Travelling home from abroad

[holdontoyourbutts]

Me and DP have an apartment in an EU country, he came out the 26th of Feb I came out the 4th of March and we were both due to fly back tomorrow. I took 2 weeks annual leave and he can work from out here as he's self employed.

We are in lockdown here and have been for nearly a week, we are adhering to the lockdown rules and only leave the apartment to get food when we need. The lockdown is due to continue for another 2 weeks if not longer.

He works for himself remotely and I work for a company in the hospitality industry. I am extremely fortunate that my employers have (so far!) said that we are to WFH indefinitely and will be getting full pay. I have my work laptop and phone on me so working is not an issue.

My issue is that now the UK government has advised all brits abroad to come home ASAP, as commercial flights may no longer be available. BA is currently flying back from our local airport every other day, all ryanair and easyget flights have been cancelled.

My partner doesn't want us to go back. His reasons are:

1. We are in a country that has been heavily affected so we risk taking the virus back with us
2. He feels safer out here. Everyone is adhering (generally) to the lockdown conditions. We have plenty of fresh food including bread, meat and an abundance of fruit and veg. We have personally been stopped by the police to ensure we've only left the apartment for essential trips.
3. We have triple the space in our apartment here than we do at home so we're not on top of each other.

Whilst I understand his reasons for wanting to stay I can't help but feel with re situation changing daily and risk of a lack of commercial travel we should head home. We are not nationals in this country and whilst the apartment is ours we do not have residency. We don't know what the world will look like in 2-3 weeks and I feel that we are better being in our own country during this period of unknown. Also if we were to fall in, or need any medical attention whilst our insurance says we are covered we'd be using one of the most overstretched medical systems in the world right now and one in which we havn't paid any money into!

But then I'm also torn because we are in one of the worst hit EU countries, which means we risk bringing the virus back with us, and whilst we would self isolate at home for a minimum of 14 days (we've already had friends offer to drop off any food/meds on our doorstop so we don't even have to go to the supermarket), we would potentially be transferring the virus to anyone we counter on the flight or journey home.

As for why we didn't fly home sooner the lockdown was announced and put into force on the very same day, and we flew out before Europe was hit by the virus the way it is now.

I believe I should come home, but am I risking other peoples lives in doing so????

That's a tough one. I'm inclined to agree with you that you should come home.

Can you get gloves & masks for the journey back?

I don't have a mask and I don't believe there are any available to buy where we are but I do have gloves - I've been wearing disposable gloves anytime we go out, so I'd wear those to travel back, I'd also only have hand luggage.

Matter for you - we are staying put where we are (though to be fair we have residency and health cover where we are and I work here - albeit from home for the foreseeable!)

Sorry just re-read and not very helpful! I’ll try again - if you are in Spain then my DS is also there and has decided it is better to stay put. He needed to be in self-isolation due to potential covid-19 exposure and didn’t want to travel when possibly asymptomatic. He also has a Spanish girlfriend and now he’s ‘clear’ she’s moving in with him!

Hospitality is barely functioning now. Stay put.

Hi @ElaineMarieBenes yes we are in Spain! I should also make it clear my partner won't travel back at all, he's made that quite clear. Does your DS have residency here?

@LIZS do you mean UK hospitality? My work involves going into pubs/bars so I am off the road for the forseeable, we were advised on Monday the 18th of March that all trade visits were cancelled and we were to WFH, all our offices were closed too. My work have been fantastic in all of this.

My big concern is being a burden on the health system if anything were to happen. Not just Covid, but say if either of us had a fall/unexpected illness. Morally can I justify being here when their system is so overwelmed (not saying the UK NHS isn't!!!)

I think I'm going to book a plane ticket with BA for Friday. That way if I need to I can fly, if I decide to stay I'll stay.

I think when you’re in a neighbouring country with an easy flight/drive home I’d stay put. Particularly with your own place. If you were stuck on the other side of the world with hotels shutting and a heck of a trek home if airlines stop flying I’d say leave ASAP.

I’m airline crew and terrified every time I go to work at being in a metal tube with all these people from all over the globe.

Yes, not sure what you can do wfh other than tidy up your accounts and records. All pubs, bars, cafes, restaurants, hotels are required to close to public. A few are running takeaways and basic supplies services.

@LIZS yeah we had a conference call yesterday where we were told that we would still be paid and to not worry if we have no work to do.

My plan for the next few weeks was to work on courses and also start writing some of the training guides that I've had on my to-do list for a long time - I have enough to keep my brain occupied. I am feeling very grateful to my company at present.

@Honeyroar Thanks for your imput, have your work put in place many measures to try and reduce risk? PPE wear? Hand Sanitiser?

Well he is the last of his kind (an Erasmus student) so I believe he has.

I can tell you that where I am (not Europe!) has just confirmed that all visa ‘overstayers’ will not face any penalties and I can’t believe the same wouldn’t apply for you in Spain. I was hoping to buy a place in Spain and have been researching getting residency - are lawyers/notaries still working? Some can arrange I think? I can’t believe that any action will be taken for going over the 3 months in Spain during this global crisis given your circumstances?

Incredibly little protection measures provided. I won’t go into detail or it would be outing, but you’d be shocked.

@Elaine - I don't believe lawyers etc are working, I've only been out to the local carrefour and bakery but no office blocks appear to be open and there is on one on the roads aside from buses and taxis.

That's interesting about the overstayers not facing penalties. I would have thought they would want us out in case we burden them!

Well I've decided to book a BA flight for Friday. Only because it's pretty cheap and if I don't want to use it I can exchange for a flight voucher until the 31st Dec. I expected most people here to say fly back ASAP so it's made me reconsider.

The main worry of mine would be receiving medical care if it ever came to it. Can't help worry a little bit that insurance might screw you over. Hopefully not.

I get all the concerns though. Taking a flight and potentially infecting others (or getting infected!)

I think I would have taken the advice and headed home for piece of mind. But I can understand if you choose to stay.

Peace of mind* rather

My DS says the same as you that the lockdown in Spain is being taken seriously - looking at the media as well as speaking to friends and family I don’t think the same can be said for the U.K.? This was another factor in him staying put. Also in lockdown, for me, the more room you personally have the better and I’m glad I have DH with me - wouldn’t want to be on my own (a work colleague is also my neighbour and we can no longer meet).

Whatever you decide stay safe and well

@Honest that's also my main concern. This is what the insurance says:

"If I contract the Coronavirus while I'm on a trip, would I be covered for medical treatment overseas?
Yes, you would be covered, however you should be aware that treatment is subject to the locally available facilities and medical repatriation or transfer to alternative medical facilities will be subject to any travel restrictions which are in place."

Still in transition faze so if you have the EHIC card you are covered in Spain (DS has his)

You have to consider your access to healthcare. I’ve been warned that the NHS might not treat me if it comes to the point where they are making rationing decisions. I doubt this will be the case but equally it is a possibility.

Phase!

What did you decide OP?

@Nquartz I'm still here. I didn't fly back last Friday and BA have given me my ticket back in the form of a voucher to use for another flight.

I found out today that my work are 99.9% going to Furlough me this Friday, so I'm probably just going to stay now as no need to head back, and we have more space/a nicer place here.

Plus if I head back I'll be on my own, and frankly I think I'd stay a lot saner with my partner. Alongside that he suffers badly from mental health issues and he's not in a great place right now mentally (understandably).

We've checked out travel insurance and from what we can tell we're covered.

Feels very safe and secure here, doubt we'll be done with a lockdown anytime soon but looks like I'll be here for a while now.