Is anybody delaying booking summer hols?

[Flambe59]

I was about to book a holiday to Canada this summer and now I’m not sure I want to. Does anyone else feel very unsure about travelling? So much uncertainty and a feeling of anything could happen with the war in the Middle East.

No, everything is already booked since Christmas, we are going to Italy.

Our hotels have free cancellations and thye easyjet flights were cheap.

Anything expensive I would only book with a tour operator though as insurances don't cover wars,

Yes, we were going to book Sri Lanka, but there's a recent post on MN about flights being cancelled.
After Covid, we always use a tour operator so they would be responsible for getting us home, but I certainly don't want the stress.

Yes good point about tour operators. Although does their insurance cover war?

I love to travel and have only been in a position to do it first the last 4/5 years, so have been having lots of trips.

I'm still planning trips in Western Europe, but no plans to go further afield FTB.

Yes, hesitating too. US has been written off since Trump and ICE, we won’t visit.

Unsure of terrorist retaliation in other countries or being too close to targeted airspace.
Thinking of a longer stay in Europe and looking ahead, but not certainly not booking to Australia in January.

We were about to choose a last minute for April too, but won’t now.

Does that apply to war? Isn't it usually an exclusion?

In any case, I'm sure those stranded currently will get home eventually, and perhaps all their costs will be covered by insurance or tour operators, but it must still be very stressful.

Such a shame. We went to Sri Lanka last summer, independently. And we’re
planning independent travel this summer too, it’s so much cheaper. But not
feeling confident. Sri Lanka definitely one to avoid at the moment by recent news reports!
the people there really need to tourism too. So sad.

Yes we were planning on doing East Coast US this year but now won't go to the US due to the political regime. Then we were contemplating Sri Lanka but now don't want to do anything that would have routed via the middle east or that isn't a package (planned it independently). We are not booking anything unless and until things settle down a bit.

DSis was supposed to be doing Turkey at Easter but has changed it.

Tour operators normally cancel a trip if there is danger or a travel warning. For example TUI already cancelled some flights today to Cyprus. They would also be responsible for bringing you home or organising hotels, accommodation etc.

That hasn't helped the people who are currently stranded. They can only cancel if they know of escalation in advance

How do they bring you home if airspace is closed?

Do the ususal rules apply during war or is that an exclusion?

Even if there's no danger, as such, there is significant risk of severe disruption IMO.

I was about to book a trip to Oman for next January, which is definitely on hold now.

Booked a trip to Turkey literally the day before it all kicked off, with Jet2. I am kicking myself about this! Have only paid the deposit and not sure if they will let me switch or will say I lose the deposit if I don't proceed etc

Maybe worth bearing in mind (or maybe not) that there's a difference in risk exposure between routing via the middle east by way of overflight (e.g. UK-Singapore or Bangkok,.non-stop) verses routing to the Far East with a connection in the middle east.

In the former case it's relatively easy for the airline to shift the route of flights away from a conflict area, connections are much more difficult to re-jig.

Not for summer especially but I had just booked an independent trip to Sri Lanka (sounded wonderful and researching moving round seemed a much better option to see as much as possible - where depends on time of year). I have zero concerns about Sri Lanka itself but flights there were with Emirates via Dubai and even other flights still operating are mostly going over active war zones or countries missiles have been sent to. We also have due to caring responsibilities and needing cover exact dates and although people are being helped the re-rerouting option you often find out a few hours before its one way each time and for some its in a few weeks time with some not contacted for days due to numbers involved. Sri Lanka does have lots of wonderful places to stay very cheapily but I would be anxious during the holiday about getting back and /or being delayed. If you are booking be incredibly careful with looking up what happens if there's a problem and read all small print.

It looks like we will have everything refunded in full now (well apart from 2 Sri Lankan visas at 50 dollars each but they are most welcome to that and need it far more than we do). Flights have just gone full refund - well I think so Emirates notice isn't 100% clear its looking very hopeful. But am wary of booking something else. It feels very much like when covid hit with things escalating rapidly with more and more countries involved.

If I hadn't seen that MN post about Sri Lanka, it would not have occurred to me that flights there could be affected.

The other issue is flight prices longhaul are going through the roof for safer places / routes as everyone shifts for time scale we are looking at. They have roughly doubled since we booked a couple of weeks ago.

I booked last year to go visit family in the US this month. Canada I wouldn’t worry about but the US… I’m still going of course but I know many who wouldn’t go to the US in particular rather than not travel at all.

Thing is there's a danger of all the Far East destinations being clobbered for no ream reason because Gulf connections are currently very problematic.

You can get to Sri Lanka and many other places in the Far East from Europe and the UK without going anywhere near the Gulf but Emirates and other airlines have done a really good job via advertising and the influencers at persuading many people that a Dubai/Qatar etc.connection is the only way travel.

Was planning on going to Hong Kong to visit family and take my Dads remains to put to rest. My brothers and I have not been all been able to commit to a time frame till some time this year and it’s well overdue, they are in America. Nothing is booked yet. Haven’t spoken to them yet but it is putting me off. In theory airspace used should be ok but prices are escalating. Sky high according to Reuters.

Yes but the alternatives routes to Sri Lanka are generally flying over Turkey (missile just intercepted) and over Pakistan and Afghanistan who are at war. None of these routes look especially safe to me.

A lot depends your comfort threshold.

Chances of being hit by intercepted missile over Turkey are probably less than the chances of being killed driving to the airport.

Overflight of Afghanistan and Pakistan has gone on with the odd break for decades, even during the time the Insurgency was is full force and US Air strikes were going on...the various authorities involved in this, including Pakistani and Afghan ATC have been very good at rerouting well traffic away from the actual areas where action was ongoing.

If that still doesn't float your boat flights can and do route well south of the Gulf via Saudi Arabia.

Thanks @notimagain Yes I think different people will have different risk thresholds and different circumstances / anxiety levels. I am nervous about all the routes to Sri Lanka as I think the situation is escalating by the day but others aren't - we have caring responsibilities which impacts our risk threshold and I would also worry which would impact enjoyment. The flight prices have also doubled on the direct route for us and it doesn't seem sensible to go now at a time of higher risk for twice the price with delay risks.

We booked long haul the weekend before with an overlay in the Middle East.😬 This week I wouldn’t be - probably Brittany or the Loire instead. This could both drag on further months and massively escalate. It’s also about where you would feel comfortable getting trapped

I probably wouldn’t book a holiday to Asia right now, but I’ve become more risk-averse since having kids.

We already have a holiday to France booked for June, and we’re planning another trip to Spain or Italy in September. If by the summer those destinations are being affected by the situation in the Middle East, then we’ll likely have much bigger concerns than our holiday plans.

We’ve already booked - Italy - which I’m hoping will be unaffected.
But I’d be nervous of booking anywhere that involved flying anywhere near America or the Middle East,