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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:
Slothmomma · 18/07/2023 07:14

I haven't tested for last 2 years now - even work requires us to still go in so what's the point. We've been told we have to get used to just living with it now - this is it - I'd still go.

guineacup · 18/07/2023 07:16

Overthebow · 18/07/2023 05:15

Those saying you’ll have to wait longer or another year until you decide to fly again, what are you thinking will be different then? It’s no longer a pandemic, most people aren’t testing and haven’t for a while now so most people won’t know if it’s covid or not, and it’s an illnesses that’s always going to be around now. There’s going to be people with covid wherever you go and whatever you do, and likely someone will have it on a plane ride. They’re not being selfish, it’s just treated the same as other illnesses now.

Unfortunately you're right. Covid is here forever like the common cold and flu. In fact, the deadly flu epidemic of 1890 was reckoned to have been a different type of coronavirus... the descendants of that virus are still around and infect people now.

JokerAndTheQueen · 18/07/2023 07:16

100% would fly. Taken from UK Government website :
Children and young people aged 18 years and under who have a positive test resultIt is not recommended that children and young people are tested for COVID-19 unless directed to by a health professional.
If a child or young person has a positive COVID-19 test result they should try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for 3 days after the day they took the test, if they can. After 3 days, if they feel well and do not have a high temperature, the risk of passing the infection on to others is much lower. This is because children and young people tend to be infectious to other people for less time than adults.
Children and young people who usually go to school, college or childcare and who live with someone who has a positive COVID-19 test result should continue to attend as normal

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Covid-19 Flying Holidays
maddiemookins16mum · 18/07/2023 07:16

Would you go if he had a mild cold?

Auntieofdragons · 18/07/2023 07:17

There will be dozens of other families on that plane and none of them will have tested. The guidance says not to. People who are at risk from covid know that and they may or may not want to take the risk to get on the plane. That’s on them. Just go,

Lefteyetwitch · 18/07/2023 07:22

As long as he feels OK I would absolutly go.

eurochick · 18/07/2023 07:24

JokerAndTheQueen · 18/07/2023 07:16

100% would fly. Taken from UK Government website :
Children and young people aged 18 years and under who have a positive test resultIt is not recommended that children and young people are tested for COVID-19 unless directed to by a health professional.
If a child or young person has a positive COVID-19 test result they should try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for 3 days after the day they took the test, if they can. After 3 days, if they feel well and do not have a high temperature, the risk of passing the infection on to others is much lower. This is because children and young people tend to be infectious to other people for less time than adults.
Children and young people who usually go to school, college or childcare and who live with someone who has a positive COVID-19 test result should continue to attend as normal

I was just about to mention this. He will be past the three days recommended by Saturday.

For those questioning vaccination, there was a scheme for young children but it had a very low take up and was quietly shelved.

rookiemere · 18/07/2023 07:24

If there was a chance that insurance would pay out, then that would be a different decision, but because it won't then I would go. Plus after 6 days, he will likely be negative.

Similar dilemma at our office, told we must be in 40% of the time with no allowances made for having covid of being ill. I have huge sympathy for vulnerable people and given the choice with covid I would stay at home, but I need a job so there we go.

Hellostrawberries · 18/07/2023 08:09

I'd 100% go. I know how hard the situation is for vulnerable people - I live with the reality as DH has chronic asthma with frequent chest infections - but guilt tripping people like the OP isn't the answer. The science is crystal clear, covid is here to stay. But LFTs aren't. The time will come when all tests are used up or expired. Then we'll have to stop testing completely. Or we could just stop now, as per official advice. We have. I hope you go OP and have a great time. He's very unlikely to still be infectious then anyway.

bonfirebash · 18/07/2023 11:06

rookiemere · 18/07/2023 07:24

If there was a chance that insurance would pay out, then that would be a different decision, but because it won't then I would go. Plus after 6 days, he will likely be negative.

Similar dilemma at our office, told we must be in 40% of the time with no allowances made for having covid of being ill. I have huge sympathy for vulnerable people and given the choice with covid I would stay at home, but I need a job so there we go.

Thankfully my work are being pretty strict on it which I'm grateful for
They just sent a reminder out today saying
if you are unwell, please stay at home until you have fully recovered. Anyone testing positive for Covid-19 will continue to be paid whilst off. The priority is getting better and stopping the spread of illness to your colleagues

Original poster
wannabetraveler · 18/07/2023 11:08

Shinyandnew1 · 18/07/2023 07:02

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

I didn’t think primary aged children were vaccinated! Did you pay for this to be done privately and if so, how long ago?

I'm in the US. All of my kids were vaccinated as soon as the CDC approved it (I think about 6 months after the adult vaccine, but don't quote me on that.)

Someone commented up thread about the vaccine situation- I don't know any family who didn't vaccinate their children.

OP posts:
MrsSkylerWhite · 18/07/2023 11:09

Groutyonehereagain · Today 03:21
Please don’t. It would be extremely selfish if you did. Please consider other people”

This.

Heyhoherewegoagain · 18/07/2023 11:12

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.

My thoughts too, having lost my dad to covid, we made sure we didn’t let it curtail our lives.
I don’t test, but equally I’ve never been one for going about in busy places when I’ve been loaded with a cold or similar.
A lot of people, presumably with vulnerabilities still wear masks and no one bats an eyelid, so there has to be an element of personal responsibility for yourself if you’re vulnerable

WhisperingJesse · 18/07/2023 11:53

I've just had Covid but I didn't realise it until afterwards. I had a slight headache, an hour or so one morning with a slightly dodgy tummy- so slight I forgot about it by the next day. Then was really struggling with fatigue for a week and couldn't understand why I was so exhausted. I was thinking it felt post-viral and exactly the same as post-Covid but I hadn't been ill so it didn't make sense. It was only when I spoke to a work colleague who had felt similarly and who pointed out that we'd both been exposed to Covid the week before that it all made sense.

The point I'm making is that I would have got on a flight that weekend if I had one planned, with no idea I had Covid. I think you should go.

RuthW · 18/07/2023 12:16

Absolutely not a chance

LlynTegid · 18/07/2023 12:35

No way.

StormShadow · 18/07/2023 12:45

The issue simply wouldn't arise. Not helpful now I know, but there's no chance I'd be testing my DC.

Herbiebanannas · 18/07/2023 12:51

bonfirebash · 18/07/2023 11:06

Thankfully my work are being pretty strict on it which I'm grateful for
They just sent a reminder out today saying
if you are unwell, please stay at home until you have fully recovered. Anyone testing positive for Covid-19 will continue to be paid whilst off. The priority is getting better and stopping the spread of illness to your colleagues

Show quote history

Wow. Which country and industry is that?

Oliotya · 18/07/2023 12:52

Just go. You've got several days anyway, he'll probably be fine by then.
How much more are our kids supposed to give up on the off chance that they might possibly spread something to a hypothetical unknown person? Covid is endemic now and life must go on.

Reesewithafork · 18/07/2023 12:56

It's the same as taking a child with chicken pox on a plane - not dangerous for most but can be very dangerous for some...plus it's not really fair to other passengers who have no idea. Would you be okay with doing that? Or finding out someone on your plane had got on board with something like that, still contagious? It's not that it's Covid imo, it's that it's something very contagious that can spread easily which you're knowingly taking into a confined space.

bonfirebash · 18/07/2023 13:04

@Herbiebanannas England, motor trade

MumGMT · 18/07/2023 13:06

Munches · 18/07/2023 06:35

Yes this exactly !!
Fucking really gets my goat when people whine “ but it’s only a cold”..

Err for you maybe, but not for many people. I’ve recently had covid in the past few weeks- am only just testing negative. It is the second time I’ve had it and am fully vaccinated.
I was very unwell both times for a couple of weeks and completely bed ridden. Now it has left me feeling very tired and sad. It did last time and I’ve already got mental illnesses .

To add, I was due to have a very urgent operation. This got cancelled. Apparently, once someone’s had covid, there is huge risk of respiratory distress to the lungs during a general anaesthetic. I am not allowed to have this surgery for a number of weeks due to the lungs needing to recover after covid.

It absolutely is not “ just a cold”..

Show quote history

When were you last vaccinated?

Maddy70 · 18/07/2023 13:13

Tbh I would now travel with covid it's isn't the life threatener it once was, vaccines and the the strain mutating into something much milder. Obviously flu's kill immune suppressed people too so I would treat it like that I would wear a mask for sure and do my best to keep distance between people but it's perfectly legal to travel and planes are heps filtered so probably the safest place to be with a virus. by the time you get to your destination it will be several days down so should be safe for those around for cuddles

Childhoodnostalgia · 18/07/2023 13:16

Rubyrach · 18/07/2023 06:32

I am on a triple cocktail of immune suppression drugs. I think at this stage I’d say go and mask up. FFP3 masks are better than the flimsy ones to protect others. We do have to live with this now and to be honest it is not just covid but any potential infection that can make those of us in this category ill. It’s not ideal and flying does make me anxious now but life cannot standstill forever.

Same here- not only does my illness make me vulnerable with covid, autoimmune lung disease, but also the steroids and immune suppressants that I take for it, but my health is my responsibility and it’s down to me to mitigate my own risk, and as pp said, we all live that risk, whether it be covid, flu, shingles - the list is endless. All I can do is keep away from high risk places and wear ffp2 mask when i’m out.