Covid travel UK-US ... or not

[BadPinkTink]

Just something to add into the mix. Since August 13 Aer Lingus have started direct flights from Dublin to Washington. Up until now, Aer Lingus only had flights to Chicago, JFK and Boston and people were changed to Jet Blue to continue the journey to other places in America.

 

[chefski]

Dont know what I will do, due to be there for Christmas but first balance for flights is due in 4 weeks and I dont think my nerves will cope with waiting for news after handing over so much money. Will be hard though if flights do start in November and I have let the flights go!!

Who are you booked with? as I rang Virgin as they want final balance usually 12 weeks in advance and they just instantly changed it to 5 weeks prior to travel.

 

[scottishgirl1]

I am booked for Aer Lingus direct flight through a travel agent. Hopefully they will allow extra time before balance is due but at the same time, I have no idea if the direct flight to Orlando will restart in time at this stage and whether only indirect flights would go. Also if I knew that this year was definitely off I would head for Disneyland Paris for a few days for a desperately needed short break but not keen to commit to flights for that just yet until Disney World is definitely cancelled

 

[Plague]

I rang Virgin as they want final balance usually 12 weeks in advance and they just instantly changed it to 5 weeks prior to travel.

That may be interesting.
Or not.
They obviously want to hang onto bookings rather than suddenly find the US opens but everyone has already cancelled.
Given likely lead times from an announcement of easing restrictions 5 weeks makes a lot of sense.

 

[mamamia2005]

I was told if travelling by 31st December, virgin holidays balance due date is now 8 weeks before departure, not the original 12.
Not that it really makes any difference to us, as I doubt we will know more by 24th October compared to 26th Sept which was our original balance due date.

 

[chefski]

i changed mine about 5-6 weeks ago. Due on 5th Sep

I will pay it then unless we know otherwise my issue is i have Discovery Cove tickets i got from Undercover Tourist and have until 30 days prior to cancel or move dates. Im hoping that i know more by then

 

[Mr. Drauer]

I don't think so as you have schools going back in the coming weeks and no masks will be allowed at all.

THis is incorrect - No mandates are allowed. anyone can wear a mask if they like. 6 Districts made mask mandates anyhow and are enforcing them. Others have institued 30 day mandates to see what happens. In Orange County (Orlando) - they are requiring them unless a parent opts out, and to date, only 8% have (that is out of 215,000 students). All staff has to wear them at a majority of school districts.

 

[Plague]

I am booked for Aer Lingus direct flight through a travel agent. Hopefully they will allow extra time before balance is due but at the same time, I have no idea if the direct flight to Orlando will restart in time at this stage and whether only indirect flights would go.

I would not pay balance unless you can't get your deposit back - cancel the flights but hang on to the Disney booking.
If they open the border in time you can look for flights then. If they are too expensive then you just knock the trip on the head then.

 

[scottishgirl1]

I dont think I will get deposit back but they are willing to move it to 2022, I would worry about Christmas flight prices being totally unaffordable at that time but perhaps not if there is still so much uncertainty. I agree though, I really dont feel comfortable paying balance without some kind of announcement about borders.

 

[chefski]

I dont think I will get deposit back but they are willing to move it to 2022, I would worry about Christmas flight prices being totally unaffordable at that time but perhaps not if there is still so much uncertainty. I agree though, I really dont feel comfortable paying balance without some kind of announcement about borders.

But if the borders arent open then you should get a full refund?

 

[scottishgirl1]

Probably but still not a situation I want to be in, had enough stress waiting for refunds in 2020!

 

[chefski]

Probably but still not a situation I want to be in, had enough stress waiting for refunds in 2020!

Fair enough, i know i left my full balance with virgin after 1st and 2nd cancellations, then after 3rd i got refund except deposit. Its a pain and this is the closest we have got to going so is becoming stressful. Just wish they would say borders open or they are closed until 2022. (i know that wouldnt happen with the money involved with tourism but it would help a lot of people out)

 

[scottishgirl1]

Definitely, if I knew, I would just throw myself into planning for a few days at DLP, instead of this constant waiting and what iffery!

 

[chefski]

Definitely, if I knew, I would just throw myself into planning for a few days at DLP, instead of this constant waiting and what iffery!

agree if they said no go, id do a few days at DLP and put this off till late next year

 

[chefski]

saying that for 4 days, same dates as we are due to go, in the cheapest disney hotel is £2719 were only paying £7k for 16 nights in a moderate Disney hotel LOL.

Then i remember why we go to Florida instead of Paris

 

[Garyjames220]

There will always be high peaks now for the foreseeable future

Surly we can’t just carry on like this or holidays will never happen

If you have had the vaccine what is going to charge for it to be safe to go

 

[chefski]

kids havent had the vaccine though.

 

[Plague]

If you have had the vaccine what is going to charge for it to be safe to go

Trouble is that Delta means you can still get it when vaccinated and be a spreader even if not ill.
The business of "learning to live with it" is going to take a while, especially with so many anti-vaccers still extant, because they will catch it from vaccinated people and overload the hospitals.
And now there is the concern about waning vaccine effectiveness after 6-8 months.

Fauci said something today about having Covid under control by spring 2022 ... I think that could be optimististic.

 

[Garyjames220]

Trouble is that Delta means you can still get it when vaccinated and be a spreader even if not ill.
The business of "learning to live with it" is going to take a while, especially with so many anti-vaccers still extant, because they will catch it from vaccinated people and overload the hospitals.
And now there is the concern about waning vaccine effectiveness after 6-8 months.

Fauci said something today about having Covid under control by spring 2022 ... I think that could be optimististic.

so what is the answer as delta is here to stay and more varrents are probably only a matter of time

how do we get to travel etc as there is going no where

 

[scottishgirl1]

Yes, vaccinated or unvaccinated should have been easier to implement for travel than the possibility of having to include boosters.

It looks as if different countries could give boosters in different ways and perhaps put different time limits on what is regarded as remaining fully vaccinated.

How on earth does that work out when you can't just go and get a jab when you want or need it and neither can those travelling with you.