Italian lockdown

I guess airlines will now have to suspend flights to and from Italy if the whole of Italy is in lockdown?

We received an email from KLM today, offering to cancel tickets for flying between now and the end of May, without any penalties, and issue vouchers for new flights at a later date.

My sister and her family live close to Venice. We were looking forward to her son's wedding on April 24th. Eight of my family have flights and 3 apartments booked. My nephew is now trying to postpone the wedding. Feel so sorry for him and his fiancée. We are all going to lose out financially, but what I cannot get my head around is WHY are airlines (EasyJet!) still flying people to and from Italy. Sooo irresponsible and money grabbing.

jura2 Sun 08-Mar-20 19:21:17
yes, I get it in his case. We certainly have no intention of cancelling our yearly trip to Tuscany- let's hope we can drive as usual

If you are still with us Jura I’d be looking for a Plan B as all of Italy is now on lockdown. .

It's all about money, Daisymae. Greed comes before the health of individuals. Shocking.

60 million people in lockdown. Didn't see that coming to so soon. But no flights suspended??

Worrying news about whole of Italy on lockdown. Could it, will it happen here?

Every country has different views on the situation, different restrictions, different levels of care etc. This is exactly where the notion of a European Union falls down, because surely it should be one rule for all member countries?

One of my daughters friends has been told by the large Car manufacturing company he works for that they need him to work out in Italy in two weeks time. He has a young family at home and is worried regarding the risk of infecting his little ones on his return. His wife has suggested that he self isolates by taking himself to one of the Uk airport hotels for two weeks after he returns rather than return straight home. Surely employers should not be putting staff in such risk in the first place, or at least offering to pay for their self isolation hotel bill on return where young families or other members with high risk pre-existing conditions are.involved.

China has obviously got the better health system given that the millions living there and their ratio of illnesses/deaths are more than comparable to Italy.

Sky News is reporting that the whole of Italy is now on lockdown

Tour company says that holidays after 3rd April are going ahead at the moment, so I still can't cancel and get a refund unless Foreign Office advice changes. Whatever, I am still not happy at travelling to Italy so may well cancel, and will sit tight till as late as possible.

Yes, Vegansrock. I have British colleagues who are based in Italy. Better healthcare than the uk.

I am quite happy to stay at home and self isolate if that’s what is required.

The Italian healthcare system in the north is certainly as good as if not better in many areas than the NHS so to suggest otherwise craftyone implies you have no knowledge of the system. Yes, they are under considerable strain at the moment ( as is the NHS seemingly all the time) but the hospitals and care in Lombardia is excellent ( I speak with personal experience). They are not anymore “financially broke”(sic) than we are.

Flights booked to Pisa in April. Can cancel hotel up to 2 days before at no cost but not sure Ryan Air will be as useful. Sitting tight to see how things progress. ?‍♀️

My neighbour’s daughter has just returned from a four day break in Rome. I don’t know if they now plan to self-isolate. It would be difficult, because their two teenage children didn’t go with them, and still live at home.
I have a flight to Australia booked for the end of April, when my new GC is due. I hope that I don’t have to cancel.

the sense to them is that the uk has a relatively better standard of healthcare and it is free. Italy is financially broke. That is why so many are making haste to get here

My husband was due to go to northern Italy skiing yesterday. Although areas very close to the resort and airport are in lockdown, the advice from the tour operator was business as usual. My husband made the decision not to go based on the fact that he has severe asthma and didn’t want to increase his risk of contracting the virus or risk 2 weeks self isolation on his return as he has a hospital two days after his return. We’ve lost around £1500. All the rest of the group decided to go.

We are due to fly to Rome on 5th April (we live in California) and from there will be going to Sorrento and then Sicily. We haven’t cancelled yet, but are thinking about it. We would be so disappointed but if the virus has spread even more, the holiday might be spoiled by the sheer inconvenience of it all. We have to make a decision very soon.........

Our twin grandsons (age 14) were scheduled to go on an 8th grade trip to Florence and Venice this month. It was canceled by the school that they attend.

A friend had a holiday booked to South Korea last week and refused to go. She couldn't get her money back but has managed to book an alternative holiday later in the year to Canada I think.

Our government are so slow in making it official not to go to infected countries. That would enabled people booked to get a refund. Why they are letting planes land from parts of Italy in lockdown worries me too. How are people getting to airport if these cities are in lockdown? We are an island surely we close access to our country and protect ourselves. Or are we scared of offending anyone?

My Easyjet flight in April is still going ahead and it goes back and forward twice a day along with many other airlines. They aren’t going to cancel unless the government tells them to as it would mean refunding the money. They would rather people just didn’t turn up.

If you paid by Mastercard and the flight is cancelled the money will be paid back to you, but not if you have used another kind of credit card.

However, don't just assume that the money is lost. I have just helped a neighbour get a refund on a flight from Bagdad to Hamburg that was cancelled.

I wouldn't go anywhere right now, or in a month's time if this infection is still rampant. I know you may loose your money, but will you honestly enjoy the trip if you have to worry about infecton? I know I wouldn't.