AIBU to book flights to Tel Aviv for a September wedding?

[Depahf]

To book flights for Israel for September?

My closest friend is getting married in Tel AViv to her Israeli husband (they both live out there permanently now). I’m so desperate to go to the wedding. Do we think flights will be back on again?

(If you’re going to have a go at me for going because of the Gaza war, don’t waste your energy, I won’t be dissuaded on those grounds).

Why cant she get travel insurance?

Why are you asking? It’s clear you’ll ignore anyone who doesn’t agree with what you’ve already decided. You want to go and you’ll go, so don’t pretend you will take a blind bit of notice of anyone who suggests it is unwise. It’s just disengenous.

Insurers don't insure against war?

Ive just read the advice for Israel and it says not to travel

So unless and until that changes OP I wouldnt book anything.

You might not be able to go

Book refundable flights and hotel.

This.

If the FCDO advises against all travel to a country then insurance generally won’t cover you.

FCDO is currently advising against all travel to Israel.

Although if this is still in place in September, then the world is truly fucked.

I hadnt realised and hadnt read the advice.

So no chance OP

I've been to Tel Aviv, also for a wedding, technically at a time when there was something else going on, we had an amazing time. I loved the city, the people and the food was some of the best I've ever had, every restaurant was excellent. It is extremely expensive so I would book now, it might get too expensive later on.

My sister wanted to hold my nephew's bar mitzvah in Israel in 2027 (none of us live in Israel). I've already said my family wouldn't come, as desperately sad as I would be to miss it. Luckily she's decided against that but personally I wouldn't risk it until there is real political change in the US and Israel. It's too volatile

FCDO advice is against all travel to Israel.

Even if you can book a commercial flight, I doubt it will be refunded and insurance will is obviously not cover you.

I'd say no to Friend, but if things have changed by September, go and surprise her by attending the wedding.

Which September?

Leaving aside the massive moral issues involved Israel has well and truly annoyed the Palestinians and its neighbours and I suggest that at best there will be no end of violence going on for decades after this

If the ‘do not travel’ advisory is in place then you generally won’t be covered by standard travel insurance.

You’d need a policy from a specialist high risk insurer.

YABU to fly into a war zone for a wedding.

I don't see how unreasonable comes into it.

daft, ridiculous, mad....

and if you have children leave them at home, safe (with family/friends of course, not home alone! Unless they're older)

I think @Depahf should read this as some great advice and lots of alternatives... just convince your friend to host a destination wedding! Sorted.

www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5502954-is-mogadishu-safe?page=7&reply=151210645

That reminds me about the time when DH was chatting over dinner with a couple of colleagues and one says to the other ‘remember that time in Mogadishu when somebody threw a grenade into our tent?’.

Not sure how anyone on here could possibly know that really.

I think book the flights and get as much flight cancellation and travel insurance as possible.

I would look closer and investigate fully options for refunds/ insurance/ alternative routes.
However saying this, do you have children OP? if yes, I definitely wouldn’t go. You owe them to be careful.

Op why are you asking on here? You must have known some of the replies you’d get. I went to a wedding in Tel Aviv last summer, couple of sirens while we were there but otherwise business as usual, was fine. Now Is very different and without a crystal ball who knows. Surely the hosts don’t expect people to commit at the moment.

I’d probably book last minute. Having said that I think it’s likely to be ok. I don’t think there’s a lot of unrest around tel Aviv. Friends say it’s fairly ok.

What makes anyone think this is going to be a good idea? Tel Aviv has been getting hit multiple times daily since this began. Iran hasn't even really started dishing out damage yet. Remember, we are three weeks into this which is nothing for what a country that has spent near 50 years planning for will be able to handle.

That's ignoring the fact that, pretty soon, just getting flights will be tricky as the price of kerosene has skyrocketed way ahead of what the undervalued oil price is currently. You're already seeing shortages and rationing in Asia and Oceania, and you think taking a flight to an active war zone will be fine?

This is insanity.

As a point of information, be aware that travel insurance is very difficult to obtain if the foreign office advises against travel.

None of us know the situation in September though.

Pretty sure the existential war between Israel and Iran isn't going to wrap up for late summer trips away for family. Sorry about that.