When is "the 11th hour"?

[MrsTerryPratcett]

I'm in the UK in March, hoping to fly out the 29th (I know, I know).

From what I can work out, we won't know if it's no deal, TM's deal or no Brexit until 'the 11th hour'. I'm trying to work out when I will know if it's worth changing my flights, having a plan B, or stockpiling food in a hastily dug Anderson shelter in the garden.

When will we know?

She's French so that's ok. I told her if she wasn't, it would be a definite NO.

I was about to say that there are published guidelines for both deal and no deal arrangements from the French ministry. The Connexion newspaper had details and I presume French gov website. I have not studied them properly but don't plan on travelling far around that date.
Clearsommespace added that DD is French so no problem on that front.

The (French) law that enables no-deal arrangements to be enacted has been passed, but those arrangements haven't been specified AFAIK.

Plus the UK-French border is also an EU/Schengen border so it won't just be a question for national government.

I'm primarily concerned about the coach getting stuck behind lorries than the frontier checks for a group of French teenagers.
In the middle of the night also concerned about sending DD to a country where there is a shortage of food and medicine. But in the daytime I am more rational on this point. I don't think the stocks will have run out by then...

I've just emailed the school to ask what would happen money wise if they decide to cancel and if I decide to pull out.

Thanks all. Talking it through I realise I'm prepared to forfeit the deposit. I would never hear the end of it if I say no now and then all DDs friends go and have a wonderful time.
What's the going rate for an hour of peace instead of an hour of resentful teen!

Not to mention the guilt!

I think you’re right to be concerned. Whilst I don’t think the pupils will be in any danger, they could be massively inconvenienced. No, not the worst thing in the world but why risk it? At best it will be massive waste of time.

I’m not sure what the school is thinking organising a trip then when no one knows what’s going to happen. As I said in an earlier post, my company has said there will be no travel to the UK from March until we know what’s going on.

When they originally asked if there was an interest (note to return to school) I said yes if before 29th March because of Brexit uncertainty.

We got the dates this week.

People here don't realise the implications. To be fair most people in the UK didn't until recently.

And I don't think they realised until recently that the deal may not be approved in the UK.

Genuinely don't know if they sell cereal bars in France but recommend she packs a few in her bag. I assume she will have a bottle of water. If you can get her to have a little one of those unopened in her bag for the journey home. Obviously she doesn't want to be loaded with stuff. Her/Your call.

Yes I guess I’m in a Brexit bubble (I live overseas but am British and have been following it very closely) and sometimes you just assume everyone else is too.

I’m sure the school and the travel agency will be keeping a close eye on things between March and the trip and will postpone if there is any possibility of disruption. (also, I think there will be either an extension to the process and a complete revocation of Article 50 is now back on the table, so you never know)

They do sell cereal bars here Bellini.
DD doesn't like them but I will pack suitable substitutes!

{Genuinely don't know if they sell cereal bars in France}
They sure do!

I would normally book a trip to Holland for Easter - to see my mum and family and generally hang out in the former homeland.

Not this year, not unless there is a deal. I normally book mid-January when the place where we go has good discounts, but I'm not chancing it.

Back again!

OK I checked and I am flying out of the UK on the 30th, landing in Canada the 30th March. So at least not the 29th! BTW realised the OP wasn't clear. I'm going from UK to Canada. On a Canadian passport, although I am dual.

By May we will at least know what arrangements are, even if they're shit. It's the very end of March / beginning of April where I would avoid any European travel at all costs.