moderate risk (clinically vulnerable)

Treeman3

Hi, advice please.

I have a holiday booked for Spain from the 23 July 2020. Two of the party have asthma and one is over 70. The government guidelines at this time are that all three people have a moderate risk (clinically vulnerable) and should amongst other things keep a distance of 2 meters. A 2 metre distance is not possible on a flight, so does this mean that they will not be recommended to travel and should be given a full refund under government advice (as the advice stands today) from their package holiday supplier?   Thanks 

Browntoa

I suspect not unless you get "unfit to fly" letters from a doctor.

Shielding was a suggestion , not a legal requirement on you and do this would be "disinclination to travel" 

Treeman3

Browntoa said:

I suspect not unless you get "unfit to fly" letters from a doctor.

Shielding was a suggestion , not a legal requirement on you and do this would be "disinclination to travel" 

Hi and thanks Browntoa. They don't have to shiled, thats for people who are at high risk (clinically extremely vulnerable). The wording they use is "general advice" rather than "a suggestion" but I take your point and I only highlight it because it matters in legal cases, although I think the wording is similar. 

Mrsn

I would think this would fall under disinclination to travel if I’m honest. 

The note from their Dr might if they were inclined to provide one may say something along the lines of risks of COVID during travel which insurers which in my opinion would reject.

In any event our next update is due very shortly and I’m sure the distancing on a plane thing will have to be given consideration.

sharpe106

No basically it is a choice. There is nothing actually stopping them from flying it is just advice but that is not the holiday provider problem. They will only be able to get a refund as the rules stand if the holiday is cancelled by the provider or the advice from the foreign office changes. 

Browntoa

I'm of the mind that the plane will not be the highest risk , I would use required face masks , own hand sanitizer and wipes for seating area ( my understanding is that "if possible" airlines are sitting people with family but will leave an empty seat next to them but not possible on full flights) 

I'm thinking highest risk area is boarding where the "gate lice" hover near the boarding desk despite being asked to remain seated  ,then the scrum to collect baggage on arrival , the bus that ferries you to the terminal and then the queues for passport control . I'm planning to hold back as much as possible before boarding , getting luggage and going through passport . Not like the coach can leave to take you to your resort until you are all onboard.

[Deleted User]

Browntoa said:

I'm thinking highest risk area is boarding where the "gate lice" hover near the boarding desk despite being asked to remain seated  ,then the scrum to collect baggage on arrival , the bus that ferries you to the terminal and then the queues for passport control . I'm planning to hold back as much as possible before boarding , getting luggage and going through passport . Not like the coach can leave to take you to your resort until you are all onboard.

Ha ha ha....funny you should say this Browntoa!   I have NEVER understood this mad rush to get on the plane first either?  It isn't like the plane is going to take off any quicker.   I always hang back, getting on, getting off and collecting baggage! 

But I digress.

OP if you decide you or your party are too vulnerable to travel despite being given the go ahead, then it would be an insurance job rather than the a refund from the travel agents, I would say, hoping they have the appropriate insurance in place which is hard to know as most people won't have.    

Pollycat

Browntoa said:

I'm of the mind that the plane will not be the highest risk , I would use required face masks , own hand sanitizer and wipes for seating area ( my understanding is that "if possible" airlines are sitting people with family but will leave an empty seat next to them but not possible on full flights) 

I'm thinking highest risk area is boarding where the "gate lice" hover near the boarding desk despite being asked to remain seated  ,then the scrum to collect baggage on arrival , the bus that ferries you to the terminal and then the queues for passport control . I'm planning to hold back as much as possible before boarding , getting luggage and going through passport . Not like the coach can leave to take you to your resort until you are all onboard.

This is why I cancelled my late August holiday.

Knowing how busy MAN airport is at check-in and Security, I can't see how social distancing will work. Even with reduced volumes of flights.

Passport Control at destination, luggage reclaim and coach transfer to resort is also a concern.

And of course you have it all to do in reverse at the end of your holiday.

Browntoa

I forgot the families who ignore the antics of their "little darlings" . Last thing people want is your little germ superspreaders bouncing up and down on the seat in front or behind you coughing, spluttering and sneezing all over you.

Control the little monster for once "they are excited about their holiday" is not an excuse.

And yes , I have taken young children on flights. 

harz99

Tedber said:

Browntoa said:

I'm thinking highest risk area is boarding where the "gate lice" hover near the boarding desk despite being asked to remain seated  ,then the scrum to collect baggage on arrival , the bus that ferries you to the terminal and then the queues for passport control . I'm planning to hold back as much as possible before boarding , getting luggage and going through passport . Not like the coach can leave to take you to your resort until you are all onboard.

Ha ha ha....funny you should say this Browntoa!   I have NEVER understood this mad rush to get on the plane first either?  It isn't like the plane is going to take off any quicker.   I always hang back, getting on, getting off and collecting baggage! 

Conditioned from the days of the "lo cost no allocated seats" free for all, or probably more pertinently these days - worrying about getting all their hand luggage up in the o/h lockers...

Mrsn

Browntoa said:

I forgot the families who ignore the antics of their "little darlings" . Last thing people want is your little germ superspreaders bouncing up and down on the seat in front or behind you coughing, spluttering and sneezing all over you.

Control the little monster for once "they are excited about their holiday" is not an excuse.

And yes , I have taken young children on flights. 

I remember being on a flight back from Spain a few years ago with my then 5 and 2 year old. There was a group of ladies mid 50’s maybe slightly older I’d say who clearly horrified they were sat behind us and I’d heard lots of tutting.

One of the ladies actually said to me
once we had landed she couldn’t believe how well behaved my children were throughout and that they were a credit to us. She was obviously expecting something completely different!