Mar 11, 2020, 10:13 am
Last edit by: Ocn Vw 1K
In order to reduce noise in the Coronavirus / Covid-19 : general fact-based reporting thread, and to create a central place to invite any member to ask a basic question about the impact of COVID-19 on travel, your moderators have decided to open this separate "lounge" thread for related discussion that isn't strictly fact-based reporting.
Any member who can provide a constructive, helpful answer to a question; or post constructively in reply to a member's point-of-view, is welcome to post.
All FT rules apply, including avoiding personalized, snarky, political, other off-topic, commercial, and repeatedly disruptive content.
Discussion of general economic impacts of Covid-19 belongs in the OMNI forum, not here.
Discussion and critique of political/government actions to aid the economy or which is far more political than related to COVID-19 is for the OMNI/PR forum, not here.
This is a protocol for posting adopted by the forum Moderator team:Please follow this protocol, based on FlyerTalk Rules and long-standing FlyerTalk best practices. Doing so will help keep the thread open, and allow our moderator team to aid members, rather than having to resort to discipline.
•Constructive, respectful posts, views, opinions, questions, and replies, related to the topic are welcome. Avoid commenting on members personally, or posting off-topic or political messages.
•While respectful disagreement of a posted view is allowed, don’t call-out posters to prove their points. FlyerTalk has never required discussion standards at the level of a Ph.D. dissertation defense, or a trial court witness cross-examination.
•After a reasonable exchange of views on a point, please yield the floor so that others may bring up different topics, questions or points.
•Especially important in this time of pandemic, when normal life and travel have been upended: please take regular breaks from the thread.
Please stay healthy,
your FT Coronavirus and Travel Moderator Team.
Any member who can provide a constructive, helpful answer to a question; or post constructively in reply to a member's point-of-view, is welcome to post.
All FT rules apply, including avoiding personalized, snarky, political, other off-topic, commercial, and repeatedly disruptive content.
Discussion of general economic impacts of Covid-19 belongs in the OMNI forum, not here.
Discussion and critique of political/government actions to aid the economy or which is far more political than related to COVID-19 is for the OMNI/PR forum, not here.
This is a protocol for posting adopted by the forum Moderator team:Please follow this protocol, based on FlyerTalk Rules and long-standing FlyerTalk best practices. Doing so will help keep the thread open, and allow our moderator team to aid members, rather than having to resort to discipline.
•Constructive, respectful posts, views, opinions, questions, and replies, related to the topic are welcome. Avoid commenting on members personally, or posting off-topic or political messages.
•While respectful disagreement of a posted view is allowed, don’t call-out posters to prove their points. FlyerTalk has never required discussion standards at the level of a Ph.D. dissertation defense, or a trial court witness cross-examination.
•After a reasonable exchange of views on a point, please yield the floor so that others may bring up different topics, questions or points.
•Especially important in this time of pandemic, when normal life and travel have been upended: please take regular breaks from the thread.
Please stay healthy,
your FT Coronavirus and Travel Moderator Team.
COVID-19: Lounge thread for thoughts, concerns and questions
Mar 21, 2020, 4:59 pm
#1231
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Clinging to the edifices of a decadent past from the biggest city in America nobody really cares about.
Programs: (ಠ_ಠ)
Posts: 9,077
The Millennials gave birth to the Corona-nials. 
Mar 21, 2020, 5:05 pm
#1232
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Sydney, Australia and Stockholm, Sweden
Programs: VA Platinum, SQ Gold, TK Gold, Hhonors Gold, Accor Plus Platinum, Bonvoy Gold, Radisson Premium
Posts: 1,022
We've cancelled Asia in April 2020, Georgia, Armenia and Kazakhstan in May / June but are holding on to our bookings from Sweden to Greece in July. Last week I was optimistic Greece would go ahead, now I'm 50/50. We hope in August we can return to Australia from Sweden. The virus seems to like cooler temperatures which hopefully will help settle things in the northern hemisphere in the coming months.
We still have bookings for Australia / Sweden return over Christmas. Then we're hoping for Australia / Sweden return next northern summer departing in May 2021, but to answer your question we won't be booking it just yet.
The virus seems to be settling down a lot in China and the rest of the world is a month or so behind China. Let' see what happens after their lockdowns are eased.
There is wide talk of a vaccine in 12 - 18 months. An Australian expert today thought it would be available within 12 months.
I think anything booked in the next 12 months will be risky, gradually getting safer and returning to normal after the vaccine is widely available. Book as much as you can as refundable and read your travel insurance policy carefully.
That's just my 2c worth as a mug punter.
We still have bookings for Australia / Sweden return over Christmas. Then we're hoping for Australia / Sweden return next northern summer departing in May 2021, but to answer your question we won't be booking it just yet.
The virus seems to be settling down a lot in China and the rest of the world is a month or so behind China. Let' see what happens after their lockdowns are eased.
There is wide talk of a vaccine in 12 - 18 months. An Australian expert today thought it would be available within 12 months.
I think anything booked in the next 12 months will be risky, gradually getting safer and returning to normal after the vaccine is widely available. Book as much as you can as refundable and read your travel insurance policy carefully.
That's just my 2c worth as a mug punter.
Mar 21, 2020, 5:30 pm
#1233
Join Date: May 2009
Location: South Park, CO
Programs: Tegridy Elite
Posts: 5,678
I don't think a Feb 2021 trip is overly optimistic. Just my two cents and gut feeling, though FWIW
We had been planning to travel US to Sweden in early July to visit our daughter in college. Not sure whether to bother booking anything at all. If we do it will be refundable or reasonable cancel (or miles redeposit) fee. But even then who knows what routes will be running then and what could be cancelled, or what entry or transit restrictions might be in place. May just wait a bit and see how things go before deciding.
We had been planning to travel US to Sweden in early July to visit our daughter in college. Not sure whether to bother booking anything at all. If we do it will be refundable or reasonable cancel (or miles redeposit) fee. But even then who knows what routes will be running then and what could be cancelled, or what entry or transit restrictions might be in place. May just wait a bit and see how things go before deciding.
Mar 21, 2020, 5:53 pm
#1234
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Germany
Posts: 3,807
The funny thing is, German panic buyers are kind of polite. They often leave the last item on the shelf (I suppose in case someone needs it urgently). So you can often see an empty shelf with a single pack of toilet paper, or a box of rice left.
Mar 21, 2020, 6:11 pm
#1235
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 6,752
Some shops have it and some don't. But usually there are a few packages at least. There is no country-wide storage, but I guess the logistics behind replenishing shelves simply isn't quick enough.
The funny thing is, German panic buyers are kind of polite. They often leave the last item on the shelf (I suppose in case someone needs it urgently). So you can often see an empty shelf with a single pack of toilet paper, or a box of rice left.
The funny thing is, German panic buyers are kind of polite. They often leave the last item on the shelf (I suppose in case someone needs it urgently). So you can often see an empty shelf with a single pack of toilet paper, or a box of rice left.
Mar 21, 2020, 6:16 pm
#1236
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Truth or Consequences, NM
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott Titanium, Hertz President's Circle, UA Silver, Mobile Passport Unobtanium
Posts: 6,194
In every crisis, I always learn something new. While I'm sure loading up on toilet paper must have been one of the survivalist to-do lists, it had never occurred to me to stock up; and, I had thought I had considered every variable. Thankfully, after two large supermarkets were empty (it's completely cleaned out!), I was able to find a package at a local drugstore, otherwise I'd far more to fear from my family than any virus.
Mar 21, 2020, 6:31 pm
#1237
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2014
Programs: Top Tier with all 3 alliances
Posts: 11,669
Some discussion of why measures have been failing in Italy and the chronicle of the spread. Similar things would apply to most of the rest of Europe and the US
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world...?ocid=primentp
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world...?ocid=primentp
"NIH director: Up to 70K coronavirus cases could be confirmed in US by end of next week"
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/nih-...ry?id=69717284
A more testing takes place in the US and with the virus progression, in about a week the US will be leading the world in infections (raw numbers), and after that we will be so far ahead that we will be the ongoing lead story.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world...?ocid=primentp
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world...?ocid=primentp
"NIH director: Up to 70K coronavirus cases could be confirmed in US by end of next week"
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/nih-...ry?id=69717284
A more testing takes place in the US and with the virus progression, in about a week the US will be leading the world in infections (raw numbers), and after that we will be so far ahead that we will be the ongoing lead story.
Mar 21, 2020, 6:35 pm
#1238
Join Date: Mar 2020
Posts: 81
My Japan trip is in June....it doesn't look good...
Mar 21, 2020, 6:36 pm
#1239
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Bregenz, Austria
Programs: AA, BAEC, Alaska, Flying Blue, United, IHG, Hilton
Posts: 2,950
Mar 21, 2020, 6:39 pm
#1240
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2014
Programs: Top Tier with all 3 alliances
Posts: 11,669
"In hard-hit areas, testing restricted to health care workers, hospital patients "
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/in...?ocid=primentp
Right when the US finally started ramping up testing, it has to already start abandoning it, due to shortage of PPEs and essentially the beginning of the health care system collapse and shifting of urgent priorities.
There you have it, folks, we almost missed the whole testing phase of the epidemic and moved from "US in great shape" to the "health care system start collapsing" phase...
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/in...?ocid=primentp
Right when the US finally started ramping up testing, it has to already start abandoning it, due to shortage of PPEs and essentially the beginning of the health care system collapse and shifting of urgent priorities.
There you have it, folks, we almost missed the whole testing phase of the epidemic and moved from "US in great shape" to the "health care system start collapsing" phase...
Mar 21, 2020, 6:47 pm
#1241
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Pacific Northwest
Programs: UA Gold 1MM, AS 75k, AA Plat, Bonvoyed Gold, Honors Dia, Hyatt Explorer, IHG Plat, ...
Posts: 16,856
My understanding was that the swabs pick up the virus when the virus-hit person has enough of a viral build for the exposure to register with the swab tests. [I will try to confirm this with relevant medical experts tomorrow or maybe later today.]
There is a reason why some people are suggesting that Trump gets retested after his contacts have been noted as positive for this virus. And it’s not just because contact and Trump may not have been exposed to the virus at the time of Trump’s testing.
There is a reason why some people are suggesting that Trump gets retested after his contacts have been noted as positive for this virus. And it’s not just because contact and Trump may not have been exposed to the virus at the time of Trump’s testing.
Mar 21, 2020, 6:52 pm
#1242
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
I don't think a Feb 2021 trip is overly optimistic. Just my two cents and gut feeling, though FWIW
We had been planning to travel US to Sweden in early July to visit our daughter in college. Not sure whether to bother booking anything at all. If we do it will be refundable or reasonable cancel (or miles redeposit) fee. But even then who knows what routes will be running then and what could be cancelled, or what entry or transit restrictions might be in place. May just wait a bit and see how things go before deciding.
We had been planning to travel US to Sweden in early July to visit our daughter in college. Not sure whether to bother booking anything at all. If we do it will be refundable or reasonable cancel (or miles redeposit) fee. But even then who knows what routes will be running then and what could be cancelled, or what entry or transit restrictions might be in place. May just wait a bit and see how things go before deciding.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Sweden ends up being the blacklisted country for some weeks after other European countries’ bans and the Schengen ban end up lifted. The measure of the situation in Sweden will be the death count. When the death count levels out, then it may be time for me to again consider purchasing discretionary travel for US-Sweden/Denmark trips.
Mar 21, 2020, 7:06 pm
#1243
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Pacific Northwest
Programs: UA Gold 1MM, AS 75k, AA Plat, Bonvoyed Gold, Honors Dia, Hyatt Explorer, IHG Plat, ...
Posts: 16,856
(to be rewritten)
Last edited by notquiteaff; Mar 21, 2020 at 7:12 pm Reason: (to be rewritten)
Mar 21, 2020, 7:28 pm
#1244
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Germany
Posts: 3,807
Africa won't do here - their populations are too young.
Mar 21, 2020, 7:36 pm
#1245
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 6,752
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/0...-powers-140023
The Justice Department has quietly asked Congress for the ability to ask chief judges to detain people indefinitely without trial during emergencies — part of a push for new powers that comes as the coronavirus spreads through the United States.
Last edited by Visconti; Mar 21, 2020 at 7:45 pm Reason: added article...