I'm looking at booking a family trip to Europe for December and January.
I'm thinking of booking with Qatar (directly, not via agent).
Does anybody see a financial risk in this? I believe Qatar would refund if the flights are cancelled or there are restrictions.
Any advice appreciated.
Qatar airways is state-owned by the govt and the only international carrier in their country. It'll be fine.
Air Mauritius has gone into voluntary administration.
Op, keep in mind that you might need to quarantine in each country you go to and when you come back.
Won't be any quarantine at end of year, but Africa & India might be off limits.
I doubt Mauritius will be off limits.
Mauritius became the second country in Africa to record full recoveries as at May 11- there were no active cases with 322 people recovered out of 332 infections. 10 have died from the virus.
Now , if only there were direct flights to go there…
Unless its for you essential, you might want to consider the following.
International airlines are going to be finacially stressed, yes Qatar is state owned so is likely to be supported, but will they fly to Australia when they start up again? and while they might fly will it be those they first start up with? Travel is two way. we might be ok to travel, but countries aren't and might not let travellers in.
CoronaVirus will still be around, its not going away until we get a vaccine to protect us and like the flu, one that can be modified for the varius mutations. Will a new starin infect those who were previously infected?
This raises the issues.
If you catch it while overseas its unlikely that Travel insurance will cover the cost should you be hospitalised.
Coronavirus, isnt like the flu, the flu reference is to understand the way it spreads for the joe average to comprehend. It like the flu affects some worse than others. While much less younger people do die
We are relatively free of the virus, while we might be ok to travel, by being not infectious, overseas travel is two way, so you might get to travel if lucky, but may be quarantined for 2 weeks on return. Again who will pay for this unlikely Govt or Insurance after travel is possible, at least again until vaccine available
Also will events sites be open in Europe or even restricted access?
Same with travelling around and restaurants with greater limits and impacts with social distancing, making a trip with family evn more difficult especially if they are very young.
One thing for sure if it opens up, its not going to be back to normal
Probably safest for you just to wait for travel bans to be uplifted before booking stuff? No one has a clue whats going to be happening by then despite what people say on here.
The world has to return to normal very soon or civil war will break out.
Aren't Qatar increasing flights to Australia ?
Travel insurance will adapt. It has to.
I’d been watching this Kawasaki like syndrome that seems to target children. No way i’d take my kids anywhere near there until we know more about it.
That's because it is a childhood disease (can occur in adults - but exceptionally rare) - the adult equivalent is a giant cell arteritis, polyartritis nodosa etc
If you're worried remember WARM CREAM :)
Warm cream, doc?
Warm = High continuous fever (usually >39)
C = conjunctivitis (pink eye)
R = Rash
E = Edema / Erythema (swelling of hands or feets and or redness)
A = Adenopathy (swollen nodes in the neck or back of the neck)
M = Mucus membranes (strawberry looking tounge appearence, cracked dry lips)
:)
Europe Flights (and US and Asia) won't happen this year.
Trans Tasman and Pacific Islands this year, Europe at the rest will be next year at earliest
Think flights to USA & Europe will be completely unrestricted by late August early September 2020.
They have to be soon.
There might never ever be a vaccine but that's ok. Many viruses have no vaccine. For flu there is Tamiflu so drugs may suffice.
LOL.. will not happen this year 100%
US is a certainty not to happen this year for sure
& you know this how?
Even NYC is opening. International cruises from USA from 1 August 2020.
@Everybodyneedsto: LOL… if you honestly believe any of that is going to happen then good luck to you
a fool and his money are easily parted.
Australia will not allow you to travel to the US or most of Europe this year.
just because those countries 'might" open their borders does not mean your Australian passport will get you in.
Until our Government allows travel to those places you will not be going.
@jimbobaus: No it looks like Sept 10 will be date all flights ex Australia will be open to everyone without restriction.
Not sure where you get your info from but think your very wrong.
@Everybodyneedsto: LOL…. ok!
Come back here on Sept 10 and reply that you can fly to the US.
I will do the same. I know who will be right and here is a tip: It will not be you
@jimbobaus: No idea how you think your so sure. Everything is opening up way sooner than originally stated by some silly politicians.
Qld border about to go.
I'm assuming you're talking December 2021, otherwise you're incredibly optimistic.
Very unlikely international flights to Europe would exist, let alone removal of things like self isolation on return (let alone possibly on arrival at destination)
Book a local holiday, the economy will thank you, won't have to write off an additional couple of weeks in isolation and youre less likely to be visiting a possible infection hot spot.
Even if the flights to Europe happens this year(which is being quite optimistic) you will most likely have to quarantine over there when you land and again here upon your arrival. This is not including any other forced quarantine measures you might have to undergo every time you cross borders in Europe. So you might want to add almost extra 4 weeks to your holiday just to quarantine yourself and your family. My advice is unless you are planning for 2021 don't do it this year.
Qatar Airways has actually increased the number of flights between Doha and Australia during the last month. As one of the only airlines still flying worldwide they have set themselves up as the airline for stranded people to get home.
As such, they are making money right now and wont be as badly impacted as airlines that have shutdown almost completely.
You are correct. Doha remains the sole available and viable transit point for Australians attempting to return from Asia.
They will only issue you a travel voucher, they won't refund your money so I'd only book if the travel bans have been lifted.
I'm looking at booking a family trip to Europe for December and January.
THIS YEAR? Not a chance you'll be going. I wouldn't bother.
I guess some people don't mind financing terrorist organizations, as long as they can get a "bargain"
pls link source im intrigued
I'd assume it's common knowledge by now, but if you haven't read/watched world news for the past 20+ years, there's plenty you can find on international news agencies, google, wikipedia, etc…
Even Saudi Arabia and the UAE see Qatar as some kind of rogue country, and according to news, Qatar's government has used Qatar airline to physically deliver money to terrorist organizations in the past
I thought the US was the biggest terrorist organization in the world. /s
financing terrorist organizations
american airlines?
;)
Agreed , forget international travel for this year .
Yes December this year. I'm a realist, December is 7 months away and we are already talking about stage 3 relaxation in July. That would be 5 months later.
I think worst case scenario would be having to quarantine on return.
Unless things turn for the worse, which is possible (though the trend is of improvement), I'm tempted to book soon.
BTW: the trip was to visit family style holiday and not really an actual holiday only. The funny thing is that the family We would be visiting actually had coronavirus :) and since recovered.
think worst case scenario would be having to quarantine on return.
I think that's best case…
Can think of plenty of other worst case scenarios
True true, I guess catching corona would be bad.
Keep in mind if you have to quarantine on return, the chances are that’s something you might have to pay for. And given self quarantine didnt work that well it’s probably in some sort of facility or hotel.
Don’t forget stage 3 isn’t the end of restrictions, and while we might ease up, the UK is expected to introduce quarantine for incoming travellers
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/09/two-week-coron…
Not a realist, more an optimist or gambler.
The only benefit I can see of booking early, is the fares are cheap. Offsetting this is, you may get hit with CV or Quarantine costs. We are bargain advisers here. 😀
But hey, that’s why you asked for input, which any wise gambler does, studies the form before putting down the bet 👍🏻
Bumping this thread after nearly a month or so.
Curious to know your thoughts ?
I am yet to book but have my finger on the trigger for December 2020 to end of January 2021.
I wouldn't book flights to Europe for next month, August maybe. By September everything should be open everywhere. The media hysteria has been shown to be unfounded. Just paid $99 deposit for flights to USA in January this morning. Haven't decided yet when paying balance.
Well I was looking for December… curious to get other ppls thoughts as of today.
How was the family trip?
Qatar airways is state-owned by the govt and the only international carrier in their country. It'll be fine. I fly them to London frequently and pretty good service. They're also returning half it's planes to the sky by June.
With current Middle East embargo, their planes are generally empty. Book seats in the rear and you'll usually get the whole row to lie down.