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Covid

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Original poster

If you ARE concerned about catching Covid, would you fly (short haul) now?

73 replies

Rosiestraws · 13/12/2021 14:55

Let me preface this by saying I AM concerned about catching Covid - both in general and before Christmas in particular. I appreciate some people aren't worried/have had it etc and this isn't for those people! I have never caught Covid (that I am aware of!) and I am double vaxxed, with booster tomorrow. (Mid 30s, no health conditions that I am aware of). I have developed anxiety over the last year because of the pandemic but generally it has been much better the past 6 months or so and I've got back to a semi normal life going out and about as I always would do - wearing masks of course where I feel the need (and certainly everywhere recommended).

I am supposed to be flying short haul to a very low risk place for Covid to visit my partner's family. This is to be there for a few days and back before Christmas.

I was a bit worried but generally ok with it all when booked. Now with the Omicron variant, cases rising etc I am concerned about catching Covid before Xmas and missing out on having Xmas with my family.

My main fears would be a) catching it from someone in his family - there are a handful of nieces and nephes unvaxxed due to age. His siblings are vaxxed and careful I believe but who knows for sure how careful.. they will be travelling from similar areas to where we live to this place that is very low risk. b) Catching it on the airplane/airport etc.

My partner thinks I am being silly/unreasonable and that I have been on the tube for a similar length of time as the plane trip would be and same risk catching it there. (I have to do this tube journey to go between his place and mine - I would rather avoid it but I do see his point in that I am doing it still). I have also been to restaurants/bars - although I choose them carefully for well spaced out places etc and not packed places. I would also plan to stop this from tomorrow basically - 10 days ish before Christmas.

There's just something about the idea of getting a plane and not being able to get off it and sitting right next to people and people all around me that concerns me (tube doors open every stop by comparison and I don't get on busy tubes so there is always space around me/I sit by the windows etc) Also being in an airport with SO many people. There is no need to have any sort of covid test to/from this place we are travelling to as it is part of the UK. I would be a bit more relaxed if everyone on the plane needed to take PCR tests! I should also add that he will of course be staying on with his family for Xmas so I would be flying there with him for a few days, then flying back alone to go to my family for Xmas.

Would you do it? Would your answer change if you were taking the other risks I am (tube/restaurants) and would you view it the same as that?

OP posts:

firala6 · 15/12/2021 06:05

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

LovelyJubblyBubbly · 15/12/2021 06:07

Erm @firala6 I think you may have posted on the wrong thread 🤔

RedHelenB · 15/12/2021 06:15

Unless you're a hermit there is a risk of catching COVID
You can't control it. The most health anxious person I know caught it and I haven't ( triple vaxed and only taken mandatory measures), I think it's more am issue to address re. Your anxiety. How far away to your family live?

Newnormal99 · 15/12/2021 06:51

My concern wouldn't be catching covid on the plane as such it would be testing positive before I came home now that's been reintroduced and being stuck.

ImInStealthMode · 15/12/2021 07:33

@Skinnytailedsquirrel If the passenger next to you on a plane has covid no it doesn't mean so much, you could catch it (although it's far from a guarantee).

If the passenger 3 rows away on a plane has covid, you're very unlikely to catch it due to the air filtration and constant refreshment. Unlike the tube, where the air breathed out largely just sits there.

ImInStealthMode · 15/12/2021 07:39

@LovelyJubblyBubbly

I wouldn’t unless it was really important.

I’m not sure a plane is any safer than a tube. I saw a story a while back where a plane load of people were all negative on leaving and on arrival at the destination they were all positive. All wearing masks. Of course this must have been a long haul flight not short haul but still it’s food for thought.

Do you have a source for this @LovelyJubblyBubbly? Because frankly I'm struggling to believe it's not absolute nonsense.

LovelyJubblyBubbly · 15/12/2021 10:20

@ImInStealthMode

Do you have a source for this @LovelyJubblyBubbly? Because frankly I'm struggling to believe it's not absolute nonsense.

Here you go……Still struggling to believe the absolute nonsense? Condescending at all?

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9512239/amp/Fifty-two-passengers-one-flight-Delhi-Hong-Kong-test-positive-Covid-19-landing.html

nypost.com/2021/04/20/dozens-of-passengers-test-positive-for-covid-on-flight-from-india/amp/

TuftyMarmoset · 15/12/2021 10:27

I wouldn’t be so concerned about the flight per se, but I wouldn’t go abroad personally since the travel rules are so open to change at any minute. I wouldn’t want to end up stranded somewhere or having to shell out for a quarantine hotel.
So, domestic flight fine (from covid not carbon perspective) while any form of transport abroad is a no for me atm.

ImInStealthMode · 15/12/2021 10:39

@LovelyJubblyBubbly

I'll disregard the fact they're both tabloid links for now. Your post suggested 'all passengers were negative on leaving and positive on arrival' but that's not exactly the case is it, on reading the articles?

Some of the passengers had tested negative (or at least purported to have) 72 hours before they boarded the flight in a country with a renowned overloaded healthcare system and culture of overcrowding, and then tested positive at some stage in the 3 weeks post flight.

It's not exactly the same as them all going from genuinely negative to positive in the course of a 5 hour flight is it?

LovelyJubblyBubbly · 16/12/2021 02:56

@ImInStealthMode - I found 2 articles for you and you are still trying to argue with me. What exactly is your problem? Oh hang on don’t tell me I haven’t got the time or inclination to hear it.

notimagain · 16/12/2021 07:37

I think the problem is that the Daily Mail/NY times articles whilst of interest don’t have any scientific rigor.

This sort of thing might be more credible:

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/irv.12913

It’s worth bearing in mind that in the case of the academic paper the incident investigated happened very early on in the pandemic and so a lot of the measures now in force to mitigate spread where not yet in effect.

It’s also perhaps reading in full, especially the discussion section.

Whathefisgoingon · 16/12/2021 08:26

An airplane is safer than the tube! They’ve shown the air filtered in planes is to a really high standard and the airport itself is much riskier.

I wouldn’t fly right now, but I wouldn’t use the tube either.

If you want to, then I’d be wearing an FFP2/FFP3 mask.

Fishlipandtoeface · 16/12/2021 08:39

You sound like you have developed agoraphobia rather than COVID anxiety. The needing escapes are telling. Take things a minute at a time on journeys and try not to spiral into the future. You can be ok again. I was worse than you after a death in my family. Cbt is amazing for this.

SquirmOfEels · 16/12/2021 09:37

An airplane is safer than the tube! They’ve shown the air filtered in planes is to a really high standard and the airport itself is much riskier

I wouldn’t fly right now, but I wouldn’t use the tube either

I think that's more of a comment on the germ soup that is the Tube! But daily commute is much more likely to be essential than catching a flight

VikingOnTheFridge · 16/12/2021 09:40

If I were to fly now, I'd assume I was going to encounter covid at some point in the process.

notimagain · 16/12/2021 09:48

If you travel at all now (bus, tube, train, ferry, aircraft) you are probably going to encounter Covid at some point in the journey.

Original poster

Rosiestraws · 16/12/2021 15:37

Thanks for all the replies. I'm still totally unsure what to do though!

Had my booster on tues and still feeling ill from that (although getting better) so I guess if I'm still feeling ill tomorrow (meant to be flying in the evening) ill stay home anyway!

It feels so stressful as there are pros and cons to both going or not going. A close family member is a doctor in covid wards and seems to think wearing a ffp3 mask and just not taking it off the whole time through airport and aeroplane etc would protect me enough. Which has surprised me tbh... I would feel there's still a risk and even in that mask I don't feel like it's totally tight to face etc... But they also think that it's an important trip to meet the family etc as I haven't met them before and they are all very much looking forward to meeting me...

I don't want to let people down and my DP is obviously going to be disappointed if I dont go and I keep thinking I'd probably enjoy myself when I'm there but then come back to the idea of what do I do if I catch covid over there (or indeed simply develop symptoms when there and have caught it already..!) Or catch it from the kids there..
I'm not planning any indoor mixing before Xmas and haven't been anywhere but my booster appt since Tues so feel pretty safe as it stands if I was to stay here and head home for Xmas with my family. DP went out last night for dinner too/tube etc so a part of me even thinks I could end up catching it from him whilst I'm over there ha... Aaah what a predicament...

OP posts:

Shedmistress · 16/12/2021 16:32

Where is it you are supposed to be going OP?

VanCleefArpels · 16/12/2021 16:37

You are likely to feel like shit for a couple of days after your booster so could this be a reason not to go? If you come into contact with someone positive at any point in the journey what will you miss out on if you need to isolate for 10 days? I wouldn’t do it for these reasons

Original poster

Rosiestraws · 16/12/2021 16:39

@Shedmistress

Where is it you are supposed to be going OP?

One of the Channel Islands

OP posts:

Willyoujustbequiet · 16/12/2021 17:23

No chance

Everyone I've known who has flown has caught it.

notimagain · 16/12/2021 17:37

Well if we are into that argument I can offer that one person I know has caught it and I do happen to know a fair few people who fly regularly as crew, both cabin crew and pilots.

I’m not sure the anecdata is exactly compelling either way.

Shedmistress · 16/12/2021 19:50

Would you be happy knowing you had brought it to the channel Islands? What are the figures like there?

I mean I'm missing my FIL's funeral tomorrow because I don't want to spread COVID around, and am worried about my OH in the UK, and will do until he lands back again on Sunday.

It is not essential so you shouldn't be travelling IMHO.

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