Are you bailing on leisure travel right now?
Dec 3, 2021, 5:19 am
#46
Join Date: Jul 2013
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, Hilton Diamond *, IHG, Couples Romance Rewards
Posts: 2,350
Not bailing
In USA (mco) now, very relaxed here, had to swap lft test for pcr but at least had not booked and paid for lft before the rules changed.
Seychelles or Dubai in Jan, USA and Jamaica in Feb/march, Thailand in early April with work trips sprinkled in the middle. We'll go to the places we can and not worry about the places we can't go to. All these trips are refundable either as BAH bookings or avios so the downside is limited.
We don't know if omicron is going to be bad or not but being triple jabbed and with the opportunity to escape the British winter multiple times we are a lot more fortunate than most in this world so are counting our blessings.
In USA (mco) now, very relaxed here, had to swap lft test for pcr but at least had not booked and paid for lft before the rules changed.
Seychelles or Dubai in Jan, USA and Jamaica in Feb/march, Thailand in early April with work trips sprinkled in the middle. We'll go to the places we can and not worry about the places we can't go to. All these trips are refundable either as BAH bookings or avios so the downside is limited.
We don't know if omicron is going to be bad or not but being triple jabbed and with the opportunity to escape the British winter multiple times we are a lot more fortunate than most in this world so are counting our blessings.
Last edited by firstlight; Dec 3, 2021 at 5:26 am
Dec 3, 2021, 5:20 am
#47
Ambassador: Oneworld Alliance
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: LON
Programs: BA Gold (GGL), Hilton Diamond, AA Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,213
We have decided to go 'somewhere' every month in 2022; hopefully on an aircraft. I am completely unconcerned about flying or going anywhere (I would love to be in Cape Town in the next couple of months). I am far more concerned about various government reactions to changing situations.
We were in the US last weekend when the latest edict was issued concerning return to the UK, which originally was not given a time scale. Luckily our LFTs were still going to be OK, if only I could remember where I left them.
We were in the US last weekend when the latest edict was issued concerning return to the UK, which originally was not given a time scale. Luckily our LFTs were still going to be OK, if only I could remember where I left them.
Dec 3, 2021, 5:25 am
#48
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 95
Very much so - too much hassle with rules changing every 5 mins, for example just wasted £35 on a rapid antigen for a flight to Dublin tonight only for the Irish gov to delay the rules until Sunday, now Randox won’t refund…it’s a complete, pointless, racket. The idea of wearing a mask on a long haul flight completely ruins the experience for me personally. Sadly I think it’ll be this way for at least several years yet and we’ll see how many airlines are left at the end. I’m not remotely concerned about COVID, never have been, so I’m not jumping through hoops to sit on a plane somewhere.
Last edited by mfhpfl; Dec 3, 2021 at 5:31 am
Dec 3, 2021, 5:29 am
#49
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: LAX and LHR. UA lifetime Gold 1.9MM 1K , DL Gold Medallion, HHonors Gold, Marriott Gold, Avis President's Club
Posts: 3,592
Results by 10pm is now much too late, unless you are not traveling until the day after that. The new one-day requirement has scuppered a lot of people's previous plans
Dec 3, 2021, 5:36 am
#50
Join Date: Jan 2019
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 146
Very much so - too much hassle with rules changing every 5 mins, for example just wasted £35 on a rapid antigen for a flight to Dublin tonight only for the Irish gov to delay the rules until Sunday, now Randox won’t refund…it’s a complete, pointless, racket. The idea of wearing a mask on a long haul flight completely ruins the experience for me personally. Sadly I think it’ll be this way for at least several years yet and we’ll see how many airlines are left at the end. I’m not remotely concerned about COVID, never have been, so I’m not jumping through hoops to sit on a plane somewhere.
Dec 3, 2021, 5:37 am
#51
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 95
Dec 3, 2021, 5:46 am
#52
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: JER
Programs: BA Gold/OWE, several MUCCI, and assorted Pensions!
Posts: 32,145
As a ‘UK Regions’ traveller, this is a key point. Three days seemed to satisfy most Nations, so the US approach is … ahem … approaching impossible for many pax with connections and/or restricted test facilities. I’m hopeful that Dr. Fauchi’s “Chicken Little” reaction will taper off once more data on omicron is analysed.
Dec 3, 2021, 5:55 am
#53
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: England
Programs: BAEC: Bronze; Marriott: Gold
Posts: 399
As double-jabbed and boosted Elders, we are sufficiently bloody-minded to carry on as normal as much as possible. Not interested in Euro-hopping, but instead seeking long-haul to warm places!
Managed an ANU in Aug, and have PUJ in Jan and PHX in Mar. So it's all a bit inconvenient and a bit more expensive and a little bit risky? Life's a ....., and we just get on with it! We're certainly not going to spend our remaining years sitting at home, wrapped in blankets, thank you.
Managed an ANU in Aug, and have PUJ in Jan and PHX in Mar. So it's all a bit inconvenient and a bit more expensive and a little bit risky? Life's a ....., and we just get on with it! We're certainly not going to spend our remaining years sitting at home, wrapped in blankets, thank you.
Dec 3, 2021, 5:58 am
#54
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Gold, *A Gold, Hertz President's Circle, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 529
Part of me feels I’ve done loads of travel. Did 15 trips last summer before testing introduced. So I don’t feel like I need to travel.
The massive faff of going places, plus sky high prices. But more the chances of absolutely anywhere requiring quarantine at no notice - particularly hotel quarantine. And thus constantly checking the news whilst away, leans me towards cancelling.
The massive faff of going places, plus sky high prices. But more the chances of absolutely anywhere requiring quarantine at no notice - particularly hotel quarantine. And thus constantly checking the news whilst away, leans me towards cancelling.
Dec 3, 2021, 6:02 am
#55
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: SAN
Programs: Nothing, nowhere!
Posts: 23,293
Nope. I will not be binning off leisure travel, I'm in the USA next week for xmas and NY and again at Easter. I will overnight at Heathrow before travelling so that I can get any tests done in the timescales necessary. I spoke with United Airlines and they said a LFT was acceptable so that is what I've booked. Turnaround time is 40 minutes so for travel to the USA, I don't see what the fuss is. Yes PCR test on the way home plus quarantine, if you do one of those airport tests again, you'll only need to be indoors for a day or so.
As far as Omicron goes, until we see a higher mortality rate among the vaccinated than Delta, I will not worry.
As far as Omicron goes, until we see a higher mortality rate among the vaccinated than Delta, I will not worry.
Dec 3, 2021, 6:29 am
#57
Join Date: Mar 2015
Programs: BA GGL
Posts: 2,447
Problem is (at least from my point of view): after Omicron there'll be 'Megacron' or 'Ultracon' or whatever else. It's not going away. So you may find yourself in a forever delay scenario when it comes to travel. Totally personal choice to be respected, of course, but that's my thinking of the situation.
Dec 3, 2021, 6:45 am
#58
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Houston, TX
Programs: Delta Silver, AA, United Silver, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 70
I'm American and I took my Thanksgiving trip last week (Belgium), but there were times I was a little concerned about getting back or the requirements to get back. Luckily it worked out fine. Still planning my trip in 2 weeks to Cozumel right now. The new entry requirements to get back home will be a pain (I'm vaxxed so I used to have more time for testing), but not something that will cause me to cancel as of right now. No other trips are planned as of yet for 2022.
Dec 3, 2021, 6:52 am
#59
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: London
Programs: BA Silver (for now)
Posts: 1,000
We're cancelling everything until face masks are no longer required, both onboard and at the destination. Some people seem to think that face masks are here to stay, in which case we'll be converting our 700,000 Avios to Nectar points and enjoying the British scenery for years to come.
Dec 3, 2021, 7:01 am
#60
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: UK
Programs: BA Silver (temp demotion), *A Silver, HH Gold, IHG Diamond
Posts: 490
As leisure travellers only and not having left the UK since pre Covid, we are excited about our trips to Spain (Jan) and the US (Feb).
Whilst nervous about the ever shifting testing requirements, I think we’ve factored in the time and money to manage those. Both triple vaxxed but still aware that there is a risk of testing positive while away but if we test positive when back, we are fortunate to be able to self isolate at home
Overall today we are less optimistic about the trips going ahead than a few days ago but right now I’m
comfortable to pay the balance of our Spain trip in a
week or so.
Whilst nervous about the ever shifting testing requirements, I think we’ve factored in the time and money to manage those. Both triple vaxxed but still aware that there is a risk of testing positive while away but if we test positive when back, we are fortunate to be able to self isolate at home
Overall today we are less optimistic about the trips going ahead than a few days ago but right now I’m
comfortable to pay the balance of our Spain trip in a
week or so.