flying to US for memorial in August

[temporaryname99]

DH's parents live in Oregon and his father died (of a heart attack) 3 days into lockdown. This means it has been 3 months since his dad died and he hasnt seen his mom. She hasn't seen either of her children since her husband died, as DH's sister lives in Oklahoma.
We have been waiting a long time to travel, to see his mom and so that she can have a memorial for him.
She has tentatively booked a memorial for Aug 23.
Flights are going, by the looks of it, and we can enter the US - DH is a US citizen and so are the children so the travel ban doesn't apply to them, and I count as a close family member.
The FCO is still advising against all non-essential travel - but nobody knows what counts as essential.
We would have to get specialist travel insurance and are prepared to do this.
We know we may have to quarantine for 2 weeks when we return.

Has anyone else travelled abroad due to a bereavement during lockdown?
Any advice or ideas?
Thanks in advance

.

I'm sorry about your FiL.
I would find an expat forum, and see what peoples experiences are. AFAIK, several expats are stranded in various places, and are still flying.

Is there not 2 weeks quarantine in the US too? Or is that state specific?

Also, look at the transit times. I'm aware of some people having 12-18-24 hour transit times, and very few facilities at the intermediate airports.

I guess, in short I'm saying you should go. But look into what international travel in times if covid looks like to prepare yourself before you fly.

Thanks so much for your reply. Good idea to move this an expat forum.

The flights I've looked up are fairly straightforward, if skyscanner is to be believed. We would fly direct into San Francisco, and then drive from there. Can't fly into Portland.

This is from the FCO website:-

Definition of ‘essential travel’

Sometimes we say that only essential travel is advised. Whether travel is essential or not is your own decision. You may have urgent family or business commitments to attend to. Circumstances differ from person to person. Only you can make an informed decision based on the risks.

The FCO is still advising against all non-essential travel - but nobody knows what counts as essential.

As Attila says that is your call....it may have insurance implications but that's about it. AFAIK nobody is going to be giving you the third degree at the airport prior to leaving the UK asking if your reasons for travel meet FCO requirements.

Canada/US border is set to open in July, if Vancouver is easier? SFO-Portland is a long (albeit pretty) drive, as I'm sure you know.

Thanks for these answers!

MIL lives just over the California/Oregon border, so SFO definitely nearer than Vancouver - sorry, I wasn't clear about that.

Thanks for the quote from the FCO website Attila - I don't know why I hadn't found that myself. That's helpful and reassuring.