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

[45redballoon]

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?

I personally have abandoned all thoughts of going abroad this year as my husband is shielding. Just not worth the risk.

What if you accidentally give your parents the virus ? Not worth it imo you'd never forgive yourself if you unintentionally got your parents very ill or for forbid the worst happened , flights and airports are germy anyway and you still have to hand over your passport ext if you drive and there's No way you could drive all that way without stopping too many risks and also it's so unknown right now what will be next which in my opinion is a second peak , keep you and your family safe OP I know it's utterly shi t not seeing your parents my dad's 10 numbers away and I haven't seen him in 9/10 weeks and we are both shielding so I can't even stand on a field with him , we are all in the same boat it will pass and we can all be with our families again but now sadly is not the time xxx

minutes not numbers 😂 x

I can only assume you smoked a lot of crack prior to coming up with this idea.

Your mother is in a vunurable group with a degenerative condition. I know you're keen to see her with your children but this would be a very bad idea this year. If she was to get Corona it would be a very serious for her. People can have Corona with no symptoms but meanwhile they are passing it on to people.
Also the majority of Europe are bringing in laws regarding flights into their countries.

Nobody knows what the situation will be by then.

Would you be heading for a major airport or a one or two flights a day place?

I would be tempted to just keep an eye on flight prices for now and see, but l think it’s too early to make a final decision on whether to go. In addition, the flight might not operate anyway.

Travel insurance is unlikely to cover you, if you ended up not going, could you afford to take a hit on the money?

My DD has booked the shuttle at a very reasonable price with the option of changing the date within the next year. If they are allowed to come to France this summer (which I doubt) they will isolate for a week before and then drive here without stopping, which is possible with the distance involved. We have a cottage in the garden and our grandchildren are teenagers, so we can manage the risks.
I think it is impossible to know at this stage, but a flexible ticket might be an option for you?

Leeds you say?

The reality is that we don't know yet what the situation will be in August.

I know it feels like a lifetime, but even 3 months ago, things were so different in the UK. It's impossible for anyone to tell you whether you will be able to fly to France or not in August.

I'd do a last minute flight depending on the situation nearer the time. It may be that the airlines will have more information on being covid safe. My dsis, who's 70 shortly, has said she's not using the tube again. I think that the concern is a second outbreak as people get back to.work using public transport and move round the country on holiday.

Would it be possible to go later in the year?

@missclimpson, off topic : are you a Dorothy L Sayers fan? I'm just reading that one.

Yes I am Footle. 😀

If you look at the covid projections for the uk and france we should be over the first wave by august with very few cases and deaths. This may of course change and there may be a second wave. I would wait until nearer the time to decide but there is some hope.
covid19.healthdata.org/united-kingdom

@missclimpson, pleased to meet you. Don't think I can do a private message on my phone but will post in Books in case you'd like to discuss.
Sorry OP. I'm in the "decide later" camp.

See you there Footle. 😊
OP I think you need flexible plans in place and then do a personal risk assessment nearer the time. It is clear that the government here want to save the tourist industry by encouraging the French to holiday in France. I suspect any decision to encourage others to come will depend on the circulation of the virus in that country.

Yes thanks everyone I will hold fire for now on this and re asses the situation in a month. But I do agree it looks unlikely to happen. To big of a worry because my mum is in a vulnerable group.

@45redballoon If it's any consolation, I live abroad and am really worried that I will not see my parents. It's not the same as being in the same country despite the fact that for many it feels no different to be 15 minutes away and not be able to visit as it does to be 15 hours away.

France are only letting UK people who normally reside in France enter. Not just anyone who fancies it. Thanks definitely would not risk it.