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Original poster

Travelling Unvaccinated

31 replies

Lolalime · 04/12/2021 17:51

Has anyone had any experience of the travelling unvaccinated? I’ll be travelling soon with someone who isn’t vaccinated and with all the changes I’m worried this may be an issue.
Unless things change the country we are going to requires PCR for all and returning to the UK they will have to isolate.
I’m concerned they will be given unnecessary grief.

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ragged · 04/12/2021 17:54

It's country specific afaik. Where are you going?

Fallagain · 04/12/2021 17:55

You will have to follow the rules. The biggest issues is they are much more likely to catch coronavirus virus and you will have to isolate on holiday. Do you have a plan for this happening?

pianolessons1 · 04/12/2021 17:55

Can you defer the trip til they get vaccinated?

percythewitch · 04/12/2021 17:57

Depends where you are travelling to. Different countries have different rules - and these may vary depending on the reason for travel.

France, for example, won't let unvaccinated travellers enter without a very good reason (a holiday is not one of them). You need evidence of a negative test within 24 hours to enter any bar or restaurant. The cost soon mounts up.

Hoppinggreen · 04/12/2021 18:00

Well they won’t even be allowed into a lot of countries in the first place.
As for “grief” unless there is a medically recognised and certified reason for being unvaccinated then that’s what they deserve.
I don’t agree with Mandatory vaccinations but spoke who aren’t will have to accept that there are just certain things they aren’t allowed to do

MajorCarolDanvers · 04/12/2021 18:01

Very likely that you will come across problems. The level of which will depend entirely on where you are travelling too. If its Europe then many countries will require proof of vaccination to even enter a coffee shop.

heldinadream · 04/12/2021 18:10

I wouldn't even try. Is it necessary for you to travel with this person?

Serenschintte · 04/12/2021 18:16

Is your friend is unvaccinated (and I have no judgement on this) they need to check carefully the entry requirements. And also the situation when they get there eg doesn’t that country have Covid passports.
Some countries don’t let unvaccinated tourists in eg Switzerland. However you can still buy a plane ticket. You just won’t be allowed to board.
Traveling back to the Uk should be quite straightforward- just find out what the rules are.
It’s not the airlines that have the say. It’s the countries of deatination

Original poster
Lolalime · 04/12/2021 18:21

It’s another family member and we are travelling to visit family after 15 years away. This trip has already had a cancellation by the airline, this is our re-book.
They are not breaking any laws being unvaccinated. Once there, there are no requirements to wear masks or social distance.

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saleorbouy · 04/12/2021 18:23

You will find that there are alot of countries now that will expect you to liable for all medical expenses if you're unvaccinated, I'd imagine most insurance companies would wriggle out of cover if you travel without vaccination.
I hope your friend does not contract anything and has deep pockets.

Elieza · 04/12/2021 18:45

Check the country’s policies prior to travel as they could change at short notice and your friend may not be allowed in.

There could also be problems getting home again.

Honestly I’d either strongly suggest the person gets vaxd or you postpone your trip again. You will be in for a load of extra expense if you get part way there and are turned back. You will have to them decide whether to go on alone or turn back with them. You could potentially spend a lot of money because of the other person.

Honestly it seems madness to travel at all just now. We don’t know what this new variant will be like yet.

Postpone.

Ylvamoon · 04/12/2021 19:40

Once there, there are no requirements to wear masks or social distance

Judging by this, your family member is very foolish to travel to this utopian country.

The risk of catching covid-19 is very high. How their body reacts to this virus, will depend on a multitude of things. If they are no vaccinated due to health reasons, then I would postpone any travel plans.

If not, thy should get vaccinated.

MrsSkylerWhite · 04/12/2021 19:46

Whatever “grief” they are given, in current circumstances it is not “unnecessary”.

Pyewackect · 04/12/2021 19:47

@Lolalime

It’s another family member and we are travelling to visit family after 15 years away. This trip has already had a cancellation by the airline, this is our re-book. They are not breaking any laws being unvaccinated. Once there, there are no requirements to wear masks or social distance.
....Hmm
VanCleefArpels · 04/12/2021 19:58

Double and triple check your travel insurance. If they catch CV while away if any isolation required in country exceeds the length of the planned trip who covers that cost? If the very wurst happens and they end up in hospital who covers that cost? Does the country have a vaccine passport to get into restaurants etc?

Original poster
Lolalime · 04/12/2021 20:21

We are going to see family. We are in our own home with plenty of outside space. We will not be doing any touristy type things. We have funds to cover extra stay and possible quarantine.
My question was to see what the experience of unvaccinated travellers are in terms of treatment by airport/border staff. I am incredibly anxious and any sort of confrontation makes me ill. As far as my understanding goes with insurance we are covered pre departure for covid related issues. No travel insurance exists to cover costs once out there. But this is not the issue.

Has anyone on here not travelled unvaccinated?

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VanCleefArpels · 04/12/2021 20:42

Have you got funds for intensive care treatment should that be necessary? Vast majority of people in ICU are unvaccinated remember.

However you are missing the biggest point. What does the country you are going to say about entering without a vaccine certificate?

Original poster
Lolalime · 04/12/2021 21:01

Entry requires negative PCR

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Postdatedpandemic · 04/12/2021 21:04

Nobody can advise you without knowing the country.
If they say they just require a negative PCR then presumably nobody will even ask about vaccines.

heldinadream · 04/12/2021 21:04

Yes but what happens if your relative contracts covid whilst there?

CeeceeBloomingdale · 04/12/2021 21:05

There's really no point in posting unless you give the destination. Experiences in other countries will be of no use to you.

VanCleefArpels · 04/12/2021 21:13

And now re-entry requires negative PCR (for everyone regardless of vaccine status)

The unvaccinated person is basically playing Russian roulette in terms of getting infected from the airport, plane, foreign airport and wherever you go while there and/or requiring medical attention to whatever degree. But if the country doesn’t require a vaccine then Nothing is going to happen to them at the airport.

ChateauMargaux · 04/12/2021 21:24

I travelled in September unvaccinated.. it was fine. I did my PCR testing before boarding my flight. I can honestly say, that border guards have been very kind when I travelled through 4 countries in September. I missed a flight due to receiving results of my PCR test 2 hours late and had to reroute via another country. Check in staff at the flight I missed were not willing to let me on the flight when my PCR eventually appeared in my in box but the flight had closed and it was already over an hour late so I cannot hold that against them. Everyone else was lovely, even when I explained why I needed to reroute, why I couldn't have taken the PCR with enough time to spare, why I took the risk getting on the first plane and that I was unvaccinated.

RichardDrankMyCoke · 04/12/2021 21:36

My question was to see what the experience of unvaccinated travellers are in terms of treatment by airport/border staff.

If your companion follows the rules and the rules for the country you're visiting do not require vaccination, then I don't see the issue. My experience is: be aware of the rules both for the country (and local area - they might be different) you're visiting and for the return to the UK. Check the official government sources - and keep checking every day, because they can change - and follow them.

If your target country requires a PCR test for everyone, then they will likely check the PCR test results for everyone and will not even know anyone's vaccine status on arrival.

When you go back to the UK, you (fully vaxxed) and your travelling companion (not fully vaxxed) may be treated differently (depends on the country you come from, or where you have been over the past 14 days) as those are the UK rules right now. Assuming your companion is a UK citizen or perm resident, they won't be refused rentry to the UK, but they may have more hoops to jump though than a fully vaxxed person.

While I'm not saying it never happens, it's unlikely that anyone is going to be harrassed by airport or border or airline staff for not being vaxxed in a situation where it is not a requirement to be vaxxed. They're trying to do their job and keep the queue moving, so if vax status is legally/practically irrelevant I really doubt anyone will mention it.

Original poster
Lolalime · 04/12/2021 21:42

Thank you to the last two posters. This makes me fell a little less anxious about it all.

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