Would you fly at the moment?

[Takemetothebeach91]

For things like holidays or visiting family abroad etc, do you think it’s safe? Are you happy with flying or are you avoiding it?

Let me first say that 2155user does not understand risk. And if he or she really wanted to encourage people to be less risk adverse, they wouldn’t be so goady about it.

NB I’ve just been on a plane but I can see why people wouldn’t see it as a good choice to make for themselves. And I don’t need to patronise them with data on how safe it compared to crossing the road. Nor do I need to tell them they should potentially waste money on a holiday that could be cancelled because it helps the economy. Not everyone can afford such largesse.

We have to try to weigh the risks of exponentially spreading infection against the risks of exponential economic/societal collapse
⚖️
granted it's not the killer meteorite but I think it's in the existential threat ballpark...no?

@crosseyedMary

Not sure if you’re joking but... it’s definitely not existential!

It’s inconvenient and worrying, but humanity will survive largely unscathed. It’ll change us a bit, but it won’t end us.

In terms of existential risk... a much worse plague. Or a climate disaster. Or a nuclear war, or a aupervolcano or an asteroid. All could wipe out humanity, or at least degrade our species.

Covid? Nah.

@crosseyedMary - not sure what you’re on about, tbh. I don’t think a commercial aeroplane in itself is anywhere near the most dangerous place to be at the moment. Rather there than in a pub full of drunk people, in a meat processing plant, at a funeral in Blackburn, in a sweatshop in Leicester, in the Yemen, or Syria, or Brazil, or Disneyworld, Florida, or in a care home (where people need weekly testing for a reason). The biggest danger of the planes is the fact they are going to different places and people already infected in their home countries are getting off them at the other end to mix with different populations of people, or people uninfected are getting off, getting infected and then bringing the infection home.

A commercial aeroplane has got to be one of the most dangerous places to be during this pandemic

Compared with?

See previous about airflow, HEPA filters and comparisons with other forms of mass transport such as tube( metro) and buses.

A commercial aeroplane has got to be one of the most dangerous places to be during this pandemic

Not to mention crowded departure/arrival gates, border control, security, transfer buses, etc. The aircraft itself is only part of the journey. Even with very low numbers of flights, there are still pictures on SM of crowded areas - the usual "pinch points" as you travel through the airport. That's only going to get worse if and when more people decide to fly.

Eurotunnel is easy way to travel at the moment. Very safe.

Good to know re Eurotunnel - have a voucher for a cancelled March trip from Strasbourg

Thank you for all your opinions, I wasn’t quite expecting that amount of answers! x

I have flights to the South of France for my family next week. Booked before COVID staying in a villa.
I just can’t decide what to do .
One day l read about the Hepa filter and think that sounds sort of ok then l read this thread and change my mind.

Yes, I really want to go and visit my family as not seen them since Christmas, and have already had to cancel three trips that I had booked since March. But they are in Ireland, so waiting to see if I'm on their green list (due yesterday, but still no sign of it) - I won't go if I need to quarintine as it would be very difficult to arrange.
Other than that - no. I've just no interest this year.

While I agree with what you're saying @PaddyF0dder about unnecessary travel just dragging this thing out, I do think that a) now is the safest time to travel (low infection rates in W. Europe and the virus does seem to be less virulent in summer), and b) travel now for a week in the sun won't be the catalyst for a second wave. That will probably happen this winter anyway due to cold temps and it being an ideal breeding ground for viruses of all kinds. TBH, I think if people want to get away now is the time. IMO it will be much riskier to fly about once the winter temps hit. I predict a second wave in Europe starting in about November and lasting until April/May time next year unless we have an affective vaccine.

A commercial aeroplane has got to be one of the most dangerous places to be during this pandemic

Our pilot's union has carried out a comprehensive H&S audit on the aircraft we work on, and concluded that the safest place at work for us is actually on the aircraft. It's all the other places - airport, hotel, buses, etc that are the riskier places. Admittedly we do spend most of our time in flight in the cockpit away from passengers.

The filters are sufficient to filter out any virus particles, the air is actually directly replaced frequently, the aircraft are given much deeper cleans than they used to be, and everyone is required to wear PPE and only leave their seat when necessary. You can't guarantee the person you end up sitting next to won't have Covid, but unless they are one of the asymptomatic ones you are not in any significantly higher than average danger on a commercial aircraft.

@zafferana

Absolutely no evidence that this is seasonal - as it’s spread in hot climates attests to.

@PaddyF0dder maybe not yet, but we know viruses spread much more easily in winter - colds, norovirus, etc all prevalent in winter once the temp drops.

Social distancing is fine in the summer, when we can all be outdoors, and particularly this year with such great weather, but once it's cold and wet outside and everyone is indoors together, all the schools are back, etc, I bet it there will be a second wave.

It's all the other places - airport, hotel, buses, etc
Thanks for explaining the situation on the actual aircraft💙
I think really what I meant was that travelling generally involves multiple situations of high transmission, and this means that the overall risk, rather than increasing in a linear 2+2=4 way, the overall risk is multiplied.
even if conditions on the aircraft are controlled the people on the aircraft have previously been mixing at close enclosed quarters with multiple people from all over the world.
It's a big fat virus melting pot ☹️

even if conditions on the aircraft are controlled the people on the aircraft have previously been mixing at close enclosed quarters with multiple people from all over the world. It's a big fat virus melting pot

Which is why the idea of "air bridges" between specific countries was a stupid idea that would never work. The only way it would have worked is if everyone in each air bridge was segregated from everyone else in airports, i.e. different check in areas, different border control, different security, different baggage reclaim etc. That would be impossible, hence it has been quietly forgotten.

Quietly forgotten ....and no explanation given as to why it was unfeasible leaving the public with unrealistic and confused expectations about how we can and can't control the virus☹️

Quietly forgotten ....and no explanation given as to why it was unfeasible leaving the public with unrealistic and confused expectations about how we can and can't control the virus☹️

And one that the Boris bashers can't pin on him because other countries were involved in Air bridges and they've mostly abandoned the idea too!

@Badbadbunny - eh? What do you think all the countries we can now travel to without quarantining when we get there, and travel back from without quarantining when we get home, are, then? That’s exactly what “air bridges” were going to be, and therefore exactly what we have with Spain, Italy, France, etc., at the moment.

I will fly out in 2 days with my DC. we are visiting my elderly parents whom we have not seen for a while. I read about airplanes and the air exchange there are it sounds reasonably safe. Do I worry? yes but none of us has any underlying conditions. It would be until early next year until I have enough annual leave and given my parents circumstances, I cannot wait that long. I cannot leave the DC alone here either so we go together.

I probably would not fly out for a beach hotel though but it's hard if you have close family members in a different country. I have friends who lost parents during the lockdown and could not even fly over for the funeral and it was beyond awful So yeah, I am happy to take the risk.

@birdwatchings - we are similar. My parents, sister and her family live in Belgium. We haven’t seen them since Christmas although they all should have been in the UK earlier this month for DT’s 21st birthday party. We are going to see them next month.

DH’s parents live in Canada and his sister and her family in Colorado. Still hoping to also see them soon but that is looking unlikely at the moment.

Only in an emergency, such as if a family member was taken very ill or died.

No.

The virus does not cross borders and seas and oceans and continents by itself. It needs our help. I for one will not be helping it.

I’ve been through Gatwick. The arrival area is pretty deserted. About 5 people queuing for easyJet drop off with 4-5 terminals in use. About a dozen people queuing to go through security with about 3 lanes to use. Everyone distancing. Shops mostly deserted and eateries closed. Only one lounge open and it had no more than 10 people in it. Not to put too fine a point on it, you could die due to a lack of social contact at this part of the journey.

Of course there was a plane load of people at the gate but this was the only flight boarding so lots of room to spread out. Boarding was old style, by row starting at the back. The plane was full and this is uncomfortable bit. Because you are sitting next to someone for a while. Plan to only drink on the plane and not go to the toilet if you can. But that’s possible.

It’s a bit chaotic getting off because of the clammer to bags and get off.