Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Covid

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

Travelling abroad next week?

39 replies

rosesinmygarden · 20/03/2021 13:24

A woman I work with is taking her whole family abroad to visit family for 5 weeks, flying out next week.

Is this actually allowed?

A family member of hers passed away in the new year and she went to the same country for the funeral. I can't understand how they are allowed to go abroad for 5 weeks at the moment for what is basically an extended family visit/holiday?

I'm genuinely interested under which exemption this is allowed as I thought travelling abroad was essentially nammed apart for work or medical type reasons.

OP posts:
Original poster
rosesinmygarden · 20/03/2021 13:24

Banned not nammed!

OP posts:
sneakysnoopysniper · 20/03/2021 13:51

Well I hope she and her family get caught in the 5 hour queues at Heathrow I have been reading about. I will not have the least pity for her. Also hope she and her selfish family are made to isolate in a hotel and pay a huge bill.

No one should be traveling abroad at present except for reasons that are absolutely essential. Possibly to see a dying relative but not a funeral. Funerals are not absolutely essential; if someone is dead they are dead. Time was when we heard about experimental procedures only available in the USA/elsewhere and thats one of the few reasons I would admit as essential. I cant think of many medical procedures which cant be done in the UK either. So thats another excuse blown.

DinosaurDiana · 20/03/2021 13:54

I have heard about someone getting a letter on NHS paper from a relative saying she was going away on business, when she was going on honeymoon.

qualitygirl · 20/03/2021 13:57

Depends on the country I would say? What country? What are their rules?

Original poster
rosesinmygarden · 20/03/2021 13:59

The funeral was held in January, a few days after the relative died. My colleague was there when her relative died as she's been called to say goodbye. All very sad obviously.

This is a visit to see extended family. She told me "We have to go" and didn't explain why.

I honestly can't understand why you'd take two children aged under 10 on an airplane to Asia right now. And I can't understand how they will be allowed to get on a plane????

OP posts:
Original poster
rosesinmygarden · 20/03/2021 14:02

@qualitygirl

Depends on the country I would say? What country? What are their rules?
They are going to india.

Our 'stay at home' order surely trumps any rule in another country?

I'm wondering how they'll be allowed to get on a plane?

OP posts:
qualitygirl · 20/03/2021 14:11

Not necessarily OP. There are some exemptions to this. I know a family who have just returned from New Zealand after being there since Early December for a family matter. I would just stay out of it to be honest.

Original poster
rosesinmygarden · 20/03/2021 14:11

They are leaving their 16 year old home alone also, as he's doing his GCSEs and has missed too much school already.

OP posts:
Original poster
rosesinmygarden · 20/03/2021 14:13

@qualitygirl

Not necessarily OP. There are some exemptions to this. I know a family who have just returned from New Zealand after being there since Early December for a family matter. I would just stay out of it to be honest.
That's interesting. I'm not going to confront her about it. As just genuinely perplexed about why it's ok for them to travel abroad.
OP posts:
Violetlavenders · 20/03/2021 14:13

They're leaving their 16 year old home alone for 5 weeks? Shock

Original poster
rosesinmygarden · 20/03/2021 14:16

@Violetlavenders

They're leaving their 16 year old home alone for 5 weeks? Shock
Yes. With neighbours checking in.

They have all kinds of lovely family parties planned apparently while they are there. It sounds like a holiday to me ...

But, maybe there's something else I don't know. Some other reason why they must travel there for 5 weeks.

OP posts:
Azuretwist · 21/03/2021 10:27

I expect many people with families abroad will have essential, ie want to see family and a different place, reasons to travel in coming months if holidays abroad are banned. Will they have to prove it is essential? Highly unlikely? Essential for a whole family to go? Yes, as cannot leave children at home. Will it spread covid?

Original poster
rosesinmygarden · 21/03/2021 14:46

Currently, yes you have to have evidence that you are travelling within the rules. You have to complete a declaration form and wanting to see your family is not an acceptable/legal reason.

Yes, of course it could spread COVID. That's why international travel is banned except for a very short list of essential reasons.

In my opinion, it's not essential for a family with young children to go on an extended holiday to another country.

She's put a message on our work group chat saying how much they are all looking forward to the break and what lovely things they have planned for the time they are there. She's offering to bring back presents for everyone.

It probably is sour grapes on my part but my opinion of her will never be the same.

OP posts:
Azuretwist · 21/03/2021 19:32

I would also agree. Sadly, many will get away with it saying they need to see sick relatives etc ( many of whom will not be!) no way can the Government know if it is essential, so people will go,

My only hope is everyone has to quarantine in hotels - as then for people who it is essential, they can still go. But that is not going to happen, as we are not Australia! Stops holidays!

Liveandletlive3 · 21/03/2021 20:59

Op you sound very bitter about her going away. Maybe there are circumstances that you are unaware of that maybe the reason for a longer stay. Let's not judge because no one knows the insides of anyone's life.
My In laws live abroad and they want my husband to come over ASAP and sort out some financial matters which will require seeing lawyers ect. It's not straight forward and will take at least amonth to sort out if he's lucky. He's not going anytime soon but he will eventually at some point this year no matter what the circumstances are with covid. And yesh while he will be there, he will be going to see family and friends, can't expect him to sit around and twiddle his fingers if the rest of the country is still moving and getting on with life.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 21/03/2021 21:05

I’m not judging any particular person, but I really think the govt should stay as tight as possible on all foreign travel for the foreseeable.

Let’s be like Nz (as far as possible) and take advantage of being an island. If some people don’t go abroad as they fancy then everyone can have more freedoms at home. Sounds fair to me.

notrub · 21/03/2021 21:26

I thought the police were now camped out at airports, fining anyone who didn't have a valid reason for travel?

MaxNormal · 21/03/2021 21:29

I thought the police were now camped out at airports, fining anyone who didn't have a valid reason for travel?

Hardly. There's a wee declaration form you fill out before you travel that no-one is remotely interested in.

Katie517 · 21/03/2021 23:41

@sneakysnoopysniper you are either a troll or a truly vile excuse for a human. A funeral is an essential reason to travel, as is visiting an ill relative or any other reason that a person feels that they need to leave the country to see family. We are not caged animals and I’m pretty sure there is some human rights law that means we cannot be imprisoned in a country and prevented from leaving however been as its illegal for my 6 month old to see both sets of grandparents inside at the moment it seems basic human rights have been long forgotten!

Parkerwhereareyou · 22/03/2021 02:57

She's put a message on our work group chat saying how much they are all looking forward to the break and what lovely things they have planned for the time they are there. She's offering to bring back presents for everyone.

You're clearly very cross she's going, and she is pretty daft for flaunting it when obviously she isn't actually supposed to be going.

I think you should though stop policing this and let her do whatever.

Siepie · 22/03/2021 03:47

This is a visit to see extended family. She told me "We have to go" and didn't explain why.

"We have to go" implies there may be a serious situation she doesn't want to tell you about. People don't owe you every detail of their lives, especially if all you want to do with that information is judge them.

Racoonworld · 22/03/2021 07:22

They may have an actual reason they need to go, which is allowed. Anyway it doesn’t really matter, they have to quarantine when they return to the UK and get three lots of tests (which they pay for) so shouldn’t be spreading covid around.

EileenGC · 22/03/2021 07:26

Well, if it’s illegal then there should be someone at passport control checking that people are only travelling for essential reasons. People should also abide to the rules in any case, but the problem is that the UK has made so many things illegal, whilst not controlling them. She’ll be able to get on the plane unless someone checks her.

Are the family nationals of the country of destination? Because in that case, there really isn’t anything they can do to stop her flying into her own country.

CuthbertDibbleandGrubb · 22/03/2021 11:37

I think that they may have difficulty getting back into the UK without hotel quarantine, regardless of the restrictions in the country they are visiting.

What does the person's employer think about them returning to work? Surely they have a duty of care.

Original poster
rosesinmygarden · 22/03/2021 11:59

They are British citizens (or at least have UK passports, I know because I signed the form for renewal) but have family abroad.

I am a little bitter yes. I'm going to be picking up most of her work, unpaid, while she's away having a lovely holiday with her family. They plan on visiting various relatives in various parts of the country to 'reconnect' and 'share memories of the relative who passed'.

The estate etc. has already been handled and is not her responsibility. She told us how relieved she was about that.

There's a very petty part of me that hopes they get stopped at the airport or that the country gets added to the red list and they have to pay to quarantine. Nasty I know and I don't really want that to happen to anyone but I feel she's breaking the spirit of the rules and taking advantage of a situation.

I've also lost relatives in the last year. I didn't get to go to a funeral or to go on a 'memorial trip'. I've worked throughout, am exhausted and had my leave cancelled due to other people being off sick. So, I feel pretty fed up with the whole situation and her getting a lovely holiday is making a few of us quite resentful to be honest. I'll probably feel better about it in 6 months to a year when I might be able to go on holiday too!

OP posts: