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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To buy flights to France for late August? (To take my children to see my parents)

43 replies

45redballoon · 15/05/2020 21:11

Is this ridiculously optimistic about how things will be regarding travel in August? My mum is also in a vulnerable group and has a degenerative illness... we were supposed to go and stay in March but obviously that didnt happen.
They live very rurally in southern France so they are pretty safe out there.... is it madness to try and see them this year?
I keep changing my mind about it... obviously they really want to see their grandchildren this year but equally I do not want to make my mother any sicker than she is. Two years ago she came over for christmas caught the flu and got pneumonia from that... so I'm very scared about COVID for her.
And surely aeroplanes are just filthy arent they? If you were going to get COVID from anywhere it would be there.
We wouldnt be flying from london if that makes any difference... probably leeds.
Should I just let go of the idea of seeing them this summer?

OP posts:
OublietteBravo · 15/05/2020 21:13

Just be aware that the government seem to have changed their position on France and quarantine:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52682411

Ylvamoon · 15/05/2020 21:16

I wouldn't...

Original poster
45redballoon · 15/05/2020 21:20

I'd just be going to my parents house so the kids can spend time with them...so quarentining there would be no problem... my main worry is that its possibly a stupid thing to do and would put my mum at risk? But then also she wont have seen her grandchildren for two years if we leave it till next summer!

OP posts:
Ofitck · 15/05/2020 21:21

Couldn't you drive if you must go? I drive from Spain to uk frequently with children and find it much less stressful than flying. You wouldn't need to get out of your car so would be safer.

OublietteBravo · 15/05/2020 21:24

You’d have to quarantine when you returned to the U.K. too. Can you manage the requisite 4 weeks of quarantine? (Or longer if anyone shows symptoms).

Original poster
45redballoon · 15/05/2020 21:24

I'd be terrified of driving! Wed have to stop over night and constantly at service stations... we live in the north of england so wed have to drive across the uk and then right across to the south of France. We have driven before a few times but it's a mammoth journey with my 1yo and my 4yo. And with the COVID risk idve thought it would be out of the question? Especially if they are saying you need to quarantine for 14 days when you get into france... if that's the case we would have to fly direct in order to quarantine at my parents house.

OP posts:
QueSera · 15/05/2020 21:28

Personally I wouldn't. Everything is too unknown

Original poster
45redballoon · 15/05/2020 21:29

We live rurally and I'm a stahm so quarentining isnt a massive issue... my husband has been working from home too..... my main issue is how safe it is? Part of me is thinking thered not be much risk really... travelling from an area with very low number of cases to an area with absolutely no cases via an airport that isnt a london airport... but then another part of me thinks any airport is a big risk?
Maybe I should wrote it off... it's just obviously very sad for my children and my parents... 2 years is a big chunk out of their lives when they are that small... we had planned to have a few weeks together in march and they were going to come over here too before the end of the summer but weve had to completely re think all of that.

OP posts:
maresydoats · 15/05/2020 21:29

OH FFS, France (Macron) has said UK travellers can enter France with no restrictions.

What is the problem then?

ie.ambafrance.org/COVID-19-Restrictions-on-entering-Metropolitan-France-and-its-territorial

majesticallyawkward · 15/05/2020 21:31

If commercial/non-essential air travel is going ahead by then surely it's still not a good idea given your mums health. Even with empty seats on planes the air is circulated so if anyone had CV you're exposed.

As things are now, it's not worth it. Who knows what the position will be in August, but I doubt it will be that much better.

underneaththeash · 15/05/2020 21:31

I don’t think there is going to be a 14 day quarantine for France.
I’d drive too. Take it in turns with your husband to drive.
Planes are a breeding ground of germs at the best of times.

bridgetreilly · 15/05/2020 21:41

I would wait until nearer the time to decide. See what the situation is in a month or two.

Original poster
45redballoon · 15/05/2020 21:46

@bridgetreilly yeah I think you are right... it might become far more obvious whether it's completely stupid or not next month. It's just so hard not to be able to plan things but I guess everyone is dealing with that issue right now.

OP posts:
HeadSpin5 · 15/05/2020 22:19

The stance on quarantine for travellers to france has changed late today, it seems. Freight drivers won’t have to, to keep supplies coming in/out but other travellers will.

HeadSpin5 · 15/05/2020 22:21

Though OP regardless of quarantine, which it seems you could manage, I wouldn’t book tbh. Too much uncertainty and I would also be worried about your mum being so vulnerable, too risky for her in my eyes. Shame though

Daphnise · 15/05/2020 22:24

I think you are extremely unwise to even contemplate this- and possibly selfish too.

Womble65 · 15/05/2020 22:28

I thought there was some study of a flight steward with corona and they tracked all passengers and that none showed signs and that maybe planes weren’t as bad as first thought ?

Do your parents have land/big garden? Could you fly and then camp in their garden for 2 weeks so they could see the children and then spend a week in the house if you have not shown symptoms?

0gfhty · 15/05/2020 22:29

If you can get cheap flights or are wealthy enough you could buy the flights and decide later. It does sound risky to your mum if you drive or fly so I personally wouldn't things being as they stand now.
Having said that It's awful not to see your mum and I would fly somewhere just to talk to my mum from the doorstep!

HauntedGoatFart · 15/05/2020 22:32

It might be possible and it might be impossible, it's too soon to know.

Surely your 4yo is due to be starting school though, so if the return quarantine is still in place, you'd need to factor that in.

apapuchi · 15/05/2020 22:42

Depending on the airline you could probably buy the tickets for then and if circumstances dictate travel isn't allowed you could then change the date to later. This would require investigation but is something to consider, if you're not in a position to lose the money. I feel for you, and hope you can see them soon.

DreamingofSunshine · 15/05/2020 22:50

How do your parents feel about it?

Original poster
45redballoon · 15/05/2020 22:59

To answer some questions
My parents do have lots of land and they also have a cottage hey own adjacent to their house which we usually stay in when we come anyway... however theres no way we can take the kids there and stop them touching my parents that's not realistic. But they wont be in the same building.

My 4yo is already in reception.. well homes schooling at the moment obviously

My parents go back and forth on it like we do.... they were saying they were going to try and come here in august but theres absolutely no way I'd be comfortable with that due to the risk. Obviously they want to see their grandchildren but are also worried... so I'd say they were in the same state about it as me tbh.

OP posts:
BarbedBloom · 15/05/2020 23:16

I suspect we will also be in and out of lockdown as cases rise and fall so can you also take the risk of being stuck there? I just wouldn't risk it to be honest. My mum is shielding, as am I and I have no idea when we will see each other again but I couldn't live with the consequences if something did happen

amijustparanoidorjuststoned · 15/05/2020 23:18

Love that people are still asking this.

Sorry OP, but this is an extremely unwise idea. You've only got to read the news for 2 minutes to understand why. There are very few commercial flights anywhere at the minute.

If you are still wanting to go nearer the time, maybe look at some last minute options. Again, if there are any available.

1300cakes · 16/05/2020 00:43

Can you tentatively book it in in your own diary then book closer to the day? The flight isn't likely to be sold out.

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