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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Getting back to the UK from the Canary Islands

70 replies

Japanesejazz · 22/03/2020 03:05

Jet2 have been amazing today
Ryanair sent their prayers after cancelling all their flights
AIBU to think it would have been better if they had sent a fucking aeroplane?

OP posts:

rookiemere · 22/03/2020 08:54

To be fair to those who went abroad recently, it's only this week that the government has stepped up their message, last week it was all about washing your hands and encouraging your gran to stay home.

I was meant to go skiing last Thursday for a long weekend- feels like a lifetime ago - and after great debate with my friend we decided not to go. I am a bit ashamed now that I even considered going ( mainly because I didn't want to lose the money I'd spent) -my main reason for cancelling at that point was I didn't want to get stuck in France - but this is to illustrate how serious this has become so quickly.

bigbluebus · 22/03/2020 08:58

We were due to fly to an island holiday destination 6 hrs away a week ago. There were no reported cases there at the time. The official advice was still to travel. But we didn't go. We will not get our £3800 back as it will be classed as 'declination to travel'. Our reason for not going was the very real fear of having to be isolated in our hotel or being stuck on the island - which has no hospital and very limited healthcare of any kind. 2 days after we shoukd have gone the official advice changed. But guess what - 3 people have now been confirmed as having Covid 19 on the island - at least 1 (but probably all) are tourists. The tourists are all worrying about how/when they are going to get home. The locals are scared sh*tless about what the disease is going to do to them and their 3rd World services. And all because people put their need for a sun holiday and stuffing their faces with food and alcohol before the lives of others. And as my DH says - you haven't 'lost ' the money, you've just lost a holiday, the money was spent months ago and you wouldn't havd had it this week whatever you'd done.
And don't get me started on the fact thag TUI are seemingly going to cram all these people into as few planes as possible over the next few days and unleash them and their potential infectious state back into the UK.

Ukholidaysaregreat · 22/03/2020 09:00

Harsh comments. This covid has escalated very quickly. Some people have 1 or 2 month holidays at this time of year so would have flown out before much was being made of this situation.

Original poster

Japanesejazz · 22/03/2020 09:02

At no point did I say I had been on holiday
The Canary Islands are not somewhere I would wish to visit
I do think airlines should be bringing their customers home
Not abandoning them because they don't want to send an empty aeroplane out

OP posts:

Lynda07 · 22/03/2020 09:03

I'm glad you're home, op, but can't help wondering why you went and you are actually very fortunate to be able to get home.

My son had to come home from France, where he had been working in various places and had more dates booked, maybe three weeks ago, can't quite remember. He and colleagues had to return, all future dates cancelled. One member is staying with him because cannot return home to America, was allowed to come here but doesn't know when will be able to go back home. They are making the best of it, not going out or seeing anyone though son has driven to supermarket late in the evening for any essentials he can pick up and has delivered things, including medicine, to people but only talking to them through half opened door or window. He does that with me ; however my point is his friend is stuck here. The op and husband could have been stuck in the Canaries! I cannot understand them even being there in the first place, it was hardly sensible.

Lynda07 · 22/03/2020 09:04

Ah well if you weren't on holiday, op, that puts a different complexion on it, it did look as though you'd been off on your jollies before you said that.

Relax now and stay at home.

rookiemere · 22/03/2020 09:12

And yes Livelovebehappy airlines and travel agents are playing a game of chicken with their customers.

When France was locked down 2 days after we decided not to go, I asked the tour company if they'd reconsider giving us any refund as clearly us not going was the correct decision and presumably they would get some money back from the ski passes included in the price. Their answer was that the customers who were there had enjoyed 2 days skiing so no they wouldn't give us anything- even a discount on next year would have made me a bit happier.

Also have a number of flights booked with Ryanair later this year and I assume we will lose our money in those as they'll only cancel if they have no other choice. I have a friend who works at the airport she says that over the last few days repatriation flights have been flooding in from Istanbul and Northern Italy . No temperature checks nothing - the airport hotels should be repurposed as isolation stations for these people.

Darbs76 · 22/03/2020 09:14

It didn’t escalate quickly. We knew 2wks ago this was coming. How long ago was it the cruise ship passengers were locked up? Ages ago. Totally irresponsible to go on holiday at this time, puts so much pressure on the FCO trying to get people back. Fair enough if been to visit sick relatives but to sit on a beach in the middle of Covid-19. Absolutely ridiculous. I’d have lost the money before taking the decision to leave the UK 2wks ago

Mixitupalot · 22/03/2020 09:22

@B1rds0ngs519 is a running commentary of stupidly! The rest of us are absolutely shocked that society makes these uninformed arrogant choices. This is why cases will continue to spread, social distancing won’t work & sooner hopefully than later Boris will declare a full lock down.

I despair at the society we live in 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

FATEdestiny · 22/03/2020 09:23

Are Ryan Air customers in The Canary Isles coming home on Jet2 flights?

There's a family in my community who are stuck in The Canaries. I dont know them but theyre posting on all the Spotted: community pages asking for help.

I'm worried about them. They need kindness.

Lynda07 · 22/03/2020 09:28

Darbs, the op wasn't in the Canaries on holiday, she has said so. I don't know what she was doing there, possibly there on a job.

Original poster

Japanesejazz · 22/03/2020 09:36

Just to make it perfectly clear
I have NOT ever been to the Canary Islands

OP posts:

bottlenose301 · 22/03/2020 09:51

I don't think it's selfish to have flown anyway after January. I flew to Spain in Feb for a week and the CV wasn't a massive issue in Europe at this time. The biggest issue at that time were the storms which impacted us getting home.

However 4 days after I got home (mid feb) I had flu like symptoms and was bed bound for about 5 days. Doctors weren't concerned as I hadn't been to Wuhan...! No one else I was with caught anything from me so I don't think I had CV.

Anyone flying since March is irresponsible though as CV had really started to take hold in Europe by then.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 22/03/2020 09:57

Anyone flying from March is irresponsible and selfish. Even if you didn't get the money back, you'd already paid it anyway so it makes no difference. Yes it's disappointing but there is a bloody pandemic going on. Use some common sense.

heartsonacake · 22/03/2020 10:34

There's a family in my community who are stuck in The Canaries. I'm worried about them. They need kindness.

FATEdestiny If they had any kindness about them they wouldn’t have gone on holiday during this at all. They’ve put themselves and others at risk by doing so, and didn’t even care until they realised how much it impacted them because they can’t get back.

It was made clear people could get stuck if they chose to fly out. That was their decision and they took that risk. Now they’re seeing the consequences.

You don’t need to worry about them; they didn’t worry about anyone else when they jetted off.

Obviouspretzel · 22/03/2020 10:40

What a shitty attitude. You could offer some kind words you know. Sometimes people do stupid things. Don't make out that you never have.

FATEdestiny · 22/03/2020 10:55

That judgemental and mean attitude is EVERYWHERE at the moment.

I've done stupid things in the past.
Made mistakes.
It's no reason to not be kind.

I'm not Christian but am so feeling the concept of "Let he without sin cast the first stone" right now.

B1rds0ngs519 · 22/03/2020 11:30

The country where I am
The markets are still open
Some restaurants are open
Some tourist places have only shut today
So the lock down has only just started

AlanBrazil · 22/03/2020 11:41

Just to make it perfectly clear
I have NOT ever been to the Canary Islands

Why is your thread title about getting back from the Canary Islands?

Marnie76 · 25/03/2020 07:39

Is this a riddle? Or is it someone you know that you wanted to get back from the Canary Islands?

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