to think DS' school knows something the rest of us don't about Brexit?

[Satsumaeater]

This isn't a trip for his year group but they are organising a language trip to an EU country by air, leaving on, guess what, 29 March!

I think they come back on 3rd April or thereabouts.

I am a bit surprised to say the least. Do they have inside information that there will be a deal? They've also got a EU trip planned later in April but that was organised months before all this latest no-deal furore, and another one in July, but I'd probably expect things to have been sorted out (to an extent) by then, although they might have to get visas for the British passport holders at shortish notice.

Leaving on 29th seems like playing chicken to me; the kids (and teachers!) might not be able to get back.

Airline companies will have made provision for this otherwise they will go bust!

Airlines and airports have made provision for it. Heathrow has contingency finance in place to deal with the fact that there might not be flights for some time.

I can't see there'll be an issue. Europe won't want any interruption of the millions that flow in from the tourist trade so it'll be sorted

While I sincerely hope "something " will be sorted out, it is reasonable to assume the odd wrinkle (that's being optimistic).

The transition period only comes into play if there is a leaving deal. If there is a deal it's not a issue (until the end of the transition period which no doubt will be another game of chicken).

Anyway, I guess the fact that so many of you on this thread are optimistic means they'll probably get enough kids to go. I suppose if they do get stranded there will at least be enough to eat, which may not be the case in the UK.

User - I wasn't talking about canceling the trip now - they are only just planning it and asking for deposits. I think if I were the school I might have organised it for a couple of weeks earlier. It doesn't coincide with the Easter holidays.

No aircraft , Trains or Ferries will ever run again nor will a British passport be valid in the EU after 29 march.And the plague of locusts starts on the 30th.

They wont need visas. Don't be stupid.

All they will have to do is sign the paperwork on the plane like we all used to have to do.

The concern is nothing to do with bloody visas!

Heathrow has contingency finance in place to deal with the fact that there might not be flights for some time.

Don't want to out myself but I have inside knowledge that Heathrow are definitely not even considering this as a scenario.

'Once the uk is no longer in Europe open skies will no longer apply. UK airlines will have no rights to land in European countries'

I know the open skies thing is kind of still relevant but we are leaving the EU not Europe.

I can't see any reasonable EU country wanting to cause a diplomatic storm by refusing to allow a group of children to return home to their families. It would cause havoc and be all over the news.

slimjemima so how come they have said that is the case and have secured funding for such an event, or are they telling fibs and are going to use the dosh for an amazing free bar at the Christmas party

www.ft.com/content/ceb7d6ce-8f55-11e8-bb8f-a6a2f7bca546

£1bn in contingency finance for heathrow according to the FT and the chief exec of Heathrow

If a anyone had any doubt
French government warns UK citizens will need visas after no-deal Brexit without emergency action
From www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-france-visa-uk-citizens-no-deal-travel-warning-emergency-action-eurostar-paris-a8588801.html

I can't see any reasonable EU country wanting to cause a diplomatic storm by refusing to allow a group of children to return home to their families. It would cause havoc and be all over the news.
The UK has separated EU kids from their families and refused them entry to the UK
Why should other countries not behave like the UK ?

If there is a hard Brexit, March 29th will NOT be a good day to travel anywhere in or out of the UK.

I hope a decent deal will be reached beforehand
but only a fool would assume our politicians are competent

Fwiw OP I’m sure that we will know before the 29th if it’s a deal or no deal situation.
If there is No Deal, then I’m assuming that the school will have to take a decision on whether the trip is going ahead or not. I also think that we will know very clearly by that time if trains/planes/boats will be circulating easily or not.

For me, the question was more ‘can I afford to loose the £xx of the trip if it doesn’t go ahead?’ Because I’m sure that no one will get any money back if trips are cancelled due to Brexit.

@slimjemima

According to the Financial Times, Heathrow is planning for the worse:
www.ft.com/content/ceb7d6ce-8f55-11e8-bb8f-a6a2f7bca546

Heathrow airport has raised nearly £1bn in debt to keep it going through a “worst-case scenario” following a hard Brexit, its chief executive has said.

John Holland-Kaye said he expected “something close to continuity” through a Brexit agreement, but “our funding levels . . . mean we are protected. Even if we have no income for two months, we would be financially safe.”

Oh look did the klaxon go off at remoaner HQ.

I can't see any reasonable EU country wanting to cause a diplomatic storm by refusing to allow a group of children to return home to their families. It would cause havoc and be all over the news

Hmm it seems that the U.K. has no issue at all of separating children from their parent actually (remember the child who ended stranded in Belgium wo his parents? Or the numerous families tore apart where one parent is ‘sent back home’ whilst the other parent and the dcs are british so ‘can stay here’).
Why is it never an issue when the people treated like this are ‘foreigners’ but always is an issue when the people affected are british (or English?)??

Having said that, the issue isn’t that a country would stop british children to get back home. The issue is if they end up in a country illegally because they were supposed to have a visa and haven’t....
Or if transport system just don’t work. For ANYONE.

They wont need visas. Don't be stupid

I didn't say they would! My concern is that if there is no transport after a no deal Brexit they won't be able to get home. Nothing to do with visas or countries keeping them hostage. Simple practicalities.

Having said that, the issue isn’t that a country would stop british children to get back home. The issue is if they end up in a country illegally because they were supposed to have a visa and haven’t....

Is this a suggestion that the DCs could end up being incarcerated

There are two issues to consider in the event of No Deal:

1. Open Skies - i.e. planes into and out of the UK all cease on 29th March if there is no replacement Agreement for Open Skies. Of course the EU and UK want planes to keep flying, but at some point the negotiators run out of time, leaving a period of limbo during which some sort of temporary agreement has to be put in place. Ryanair believe that this would result something like 3 weeks of disruption. www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/ryanair-cheap-affordable-flights-hard-brexit-uk-how-long-eu-a8588186.html (Coach travel and Eurostar would also be impacted - e.g. UK coaches and their drivers would no longer be licensed or insured to operate in Europe).

2. Visas - France has issued draft legislation for No Deal today. It quite clearly states that UK citizens become Third Country citizens on 29th March, and would therefore need a visa to enter France (and this would be replicated by all of the Schengen countries in Europe). Again, this might not be something that would be in place overnight.

I am not predicting that any of this will happen, but posters on MN who dismiss people's genuine fears about the impact of a No Deal Brexit need to at least be aware that both issues are the logical and legal consequences of Brexit.

I can't see any reasonable EU country wanting to cause a diplomatic storm by refusing to allow a group of children to return home to their families

They won't. What will happen in the event of No Deal (and no interim arrangements being in place) is that all travel will cease from around 25th March until a temporary agreement is put in place. People with return journeys planned for after 29th March will either need to return before then, or not make the outward trip at all. Travel companies will not risk having their staff, pilots, drivers, planes and coaches, and passengers stranded in Europe on 29th March.

@ginghambox so what exactly did the unicorns tell you about how it's all going to be fine? Because so far you've provided no counterevidence for anything anyone has said on this thread.

This just goes go show how we all take foreign travel for granted doesn't it it? The idea that people might not be able to go on holiday abroad next year, and I mean anywhere abroad not just within Europe, is unthinkable. But it could very well happen.

Do people not read or listen to the news?

If there’s no deal, then international travel will ground to a halt. Why are so many struggling with this concept?

People with children will be most affected as they usually book early for free places or peak holiday times, people who can travel anytime can just go somewhere later in the year at short notice, and if it means getting a visa or paying a bit more so be it.