No sympathy for people who booked a recent holiday

[fairparie]

Headlines this morning have got me cross. People who are 'devastated' that their holiday to Spain that they booked last week won't go ahead as they can't quarantine on return and lost all their money.
How stupid to book a holiday when you know it is a risk. We were going to go away and had not booked anything as was leaving it till the last minute. . We still could but I would not expect my work to pay for me in quarantine on top of two weeks away. It is understandable if I had booked before the pandemic but why should a firm pay for quarantine for those who knowingly knew it may be a risk.
I have full sympathy for those that booked before the pandemic and at least they will be insured. But c'mon how can you be upset that you have lost your money for a holiday you booked last week and now can't go on due to quarantine?

Not having sympathy is not the same as gloating. Not sure why one poster has said this about the OP.

I have no sympathy because it’s been said this whole bridge thing would be kept under review because the virus has not gone away. We’re also told the travel bridge would be under review (subject to change) if the virus has an outbreak, to expect localised lock downs because the virus has not gone away And there can be localised outbreaks . So if we know the virus has not gone away, that localised lock downs may need to happen if there are outbreaks, why would anyone be surprised that when there’s outbreaks in Spain, the travel bridge is changed to include quarantine. It’s not a surprise. If it gets worse, travel to Spain may stop altogether.

So the people booking trips did so knowing the virus is still around, that there could be outbreaks, could be lock down and could have impact on the travel bridge. Why do they need sympathy for the obvious? Feel sorry, yes but sympathy no. No one wishes for something bad to happen to people. It’s a different story if they know there’s a risk but decide to roll the dice, take their chance and do it anyway.

Anyone booking any new trips until this pandemic is over is taking a risk and they’ll need to ensure they can afford that risk - be it quarantine, getting stuck in a foreign (or local) lock down, trip cancelled etc.

It’s not as though they didn’t have warning because we all have.

The issue is that we as a society think a week in Spain is the cure for difficult times.

We need to adapt our thinking.

You sound a peach op.

what do you suggest @itsgettingweird

@ivykaty44

I think a lot of people will have suffered in different ways during lockdown and a holiday is really healthy way of helping.

Many people will have lost loved ones either to covid19 or other illnesses and had a terrible time - not being able to visit dying relatives etc

booking a holiday and doing something normal will have been a "something to look forward to"

to have now the possible holiday cancelled is such a blow for them.

personal thoughts were to get away and have some time in this country with relatives - but not everyone has the luxury of relatives in a beauty spot 5 days helped me recover somewhat.

I feel sympathy for many having their holidays slashed this year

We have had a bereavement overseas, I missed the funeral because of covid and can't visit my family or go home because the borders are closed. I feel in need of a holiday so we are having days out in this country, we all have to make do and be sensible.

booking one when the government said it was OK.

Gov.uk actually said:

"Travel disruption is still possible and national control measures may be brought in with little notice."

But people are very selective with what advice they want to hear and what they ignore!

I do feel sorry for them, it's awful to lose money and a holiday but I feel sorry for them in the same way I feel bad for those who get hurt on viral videos trying to drunkenly jump a cactus or leaping off a building into a pool and missing. It's not like it's a huge surprise is it? There's a global pandemic going on and most countries are waiting for the almost inevitable second wave. Travelling right now for no good reason is not only risky to you but could be potentially helping spread the virus more. I hope the companies don't get out of paying up. They will have been quite happy taking everyone's money knowing full well this will happen.

I knew this would turn into a kEyWoRkEr vs lazy furloughed, boring. It is ridiculous to book a holiday at the moment, i do feel for those who booked a while ago though and can't get their money back, it's criminal.

It's true, the OP isn't gloating. She's just being nasty, which isn't the same thing.

I know someone who lives in Spain, has not been able to work since March, and had just hit the bullet and booked a flight to see family. She can't come now as nowhere to quarantine! It's shit. I look at the situation and think "glad it's not me" but I don't think I'm a superior being for not having taken that risk. Everything is a risk unless we all stay home forever.

She's not being nasty, just honest. It is stupid to have booked a holiday abroad last week.

I agree OP. I wouldn't risk booking a holiday abroad right now. Yes it's sad they've lost out on a money, but we're in the middle of a pandemic so it is a risk they should have expected/ thought about.

Some people are missing the fact that Op is talking about people who booked their holidays recently - ie during the pandemic - not before.

I do feel sorry for people but seriously who on earth books a holiday abroad during a worldwide pandemic?!

We had a trip of a lifetime booked to the USA for May (using some money my Mum left to me so something we could never usually dream of affording) and managed to get our money back. We aren’t even thinking about booking another holiday yet. Not even on the horizon. Until the world is more normal, a vaccine is found or we have better systems in place to manage these things just no way. Who wants to go on some weird new version of normal that’s not really normal at all type holiday...?! No thanks. I can’t understand why people are risking it.

Good for you OP - hope it makes you feel really good that people have their plans ruined. I have just missed my Mum's 90th due to travel disruptions, but as long as you have no sympathy I feel so much better.

@jimmyjammy001

People should of done their research, it was not widely available in the media with only a few media outlets telling people air bridges could be pulled instantly and so people would need to quarantine when they get back but people's ignorance and it will never happen to me and so people have booked and it has happened

It was clear on the main page of the Gov.uk travel advice webpage.

Travel disruption is still possible and national control measures may be brought in with little notice.

And anyone with a brain cell should have realised that Covid hasn't gone away and that travel, socialising, etc increases the risks.

I should add our holiday to the USA was booked way, way before all this.

My holiday was booked before the pandemic. My insurance does not cover us. We will lose over £2000

Your insurance doesn't need to cover you. If your holiday has been cancelled, the tour operator will have to refund you in full.

If you've booked flights and accommodation you might be on the hook for the accommodation but you'll get the flights refunded and the accommodation provider may be willing to move your booking.

Good job you’ll never be questioned on the actions of others!

@Staplemaple

She's not being nasty, just honest. It is stupid to have booked a holiday abroad last week.

Yep, that's the fact of the matter. I have sympathy for people who booked months ago pre covid and couldn't cancel, but no sympathy at all for those who've booked since Covid appeared.

Some of your "be kind" style comments sound far worse than anything the OP wrote.

Bagelsandbrie your holiday has nothing to do with Op's post. She clearly states that she's talking about holidays booked during the pandemic. Yours was booked before and of course you are likely to be given more sympathy, it stinks.

(that's if flights have been cancelled).

My holiday was booked before the pandemic. My insurance does not cover us. We will lose over £2000

You will get a refund from operator?

How about NOT gloating OP?