Travelling abroad by plane, what would you have done?

Just to say, I have terrible hay-fever at the moment with lots of sneezing !

Unfortunately I'll HAVE to fly soon back to Italy and I'm already panicking at the idea of spending 2 hours on a plane full of people. If I had to find myself in the same situation as foxie48, I'd ask staff if I could change my seat. If that wouldn't be possible, I'd feel indeed very anxious and uncomfortable.
Apart from wearing an N95 mask as well as gloves, I don't know what other measures I could take to protect myself

Think this would have been my worst nightmare re COVID situation when traveling . I am going on a long flight to my DS wedding in Canada in September, and I really hope I don’t get someone like you had, if I do then I think I’d have to say something to airline staff. What’s the point in him wearing a mask only to remove it when talking on his phone.. but at least you were ok and tested negative later..

Unlike most I wouldn’t have worried at all. I’m almost 72 and in the past 2 years I’ve travelled to Spain and back by car via ferry to Santander. I’ve also twice visited my son and family in Amsterdam flying both times. I’ve travelled to Jersey twice by car and ferry to St Helier to visit relatives. I’ve just returned from a 6 week visit to Melbourne Australia where my daughter and family live. I’m not bragging far from it but I’ve been triple vaxed wear a mask during flights and refuse to put my life on hold. I’d never get these precious years back.

I have been I’ll with a terrible cough, runny nose, very high temperature and tpdeep headache. I’ve done three lateral flow tests, all negative. I had Bronchitis but have been Covid as far as the symptoms were concerned. In fact there are so many symptoms now that I have at least one of them all the time. In your position, I would have felt very uncomfortable and anxious, but you did all you could in the circumstances. I do know someone who tested positive after a flight back from New York. It’s inevitable that on a full plane at least one person will be having Covid, either knowingly or asymptomatic. You make your own choices now, if you want to fly away for a short holiday break you need to take on board all that goes with that. For myself, I haven’t flown for about six years now, but that doesn’t mean that I wouldn’t one day take a flight abroad for a holiday, once in a while. My DC and his wife have just gone a short weekend break but decided to take the train. I think there is a great deal to be said for slow travel. Flying has never been a stress free or comfortable means of transport unless you go business class and to have to sit so squashed up to someone coughing and spluttering would have put me in a high state of discomfort. I am glad for you that it turned out ok but with all restrictions lifted, each day we venture out we expose ourselves to this risk. I have more life lived behind me than ahead of me so I will not put it on hold any more and would take the risks involved in order to live the life I would want to, we only have one go at it, and now that Covid is so unlikely to kill you, I carry on as near normal as possible while still going the basics mask wearing, hand washing etc. I hope your holiday was not spoilt by your anxiety and you managed to relax.

I wouldn’t go on a plane, train or bus unless I absolutely had to. The thought of sitting with strangers in a confined space freaks me out and your experience has confirmed my resolve not to do it- at least until covid is completely under control ( if it ever will be)

Planes have always been one of the worst places to catch something. You spend hours re-breathing in air that has been circulated around the plane. I doubt that the air is circulated through any apparatus that kills germs and viruses. If you are still very wary of the germs/viruses, best not to go abroad. Either that or accept that you will come into contact from time to time and it all should, if you have a robust immune system, bolster your immunity even further.

Saggi I agree with you but feel I cannot totally give up foreign travel. However, we don't have more than one holiday a year abroad and sometimes not even that. I have friends who holiday abroad at least four times a year so perhaps we should encourage people to cut down rather than give up entirely.

I agree wholeheartedly that these floating cities of the sea should be an absolute no no. There are pages and pages of cruise deals in the papers at the moment. Why is this being encouraged when it is so environmentally damaging?

The UK is beautiful and I very much enjoy having breaks here BUT the weather is very unpredictable. I do understand why particularly working people are reluctant to commit to 2 weeks annual holiday here which could end up being a complete washout.

If I was very worried about catching Covid I wouldn’t voluntarily put myself in a situation where I was at greater risk. We can’t control other people but we can control our own actions.

I don’t want to get covid but I accept that as I now go to shops and cafes etc, I am putting myself at risk. For me, that’s the price I have to pay for a semblance of normal life.

Sounds like the "Super Cold" which is doing the rounds. I've had it and it's awful - but it isn't Covid.

The only period during which I didn’t fly was during the first lockdown. I flew a soon as I could which was September 2020, and several times since. Always followed the rules and had the correct jabs/paperwork etc. and have never had covid. I could catch it at work or in the local shop. So I’m not letting it stop me from doing anything at all.

SueE…..looks like it’s the Sue’s which are likeminded.