Coronavirus: might need a head wobble

[alliejay81]

MIL is currently in Australia. She's due to come home via Hong Kong later this week. Hong Kong is very much in a grey area Coronavirus wise. Officially it is still ok to travel there, but, some airlines are giving full refunds, cruise ships won't dock there and it's not exactly far from mainland China.

We (DH and I) think she should consider her options but she is adamant we should pick her up on Saturday as planned.

The reasons I'm particularly concerned are:

1. she's in her seventies which puts her personally at higher risk (although I accept she has autonomy over her own life and therefore I'm less worried about this).
2. she has a very sick relative, and I'm not convinced she will self-isolate from them
3. we're going away to visit my DSIS and the rest of my family straight for a few days after we've done the airport and DSIS is pregnant- which generally makes you higher risk for everything

AIBU to think she needs at least phone her airline and insurance company? And WIBU to refuse to pick her up from the airport? I'm really not keen on this DH is more willing to refuse (and probably more annoyed with her), but I don't want to miss out on a family event because she won't change her flights! Or does anyone have a good idea how to persuade her to phone the airline???!

Is she getting off the plane and staying in HK overnight or is it a stop to refuel?

Sorry, she'll be getting off. Not sure how long for, she doesn't like to rush so I'd guess it would be 4-5 hours. Then on another flight with people who've been in HK for several hours.

What are you suggesting she does? Change her stopover destination so she doesn't have to fly via Hong Hong?

She will be fine. I speak to my colleagues in HK every day. The precautions that are being taken there to prevent this virus spreading are the most strict of any place. The HK people are very educated about germs etc after SARS. No one who isn’t flying can enter the airport, all flights to the mainland are suspended and all staff will be wearing protective clothing. The airline won’t do anything and this situation could last for months. You need to calm down and get some perspective.

I live in Hong Kong and just had my own mum fly back to the UK last week. She was absolutely fine. As the previous poster has said the airport is on high alert and are taking every precaution to limit the spread. I would just suggest that she remains vigilant and makes sure that she washes her hands regularly. Most travellers are wearing face masks too which would also be a good idea.
To be honest she would face the same risk transferring through places like Singapore.

I think there's a difference between minimising a risk in a situation you have to be in and not increasing your risk needlessly. Given there are airlines refunding flights, it must be worth considering whether it is possible to switch route to going via Dubai etc?

BA and Virgin are making full refunds for flights to HK, so it's not entirely true that the airline won't do anything.

Her travel insurance won’t be made invalid unless there were warnings to not travel there - she can’t just change her flight either unless the flight was cancelled or airline was no longer doing that route because been warned to no longer stop over there!

I think you are being very ott!!

It would be absolute chaos if everyone was trying to change their flight.

Your overthinking it - will likely all be fine :)

To be fair, one of my dd's classmates is in Singapore this week. A family member of his was also visiting from Singapore last week. I'm concerned but not panicked. DS has a.poor immune system due to some sort of undiagnosed medical issue. I'm not sure whether to be worried

I don't think you should try and get her to change her plans if she won't - if she wants to go via HK that's up to her and I wouldn't bother trying to change her mind if she's completely set on it. However, equally you don't have to pick her up from the airport. Instead of saying she should change her flight say you won't now pick her up as you feel there are some health risks and would she like a taxi arranged for her.

The airlines are not refunding flights to Hong Kong - have just checked! Says it’s still safe to travel there!

I think you are overreacting. People are flying over day and airports and airlines are taking the necessary precautions.

Refusing to collect her from the airport would be very childish.

You’re being ott. Go and get her.

Given the UK situation I suspect landing in Hong Kong is probably ok

Personally I think you are reasonable.

My company (big multinational) have stopped all travel to Hong Kong and flown back everyone who was there.

Why risk it!? She should definitely try to change to Dubai.

Personally I was quite happy for my mum to take the risk on her flight when she did rather than delaying it (something we did consider). I was more worried about her delaying then getting stuck here indefinitely as more airlines start to cancel routes and it becomes more widespread.

If her airline are giving refunds or rerouting options then it would be sensible to take them up on the offer however minimal she perceives the risk to be however if the airline she’s flying are running as timetabled it could cost her a fortune to amend her ticket or wise still to have to book a one way fair from Australia.

If she is doggedly digging her heels in and not willing to even look at the possibilities which might be on offer I would probably tell her to make her own way home from the airport or book her a taxi if you feel that would soften the situation. It’s not really for her to determine if your concerns over Coronavirus are valid or not - she has her opinion and you have yours and will act accordingly. She gets to make her choice on how much of a threat it poses but also has to respect that in turn you do too.