Flying when ill with bronchitis
 

Wife is OK at the moment. Unwell but not really bad.
Today GP has diagnosed bronchitis - we're flying Saturday.

Don't want to but, if she was unwell would we be able to cancel and claim? Or would travel insurance only allow this for 'serious' illness? (we do have travel insurance)

I guess you'd need a docs opinion that you were unfit to fly? Does feeling unwell count or is it just tough luck?

Obviously, want to know before cancelling....

BTW in the UK if it makes any difference. Flight is short - 2.5 hours with Ryanair a budget airline.

You'll get no sympathy from Ryanair and I wouldn't even bother trying to claim with them.

Your travel insurance may qualify, but read the sections on pre-existing conditions and disruptions to your journey before you travel to see whether it is indeed so. If the doctor has diagnosed bronchitis, it's not really a case of 'feeling' unwell; she is! The easiest thing is probably to call the insurance provider and find out.

Would she want to travel (and be on holiday) with bronchitis?

Seems a very grey area indeed. Well she told GP today that she was flying and he didn't say not to fly.

I guess without a health professional advising you not to fly and willing to document it then you've had it with insurance anyway. Its annual travel insurance and all pre-existing are covered and notified.

Yep not ideal but then faced with the idea of not being able to reschedule or cancel and lose probably £1000 (flights plus car hire plus accom) what do you do?

I'd have to be bleeding out of my eyeballs to cough this one up! :-)

Yes, without a doctor's note you'll get nowhere with insurance. Oh well, keep calm and soldier on I guess. Hope she feels better quickly.

If she was given antibiotics for the bronchitis there is a good chance she will be feeling much better by Saturday or Sunday.

Of course, its hard to say how an infection will react to most common antibiotics these days - its no sure thing anymore.

Good luck!

Of course, fingers crossed. I just wanted to be prepared for the worst!

Anti-biotics and steroids she now has.

I would recommend traveling with a mask if she's coughing/sniffling frequently. I know it's embarrassing to wear one, but at the very least, she'll look like a courteous traveler. Even if she's not contagious due to antibiotics, wear the mask just to show people that you're doing your best to stop the germs from coming their way. I think it's the least that sick people can do when traveling and might keep someone from being rude to her when she feels terrible.

I flew a few years ago LAX-LHR w/ bronchitis. Saw the doc in advance, said I really had to be in London, & he really piled me up w/ antibiotics & steroids (which I had to keep taking in London). I made it through the trip, but if I hadn't had those in advance/few days to kick in it would have been tough.

Cheers.

Do you wear a mask if you have a cough? I don't and wouldn't recommend it to anyone. Wearing a mask could in a place where it's not a cultural norm be interpreted as indicative of a far worse condition than simple bronchitis. Someone wearing a mask could make people more uncomfortable than someone simply coughing occasionally and properly covering their mouth.

disagree about a mask--several years ago when I started flying I had bronchitis and a cough I couldnt seem to shake--I was finally feeling better but very vulnerable and wore a mask to protect myself and others....wearing a mask could mean someone is undergoing chemotherapy, or is feeling vulnerable.....

You are very compassionate - I have just finished a year of chemo and radiation for cancer and this would be most appreciated for my flight that is coming up BUT I understand that people are reluctant to wear a mask for many reasons.

Of course, on the other hand, I had a cold a few weeks ago and cannot seem to shake the cough - so annoying!

OP - I hope your wife's travels were not too uncomfortable and that she is feeling better!

I have no judgement when I see someone with a mask, except maybe to think they must not be well. hope you are feeling better!!

If you wish to wear a mask that is up to you and you'll get no argument from me.

But it's quite a different matter when people exhort passengers to wear them using vapid clichés such as "courteous traveler" and "it's the least that sick people can do when traveling." :rolleyes:

Oh man, the mask thing. Took my first trip to asia recently and was totally weirded out by it. Not that I've never seen them...growing up in Vancouver you see them all over the place. Much like the Asian grannies with sun visors. What you don't see is them en masse.

Spent some time in Tokyo and 5 days in Seoul and wow, these things seemed to be on 2/5 travelers. I couldn't decide if they were sick or trying to avoid getting sick by other people, OR a combo!?

I'd say you'll get jack squat from Ryanair, get a doctor's note from the GP like a get out of work free card and then call the insurance guys. If they are able to make a decent offer, then decide if there's no offer, then depending on how much money you're gonna lose, you'll have to decide.

In the Flushing, NY (in the borough of Queens, NYC), there is a large oriental population--lots of people wear face masks.