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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To go on a plane with covid?

410 replies

Coursha · 09/07/2022 08:38

I have covid right now and due to fly to Spain in a few days. The rules are that I just need to show my vaccine pass but doesn’t seem to say don’t travel of you have covid. Can this be right? Don’t know if I need to cancel. I tested positive 4 days ago.

OP posts:
Zonder · 09/07/2022 11:34

It is believed people are at their most infectious one to two days before the onset of symptoms, and during the two to three days afterwards.

The last bit got missed off there and it's the most important but!

Blinkingheckythump · 09/07/2022 11:41

Notanotherwindow · 09/07/2022 09:31

Selfish twats like those on this thread who would get on a plane while sick and contagious are the reason my little niece will never be able to have a holiday abroad. She has no immune system due to her cancer treatment. Covid would be a death sentence to her. Chicken pox nearly killed her even having had the jab.

There shouldn't have to be a law against deliberately risking others lives for the sake of a bloody trip. But I'll tell her to work on her resilience.

I'm sorry your niece has cancer and you and your family have had to go through it. But your niece couldn't fly even if every single person in the world wouldn't travel when ill, because the reality is many people are ill without symptoms at first but still contagious

icelollycraving · 09/07/2022 11:44

It’s rife at the moment (again) with lots of friends who had previously dodged it testing positive. A mutual friend said they’d got it but were happy that they didn’t need to test to fly. I judged them, getting on their flight knowingly with covid. That’s a shit move imho.
The issue is, if people can, they will.

AllThatFancyPaintsAsFair · 09/07/2022 11:44

Namechange7777 · 09/07/2022 09:17

Half the plane will have Covid. If you feel well enough, go. And have a great time.

Unless you can somehow know who is going on that flight and accurately se the future that's just a stupid thing to say

There is absolutely no reason to think that the incidence of covid amongst one set of plane passengers will be any different to the overall population

Have you misunderstood the current prevalence9

withlotsoflove · 09/07/2022 11:46

MillyMoo1113 · 09/07/2022 08:41

See that's probably why I have covid. Cos I went on a plane and someone was a daft as you. And now I've had to cancel my weekend plans, which is affecting my mental health, and my DD is terrified of getting it as isolating/being at home will massively affect her mental health. And she already has enough issues.

See the big picture and think how many lives you could affect.

If you’re that worried about it / you had no business getting on a plane did u?

Luredbyapomegranate · 09/07/2022 11:47

cheninblanc · 09/07/2022 09:13

My dd has covid likely from a flight, spoiled our weekend totally and she's been quite sick.

@cheninblanc

She could have got it literally anywhere

onelittlefrog · 09/07/2022 11:49

It's pretty simple really.

Test yourself in the days leading up to going away. If you're still testing positive the day you are meant to fly then of course you can't go.

If you're not testing positive then go, and wear an FFP2 mask just in case (tests aren't always accurate).

MrsJBaptiste · 09/07/2022 11:51

UnshakenNeedsStirring · 09/07/2022 11:06

So youll be happy to live with yourself knowing youve given some one covid and what if they died because of it? Just stay indoors and get better and stop spreading it around ffs

Oh come on... dramatic, much? It's not like you'd know anyway.

Mascia · 09/07/2022 11:52

Spanielservant · 09/07/2022 10:20

Some real thickos on this thread. Covid obviously wasn't the same as a cold or flu or it wouldn't have been so dangerous. I actually wish there hadn't been a vaccine and it had just wiped everyone out. I can't believe how stupid and entitled people are. Hopefully another one will be along soon with special.spikes for the terminally stupid. And Spain?.killing people.for a shit holiday in Spain? Sad.

I actually wish there hadn't been a vaccine and it had just wiped everyone out.

What a weird comment. To wish we didn’t have vaccines just to make some strange point?

Lessofallthisunpleasantness · 09/07/2022 11:52

Planes have always been a top notch place to catch colds and flew and now covid is in the mix as well. Flying carries a number of risks and picking up an infection is another of them.

Gingersay · 09/07/2022 11:57

We are just back and appear to have all caught covid on the plane out. What I will say is at the airport we flew into they were pulling randoms out at passport control and taking temperatures.

knottsberryfarm · 09/07/2022 11:57

Hi @Coursha I was in this scenario last week. By the time you travel you will be 10 days out from symptoms starting if I am correct?
I tested negative on day 10 and flew the next day. It was a pretty stressful week I'll tell you !!
Main concern would be to isolate from your family so no one else tests positive or gets sick on holiday.

In fact where I live I did not even need to test to confirm covid or test at the end of the isolation period. I just needed to isolate until 48 hours after symptoms were gone. As it is I isolated for the 7 days and wore a mask at home for the extra 3.

mewkins · 09/07/2022 11:58

WouldYouIfYouCould · 09/07/2022 09:13

One of the many reasons vaccine passes are nonsensical. So you can fly covid positive if you are vaccinated but not if you are unvaccinated? Hmm.

I agree. I can fly when contagious yet I have to pay for my 12 yo dd who hasn't had a second vaccination yet. Makes no sense.

babyjellyfish · 09/07/2022 11:59

I think that as long as you're testing negative you'd be fine to travel by then.

I'd be more concerned about a member of your family testing positive in the meantime. Are they getting tested?

maddening · 09/07/2022 12:01

You should be negative by the time you go surely?

Theluggage15 · 09/07/2022 12:01

You’re only infectious for about 5 days and for a couple of those you wouldn’t even know you had it. Ignore the mad people on this thread, you’ll be fine to go.

Using474 · 09/07/2022 12:02

Hopefully you will be fine by next Wednesday, its ages away

Using474 · 09/07/2022 12:04

I see the 'killing people ' posters are still on here.

JiminyGlick · 09/07/2022 12:22

My friend currently has covid and is getting on a plane tomorrow to go on holiday. It hasn't occurred to her not to and I don't really blame her.

The only reason she tested is that her mum is in a care home, she hasn't got any symptoms other than a scratchy throat.

GaladrielHiggins · 09/07/2022 12:25

@Coursha we flew into Spain today and they are temperature checking everyone coming through passport control. I’m not sure what happens if they catch you coming in with a fever and you test positive.

henone · 09/07/2022 12:26

We returned from a wedding overseas on Tuesday, not feeling wonderful, but Tuesday's LFT was negative, and Wednesday's was positive. By the time of the positive tests, we were feeling better again.

Schmz · 09/07/2022 12:27

Whether u do or not is up to you …

however, I know people for a fact who have travelled recently on plane WITH covid,

I wouldn’t,

so what I do is assume everywhere - especially right now when infection rates are high and rising - will have someone infectious, so I wear a mask to protect myself if Am going to be in prolonged close contact with people Not from my household

it’s all on us as individuals now

88milesanhour · 09/07/2022 12:28

Would you reasonably be expected to return to work? Answer is probably yes since even in healthcare you RTW after testing -ve at day 5. Therefore I don't think it's unreasonable at all to go especially if you're going to lose money and a holiday not going. We have to get on with life sorry. I work in healthcare and I don't think you'd be being a twat.

notimagain · 09/07/2022 12:28

@Luredbyapomegranate

She could have got it literally anywhere

On that subject it's interesting the number of people who:

  1. Go to airport by bus, coach, tube, own car then shuttle bus to terminal.
  2. Possibly queue with dozens of other people at bag drop,
  3. Queue with dozens, hundreds at security, handling plastic bins etc..
  4. Queue with other people in airside shops.
  5. Queue with other people at gate.
  6. Sit down on aircraft..
  7. On arrival queue at passport control.
  8. Stand around in queue at bag claim..
and etc etc etc....

But then get Covid and it's the bit on the aircraft that always gets the blame.

Hellospring22 · 09/07/2022 12:29

Coursha · 09/07/2022 09:19

Hmm, that’s quite a mixed response. It’s our family summer holiday, no one else has it yet and I’m trying to isolate myself. I don’t feel well, symptoms started on Monday and I tested positive on Wednesday. Travel is early hours Wed morning so day 7/8 from positive test.

I obviously don’t want to infect anyone on a plane and want to go by the rules but that’s the problem, I don’t know if there are rules for vaccinated people. If I was unvaccinated I would have to have a negative test before travelling.
I have insurance but would it cover if I’m not breaking any rules by going?

Thanks for the replies, bit disappointed by those of you who are so judgemental as it’s obviously not black and white.

I think a lot of stuff around covid now comes down to moral decisions rather than what is ‘law / the rules’ personally I’d lft before I was due to go and go if negative and not if I was positive. Many people are still infectious after five days and you risk ruining other people’s holidays. I tested positive until day 12 where as my daughter was negative by day 3. I couldn’t fly knowing I have covid. Some people are negative very quickly though especially if it’s not your first infection so personally I’d wait and see. It’s likely though that someone else in your household will test positive yet which could still ruin your holiday if you go.

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