Wedding in the USA in August

ruthber

Hi, when would you book flights to attend a wedding in the USA in August? I know it is very much guesswork but it is my son's wedding, so we would like to go if at all possible.
There would be 4 adults travelling 2 with preexisting conditions. Can you recommend travel insurance as well, please? thank you

TELLIT01

Check Insureandgo and Staysure for the insurance although I don't think either will cover anything covid related now.  For flights I would only book flights which can be cancelled without charge as nobody knows what the future holds.

Ganga

You will have to make sure you can get a visa to visit the USA ,we had ours cancelled last March and they have not been reinstated yet.

Sandtree

ruthber said:

Hi, when would you book flights to attend a wedding in the USA in August? I know it is very much guesswork but it is my son's wedding, so we would like to go if at all possible.
There would be 4 adults travelling 2 with preexisting conditions. Can you recommend travel insurance as well, please? thank you

Are you US citizens or greencard holders? If not are you hoping to get entry on compassionate grounds?

You wont want to book the flights until either:
a) You know you can get into the country or
b) Airline's Covid related guarantees are extended to cover your departure date (BA's is only until late April at the moment)

The other option is to buy a flexible ticket but that's clearly much more expensive.

As to insurance, Covid cover is not going to be happening so its a case of buying for other risks... presumably this isnt your first trip abroad since getting the conditions and so start with whoever you normally buy from.

ruthber

Thank you both. I didn't even know I needed a visa. ATM they are not allowing visitors so probably couldn't even apply for one I guess. I have serious reservations about travelling this summer but if circumstances change and travel is allowed we would go.
I am just really worried about quarantine at either end and not getting a positive test for any of the 4 traveling together. If anyone in the group tested positive the others would not travel because of special needs. 

Sandtree

You don't need a Visa, unless you are barred from the ESTA visa waiver programme, but entry is potentially going to require special dispensation depending on your son's status and everyone's relationship to him. Unfortunately a wedding is unlikely to qualify from what I've read.

U.S. Visa and Travel FAQs | U.S. Embassy & Consulates in the United Kingdom

Your only other option is travelling via a third country where you stay for 14 days before going to the USA

ruthber

Sandtree, no, we are British so were going to apply for ESTA. So we should not book until the Proclamation is lifted?
We have never been outside EEC and just relied on EHIC and did not book travel insurance before so do not really know where to start. My son and American fiancee and currently living in UK. She would like to have the wedding in US. They would travel ahead and the remaining family ie parents and 2 siblings would follow separately. Is this even feasible for this August?

Teahfc

Gosh if you have never had travel insurance and solely relied on a EHIC I would do some serious homework.
Biden is giving off the vibe that Americans staycation and so the economy does not have to rely on overseas visitors. I would not even touch the USA until next year personally.
So many anti vaxxers and some airlines not policing masks on flights even now. 

Please get some professional assistance on booking and INSURANCE. 

Cutting a finger and using your EHIC card in Spain is was ok but start calling out ambulances or attending ER in the states with not enough insurance is a fast route to bankruptcy. 

sheramber

Unless your son is an American citizen he will be under the same restrictions as yourselves. He is not allowed into USA if he has been in the restricted countries with 14 days before travelling. There is a list of the prohibited countries in the Proclamation.
So, he would have to spend 14 days in some other country before travelling to America.
 

TELLIT01

As an aside to the original question, even travelling in Europe without insurance when we were still in the EU was a high risk strategy.  EHIC and the replacement GHIC would not provide insurance cover for repatriation following serious illness.  Please don't even think about travelling to the USA if you can't get comprehensive insurance cover.  With pre-existing medical conditions that probably will not be cheap.

ruthber

I wish I had a crystal ball! I don't want to book the flights until travel restrictions are lifted both here and in the USA but by then we would be cutting it fine and probably pay through the nose. In general what is the sequence for going to the USA? Do you book tickets after or before insurance and ESTA? thanks