Yes, maybe if DS ends up staying in the Middle East we’ll get the chance to explore Qatar, too. I am so thankful we got to see Lebanon in 2018. Looks like it may not be a good idea to visit there for quite awhile. 
Looks pretty certain that the EU is not going to let Americans in, so maybe we will get more refunds.
^^^Yeah, depressing. This stupid virus changes so fast… One place is good, then it’s not. I’m bummed
D flew American Seattle>Indianapolis the end of May and the plane was full.
The post I was responding to was about someone who had cancer and has to fly. For that person the economic calculus of several hundred dollars ( which is what 1st class domestic generally costs over price of Coach, we only fly first for the past few years and it’s generally 200-400 more than Coach ) seems like money very well spent. Indeed since it’s a matter of potential life and death it’s not even a close call to me.
Even without that pre-existing condition the old thinking seems moot. We usually have the kids fly coach but are flying our kids home first class in August. Since trips for the foreseeable future are very very limited the “ I’d rather spend it on more trips” concept seems way way outside of the calculus
I might be wrong, but I thought our daughter told us Spain is allowing US passengers in. I remember when I expressed surprise she said they need the money from tourism. Essentially her message was not all countries in the EU are acting in unison.
I’ll check with her tomorrow and if I’m wrong I’ll post a correction.
How many flights are there going to EU countries, even if they will US citizens in?
There are a bunch in the works starting 7/1… Not sure what will happen if Europe behaves in unison.
Well, some good news- Delta approved a refund for another ticket I’d requested the $ back for. So when the credit appears on my cr. card I’ll have gotten back our $ on 3 of the 4 round trip tickets that we cancelled. The 4th was paid for in large part (75%) with a voucher so I understand why that’s still sitting as an ecredit on my account. In the meantime we are still in “wait and see” mode with the 2 round trip tickets we are holding for lust a little over a month from now. DH really wants to go. I am very uncomfortable with the trip for several reasons, though I’d really like to see the family. So…we wait…
Hopefully this will discourage New Yorkers from going on vacation out of state.
“ Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo on Saturday issued an order that will close a loophole which made employers responsible to pay the salaries of workers who are in mandatory 14-day quarantine if they left the state for non-essential purposes, including taking a vacation.”
“The governor’s order was issued two days after the Times Union reported the loophole that was created when Cuomo issued an executive order requiring anyone who enters New York after visiting states with high rates of coronavirus to self-quarantine. The issue arose due to an earlier executive order he issued mandating employers pay their workers if they are in a required quarantine.”
“Gaming the system and playing Russian roulette with their health is not how New Yorkers have been acting throughout this pandemic, but this will give employers piece of mind and as a reminder, everyone should continue to be smart, wear a mask and wash your hands,” said Cuomo senior advisor Richard Azzopardi.“
I live in a small city in Ca that is attractive for tourists. The city is promoting tourism and hotels have opened back up to leisure travel. I get the city needs the tax dollars and businesses need the money tourists spend. OTOH the health department is noting cases are going up and we need to wear face coverings and practice social distancing and not gather in large groups.
Yesterday I spent part of the morning on the phone with an airline and requested them to reissue 7 plane tickets for May 2021. For whatever reason the “headquarters “ must approve the reissue. I should get word on Monday or Tuesday that we are booked for next year. We now have rescheduled both boat and plane. I hope we can go next May but I’m not overly optimistic.
FYI, I just booked a flight on Southwest and there was something on their home page said that they are holding middle seats open through 9/30. Previously was through end of July.
@TS0104 Good to know. Thanks!
I just cancelled our SWA flights to visit my D and family at the end of July. I never figured it would happen, but it was a reschedule from the April trip. As it was SWA, it was no big deal to book and cancel again.
I am thinking of my husband and I can figure out a 10+ day period that we can leave work, we will drive and see both grandkids as my son is halfway between home and my daughter’s home. That will allow a break up of the drive without having to stay in a hotel. Now just have to figure out everyone’s work schedule, including the kids! I was thinking Thanksgiving, but I have hosted for 30+ years and would hate for my mother not to have us here. Plus my kids look forward to our Thanksgiving, but if they can’t/won’t fly, my daughter will not make the 18 hour drive with a 17 month old!
I had heard Spain would allow Americans, but since it’s part of the EU I thought they would abide by EU decisions.
Any word on Britain opening to tourists? They aren’t part of the EU anymore.
I am feeling very conflicted about travel this summer. At first I thought my husband and I would drive to my mom’s in Tennessee, go to my daughter’s in eastern PA, drive to son’s in western PA. Drive home to Michigan.
I haven’t seen my daughter since thanksgiving, my mom and son since Christmas. It’s fine, we don’t go back and forth to their homes, my husband is still working and taking vacation is always problematic.
My mom is struggling, I’m mostly talking mentally. She has plenty of friends but is frustrated that she can’t do what she used to do. Neither can I ?♀️. She is older and has low lung function. She lives on her own but is increasingly frustrated with the SIP. My husband also has an autoimmune disease. He thinks he will be fine if he gets the virus but he is at greater risk.
Now I just don’t know. Cases are rising. We could just go to my moms and back but that feels like (very honestly) I’m appeasing my mom and not doing anything for myself. I feel that by traveling, I’m doing the same thing that I’ve been critical about. That I’m putting my own needs above the health and welfare of this nation. That the only thing I can control is myself and by traveling, I’m being selfish.
Now I am aware that not everyone needs to agree with me or follow my reasoning. That’s ok. Really.
But between my moms health problems, my husband’s health problems and the health and rising cases in this nation, I don’t know if it’s wise to take this trip. I also feel that things are going to get worse in the fall. So I’m feeling a short window to get this done.
Any advice is appreciated
@deb922, would those trips involve overnight stays at places outside of your mom or S or D??? Could you maybe do the mom trip and then do a PA trip - seeing both kids at their respective places? So two different trips (Tennessee and then PA)?
Your state doesn’t have restrictions on coming back so that is good.
I think this is time is VERY hard on older people. They see a limited window of years ahead for them in general and wonder 1. how the heck did my world come to this!? and 2. Will this how my last years are spent - alone?
You can decide the parameters of your trip(s). That you will pack food for the car if not stopping much is a priority for you. To visit your family members in their homes/yards but limit any other outside interactions (so maybe not dining in a restaurant).
Would your heart and soul be nourished to just be able to see them? Talk to them face to face? Sit at their kitchen table having breakfast and coffee? If the answer is yes, I would recommend considering it.
I hate to say this but not knowing what’s ahead I have to wonder if some of our states are in a window TO be able to take this trip - the trip you would have never taken in March - but will “March” come again this November?
Thanks @abasket
Our family visiting trips have a pattern. My moms in April. The kids in October. I know my husband, if we went to my mom’s in August, he is not going to want to travel again a few weeks later. He is part of this problem. He doesn’t want to travel at all from June through September but understands that this year is different.
We can travel without spending any nights in hotels.
My mom and my mil are both convinced that they are going to die before there is a vaccine. I know how hard this is. I am calling all the time.
If I am being completely honest, I feel obligated to visit my mom. I yearn to see my kids. It feels so unfair to trek down to moms and not see the kids.
And that’s the problem, is the window open now to travel?Or is it closing before I ever got a chance?
I guess I’m resigning myself to make a trip to my mothers and not the kids. I feel as if my heart is breaking. That’s too melodramatic but it’s been a lot lately.
I have similar thoughts. My 21 y/o daughter came back from a fall study abroad, was home for a few weeks then flew back across country to her school for spring semester. For a variety of reasons when campuses closed, one being we were worried about air travel to fly home, she stayed in her off campus apartment. She was then going to come home in May for the summer, but it just made more sense financially for her to stay in CA where she had a job and could keep working all summer.
She has been there, alone with her two roommates, who occasionally go home to their families in CA to visit. She’s not out partying, going to bars, etc-just work, grocery store and occasional walks on beach/hiking where it’s not crowded. Not usually homesick, she is missing us and asked to come home for a visit before classes start in August. I have mixed feelings about it, but then I think…it might be worse when her semester ends right before Thanksgiving. Who knows what the pandemic numbers will be and she might not get to come home then either. At least right now she can fly home on Southwest, who has stated middle seats will remain empty until September. So I reluctantly bought the plane ticket and she will be flying home in July for 10 days. She will hang out with us only. While she wont be quarantined, she won’t be going to the store, hanging out with friends, etc.
I’m excited to see her of course but do feel guilty about her traveling non-essentially.