Travelling abroad by plane, what would you have done?

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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)

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.

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.

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..

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

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

I am with NotSpaghetti, no longer do short haul, because of climate impact. But it's done and you seem to have done the best you could. Many parts of Europe are now easily reachable by train - journey time longer than a flight, but by the time you factor in arriving at least two hours beforeflight/airports miles out of town/delays/expectorating passengers, generally a much more pleasant experience.

I am someone who has always caught something on the plane journey, either on the way out or coming home.... and this was long before Covid.

I probably won't fly again as I find airports extremely stressful, I hate flying itself and I'm lucky enough to live in the UK where we have such wonderful places to visit.

We have flown to Greece, Spain and South Africa over the last 12 months. I have also caught the bus to Derby. On each occasion I wore a mask throughout. Guess on which journey I picked up Covid!!??? Yes, on the bus! I’m afraid it’s a fact of life and I intend to live mine.?

I should add that masks were compulsory on both flights, except when eating. Not much fun for such a long period, but I survived.

I would have been a bit concerned at someone with those symptoms sitting next to me. However, a week ago I spent 18 hours sitting on planes, and 11 hours hanging about in airports in order to visit my 3 children and 2 grandchildren in Australia.
I could have waited longer, but I'm 82. I had never met my almost 2 year old GS, and my GD was only 2 when I last saw her. I thought long and hard about travelling by plane, and decided that I would take the risk. Who knows how much longer I would be fit enough to travel?
I've had 4 jabs, and had to take a test on the day of travel, and another the day after arrival, so considered that it was a pretty safe option. Being able to hug all my family members made it worthwhile.

I'm not confident enough to fly at the moment due to Covid and I guess when I am I will just have to accept the increased risk of being confined in a crowded area. In your case though I think I would have asked if he had tested recently and stated that you were concerned it may be covid. Not in horrid way.. Lets hope as time goes on that you and others on the flight including him are Covid free.

Oopsadaisy1

MrOops has bad Hay fever at the moment and is coughing and spluttering most of the day, it’s difficult because we know it isn’t Covid (we both had it a few weeks ago) but must be disconcerting for others.

We aren’t flying anywhere this Summer, maybe in the Autumn we will wait and see.

Beware Mrs Oopsadaisy1: My sister and her husband have both had Covid twice on the trot this year despite being health professionals and Covid free in the preceding 2 years+. My sister was very ill the second time.....

I'd have done the same. We're due to travel across the pond in May and, although fully vaccinated and boosted both hubby and I will be testing every day 20 days before we travel. We have an observed test booked for the day before travel (required by CDC in US) and I'll be fretting until that day. We're due to attend a birthday party 10 days before travelling, a small gathering but we'll be keeping our distance with no hugging, handshaking etc - fist or elbow bump. Once in US I'll have LFT tests on hand in order to test if required as we're travelling through different states.

@ foxie48 I would have done exactly what you did. The man may have had an allergy, who knows?

My thoughts are you choose to leave home and you have chosen to take the risk. I took the risk to go on holiday to Devon. 2nd week, I had a stomach bug and was very unwell. Now I am just getting over my first cold in years. - not covid, I have done the test. I am barking a lot as near the end of said cold. If I was sat near people I would chat and say it is a cold. Test taken. Just to put people at ease.

My husband tested positive on Tuesday and I tested positive yesterday and we haven't been anywhere except the supermarket! Last year we had a lovely holiday in Greece and two theatre trips and we didn't catch covid. This is the first time for us. We have booked another holiday in Greece in September.

I'm asthmatic so I'm always wheezing and coughing (even just walking around the house today), so on the rare occasions I go out I always wear a mask. I get dirty looks and comments sometimes but I don't care. At least I am not coughing over other people as I see non mask wearers do.

Saggi just think how many Ukrainian refugees could be temporarily accommodated on those beautiful cruise ships if only the government would pull its finger out and get them airlifted to safety.

I have flown several times between lockdowns and as soon as I could in between .....last time a few weeks back I came back from Lanzarote and the plane was full ....sadly I was the one who felt ill !!! was fine the whole 10 days I was there, but on the plane I started to shiver and feel freezing cold ....then had a fever and sneezing ...felt so bad by the time we landed I must have looked so awful I was asked if I needed assistance !!!! I did warn the two people sat next to me and moved to the aisle seat ....but they were very nice and just kept their masks on (not obliged to, on the Jet2 flight I was on)......but since I came home it was diagnosed as a chest infection (which, to be honest all the years of flying I have done, is usual for me ....I bame the air on the plane ....and this time the cool air was going full blast (COVID requirement I think !) so I had a course of antibiotics , a PCR and an LFT and was negative for COVID ......apparently there is a 'worst cold ever' going round ...ha ha maybe it was that ! Did exchange e mails with my fellow travellers in my row ....they are both fine which is good !