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Original poster

Wow - this will spread it about!

145 replies

leafygarden42 · 24/07/2021 07:33

It's the busiest weekend since the pandemic began for airlines and airports, as schools close and the summer holidays begin for millions. Heathrow Airport expects 60,000 passengers to depart daily, while Gatwick says it expects 250 flights a day - up from a low of just 15. Spain is the top destination for UK travellers, followed by Greece

This was taken from the BBC News website.

It honestly seems completely nuts that any country is doing this - and yet - here we are.

Amazing how we all 'need' a holiday so desperately.

OP posts:
happytoday73 · 24/07/2021 07:37

Why are you just picking on those that go on holiday? What about night clubs, concerts and other big events... Why should just holiday travel not be allowed in your view?

Terrazzo · 24/07/2021 07:39

Presumably most people at the airport will have tested and received a negative test - although my friend is going to Mexico and they don’t need to test on the way out, so may spread it to Mexico. They need to test twice to come back though so won’t bring anything back in.

Also something like 60% of people are double jabbed. I’m 31 and I’m double jabbed. Most adults are.

Dontforgetyourbrolly · 24/07/2021 07:39

Well I'll be one of them and I can't wait! Yippeeeeeee

ToomuchHeat · 24/07/2021 07:39

Agree with PP - the cases are no where near as high in other countries!! I’ll be glad to be abroad and away from the madness in this country - where there is no freedom day and people are still being careful!

Sparklingbrook · 24/07/2021 07:43

@ToomuchHeat

Agree with PP - the cases are no where near as high in other countries!! I’ll be glad to be abroad and away from the madness in this country - where there is no freedom day and people are still being careful!
I think what the OP is getting at is people from the UK possibly taking Covid to the other countries…

I personally would not fancy air travel/airport queuing currently unless it was to visit relatives.

Original poster
leafygarden42 · 24/07/2021 07:46

@happytoday73

I'm not 'picking on' anyone. I find it remarkable that we're having travel on such a large scale in and out of the country.

For concerts/festivals/nightclubs - crack on. At least within our own borders...

It's true that all will have to have a negative test to travel, but with those sorts of numbers, there will be a percentage who will be carrying the virus - delta or otherwise - to another country - or who will bring another variant back.

OP posts:
Original poster
leafygarden42 · 24/07/2021 07:49

@Terrazzo

Yup - unfortunately lots of double jabbed people can still get and transmit the Delta variant.

@Sparklingbrook - yes - pretty much what I meant.

OP posts:
ToomuchHeat · 24/07/2021 07:54

But we have to have negative PCRs to fly well we do to Portugal I know the Greeks haven’t asked for that which is ridiculous I think! So I know everyone on our plane will have had a negative PCR (bar the kids 😬)

ToomuchHeat · 24/07/2021 07:55

The issue too is people who travel for work to red list countries who don’t have to isolate. As tourists we have to do a day 2 test

delilahbucket · 24/07/2021 08:02

In 2018 Heathrow had an average, that's an average across the year, of 219,458 passengers travelling through per day. I'd say that 60,000 is a snip compared to that.
In 2019 there were 280,700 ish aircrafts taking off or landing, that is an average daily figure if three times what you've quoted.
These average figures do not take into account that the summer has far more flights and passengers than any other time of the year.
News reporters can sensationalise any figures they wish depending on the context they are given in.
Ps. You'll probably find most passengers will be doubled vaccinated and all will have shown a negative test. Can't say that in your local Sainsbury's now can you.

ragged · 24/07/2021 08:03

average daily departures Heathrow in 2018: 218,000
Busiest day ever recorded (departing passenger numbers): 29 July 2018 with 261,909

2021 is basically 25-33% of what people would like to do.

12Step12 · 24/07/2021 08:03

@Dontforgetyourbrolly

Well I'll be one of them and I can't wait! Yippeeeeeee

I'm so jealous...enjoy Grin

SpringRainbow · 24/07/2021 08:04

Thing is, all it will take is someone to enter a country where vaccines/ testing isn’t a requirement (say Greece as mentioned above) to be holidaying next to a family from a country that does require tests (Portugal as mentioned in the same post) and the virus will just spread even more.

The other problem is (as we keep being reminded) is just because you test negative today, doesn’t mean you won’t test positive tomorrow.

How many countries also have quarantine on return as well? I can only guess that Portugal doesn’t as people are going there on holiday.

I will admit, I don’t really know about the entry requirements in other countries as we are not going abroad so haven’t bothered to check.

However, I have been amazed at how much leisure travel has been allowed to continue throughout the pandemic.

I really don’t understand why other countries are letting people from the UK enter their country at the moment. When you look at our rates compared to other countries, you would think they would want us to stay away.

Sparklingbrook · 24/07/2021 08:04

Can't say that in your local Sainsbury's now can you

Probably not but I’m not spending hours in there like I would be at an airport then getting on a flight sitting very close together. So not sure that’s really comparable.

happytoday73 · 24/07/2021 08:24

See OP I disagree...
Why is it safer to stay in this country and go to indoor crowded events ... Our rates are a lot worse than many other places...

Personally I think my friends going to concerts, big events and other big indoor activities where no social distancing are more at risk for less, shorter benefit.
I'd actually be statistically significantly safer to be on Greece, Portugal or many of the Spanish islands right now as rates are significantly lower than they are near me. So yes I totally get why people are flying out..especially if going self catering...and why people prioritise a holiday after a terrible 18 months... And as required to test before get back on the plane that journey is actually safer than a any concert etc... Not no risk but then nothing is...

Sparklingbrook · 24/07/2021 08:43

Again I think the OP knows our rates are worse so the question is why should we be allowed to spread it about to other countries that are doing better?
And staying in the UK doesn’t mean you have to go to indoor crowded events.

ToomuchHeat · 24/07/2021 08:45

I think OP is just jealous. And picking on holiday makers - when there are shit loads of super spreader events in this country.

Countries who want us make their own decisions - some ask for testing - also you have to test to return from all places

Ilovemycat13 · 24/07/2021 08:48

Interestingly @leafygarden42 the people who ‘need’ a holiday ie- the nhs staff like my partner are soooo understaffed, so busy, can’t get time off and are burnt out!

notimagain · 24/07/2021 08:49

@ToomuchHeat

The issue too is people who travel for work to red list countries who don’t have to isolate. As tourists we have to do a day 2 test
I suppose that might be a concern but as far as arrivals into the UK go it’s a pretty limited issue.

There are very few lines of work that give you any form of exemption from the UK requirements regarding red list destinations, and often any such exemptions are subject to extra testing requirements and restrictions other than managed quarantine.

Sparklingbrook · 24/07/2021 08:56

Why would OP be jealous? I wouldn’t want to be waiting in a packed airport or getting on a flight with hundreds of others right now particularly.
I have just come back from a break in the UK where I successfully managed to not go to any ‘ superspreader events’ or nightclubbing. Was really nice.

TraumatizedFlower · 24/07/2021 08:57

@leafygarden42

It's the busiest weekend since the pandemic began for airlines and airports, as schools close and the summer holidays begin for millions. Heathrow Airport expects 60,000 passengers to depart daily, while Gatwick says it expects 250 flights a day - up from a low of just 15. Spain is the top destination for UK travellers, followed by Greece

This was taken from the BBC News website.

It honestly seems completely nuts that any country is doing this - and yet - here we are.

Amazing how we all 'need' a holiday so desperately.

Why so judgemental? Good luck to them I say. Have a great time.
nordica · 24/07/2021 09:02

It is the height of selfishness to risk taking Delta or a new UK-grown variant somewhere with lower vaccination rates and not as good of a health service as we have here. Other European countries maybe won't be affected very badly but somewhere like South America definitely would if tourists cause a new variant to get in.

Swallowridge · 24/07/2021 09:06

Does everyone just assume they will test negative before their return- that's what puts me off a holiday- the reality of being stuck positive with no where to stay and no support network for 10 says- total nightmare.

Ifitquacks · 24/07/2021 09:07

My family live abroad. Haven’t seen them for nearly 2 years. One close family member is seriously ill. I’ll be joining the queues and people will be judging me for being desperate to have my 2 weeks in the Costas.

lannistunut · 24/07/2021 09:09

I also find it all quite Hmm, I do think that Covid has revealed how bad humans are at managing problems.

I am not picking on any person, it is rational as an individual to take a holiday, but I am not sure it is rational for the species as a whole not to have a think about doing it differently.

Obviously this is all sci fi but would a global covid council who implemented a global shutdown in Jan/Feb 2020 (barring essential activity) have ever managed to squash it? Probably not, but the last 18 months really is a masterclass in failure to manage a problem well I think.