Chicken pox on a plane

[parmavioletmartini]

I kind of know I'm not being unreasonable but I am unbelievably shocked.

A friend is on holiday with her toddler and she has developed chicken pox. Diagnosed yesterday and they are still going to fly back on Saturday. I had assumed that there was no way an airline would let you fly.

Having had a mother who traveled back and forth from Spain between rounds of chemotherapy I find it appalling. When I mentioned this to her she said that's the risk you take when you travel!

I know it's intrinsically none of my business, but I feel she's potentially putting lives at risk. But AIBU to feel annoyed.

So so selfish, can you persuade her not to?

I don't really know how.

She not a particularly close friend. Old NCT group. I've said my bit. I think the only thing that will stop her is being stopped at the gate.

I can see why it's an awful situation for her. She needs to come back and go to work as does her husband. But as she would say that's the risk SHE took when she flew.

I flew back from holiday yesterday and there was a child with CP sat around our pool. I was hoping my DC didn't get it, but also my sister has just finished chemo and I would be livid if I saw a poxy child on the plane.

My son was seriously ill for 3 weeks with CP.
He kept coming out in crop after crop of new blisters.
He was infectious until after the final crop had completely scabbed over. NOT 7 days after the initial onset.
She is being very stupid and selfish.

If you are refused permission to fly home because of something like this and gave it confirmed by a doctor, then insurance will cover hotel costs/return flights usually for the ill person and one person to stay with them.

I hope they don't let her on.

If that were me I wd be phoning the airport.....

No I know it's not your responsibility, I would just make her aware that it's putting other more vulnerable people at risk but it sounds like you did that already. Hopefully they'll spot it at the airport and won't let them on.

I'd be calling the airline and informing them. What a selfish cow. Chicken pox is a killer to quite a few groups of people. What if she ends up sat next to a kid reviving from leukaemia or a pregnant woman. I'd call the airline

I second the 'call the airline' approach. That's not on and very selfish of her!

Surely one of them will have to stay off.work with the child anyway though so she cant use the work excuse

She sounds very selfish. There are a lot of people that could be harmed. I hope they won't let her get on.

I would also try the airline. its not just selfish it's downright dangerous

They would take you seriously.

I know of too many horror stories about chicken pox

If it's just coming out he could visibly acquire spots on the journey. I hope somebody notices.

Always astounds me how people see chickenpox as a mild illness and others feel it is lucky to get it when they're young and 'get it out of the way'.

Not at all. CP never bothered DD. That much so we didnt even realise she had it! She had a checkup at the doctors for something unrelated and they spotted a few CP on her torso and that was it.

On the other hand. DS has already caught them twice. The first time he was really bad. The second time he was really really poorly with them and on a plethora of antiviral meds just to keep him out of hospital.

People like that dont care boop no matter how much you try and persuade them to listen to the voice of reason.

I understand where everyone is coming from but what else is the woman meant to do? Just find £1000 from no where to book a hotel (if she can get one) for a week and a new flight? Unless the airline actually won't let her fly the insurance won't cover it

If that were me I'd be phoning the airport.....
^^ Me too.

Phone the airline.

P.s I love your username, yummmm

My DD came out in CP while on holiday in Spain. We kept the hotel infirmed, saw a Spanish Dr and kept her quarantined the whole holiday. The day before flying we saw the Dr again who confirms she was no longer contagious and gave us a certificate to say so. We showed this certificate to the airline at check in, on boarding the plane and once on the plane the captain came to chat to us and see it. Before take off he announced that there was someone on board who had visible CP spots but that there was a Dr certificate stating that she was no longer contagious and the captain reassured passengers that they would not let anyone on board who had CP spits but did not have a Dr certificate. In fact he added that someone had been turned away at check in with CP spots and no certificate.

I don't think your friend will get away with it!

Mixed.

Insurance companies make people jump through hoops to get reimbursed.

People can lose much needed income when they miss work.

Jobs can be put in jeopardy for too many sick days off with a child.

Yes, one parent could fly back, possibly with other children? But that parent would have to take chidlcare drop offs pick ups too possibly while the other parent was still away with the sick child...

I can see why parents might weigh it all out and decide trying to get home is their best course of action. Our current jobs/economy/political climate have put them in this position.

Sorry typing on phone and some words are wrong but am sure you get the gist. I don't think your friend will be able to hide it.

I hope she gets chucked off the flight. Poor kid though.
Yes it's inconvenient but insurance should pay for the child plus one parent to stay until clear to travel.
What's more awful though is that she's clearly bragging about it and will be pleased with herself if she gets on.

Daughter got chicken pox 15hrs before our flight home. Had a nightmare trying to sort flights and accommodation and car hire in time but did it. Travel insurance covered that. However, we are both self-employed and lost £4000 of work as a result. Travel insurance only covered one adult flight too I think. Despite me needing my partner there as I had mobility problems at the time. This is what credit cards are for. We just 'sucked it up'.
The £4000 does not measure to an early miscarriage of a fellow passenger or compromising someone's recovery from serious illness etc. I'd lose it again in a heartbeat rather than have those things on my conscience.
People can be so f'ing selfish. This sort of thing makes me really angry.
Asking you to wish her luck?! What? You could always say 'good luck in not causing miscarriage or congenital difficulties in a fellow passenger'.
I hope they turned her away.

If your friend gets through check-in and is able to board, she will be booted off by the crew.

I was sat on a flight where this happened. Cabin crew noticed poxy child, questioned the parents and asked to see the fit to fly letter from their GP. The parents didnt have one.

Stewardess spoke to the pilot who absolutely point blank refused to take off with them on the plane, and came out of the cockpit to tell them they had to get off, go and see the onsite Dr and if cleared to fly could get the next flight out.