Rescuing standed Brits

Shortlegs what about the students on overseas years who were initially advised to stay where they were?
The gap year types who couldnt get onward flights etc

Only selfish people go on cruises anyway but they are not going to be the majority of stranded brits

It all happened so quickly and, in some cases, stop off borders closed so long haul became a challenge.

I just hope that when they get back they are quarantined.

We had a hotel booked in Skiathos for June, we hadn’t yet booked the flights as things were getting a bit tricky. Yesterday I cancelled the hotel, I had a free cancellation until early April. I’m already wondering about our planned trip to France in August, I haven’t booked a ferry yet but have booked an apartment, with free cancellation until mid August. Then the BA flights we booked to Canada in September, who knows whether that will happen.

These tend to be the "I don't want to live in a nanny state" people, until they need help, then it's "The government are doing nothing to help me".

My sil is one works abroad but comes every year for a month. During this month the country she works in shut its borders and she was stranded here and will probably be here until after Christmas. She said thank go I was here and that is the same for anyone working abroad or gap year students where they are stranded in a country with shut borders. We should get them home.

As for people going on cruises and holidays in March, we had a holiday booked for the 20th March but cancelled, lost a lot of money but at least we are safe. Some people are just being stupid.

My son is in Milan working and is obviously stuck, he has booked several flights home and they have all been cancelled the latest flight was due to be on the 4 April cancelled, he has another on the 11 April bus has already been warned it is likely to be cancelled he is not asking for a freebie he will pay obviously if a flight will fly.

I think it's complete madness to bring people home and trust them to isolate. Yes, arrange to bring them back - for quarantine!

I think a lot of people thought that they could escape the virus by going abroad. It bothers me that WE are having to pay for their return, and will they have to go into quarantine?- I doubt it because there are thousands of them.

My feeling is hat we should bring them home if at all possible. However I think they should pay for their own tickets, either upfront or later, but they shouldn’t expect the country to pay when our medics still haven’t got sufficient PPE. They should also go into enforced quarantine, like the people returning from China did.
suzie mentions an extremely selfish couple, who after being repatriated from their holiday, complained because they had to return economy class! Unbelievably selfish people.

Two weeks ago it was patently obvious what was about to befall us so don't give me that!

Says everyone now
So explain why, if it was so obvious to everyone, were our cafes, restraunts, gyms, hairdressers as busy as usual? If it was so obvious to everyone except those that travelled?

I think people should have to repay the cost. That is what happens if you lose your documents overseas and a British Consul or Embassy helps you.
The question really is whether they are going to be tested on arrival. Otherwise there will just be another surge.

I don't think I could have been persuaded onto a cruise ship over the last two months for a King's ransom. People have, however, and I read today of a couple who have been virtually locked in a windowless cabin for nine days with no air conditioning. On a different kind of holiday, a woman has said that she and her partner are desperate and living on handouts - however unwise they may have been in going, they must be rescued from this kind of hell, albeit self inflicted. Perhaps if they agree to pay back the cost over a period of time?

Two weeks ago it was patently obvious what was about to befall us so don't give me that! Unless people were walking about with their heads up their backsides to selfish to care... Let someone else pick up the tab for getting them home.
The cost of the flight home should be billed to them retrospectively.

My middle son chose to continue with his back packing plans last month to the Far East. Two weeks ago we phoned him and said you ought to come home now. Two days later we collected him from Heathrow. His flight was over £500. I’m not being smug with hindsight, he’s cross with himself for going in the first place as it’s cost him a lot of money. I get that a few are genuinely stranded through no fault of their own. The rest are just putting their selfish holiday plans ahead of common sense and expecting the government to sort it out. The writing has been on the wall for weeks.

Laibak makes a good point of young people who set off on gap years sometime ago, not just going on holiday in the past two or three weeks which would seem to me to have been very foolhardy.
Many young people were working in these countries on a temporary basis, there are medical students on their elective year, my DD used to be sent to various countries in Europe for a few months as a teacher.

I hope your son manages to get back safely, mumofmadboys.

The OP was not about NOT bringing them home. It was about the FACT that some people went abroad when it was clearly an unwise decision so to do and that such people should be funding the cost of their own unwise behaviour. And those that are complaining should just shut up and be grateful. It’s called bring a grown up. I wonder how many posters jumping to the defence of such people are similarly supportive of other groups in society who require government help because they made unwise choices?

Hindsight is wonderful thing isn't it. Some people made errors of judgement, some were genuinely trapped but the end result is the same. I agree with oldwoman get them home and worry about the cost later.

mumofmadboys I hope your boy stays safe and gets home early. It's enough of a worry at any time when they are travelling: my daughter left Kutar a couple of days before the bombings years ago. As you say, thank heavens for WhatsApp

Bring them home, quarantine for at least 14 days - they can repay the costs at a later date. It serves no purpose to blame people for going away - what's done is done.

There is apparently a million Brits still overseas, some want to come home, massive problems getting to the airport to catch a flight when transport shut down. For many getting money transferred and sitting tight might be a better option because when they get home there will be no work either. These rescue flights are going to be paid for by the passengers so not cheap

I hope your son gets an earlier flight back momb. On his own, in India, in one room? Sounds like my worst nightmare and for the next 4 months?

Seems charter flights are being organised by Raab.

Surely, there are lots of individual stories and good reasons why the Govt should help people.
I have a friend who was spending 3 months in the Caribbean over the winter (I am NOT envious!) and who travelled out long before all this started. She was planning to come home in March, in time for the birth of her new grandchild.
She shortened her stay but was very concerned about changing planes in New York, as she didn’t want to be ‘quarantined’ there.
She finally managed to get a direct flight (without Govt help, of course), is home and her new grandchild arrived safely. ?

momb you must be very worried

Bring them home, they should then be quarantined for 14 days before being allowed to return to their families/homes.

This is an unprecedented event and calls for unprecedented measures.