Would you fly to see family over Christmas ?

[christmastree00]

Whilst adhering to local rules of course. Covid Test and quarantine as appropriate as well as sticking to local rules of mixing etc.

I know someone who got married in the Seychelles (she lives in the ME). They tested negative at home. When they landed they were tested again and tested positive.

Exactly my point. A negative test in these circumstances gives people what might be a false sense of security. What a horrible thing to happen

Yeah I arrived back not long ago myself from being abroad. Did the two weeks and all was fine.

don't see this as high risk at all because everyone wears masks and planes are almost empty.

I wouldn’t; but because that hasn’t been my experience. I’ve flown four times this year - once to the Caribbean; once a shorter European flight - and the flights were all full, and there was close people who kept taking their masks off on three of the four, and had to be repeatedly asked by the air hostesses to keep them on. The flight felt like the most risky part of the journey on all occasions...

But it’ll depend who you’re going to see; too. If everyone is in their 30s and healthy, it’d be an easier call than if there are people 60+, or babies, or vulnerable people.

I have unavoidably flown since March, but I wouldn't right now if I'm honest. It will be busy over Christmas, rates are going up in most places and the prospect of the vaccine round the corner is a game changer - it should mean things will be very different within the next few months. That being the case I'd hold on a bit longer.

I think we are at the stage where everyone does whatever they feel comfortable doing. In your situation I would go.

@oiwotaluvlyday

I think we are at the stage where everyone does whatever they feel comfortable doing. In your situation I would go.

And that's why infection rates, illness, hospitalisations and death are going up. Sadly that's what happens when people do what they feel 'comfortable' with.

@Christmassequins it's not against the rules to travel. You just need to stick to the rules. So it's up to you really.

Saying all that, I'm leaning towards not going just because I don't want to deal with the stress and worry.

Yes I would .

Nope, I moved overseas this year, but won't be traveling back to see family. I appreciate that I'm lucky that I have my husband here, so I'm not alone at Christmas. Having said that, I have invited a colleague/friend to mine for Christmas, as she cannot travel home to her see her family. So even if my husband wasn't here (he only joined me here a couple of weeks ago), I'd probably still stick around and have Christmas with her instead - not ideal, but okay for one year.

Then again, I hate traveling at Christmas: the busyness, weather, usual disruption... Add to that Covid and Brexit and I wouldn't travel to/from the UK this Christmas if you paid me!

I thought you were supposed to stick to the rules where you are from if visiting a less restricted area?
But no I wouldn't fly anywhere - airports are not very hygienic, though I think planes are due to masks and air filtration.

@Pipandmum I have researched the rules quite meticulously. I've even called up Heath authorities etc. So I'm aware of how the rules are currently working where I am and where I would go.

It's up to you but don't go thinking the planes will be empty, they're not necessarily as fewer flights are available.
I've flown several times since March (all within rules) both within the UK and to other European countries and have noticed flights getting busier and airport check in takes a long time as they are asking everyone the necessary covid questions.
I've quarantined twice for 2 weeks, not the end of the world as I work from home anyway.

No i wouldn't.

But I also couldn't live happily in another country from my parents/siblings

Yes, reading your circs, I would.

@oiwotaluvlyday

I think we are at the stage where everyone does whatever they feel comfortable doing. In your situation I would go.

Yeah. When you watch people take a piss at bad times while you don't, it's pretty hard to afterwards in better times still keep saying no to yourself.

Are the flights OK, op? Because I've seen some people talking about their Christmas flights being cancelled. That would concern me in terms of getting back

Nope. We are not seeing my Mum (75yo with COPD). Too risky.

Yes, just do it.

I dont think planes are high risk. They have medical grade filters on them. I think there was a good Aer Lingus video on the filtration system if you want to google. Very few instances of transmission on a plane and this was pre mask requirements. I wouldnt expect the plane to be empty though. Some are but lots aren't.

Getting public transport to or from the airport or mixing in the airport is probably more risky but there are mask requirements and you can regularly sanitize. I think it depends on your personal risk acceptance levels and whether you mind not going.

I work in a team where lots of people are happy travelling and have done regularly when rules allow. I havent travelled at all.

No. I live in a different country to my parents, and I won't be travelling. A flight away doesn't just mean the plane but airports both sides, and a negative test means negative at the moment of testing only.

The biggest risk is you taking the virus with you to your parents and giving it to them as a christmas present.

Not this year with Covid 19. Have done in previous years on a few occasions.

No

Just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should.

No. We had considered continuing with our holiday plans, it was all booked last year before this happened.

However I have changed my mind as the numbers are just going up so fast again, on balance my reasons for cancelling are:

• pre test is one thing, but places like the caribbean and other destinations insist on you being tested on arrival as well, you have to wait at the hotel or villa until you are given the green light with a negative test (this is taking up to four days) so you could test positive and have to self isolate for the entire time you are there or be forced to stay in a quarantine camp. No fun at all.

• Healthcare. If you are seriously ill is the healthcare in place to help you recover? In most cases that will not be the case. The most basic hospital treatment is available and no ICU facilities

• Sometimes it is taking up to seven weeks or longer to get a negative test due traces of the virus, so how are you going to get home? Can you stay for as long as two months if the virus stays in your system?

• Some countries like the Maldives take all covid positive cases and their families to a leper island, where you are isolated and treated in very basic conditions. I did not fancy it after looking at the photos. Other countries have quarantine camps. My kids would be really scared. Particularly if we were also very ill.

• You have to have a negative test to come home again, what happens then if you are positive half way through or catch it whilst you are there? Can you afford to stay there for a long period of time?

• Planes are not clean, and they are definitely not covid secure! Due to a lack of social distancing, cabin crew that have contact with thousands of people and can not distance either, and the touch contact with loos, handles and seats etc.

• The stress and the worry would overshadow any enjoyment. I spent a long time checking on Sky news. It was not fun.

• The travel corridors can be withdrawn in a matter of hours, and flights are often cancelled.

• Our friends were flying home from Barbados and without warning the whole flight was cancelled two hours before - they only found out when they arrived at the airport, and then consequently all the following flights, so they couldn't get home. No flight route is currently secure. Some airlines will go bust soon, and you may get stranded.

• If your kids are ill with covid, is their adequate childcare and help for you there?

• Can you quarantine for ten days after if the corridor is changed?

• Can you live with yourself if you infect locals, and whole villages? This was the final reason to stay for me. I feel very responsible for the poorly serviced countries that have so little medical care, the staff are absolutely terrified of catching it - they see it like the black plague not unreasonably, and treat the tourists like lepers and who can blame them? For them their recovery chances are much more limited than yours in the UK. It is grossly unfair just for a holiday or to visit family.

@houseinthesnow I'm gonna to Europe. To my home country. Health care is covered for me. No problem if I need to stay there either. Your answers are around a holiday. This isn't really a holiday. Pre pandemic I travelled back every 4 to 6 weeks for a couple of weeks. I'm not worried about the plane. I'm just worried about mixing with another household to be honest. The same worry applies if I stay here too.

Not really though the same as staying here op. You will need to pass through two airports and a plane ride to get there - various transfers to and from the airport. How is that the same?

I think there is much more risk than you are acknowledging.

You have to live with it, if you infect them not us. How do they feel about it? I wouldn't be welcoming you with open arms to be honest.