I don’t understand why

I agree if people stopped flying it would help to stop the spread of the virus. I love holidays and we booked three holidays in January for the next twelve months. Fortunately we are starting to get refunds but I would rather loose the money than risk catching Covid and maybe have long term problems from it.

Have to admit there have been temptations, but I'd be terrified of having to be quarantined either here or there. Apart from that I haven't been very far from Harrogate this lockdown. Don't really want to go far. Hoping I'll still be around to travel when the world is a safer place

The Irish word eejits springs to mind when I think of those going abroad for no good reason.

The UK is an island. I know that the virus spreads in other ways within the UK, but limiting overseas travel, other than necessary trips, would reduce the transmission of the virus from overseas. I do not plan to travel overseas for the forseeable.

No holidays in UK or abroad for us for the foreseeable future. Totally unexpected circumstances forced us into shielding weeks before lockdown (long,long story which I won't bore you with here). However, we recently had a little summerhouse erected at the end of the garden which we now call our 'holiday home' - little pleasures where we can find them.

I would not trust the air conditioning on a plane I always had a cold after flying to and from the USA.

Long before covid, I took a no fly pledge for 2020, to help the environment. Having only done 1 return flight per decade of my life previously, the last one to my much loved auntie's funeral in Germany. Only ever 1 holiday flight, to Greece in 1981.
I really don't understand the obsession with holiday flights every year. Had 2 holidays in France by ferry and one to Ireland. Other holidays in beautiful parts of the UK.

We are in the same boat, still trying to get a refund for flights booked in February to fly in June. Today it is exacerbated even more as our DiL father died suddenly yesterday and we cannot be there to help them with the children whilst arrangements are made. A very sad time.

We need to learn to live with it. It's not going away! You can't put your life and freedom on hold forever. Catching it is not the same as dying from it.

Not everyone travels to go on holiday. I traveled to see my poorly Dad. I kept to all rules including 14 days quarantine.

We’ve rebooked for Switzerland in 2021 and I’m beginning to have doubts about that ...

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Well said.......GardenofEngland

I agree that I think foreign travel this year is unnecessary but us British seem to have a bit of an obsession with going abroad otherwise it's not a holiday!

We haven't been on a plane since 2005, was looking forward to our first family trip abroad at Easter with our 14 and 17 year old (we were due to go to Milan) but obviously this got cancelled. We don't mind, we have always been very happy going on holiday in the UK and will continue to do so.

We flew back from Australua late June and our Quatar flight was very safe. The flight attendants had full white suits head to foot and masks and gloves. We had space between rows and were very comfortable. We did have to wear masks except for meals. Not sure some European flights to holiday destinations are quite that way!

It's absolutely nuts that people can't stay put for a year, or even two! I know people who've been on at least two holidays abroad in the last eight months. As soon as anywhere becomes quarantine clear on return to the UK off they go. They're not young and thoughtless either, just have enormous government pensions that the poor beleaguered taxpaying UK is paying for!

I don't understand it either. Spending their money in the UK us a far better idea anyway.

My sister and I, since we were both widowed, have spent Christmas and New Year in Egypt. It is a quiet time for the business she runs and a chance to get some winter sun.

This year we have cancelled and will probably lose our deposit — full payment not made. It would be 4+ hours on the plane wearing masks and, once we got there, the hotel would have social distancing and mask-wearing in place, the lovely Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve gala evenings will either be cancelled or very different.

The airport at the other end is usually a nightmare with the crowds.

No, not for us this year.

On a lighter note, I have visions of people back from sunny climes with tans as far as the top of their noses and the rest of the face white.

Many families are unable to afford a holiday in the UK.

Quite agree but it would be good if the idiots would as it would mean they weren’t littering up our area of outstanding natural beauty

I completely agree with Bluebell. If everyone in the world stayed at home except for essential travel for one year then we may stand a chance of getting the virus under control.
I can see that this would affect the travel sector of the economy badly but the consequence of continual lockdowns will affect lots of other sectors, hospitality, entertainment, retail, to name a few. Not to mention giving our children an uninterrupted education.
I also agree withDoodledog that we are confusing want with need when we say we must have a holiday and agree with Jane10 about the over use of 'the affect on our mental health'. we all feel low sometimes, we have all had periods of sadness and times when we feel sorry for ourselves but let's not confuse our disappointments with real mental health issues suffered by some.
Surely we are not so fragile that we can't survive the lack of a holiday for a year or two.
During World War II our parents and grandparents went without a holiday for six years or more for the good of the nation. In fact many of that generation never even went abroad for pleasure.
I know some posters will tell me that their family working in the NHS have been under such pressure that a holiday is essential but it isn't really, there are many ways to unwind in our own country.
I do appreciate that some have indeed gone the extra mile for us but I do think that avoiding non essential travel, for the greater good, would benefit all in the long run if it slows the virus spread right down.

We had a holiday on the Llyn Peninsula in August, hubby and me, our 2 sons with their wives and 4 grandchildren. We stayed just outside Aberdaron in 3 self catering cottages - had a fantastic holiday, travelled in our own cars. We enjoyed it so much we have all booked for next year to make sure we get the accommodation we want. Me and hubby had a holiday to fuerteventura cancelled ( March 2020) and got money back. We also had a week booked to Pembrokeshire in May which was cancelled but we have transferred it to next year. I personally wouldn't consider going abroad until this virus is sorted and whilst my family are happy in Wales then that will be fine with us too. I agree, fabulous places to enjoy in UK, can't guarantee the weather but don't let that stop you. For us, Pembrokeshire is idyllic, too far to travel for the little ones but fine for me, hubby and Alfie our border terrier - we love it.

Direne3 has bought a summerhouse with her holiday money, our son bought a hot tub, friends spent theirs on a lovely patio, others may have had a sitting room makeover, a conservatory or a garden pond. Things that can be enjoyed at home for many years. Sounds good to me.

Lulubelle500

It's absolutely nuts that people can't stay put for a year, or even two! I know people who've been on at least two holidays abroad in the last eight months. As soon as anywhere becomes quarantine clear on return to the UK off they go. They're not young and thoughtless either, just have enormous government pensions that the poor beleaguered taxpaying UK is paying for!

Surely they deserve their pensions and can spend as they please?

I am dumbfounded by these posts. We have a climate emergency brewing which will make Covid look like a Sunday school picnic, and people are discussing air travel as if it’s perfectly acceptable. It is not.