Avoid non-essential travel !!!

macadam · 13-03-2020 12:08am #1

The Dept of Foreign Affairs are advising against non essential travel to Spain, am I entitled to a full refund from Ryanair or best to go through the travel insurance?
Flying to Lanzarote this weekend but due to medical (not Covid 19 related) I cannot travel.

titan18 · 13-03-2020 12:11am

Wondering the same with Aer Lingus. Had already cancelled about 2 hours ago but wondering are options now full refund as they cancel, my travel insurance kicks in or just the small tax refund

macadam · 13-03-2020 12:23am

Small Tax refund €16 approx how do you even get it back??

uck51js9zml2yt · 13-03-2020 1:17am

macadam wrote: »

Small Tax refund €16 approx how do you even get it back??

If you cancel it's automatically refunded. EI have form on their site

Lex Luthor · 13-03-2020 6:41pm

macadam wrote: »

The Dept of Foreign Affairs are advising against non essential travel to Spain, am I entitled to a full refund from Ryanair or best to go through the travel insurance?
Flying to Lanzarote this weekend but due to medical (not Covid 19 related) I cannot travel.

are they including the Canaries in that or is it just mainland Spain?

gipi · 13-03-2020 7:05pm

Lex Luthor wrote: »

are they including the Canaries in that or is it just mainland Spain?

RTE News suggests that Canaries and Balerics (sp) are included in the advice.

coylemj · 13-03-2020 7:12pm

macadam wrote: »

The Dept of Foreign Affairs are advising against non essential travel to Spain, am I entitled to a full refund from Ryanair or best to go through the travel insurance?
Flying to Lanzarote this weekend but due to medical (not Covid 19 related) I cannot travel.

If you can get a letter from your GP to say that you are not fit to travel then it's business as usual and you claim the airfare back from your travel insurance.

There are four scheduled flights to Lanzarote tomorrow from Dublin, all are status 'on schedule'.

As the DFA has advised against all but essential travel to Spain, you may be able to claim from your insurance, you need to check the policy. My AIG policy would cover this situation .....

if after the time the Insured Person books their trip, the Department of Foreign Affairs advises against all but essential travel to their intended destination.

Here is an extract from the DFA travel advice page on Spain.....

Latest travel alert

Novel Coronavirus

For the moment, we recommend against non-essential travel to Spain (including the Balearic and Canary Islands).

https://www.dfa.ie/travel/travel-advice/a-z-list-of-countries/spain/

dennyk · 13-03-2020 7:58pm

Ryanair and Aer Lingus are now waiving change fees for flights booked before certain dates. If you wouldn't mind rescheduling your holiday, you could change your tickets to a date in the autumn or whatnot and only pay the fare difference (if any).

Tenzor07 · 13-03-2020 9:14pm

UK may be included in U.S travel ban shortly.

Ireland.. maybe, who knows!

Trump may remove some low rate infection schengen countries from the ban list.

GBX · 14-03-2020 12:02am

Parents were due to fly to Alicante in the morning. Not officially cancelled by Ryanair yet but only can up to 4 hours. In 2 minds what to do - book random date in Sept or hope the flight gets cancelled by Ryanair in the mornin and get a refund through the travel agency. It's their policy that it needs to be officially cancelled before refund is issued.
Any thoughts ?

Tenzor07 · 14-03-2020 12:12am

GBX wrote: »

Parents were due to fly to Alicante in the morning. Not officially cancelled by Ryanair yet but only can up to 4 hours. In 2 minds what to do - book random date in Sept or hope the flight gets cancelled by Ryanair in the mornin and get a refund through the travel agency. It's their policy that it needs to be officially cancelled before refund is issued.
Any thoughts ?

Log onto Ryanair.ie and "Manage booking" book it for another date..

bassy · 14-03-2020 12:16am

is it ok to still travel any where inside Ireland.

uck51js9zml2yt · 14-03-2020 12:23am

bassy wrote: »

is it ok to still travel any where inside Ireland.

Coventry had a statement read on late late to avoid unnecessary travel to Europe

I'm currently in South Kerry in self catering so very isolated

GBX · 14-03-2020 12:24am

Tenzor07 wrote: »

Log onto Ryanair.ie and "Manage booking" book it for another date..

Trying it now but not getting to the next step. Possibly down to them being checked in already. Frustrating

bassy · 14-03-2020 12:24am

Malachi Scrawny Sky wrote: »

Coventry had a statement read on late late to avoid unnecessary travel to Europe

I'm currently in South Kerry in self catering so very isolated

no im on about Ireland,as im living in Ireland is it ok to travel to other parts of the republic?.

uck51js9zml2yt · 14-03-2020 12:25am

bassy wrote: »

no im on about Ireland,as im living in Ireland is it ok to travel to other parts of the republic?.

I would avoid crowds so if your self catering you should be fine

Brego888 · 14-03-2020 12:29am

GBX wrote: »

Trying it now but not getting to the next step. Possibly down to them being checked in already. Frustrating

Same experience. Can't get another done because we have already checked in.

Fireball81 · 14-03-2020 12:31am

VHI covers you...

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.vhi.ie/downloads/CoronavirusCustomerAdvice.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjlwer1zZjoAhVdRhUIHVOoAkoQFjAAegQIBxAC&usg=AOvVaw0-H6T7ze2bxSsMt1MyCIE7

GBX · 14-03-2020 12:37am

According to Twitter the Ryanair website is not doing anything. Obviously at this hour won't get anything sorted.

Tenzor07 · 14-03-2020 12:38am

GBX wrote: »

According to Twitter the Ryanair website is not doing anything. Obviously at this hour won't get anything sorted.

I'd say it's just overloaded with the numbers of people trying to change flights now...

dartboardio · 14-03-2020 1:16am

bassy wrote: »

is it ok to still travel any where inside Ireland.

Yes.

It is still okay to travel outside Ireland too, to not so infected areas.

Business as usual in most places, just while taking extra caution regarding personal hygiene and being in public..

Ginger83 · 14-03-2020 1:24am

dartboardio wrote: »

Yes.

It is still okay to travel outside Ireland too, to not so infected areas.

Business as usual in most places, just while taking extra caution regarding personal hygiene and being in public..

What about Tenerife

punisher5112 · 14-03-2020 1:26am

bassy wrote: »

no im on about Ireland,as im living in Ireland is it ok to travel to other parts of the republic?.

Gobus is canceling all their services...

FGR · 14-03-2020 1:48am

I have a trip to Lanzarote booked for the end of the month and tbh I'd rather be going than be tied down here which, afterall, is another country where the virus is present.

We're in our late 20s without any outstanding health issues and are already following guidelines from the dept about direct contact with others.

Decisions decisions..

Aint Eazy Being Cheezy · 14-03-2020 7:59am

I’m off to Mexico in June, via France. Feck knows what the situation will be like by then

skinny90 · 14-03-2020 9:22am

Booked flights through edreams to Bali for 2 weeks in april(3rd)
We will be stopping in Athens and Singapore.
We have travel insurance
If we cancel will the travel insurance pay out?

whomitconcerns · 14-03-2020 9:27am

skinny90 wrote: »

Booked flights through edreams to Bali for 2 weeks in april(3rd)
We will be stopping in Athens and Singapore.
We have travel insurance
If we cancel will the travel insurance pay out?

Nope. Not unless you physically and certified medically can’t travel or the dfa says you cannot travel.

whisky_galore · 14-03-2020 9:28am

I have no idea why people would still consider travelling if all attractions, bars etc are likely to be closed. Sounds like a shyte holiday to me.

GBX · 14-03-2020 9:47am

Got through to Ryanair customer service and there telling me I can only get unchecked in at the airport and they can't do anything as it's too late to so anything. Flight due to leave for Alicante at 10.10 but Spain on effective lock down so no travel happening because of the risks.

The most unhelpful person kept talking over me and not taking on board that travel is not advisable.

Stratvs · 14-03-2020 10:01am

Ginger83 wrote: »

What about Tenerife

The Canaries and Balearics are part of Spain.

nibtrix · 14-03-2020 10:05am

GBX wrote: »

Got through to Ryanair customer service and there telling me I can only get unchecked in at the airport and they can't do anything as it's too late to so anything. Flight due to leave for Alicante at 10.10 but Spain on effective lock down so no travel happening because of the risks.

The most unhelpful person kept talking over me and not taking on board that travel is not advisable.

Been in a queue since 08:00 trying to get “unchecked-in” for a flight today, think I may as well give up at this point.

GBX · 14-03-2020 10:10am

nibtrix wrote: »

Been in a queue since 08:00 trying to get “unchecked-in” for a flight today, think I may as well give up at this point.

Back on the queue now. Wouldn't connect to their number for ages. Gonna keep trying. It's the only way my parents won't lose their money.

skinny90 · 14-03-2020 11:06am

whomitconcerns wrote: »

Nope. Not unless you physically and certified medically can’t travel or the dfa says you cannot travel.

Is there anything the agent can do...move the dates

skinny90 · 14-03-2020 11:07am

whisky_galore wrote: »

I have no idea why people would still consider travelling if all attractions, bars etc are likely to be closed. Sounds like a shyte holiday to me.

Yeah for me I don’t mind..we are avoiding all the party places.

tombrown · 14-03-2020 11:11am

Stratvs wrote: »

The Canaries and Balearics are part of Spain.

But, apart from that early case in a Tenerife hotel, seemingly unaffected.

I have a holiday booked for April there, and RyanAir & AirBnB will only give refunds if travel is prohibited. "Avoid non essential travel" doesn't seem to cut it.

So should I take the risk and treat Tenerife like I would, Austria (for example) which is "Normal Precautions" on the DFA website, and continue with the holiday unless they impose an absolute ban?

Isn't applying the same travel advice on the Canaries as on mainland Spain a bit like saying you shouldn't travel to the Falklands if there is a Coronavirus ban on UK?

Del2005 · 14-03-2020 11:19am

tombrown wrote: »

But, apart from that early case in a Tenerife hotel, seemingly unaffected.

I have a holiday booked for April there, and RyanAir & AirBnB will only give refunds if travel is prohibited. "Avoid non essential travel" doesn't seem to cut it.

So should I take the risk and treat Tenerife like I would, Austria (for example) which is "Normal Precautions" on the DFA website, and continue with the holiday unless they impose an absolute ban?

Isn't applying the same travel advice on the Canaries as on mainland Spain a bit like saying you shouldn't travel to the Falklands if there is a Coronavirus ban on UK?

The whole world will likely be infected soon so I'd hold out to see. I'm booked to Spain for the end of April. Advise will have changed by then.

homer911 · 14-03-2020 11:21am

USA Flights not taking off this morning?

As of 10:16 on 14/3, No USA flights have taken off from Dublin. Anyone heard anything?

Ginger83 · 14-03-2020 11:23am

tombrown wrote: »

But, apart from that early case in a Tenerife hotel, seemingly unaffected.

I have a holiday booked for April there, and RyanAir & AirBnB will only give refunds if travel is prohibited. "Avoid non essential travel" doesn't seem to cut it.

So should I take the risk and treat Tenerife like I would, Austria (for example) which is "Normal Precautions" on the DFA website, and continue with the holiday unless they impose an absolute ban?

Isn't applying the same travel advice on the Canaries as on mainland Spain a bit like saying you shouldn't travel to the Falklands if there is a Coronavirus ban on UK?

We are also booked for Tenerife in April.

johnire · 14-03-2020 11:24am

I agree totally with this comment. We’re due to travel to Argentina in a month but no matter where it was I doubt very much we’d be going as what’s the point? Almost certainly all museums,galleries and places of interest will be closed. Everything likelyhood to that restaurants bars and cafes will be shut. So again what’s the point?

whisky_galore wrote: »

I have no idea why people would still consider travelling if all attractions, bars etc are likely to be closed. Sounds like a shyte holiday to me.

Sultan of Bling · 14-03-2020 11:24am

tombrown wrote:

But, apart from that early case in a Tenerife hotel, seemingly unaffected.

It's not just the risk of you catching it. There is also a risk you could already have it yourself and pass it on.

You are going to come into contact with hundreds of people at the airport, touch surfaces and be on a plane with recycled air.

The whole idea of the government advisory is to lessen the risk of the disease spreading

tombrown · 14-03-2020 11:26am

I dont disagree, but then why dont they apply the same advice to ALL travel?

At the moment there is no advisory restriction on flying to Austria, and yet you would have the same contact with fellow travelers as you would flying to Tenerife

Also - doesn't sitting on a plane constitute being at an "indoor gathering of > 100 people"?

Sultan of Bling · 14-03-2020 11:39am

From other threads Tombrown it appears Spanish airspace is closing so our points maybe moot.

Ginger83 · 14-03-2020 11:39am

tombrown wrote: »

I dont disagree, but then why dont they apply the same advice to ALL travel?

At the moment there is no advisory restriction on flying to Austria, and yet you would have the same contact with fellow travelers as you would flying to Tenerife

Also - doesn't sitting on a plane constitute being at an "indoor gathering of > 100 people"?

I'm going and I've a terminal condition

kingshankly · 14-03-2020 12:03pm

Ginger83 wrote: »

I'm going and I've a terminal condition

The mind boggles

Die Hard 2019 · 14-03-2020 12:11pm

People are still not taking this seriously, I understand that if one has a terminal condition you might think you can't be waiting round to have some fun but other peoe should realise that they need to postpone everything till we get this virus under control.

tombrown · 14-03-2020 12:18pm

Die Hard 2019 wrote: »

People are still not taking this seriously, I understand that if one has a terminal condition you might think you can't be waiting round to have some fun but other peoe should realise that they need to postpone everything till we get this virus under control.

Fair enough - but then why is the DFA being "half hearted" about travel advice - "No non essential travel" rather than "Do not travel" for Spain (they have the latter for Italy); "Business as usual" for Austria & other European countries when it means that to go there you will have to sit in a sealed metal tube with 200 others for a couple of hours.

They should just come out & close the airports for all but emergency & humanitarian services, and take the decision away from people. But, no, that may mean they have to compensate airlines , and so its better to let the public play russian roulette with travel decisions, and let them carry the cost, themselves, for any cancellations

Caranica · 14-03-2020 12:24pm

tombrown wrote: »

Fair enough - but then why is the DFA being "half hearted" about travel advice - "No non essential travel" rather than "Do not travel" for Spain (they have the latter for Italy);

Italy was "avoid all non essential travel" for the guts of a week before it switched to do not travel. The DFA is not being half hearted, they're liaising with local governments and the EU. They can't just unilaterally ban travel to another EU state!!

imfml · 14-03-2020 12:28pm

homer911 wrote: »

USA Flights not taking off this morning?

As of 10:16 on 14/3, No USA flights have taken off from Dublin. Anyone heard anything?

They will be departing, I hear US pre clearance is unusually busy and slow, understandably so given its day 1 of the new travel guidelines

Ginger83 · 14-03-2020 12:30pm

kingshankly wrote: »

The mind boggles

There is about 25 times more cases here than Tenerife. 1 case there.

coylemj · 14-03-2020 12:37pm

imfml wrote: »

They will be departing, I hear US pre clearance is unusually busy and slow, understandably so given its day 1 of the new travel guidelines

+1 anyone with a Schengen zone passport will be getting extra questions asked of them. Even if they've lived in Ireland for the past 10 years and not been outside the country this year.

Irish and UK passport holders will also be asked about recent travel, like if they've been to a Schengen country in the past 14 days.

kingshankly · 14-03-2020 12:38pm

Ginger83 wrote: »

There is about 25 times more cases here than Tenerife. 1 case there.

What about the airport what about the plane what about bringing it over there

Avoid non-essential travel !!!

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