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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To book Orlando for this September because its cheap?

260 replies

Freestyleletsgo · 09/08/2020 10:22

British Airways is insisting that it will be flying to Orlando on the 1st September however right know the US will only allow international arrivals into 12 airports and Orlando isn't currently one of them.
We usually go to Orlando every year anyway.
Staying onsite and the parks have massively reduced capacity.

OP posts:
amusedbush · 10/08/2020 11:18

@KitchenConfidential

The problem with getting refunds from BA is you have to speak to them and their phone lines are so busy/under staffed it’s taking days to get through.
We were booked to go to London for my 30th in May (booked back in November last year). It was obviously cancelled and it took me two attempts to get through and very short time on hold.

We optimistically rebooked for the 7th August but this was cancelled too. I got straight through, was on hold for less than 10 mins and my refund was in my PayPal two days later.

KitchenConfidential · 10/08/2020 11:52

LOL I just tried BA again and can’t even get into a hold queue Grin

SoupDragon · 10/08/2020 12:33

@Thecobwebsarewinning

I rang BA for a refund on August 1st. I had to wait about 20 minutes to get connected to a human being but after that the refund was very straightforward. I had a email confirming cancellation and refund whilst still on the line and the money was back in my bank by the afternoon of August 3rd.
That was pretty much my experience too. I just had the phone on speaker whilst doing other stuff and waited for a person to take my call.
ajandjjmum · 10/08/2020 15:31

@KitchenConfidential

LOL I just tried BA again and can’t even get into a hold queue Grin
Apparently their service provider cuts off the link when the queue is over an hour. Happened to me a number of times on Friday - first when they cancelled DD's flights to Rome on Thursday, and then they cancelled our flight to Sydney in December. Currently have the flight back, but not the flight out! BA do not love their customers!
ajandjjmum · 10/08/2020 15:32

Have to say - for all my moans - the actual staff when you get through to them, are really nice and helpful. Just that they aren't authorized to resolve situations. Or not in the way that I would like!

GabsAlot · 10/08/2020 17:31

ironically just had my ba flight to vegas cancelled-they said to make it easier theyre processing a refund automatically-maybe they just started doing this

sad i wont be going was a special anniversary but it wouldnt have been fun anyway

Puzzledandpissedoff · 10/08/2020 17:48

ironically just had my ba flight to vegas cancelled-they said to make it easier theyre processing a refund automatically-maybe they just started doing this

That's interesting - my 9 September flight to Orlando has also been cancelled today, but there was nothing about an automatic refund

Maybe it depends on the date it was booked (mine was ages ago) so it looks as if I'll be sitting on the phone!!

pollymere · 10/08/2020 17:54

Even cheaper to fly into Tampa. It's very near Disney but doesn't have the Orlando premium.

cherish123 · 10/08/2020 18:14

That's a mad idea. US is covid hotspot and, as it's such a big country, I don't see that changing any time soon. I think you risk it being cancelled. You would have to quarantine on return.

hross42877 · 10/08/2020 18:15

Are they flying? My 26th September flight from Gatwick to Orlando has been cancelled, BA emailed and said they were refunding the deposit.

FelicisNox · 10/08/2020 18:27

@Thunderlights the comments are not rude, they are to the point and just because lobbying is occurring doesn't mean it will be successful.

The OP is seriously looking at 4 weeks out of school for her kids if quarantine is enforced (not to mention their jobs) and the US is one of the hardest hit.

The only rude person on this thread is you. You are deliberately giving @Freestyleletsgo bad advice because you are also doing the wrong thing.

It's embarrassingly transparent and morally bankrupt IMO. The whole planet is in the midst of a global pandemic and we don't yet know how C-19 will interact with other illnesses, some of us who work in healthcare are seeing an unpleasant evolution in this disease and it's not to be trifled with.

This whole conversation is selfish and tasteless. It's because of people like you doing as you please that we can't get rid of this bloody disease.

OP the risks to your health and finances outweigh the benefits and if you seriously don't see the issue then along with your mate you need to give your moral compass a wobble.

YankeeinKingArthursCourt · 10/08/2020 18:38

As others have said, you will not be allowed to fly into the US on a British passport (& ESTA Visa waiver holders) as simply British "holiday makers". You can travel from the UK to the US with a US citizen ( or resident) as immediate family members, but you will still need to quarantine for 14 days in the US. If you attempt to fly as simply a British holiday maker you will have your ESTA Visa revoked ( & it'll be difficult to reapply in the future).

Yes BA (& other airlines) are selling flights from the UK to the US, but only for people who are legally allowed to fly.

purplebunny2012 · 10/08/2020 18:41

I notice Thunderlights finally shut up after everyone pointed out you can't fly to the US as a British citizen. I guess they realised they won't be going in October, either.
Crazy, the pair of them

Violinist64 · 10/08/2020 18:54

I thought we were not accepting flights to and from the USA. Even if we are, why on earth would you want to go to the worst affected country in the world where cases are rising exponentially? Is the fortnight's quarantine worth it? I cannot believe that the previous thread was about worrying about the really very small risk of children returning to school and you want to go on holiday to the USA potentially catching the virus and infecting the flight crew and all the other passengers as well as being a risk while you are in quarantine. Words fail me.

sleepwhenidie · 10/08/2020 18:55

The comments about Orlando having an R rate of less than 1...do you imagine everyone else in the theme park is from Orlando? Or maybe Hmm....they will actually be from loads of other states where you have no idea of the R rate or number of infections. And you have to look at the two together - current infection rate in Florida is around 2 in every 100 people, if the R rate is 1 then in theory each of them will infect 1 person a day on average-so that is the risk you need to consider, not just R rate in isolation. Again, it won’t just be Floridians there.

DreamTheMoors · 10/08/2020 18:56

I’m in America.

Please trust me when I say THIS IS THE LAST PLACE YOU WANT TO COME TO!!!!!

America is a deadly, dangerous place right now.

SurroundedByIdiotsEverywhere · 10/08/2020 19:08

You didn't mention ages... Are they school age? If yes then YABU and will be liable for fines etc if they were meant to be back... If pre school age then YANBU ... Just cover up in enclosed spaces, planes, hotel shared areas...

guilttripjourno · 10/08/2020 19:14

Go for it. Your choice.

Parker231 · 10/08/2020 19:16

@guilttripjourno - how will they be able to go when non essential travel from the UK to the US isn’t happening.

SurroundedByIdiotsEverywhere · 10/08/2020 19:16

The only other downside I can see is that who else is travelling with the party, what plans do you have in place if you are unlucky and an/the adult(s) get ill, what happens with child care in a foreign country away from family & friends who could help?

Disney World etc is amazing BTW!

MrsBadcrumble123 · 10/08/2020 19:22

Wow there are some nasty people on here!! If you feel ok going then go. It’s an election year in US so I’d pretty much ignore any MSN.

PeterWeg · 10/08/2020 19:30

Amazing how people don't understand this;

Entry rules in response to coronavirus (COVID-19)
Entry to USA
Since 16 March, it is not possible for many British nationals to enter the USA if they have been in the UK, Ireland, Schengen zone, Iran, Brazil, or China within the previous 14 days.

www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/usa/entry-requirements

You are not allowed to enter the USA.

amispeakingenglish · 10/08/2020 19:33

more money than sense. Plus there are far nicer places to go

Rumbletumbleinmytummy · 10/08/2020 19:37

Its your decision, but I don't see it happening in all honesty.
I had a booking for Octo er to Orlando, which has been cancelled.
I have a booking for December too, which i expect will either be cancelled by the airline or me.
I've another booking for Orlando July/Aug 2021. I'm slightly more hopeful that will go ahead.

In truth, I would be avoiding any airports until this is over given the experience we had in Stansted on Friday when we returned from another European country. It was terrible and no such thing as social distancing. I cant imagine what immigration would be like in FL.
I holiday in Florida quite often, but right now I'd not do it myself... even with disneys queues almost non existent

RenoSusan · 10/08/2020 19:43

Florida is the top corona virus state in the US. You don't want to go there. Look up a local paper on Google and see for yourself.