Would you go abroad by plane over the summer?

[Sundiamond]

Assuming that the government will do yet another U-turn over travel quarantine on return to the UK, would you get a flight to say, Portugal for a holiday over the summer? I'm just curious how many would etc.

No.

We postponed our August fights today☹️...not keen on the idea of airport hassle etc and then we were going to be using a lot of public facilities (not a villa with own pool hol) and just can’t face the hassle...it’s enough bother learning and adhering to the dos and don’ts here!!

There is no amount of money or any other persuasion that would get me to another country by any means, or onto a plane anywhere. It was people travelling from country to country that spread this wretched virus everywhere.

Agree @yourwinter

Yes
Dropping kids to see their other
Parents. and might stay for a few days , then back to get them end of summer

If you are prepared to go, why?? I would love to know

Kids haven’t seen their parent for 6 months
Where they are going they have more freedom than here and a family who aren’t working FT 5 days a week

I’m bricking it a bit

We're booked to go in August. We have travel insurance which covers us, (from a policy held well before lockdown) and are all in the low risk category.

I wouldn't fancy going on an all inclusive holiday until this has all blown over but we plan to get to where we're going and avoid crowds. It's the flight that's the riskiest bit really.

There is no way I would get in a metal tube with recirculated air at the moment.

Nannyogg, I thought this about the air con on planes but this American article says many planes air circulation is actually very good now. Obviously fresh air would be better!

“The good news is that airline aircraft air circulation is very good," says Wu, "and it is constantly being filtered and circulated."

Most aircraft used by U.S. airlines use high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration systems. "This type of air filter can theoretically remove at least 99.97% of dust, pollen, mold, bacteria and any airborne particles with a size of 0.3 microns," the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says. "Particles that are larger or smaller are trapped with even higher efficiency."

The CDC says, "Because of how air circulates and is filtered on airplanes, most viruses and other germs do not spread easily."

But those air filters are not going to protect you from a sneeze that lands right on you.”

No, I wouldn't take my kids through an airport until we are vaccinated. I'm not that desperate to go ok holiday , there is loads of great stuff to do in the UK or pop the car on a ferry and head to northern Europe.

So so yes.

What happens with test and trace (or the equivalent) if you are on holiday? What happens if you are picked up as a contact with someone who tests positive eg at a restaurant, how would you self isolate, and what if that takes you over the end of your holiday?

I'd be with my parents, so if they get a call then I'd isolate with them at their house. If that took me over the end of my holiday I'd reschedule the flight. I work for myself from wherever I am, so I'd just work from their house.

I would go, but I enjoy my job too much.

Yes, I've just booked a flight for September. I'm going 'home', so not really a holiday as such but I'll be going to the beach hopefully and bars etc.

I hate flying with a passion, but I'm hoping that the flight will at least be quieter. I'm also pretty confident about the low risk whilst on an aircraft. I used to think that it was all circulated air and, but I've been reading up on the air quality on a plane and was surprised to hear that the air is of very good quality.

poo The simple fact is you have autonomy in a classroom, in the unlikely event you can see a child becoming sick in your class, you have the power and right to send them home. If someone falls ill sitting right next to you on a plane, or starts coughing behind you, you have to just sit there as you are thousand of miles up in the sky. The longer the flight, the more exposure you are risking.

I expect schools to encourage social distancing where possible, this is impossible on a packed flight.

I don't think you can compare the two, nor do I think we should derail the thread with another moan about schools. There are enough threads you can join to do that!

Was supposed to go abroad last month, looking at October - December for travelling if things calm down enough or vaccine is in place. Otherwise it will be next year.

yes, I booked 2 weeks ago for July. We are seeing my parents though whom we haven't been able to see for a long time because of Covid.

I don’t believe the research saying it is safe to fly. IMO sponsored by the airline industry.

@Sundiamond your concern about aeroplane air quality is unfounded, just do a quick Google www.tripsavvy.com/air-quality-during-your-flight-54164

Our August flights are going ahead (for now anyway) so we don't really want to lose our money. We are not in a hotel and are happy to abide by the local self distancing rules.

No because flights are being allowed for economic reasons not because it is safe to do so.

No way am I getting on a plane until I'm vaccinated

Most aircraft used by U.S. airlines use high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration systems.

Just for clarity it's perhaps worth pointing out there's nothing special about the filtering of US airlines aircraft, most airliners worldwide have HEPA filters installed as part of the air conditioning system. Also Boeing (and I think Airbus) issued extra advice at the start on all this to emphasise the need for crews to have the A/C systems running prior to passenger boarding and until after passengers had disembarked. This was to ensure positive air/flow ventilation through the cabins and over the filters for as long as possible.

Compare and contrast with tube/metro/bus etc.

Contact with surface contamination is of course another matter and a risk factor pretty much anywhere on any. journey

We have a villa booked at the end of August in Sicily. As long as we can go to to the markets/supermarkets and there is no quarantine on return or arrival, we are going. That is also if Italy open their borders to us again.

We are currently in a holiday resort in Italy, a campsite. Not much in the way of masks apart from in shops and by reception. Seaside just as normal. No mini club, fair enough. Restaurants are by reservation only. But it feels exactly as normal really. It's fantastic. I feel like I get a week's pass to forget Covid!! I do understand why the idea of a plane would be off-putting, as is all public transport right now. Channel tunnel is an option. We live in Italy and just drove here. The actual resorts are lovely right now. Places that are usually packed are deserted. No problems with queues for ice creams or booking restaurants at all.

I suspect the people who will go will be the same people who went to beauty spots/shops at the first opportunity and were photographed ignoring social distancing whilst queuing. These are not the people I want to be travelling alongside.