Covid 19 Thoughts on the likely actions in the weeks to come

Hong Kong now imposing restrictions effective March 19th;

https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hea ... avel-alert

[honey lamb]

President Ramaphosa just announced a ban on foreign nationals from certain countries including the UK entering South Africa from the 18 March.

Well that's me scuppered!

me too!
how long do these travel bans last... we not due to travel till end of April.
.. and yet stuff starts needing to be paid for...

I'm expecting the bans/FCO guidelines to remain at the earliest until the number of new cases in a country stabilises or doesn't grow. How long ago were those restrictions put on parts of China and they still remain 2 months later. Hoping its sooner but in my head I'm writing off anytime before the end may.

The Health Secretary confirmed today the over-70s will be told to self-isolate “for a very long time” - up to 4 months according to Sky News.

That should give you an idea of how long the government expects this to remain a crisis.

Personally I wouldn’t contemplate booking anything until the late summer/autumn at the earliest.

I fully expect a virtual shutdown of international aviation within days now, bar a handful of flights on key routes for absolutely essential travel (which does not include holidays).

[honey lamb]

The Health Secretary confirmed today the over-70s will be told to self-isolate “for a very long time” - up to 4 months according to Sky News.

As a very active and healthy 73 year old who has been bored out of her tree for most of the day and is climbing the walls because of lack of contact with people, the thought of self-isolation for up to four months is abhorrent. The reality is that unless you are surrounded by family, it is going to be very isolating and have serious mental health issues for the elderly. I'm lucky as I still work on a week on/week off basis with as much or as little contact with others as the situation demands but there are still people to talk to and to interact with. I'm also lucky that I live in a town with a vibrant community spirit. But please think to your neighbours!

[honey lamb]

The Health Secretary confirmed today the over-70s will be told to self-isolate “for a very long time” - up to 4 months according to Sky News.

As a very active and healthy 73 year old who has been bored out of her tree for most of the day and is climbing the walls because of lack of contact with people, the thought of self-isolation for up to four months is abhorrent. The reality is that unless you are surrounded by family, it is going to be very isolating and have serious mental health issues for the elderly. I'm lucky as I still work on a week on/week off basis with as much or as little contact with others as the situation demands but there are still people to talk to and to interact with. I'm also lucky that I live in a town with a vibrant community spirit. But please think to your neighbours!

OK, so this is a travel forum and one I've been a member of for the last 16 years and of which I'm a moderator. Yes it's about an airline that we all love and choose to travel because of its ethos. Now is the time for us all to transfer that ethos to others and to think of and support as best we can all those affected by the Coronavirus especially all those on the front line in health care settings, those members of the public who interact on a daily basis in delivering services to ensure we can go about our daily lives with as little disruption as possible. I'm talking about all those behind the scenes people, the butchers, the bakers, the candlestick makers (to quote a nursery rhyme), the delivery personnel and many more you could care to mention. And to bring it back to a travel perspective, all those working in the airlines especially those behind the scenes who are shuffling and reshuffling schedules and rotas to ensure that people stranded overseas as borders close are being able to return home and those who wish to reschedule or cancel are dealt with sympathetically especially when their dreams and plans have been robbed from them

Not sure if its related to Corona Virus (though likely is), but does anyone know why the VS155 (LAS) flew to LAX today?Flight Radar it said it was diverted but it didn't even attempt to land a LAS. I thought it would have been to do with LAS not being an approved point of entry but then again the MCO flights operated as normal.

Looking for some advice please. We as a family are in South Africa for daughters wedding which was on Sunday, not due to leave to LHR till 26th March. Do Virgin have a responsibility to repatriate us . Will our insurance assist us if we are stranded. Thank you !

Yes, VS does have a responsibility to get you home. But I would be looking to fly ASAP. Don’t wait until the 26th. By the end of this week I believe flights will be severely curtailed and your options may be limited.

As for insurance, I imagine that’ll only help once the FCO issues an All But Essential Travel warning for South Africa.

UPDATE - there IS now an All But Essential Travel warning for South Africa. So talk to your insurers ASAP.

I'm expecting the bans/FCO guidelines to remain at the earliest until the number of new cases in a country stabilises or doesn't grow. How long ago were those restrictions put on parts of China and they still remain 2 months later. Hoping its sooner but in my head I'm writing off anytime before the end may.

Just my opinion, but I can see any trips that are due to take place over the next 3 months not happening. How long it will go for is like asking how long is a piece of string.

As far as repatriation goes surely VS will contact us with new travel dates. We are in Florida at the moment and are due to fly home on the 30th. The only advise on the website is not to contact VS until 72 hours before travel. I assume VS will contact me before then if flights are stopping earlier.

UPDATE: VS to cut 80% of flights and ground 75% of its fleet by March 26th.

Staff asked to take 8 weeks unpaid leave.

LHR-EWR (VS1/2) to be cancelled permanently.

UPDATE: VS to cut 80% of flights and ground 75% of its fleet by March 26th.

Staff asked to take 8 weeks unpaid leave.

LHR-EWR (VS1/2) to be cancelled permanently.

My thoughts are with all the staff impacted by this

From 26 March they will fly only 6 aircraft

Any idea which flight numbers will still be in operation? Supposed to be on VS33 on 28th March.

Any idea which flight numbers will still be in operation? Supposed to be on VS33 on 28th March.

'Owing to restrictions to international travel, the airline is reducing services to focus on core routes, depending on customer demand. This will be subject to constant review as the situation evolves. '

Any idea which flight numbers will still be in operation? Supposed to be on VS33 on 28th March.

I’m 99% confident that Antigua will not be considered a core route.

At a guess - JFK; one of LAX or SFO; maybe one of BOS, MIA or ATL; maybe one Caribbean or African route (BGI? LOS?)

Any idea which flight numbers will still be in operation? Supposed to be on VS33 on 28th March.

I’m 99% confident that Antigua will not be considered a core route.

At a guess - JFK; one of LAX or SFO; maybe one of BOS, MIA or ATL; maybe one African or Asian route.

My guess is LAX, JFK, ATL, JNB, DEL, IAD. Maybe HKG/PVG if there is demand.

An update for Virgin Holiday customers ;

If you are booked to travel to the US or Jamaica,
If you are booked to travel to the US today and tomorrow, please do not go to the airport. We will contact you. For all our customers going to the US and Jamaica in the next 15 days we will contact you at least 24 hours before departure to discuss your options.

If you're travelling to the US or Jamaica, but not in the next 15 days, please get in touch with us via WhatsApp or SMS.
Customers not travelling in the next 15 days
Customers booked to all other destinations departing before 30th April: Please complete our call back form and we will contact you within 7 to 10 days.

Customers booked to travel after 30th April: We ask that you don't contact us at this time due to the dynamic situation and so we can support customers travelling in the imminent future. Continue to monitor our Covid-19 (Coronavius) updates page, our social media and the Foreign and Commonwealth travel advice page for the latest travel advice.

Should your holiday destination become subject to travel restrictions, we will contact you at least 24 hours before departure to discuss your options.

https://www.virginholidays.co.uk/contact-us?tab=4

After a family meeting yesterday, we were due to pay in full for our June Orlando/Gulf trip tomorrow we have scrapped it and trans furred it to June 2021. Not able to go later in the year as we have contracts to decorate hospitals up and down the country. June is our month off besides odd days and Christmas shutdown. Dissapointed but feel its the safest thing to do. Hope you all get to do your travels. stay safe.

I’m supposed to be travelling with Virgin Holidays to Barbados on 24th March but when I completed the call back request form, the standard response is that they will call me back within the next 7 - 10 days. Eek!

My guess is LAX, JFK, ATL, JNB, DEL, IAD. Maybe HKG/PVG if there is demand.

Can’t do all of those with six aircraft. LAX, JNB, HKG, PVG all need two. I think they’ll focus on the routes that only need one - so basically eastern seaboard. Maybe LAX.

I think LAX can be done with just a single a/c

My guess is LAX, JFK, ATL, JNB, DEL, IAD. Maybe HKG/PVG if there is demand.

I presume they'll be cutting all routes from LGW and MAN and be exclusively operating out of Heathrow then.