point?

I wouldn't have tested. So I suppose, through ignorance, I would potentially fly with covid.

justasking111 · 18/07/2023 01:14

merrymelodies · 18/07/2023 01:10

Don't go. You tested and now you know that if you went, you'd be wilfully putting people's health and lives at risk. Karma's a bitch.

BUT she'll never know if the other people on the plane have covid. Don't dump the guilt on the rest of the population. We've just got to live with it. My neighbour is a heart transplant patient. He's out and about every day, goes on holidays. He doesn't let the risk of catching something interfere with his life

Flopsythebunny · 18/07/2023 01:15

ChubbyChinook · 18/07/2023 00:30

It may not be a big deal to you, but for those of us that are immunocompromised it's a very BIG DEAL. Just because it won't hurt you, doesn't mean it's ok to spread COVID around on planes. Please don't fly while testing positive, this is why I can still not travel abroad, the risk of sitting next to you while positive is too great.

This!

Barleysugar86 · 18/07/2023 01:15

I have a sister who is immunocompromised and they've been great at giving Covid boosters, and they seem to have been very effective- she caught Covid recently and barely had a sniffle, which was amazing as a cold would knock her out for a month really badly.

So I'd say wear masks and go. Use hand sanitiser plenty for your own conscience. I don't think it's any worse than travelling with a cold now personally.

Emmarjayne · 18/07/2023 01:16

Can everyone just take into consideration that alot of people that get Covid don't just experience a sniffle. I've had Covid twice, missed my dad's 60th family holiday that I waited 2 years for because of lockdown and the day we were ment to leave I tested positive. Both times I've had Covid I've been bed ridden with hot and cold flushes, headaches, I have felt absolutely awful and all I could do was sleep. It wasn't a snotty nose, or cough

bonfirebash · 18/07/2023 01:42

NeedToBookAGetaway · 18/07/2023 00:42

@IveHadItUpToHere ,think you'll be waiting forever then tbh. As its never going to go. It's always going to be here im afraid.

That's the hard thing
Because on one hand people say

You can't avoid covid, and if you're immunocompromised well you'll just have to stay home

Then the other side I get why are you still hiding away, it's all over now, you don't need to avoid people

Can't win!