To be a bit jealous of over 50 holiday bookings

[Toomuch2019]

I probably am but here goes

I was reading an article about surges in over 50s holiday bookings driven by the fact that they are anticipating getting vaccinated soon.

And I'm finding myself incredibly envious that there is a subset of the population that will be able to go about living normally and going abroad while the rest of us are locked away waiting for a vaccine.

I don't feel like I can plan anything holiday wise at least abroad right now as there is no timeline on vaccines for under 50s and I don't want to risk getting ill in another country. Particularly if insurances will only cover vaccinated people (which isn't the case yet but can see it moving in that direction).

I know there is no answer and obviously I'm not arguing vaccines aren't in right order but does anyone else feel wound up with articles like this rubbing it in?

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/business-55654127

It’s definitely going to wind a lot of people up. Especially as it’s the over 50’s that we’ve been in lockdown for as they are the most vulnerable and as yet there is little evidence that the vaccine prevents transmission.

You’ll be accused of wishing the elderly dead though within a few posts for mentioning it though.

Vaccinated people will still have to live by the same rules as the rest of us as far as we know?!

If my 99 year old relative hasn’t heard yet, it’s unlikely the 50 somethings will be called up soon!

My DH is over 50, (but not "elderly"!) I'll be pretty pissed off if he goes on holiday without the rest of us!
Ironically I've been either wfh or on furlough for most of the year, and kids are at home, hes the only one regularly going to a workplace on public transport.

Wish I could afford a bloody holiday and I'm over 50.

I don't think there will be different rules for them (unless a particular airline / country requests vaccination).
We've booked a holiday for end of May for 2 weeks. Double checked all small print on our insurance, credit card and holiday itself and if we can't go due to Covid we get the money back.
Most airline operators and tourist destinations aren't going to be able to afford to refuse unvaccinated people.

I was surprised to read that article. I think people are kidding themselves if they think they’ll be enjoying any sort of normal foreign holiday in the next year, vaccinated or not. The way things are going with the new SA and Brazilian variants we might actually find flights stop altogether / are limited to business travel.

@Fuckety oh great, that spiel again.

We've locked down to protect everyone that uses the NHS, not to protect the elderly. If all the beds are full of Covid patients, who is going to treat you when you break your leg/get hit by a bus/go into labour?

They’re deluded. Let them indulge their fantasies though.

It's still illegal to travel abroad for most people, whether you've had the vaccine or not

Ah the old divide and conquer by the media. It depends more on what rules the countries they are planning on travelling to have rather than what our government says. They reckon the vaccine doesn't stop transmission, so if other countries haven't vaccinated their population I cant imagine them welcoming them in with open arms.

Transmission, at a not yet very tested level, is still possible once vaccinated so it makes no sense that holidays would be easier. They would still have to test, masks etc.

Holiday insurance should be lower for the vaccinated though as there's much less chance of ending up seriously ill with covid.

That's if foreign travel is allowed. My holiday last year was postponed rather than cancelled, so I'm already tied to this year. It had I not been, no way would I be booking anything yet!

These people don’t actually know they will be able to travel. It will depend on the situation in this country and in Europe, or wherever they have booked for. Most brochures are now offering the option of cancelling without loss. My favourite tour operator says they will fly you home if you don’t feel comfortable in the first couple of days.

We’re going to be in that category but aren’t even thinking of booking a holiday atm. We had 5 cancelled last year, but did manage to get away in the end.

At the end of the day none of us are going to be able to live by different rules just because we’ve been vaccinated. I’d take this with the pinch of salt it deserves.

I agree with you, op. I'm in my 40s but a member of a craft group with women mostly 55 and up. They have all started talking ( online) about their summer holidays and I'll be honest I'm saying that I'm jealous. No way I'll be having the vaccine in time for that.

I can fully anticipate a long period of time when the over 50s are protected and can enjoy their lives. Even living within the rules, they will feel happy to go to restaurants and holiday, meet other people, etc. I'm not comfortable doing any of that until dh and I have been vaccinated. I don't think the risk of long covid or a severe illness is worth it. But it's going to be a long wait for me.

I don't think the UK will allow people to travel so quickly - also being vaccinated doesn't stop you catching covid though it does reduce the severity of it.

I think they're in cloud cuckoo land - BUT I'd be glad if they can go and things get back to normal.

I don't really feel jealous of them though - let them go if it's allowed.

I know it sounds mean but I also feel jealous about all these people getting the vaccine - although I do understand there needs to be an order and I think the one they've chosen is correct.

They had Joan Bakewell on Woman's Hour yesterday who is launching a legal thing against the government for delaying the second dose. And all I could think was - at least you've had the first!

Seriously? I’m 51. I have two holiday bookings this year. One rolled over from last year’s lockdown and the other we booked for in this country for the summer - we booked this in the Autumn.

I’m not anticipating being called for the vaccine any time soon.

My 70/80s parents are serial holidaymakers and they have none planned. Only one of them has been vaccinated so far.

I think you’re being annoyed with us ‘oldies’ for no good reason.

I am due to have a vaccine any day now.
I have been told that it is absolutely NOT allowed to do anything “normal” until you’ve had your second vaccine, then you must go through a “clearing” process. Then you must wait for the rest of your household/any regular visitors to go through the same process. I think the over 50s are being foolish booking abroad holidays.

It’s definitely going to wind a lot of people up. Especially as it’s the over 50’s that we’ve been in lockdown for

I'll let dh know the sacrifices that have been made for him. I dont think he realises!

hennybeans you think there'll be a long hiatus between vaccinating people in their fifties and people in their forties?

A bit dubious of the idea that I've been protected in this lockdown, when in fact I am up close and personal to other people every day at work...

TUI, the UK's largest tour operator, says 50% of bookings on their website are currently by over-50s

So, OP, are you jealous of the remaining 50% of the population who are under the age of 50 and are booking holidays?

YABU and need to relax or you’ll end up bitter and twisted. I think the reason the over 50s feel able to book a holiday is because they’re able to be more flexible with cancellations and rebookings.

I am over 60 and have two weekends away and a week’s holiday booked, all UK and originally booked in 2018/19. I’m hoping the late summer one will go ahead but I doubt whether I will have had the vaccination then,- even healthy over 95s haven’t had it here yet,