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Original poster

Older people booking holidays

289 replies

Doffodils · 15/01/2021 13:26

I've been away from MN for a few days so apologies if this was done.

Following the news that the vaccination programme is in full swing, apparently travel companies have had a rush of older people booking holidays for this summer.

We're being told that behaviour will need to carry on with social distancing, restricting travel etc despite some people having the vaccine.

Young people have been disproportionately affected by the restrictions and been reminded often of their duty to protect the more vulnerable, but apparently those vulnerable people aren't going to give a second thought for the youngsters once they've had the vaccine.

Is this a common view among the, say, 60+ people you know?

Or is it OK, or even good, that some people can start getting back to normal/supporting the economy etc?

How will this kind of 2 tier society operate?

OP posts:
MoirasRoses · 15/01/2021 15:38

I’m 33. I’ve got two holidays abroad booked this year. June & December. If I can travel, I will be. 🤷🏼‍♀️ Full cancellations are offered so why not be hopeful.

Helspopje · 15/01/2021 15:39

They’re deranged and should be prepared to lose their deposit

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 15/01/2021 15:45

@Helspopje

They’re deranged and should be prepared to lose their deposit
Jealous that they've got holidays booked and you haven't?

We've got 4 UK holidays booked this year, all refundable in the event we can't travel.

StepOutOfLine · 15/01/2021 15:49

Yes, OP, it was done at length yesterday.
It was pointed out to the pearl clutchers that if the article referenced 50% of sales being to over 50s then 50% of sales are going to under 50s.
But "people of all ages are booking holidays" isn't very clickbaity

Arobase · 15/01/2021 15:50

Yes, that was my point really. Some people will be able to get back to normal, while young people, arguably the worst affected, are stuck in this limbo. It was just the holiday bookings article that highlighted it for me.

So what's your answer, OP? No holiday bookings allowed at all till everyone is vaccinated, even though it's adjudged safe for vaccinated people to go on holiday? How will it help to drive several more holiday businesses into liquidation unnecessarily?

StepOutOfLine · 15/01/2021 15:52

@TheDogsMother

I hate this othering and generalisation about a homogenous group of 'old' 50+ people. This thread makes is sound like they are all sitting around doing nothing and having an affluent retirement. Some have been shielding for months, loads are still working full time, some will have school age kids, everybody's life is different.

Also why on earth would there be some great old, young divide when it comes to holidays ? Everyone was allowed to go abroad on holiday in 2020 if they chose to and as soon as travel restrictions are lifted they will be able to again. Hopefully with virus transmission decreasing all the time..

This 55 year old is currently marking other people's kids' schoolwork. Obviously, I should just be dead really or on the sofa crocheting doilies while watching Countdown.
ElevenBells · 15/01/2021 15:52

Even if they’d had the vaccination, so many under 50s have taken such a hit financially due to covid that I don’t know many who will be able to afford a holiday for a good while yet. The ones that can afford it are using up all their annual leave to try and survive homeschooling so no holidays for them either.

tinselearedcow · 15/01/2021 15:52

@StepOutOfLine

Yes, OP, it was done at length yesterday. It was pointed out to the pearl clutchers that if the article referenced 50% of sales being to over 50s then 50% of sales are going to under 50s. But "people of all ages are booking holidays" isn't very clickbaity
Was just coming on to say the same. In addition it was reported that lots of people are making multigenerational group bookings.

But OP and others don't let that stop you engaging in some ageist frothing about selfish pensioners.

notimagain · 15/01/2021 15:56

Well one things for sure, if the idea is that everybody in the UK should sit around not booking holidays, hotels etc until every last individual has been fully vaccinated then the job prospects for everybody, regardless of age, in large sections of the economy will be stuffed.

Still if people think that's fair or makes people happy...Hmm

Physer · 15/01/2021 15:56

I doubt there will be much overseas travel in 2021.
Other countries, especially EU holiday destinations, are way behind us in vaccine rollout and I suspect they will suffer second theirs waves of infection as a result. They will likely all demand proof of vaccination before travel (Greece has already asked for the EU to agree to this).

I am 60 and shielding as ECV. I didn't get a holiday last year although many younger people I know travelled abroad. It was possible to travel last year if you were prepared to take the risk. I didn't get a holiday the year before as I was having breast cancer treatment.
I would like a holiday this year. I don't for a minute expect to go abroad or do the kind of thing I would like to do, but if restrictions allow it I'd like a holiday in the UK this year. Is that really so wrong?

Oldbutstillgotit · 15/01/2021 15:57

God I hate these old v young threads . Some really mean comments about older people daring to book a holiday which, by the way, helps the travel industry/ economy!
The people posting from Dubai don’t look over 50 to me or is that different ?

tinselearedcow · 15/01/2021 15:59

What the actual article says:

TUI, the UK's largest tour operator, says 50% of bookings on their website are currently by over-50s"

Article also says:

As TUI analysed its recent booking data, one trend they spotted is the emergence of large, multigenerational group bookings
It is family time we've all missed. We can't get away from our own families, but our broader families we can't see, and that's feeding into our choices" Mr Flintham explains

Redrivershore · 15/01/2021 16:00

People went on holiday last year of all ages and there was no vaccine, they just went when they could in between lockdowns, I expect it will be the same this year.

tinselearedcow · 15/01/2021 16:00

www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-55654127

StepOutOfLine · 15/01/2021 16:02

Not only are these threads transparently goady and deeply unpleasant, but whatever the original question (in this case, should people over the age of 50 go on holiday once they've been vaccinated) they always turn into a nasty grabby whiney chip on shoulder dig at them having a good pension. Very vulgar.
My mother left school at 17, had me at 20 and got up at 5 every morning to drop me at my nan's before going to work. And when she retired she had a bloody good pension. And deserved every penny of it.
Some Mumsnetters would only be happy if we could put them all in the workhouse while we grab grab grab at their money.

SillyOldMummy · 15/01/2021 16:02

My PIL (70+, retired) plan to go to Spain for a month as soon as they are vaccinated and travel restrictions lifted, then to Greece to see family in the summer, then skiing in early Winter (fit enough to still ski). They've invited us to join them for a fortnight in France in late August, if we are vaccinated by then (almost certain we won't be, and our kids of course can't be).

I understand they are doing nothing "wrong" if no rules are broken. But I find it hard to think of their life back to fun and games, while so many people still suffering. But, that's life. I guess you make hay while the sun shines. I would probably do the same as them in their shoes.

tinselearedcow · 15/01/2021 16:06

@PicsInRed

This news made me quite angry.

What we've sacrificed...and they'll take action to ensure continued spread and our lives - and those of the kids and young adults - being fucked longer and worse.

Quite angry.

Are you just as angry about the 50% of holiday bookings being made by the under 50s? @PicsInRed

TUI, the UK's largest tour operator, says 50% of bookings on their website are currently by over-50s"

saraclara · 15/01/2021 16:08

Yep. As I said on the other thread, if 50% of bookings are from 50-82 year olds, then 50% are from 18-49 year olds. So equal then.

I wonder why what journalists took from those stats wasn't "50% of bookings on their website are currently by under 50s" ?

saraclara · 15/01/2021 16:10

I guess you make hay while the sun shines. I would probably do the same as them in their shoes.

Well assuming we're not locked down, you CAN do the same as them. Just as you could last summer in between lockdowns.

sunlightbuttons · 15/01/2021 16:11

It's not fair at all but personally I'm not too bothered. I have two young DC so foreign holidays aren't top of our priority list right now and it's no big deal if we have to wait longer to get away. I know for some people holidays are really important though so can understand why they'd be frustrated.

tinselearedcow · 15/01/2021 16:13

@sunlightbuttons

It's not fair at all but personally I'm not too bothered. I have two young DC so foreign holidays aren't top of our priority list right now and it's no big deal if we have to wait longer to get away. I know for some people holidays are really important though so can understand why they'd be frustrated.
What is not fair?

AN EQUAL NUMBER OF UNDER 50s ARE BOOKING HOLIDAYS TOO.

Yes I am shouting because I am so sick of this ageist shit.

lovemirage · 15/01/2021 16:13

What disturbs me is that elderly seem to trust on the vaccine blindly. The immunity from illness can disappear in months and the vaccine might not be any better. I would wait and see before booking holidays or becoming too relaxed.

StepOutOfLine · 15/01/2021 16:13

Another point conveniently missed by the ageist frothers is the fact that these sales are purported as being over the last 10-15 days
Remind me again when the vaccine was rolled out?
And then when Tui etc started bombarding people's inboxes with their (admittedly pretty good) offers?
Because, I'm no economist, but even I can work out the latter is more relevant than the former.

StepOutOfLine · 15/01/2021 16:14

@lovemirage

What disturbs me is that elderly seem to trust on the vaccine blindly. The immunity from illness can disappear in months and the vaccine might not be any better. I would wait and see before booking holidays or becoming too relaxed.
Which "elderly"? The ones you know? The ones I know? Me at 55? Are you defining elderly in the same way the OP is?
Redrivershore · 15/01/2021 16:16

It's too much palaver to go abroad, vaccine or not, whatever age I was I probably wouldn't bother this year

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