FCOD exempt territories and countries list

pstaylor

Does anyone know whether the above list is still applicable under lockdown restrictions to be imposed on Thursday  (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-countries-and-territories-exempt-from-advice-against-all-but-essential-international-travel) ?
I have been informed by Virgin Holidays (where I made a hotel booking) that the above is not applicable and therefore my hotel will be cancelled, however Virgin Atlantic (where I booked my flight using points) have referred me to this site and state the lockdown is not affecting their flight schedule?
Any informed advice would be appreciated!

Caz3121

They are voting tomorrow in parliament re the lockdown. I would expect the site to be updated after the vote

epm-84

A travel industry insider said they are expecting the government to tell us to not make any non-essential travel from 00:01 on Thursday but to still expect the list of countries where a 14 day self-isolation is not required to be updated weekly due to people already on holiday returning and people making essential travel.

The government won't be banning flights so it's up to airlines to decide which flights they do and don't continue to operate.

pstaylor

epm-84 said:

A travel industry insider said they are expecting the government to tell us to not make any non-essential travel from 00:01 on Thursday but to still expect the list of countries where a 14 day self-isolation is not required to be updated weekly due to people already on holiday returning and people making essential travel.

The government won't be banning flights so it's up to airlines to decide which flights they do and don't continue to operate.

Hi, so does that mean, eventhough I am may not be allowed to travel as per government stipulation, the flight may still go ahead and therefore I lose my flight costs even if the destination is on the exempt territories and countries list?

Westin

Yes. If you booked this trip separately and the flight still operates.
Now might be a good time to read your travel insurance policy again to see if you are covered if the FCDO travel advisories are amended and changed this week.

epm-84

pstaylor said:

epm-84 said:

A travel industry insider said they are expecting the government to tell us to not make any non-essential travel from 00:01 on Thursday but to still expect the list of countries where a 14 day self-isolation is not required to be updated weekly due to people already on holiday returning and people making essential travel.

The government won't be banning flights so it's up to airlines to decide which flights they do and don't continue to operate.

Hi, so does that mean, eventhough I am may not be allowed to travel as per government stipulation, the flight may still go ahead and therefore I lose my flight costs even if the destination is on the exempt territories and countries list?

Unless the airline has a policy of allowing a refund/rebooking based on FCDO advice, yes. Your insurance may cover you, depending on your policy terms and when it was taken out but paying using loyalty points won't help any insurance claim.

mattyprice4004

pstaylor said:

epm-84 said:

A travel industry insider said they are expecting the government to tell us to not make any non-essential travel from 00:01 on Thursday but to still expect the list of countries where a 14 day self-isolation is not required to be updated weekly due to people already on holiday returning and people making essential travel.

The government won't be banning flights so it's up to airlines to decide which flights they do and don't continue to operate.

Hi, so does that mean, eventhough I am may not be allowed to travel as per government stipulation, the flight may still go ahead and therefore I lose my flight costs even if the destination is on the exempt territories and countries list?

Yes, airlines still have a lot of customers who aren't travelling for leisure - those travelling to take care of people needing care and those travelling for work.

The destination being on the list has never made a difference; the list is travel advice and quarantine restrictions don't affect your eligibility for a refund. If the flight is cancelled, you'll get a refund though.

pstaylor

I still do not believe that I have had a definitive response to my main/initial query.... which is 'Is the exemption list for travel to counties and territories still applicable? Whilst lockdown restrictions are detailed as no international travel, navigating through the government website I end up at a page indicating some countries and territories are exempt from the advice of 'all but essential travel'
The attached hyperlink  below details that ' The FCDO has a global advisory against ‘all but essential’ travel, but exempts destinations that do not pose an unacceptably high risk for British travellers', of which my planned destination is one of them
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-countries-and-territories-exempt-from-advice-against-all-but-essential-international-travel
I am aware that this page was last updated 29th October before Saturdays announcement however I am just after advice/clarification if anyone knows, if not I will hope for further clarification/update on the gov.uk site. If the exemption list is now deemed irrelevant then that is fine at least I will know

eskbanker

My understanding is that, as reported at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-54813615 (can't find definitive reference on gov.uk yet), The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) (No. 4) Regulations 2020 were passed through the Commons this afternoon and so now take effect from midnight as planned.

Therefore, https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/1200/part/2/made explains that it isn't permissible to leave your home in England except under defined circumstances, which effectively overrides the FCDO advice for most, even though that still applies to those who are otherwise allowed to travel, e.g. those on business or returning to the UK, etc, as mentioned in earlier posts.

So the bottom line remains that even though your destination may be on the exempt list, you're not allowed to go on holiday there under the new regime.

[Deleted User]

I think putting it simply IF the flight you are booked on is going ahead then the airline have done their job!  Your insurance needs to kick in then if you have insurance that covers you for FCO advice against travel.  

Different story if a package holiday 

zagfles

pstaylor said:

I still do not believe that I have had a definitive response to my main/initial query.... which is 'Is the exemption list for travel to counties and territories still applicable? Whilst lockdown restrictions are detailed as no international travel, navigating through the government website I end up at a page indicating some countries and territories are exempt from the advice of 'all but essential travel'
The attached hyperlink  below details that ' The FCDO has a global advisory against ‘all but essential’ travel, but exempts destinations that do not pose an unacceptably high risk for British travellers', of which my planned destination is one of them
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-countries-and-territories-exempt-from-advice-against-all-but-essential-international-travel
I am aware that this page was last updated 29th October before Saturdays announcement however I am just after advice/clarification if anyone knows, if not I will hope for further clarification/update on the gov.uk site. If the exemption list is now deemed irrelevant then that is fine at least I will know

No the list isn't irrelavent. You seem to be missing the point that the restrictions coming into force tomorrow are for England, whereas the FCDO advice is for the whole of the UK. TUI for example are still selling holidays from Scotland this month.