MASTER Cancel Travel b/c of COVID-19 Questions Thread

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Work travel to Boston, San Diego, Houston and New York in the next two weeks. Would fly everywhere but New York, usually I take the Acela for that trip but open to flying if that is somehow less risky. My company has encouraged us to rethink "non-essential" travel and says they'll support anyone who feels comfortable traveling right now but leadership seems to consider client travel essential. Feeling very stuck and put in an unnecessarily risky position right now.

Our company of 10,000 + just grounded ALL travel--this is from the top. No internal travel, no client travel. All client events canceled. Period. People- this is serious stuff. If your company is telling you to travel for work and you are not comfortable, you need to go to HR and get support.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn’t be surprised if many traveling to the Caribbean or other small countries without reported cases of the virus do not permit Americans to enter their country. It would suck to be stuck in an airport.

Tom hanks handled it pretty well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Work travel to Boston, San Diego, Houston and New York in the next two weeks. Would fly everywhere but New York, usually I take the Acela for that trip but open to flying if that is somehow less risky. My company has encouraged us to rethink "non-essential" travel and says they'll support anyone who feels comfortable traveling right now but leadership seems to consider client travel essential. Feeling very stuck and put in an unnecessarily risky position right now.

Our company of 10,000 + just grounded ALL travel--this is from the top. No internal travel, no client travel. All client events canceled. Period. People- this is serious stuff. If your company is telling you to travel for work and you are not comfortable, you need to go to HR and get support.

What can HR do when the bosses are still going?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:^For those that have been to Italy and specifically Lombardy -- what's it like/how big is it? Is this the equivalent of locking down a US state or 5 US states or half the US? Also how's the living situation there -- densely congested like apts in China or more single family homes etc.

Lombardy is the size of South Carolina and its the fashion capital of Italy/Europe. Very wealthy area.

Well if I'm going to be quarantined that looks pretty good.

You would be stuck inside. Unable to go to the store for groceries. It would be awful.

If you own a SFH, you can't go outside, on your own property? What about pets? I can't bring my dog into my backyard? I'm not worried about food.

Wow, the first human who can survive on...air.

Water would be helpful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:^For those that have been to Italy and specifically Lombardy -- what's it like/how big is it? Is this the equivalent of locking down a US state or 5 US states or half the US? Also how's the living situation there -- densely congested like apts in China or more single family homes etc.

Lombardy is the size of South Carolina and its the fashion capital of Italy/Europe. Very wealthy area.

Well if I'm going to be quarantined that looks pretty good.

You would be stuck inside. Unable to go to the store for groceries. It would be awful.

If you own a SFH, you can't go outside, on your own property? What about pets? I can't bring my dog into my backyard? I'm not worried about food.

Wow, the first human who can survive on...air.

Water would be helpful.

Haha. I meant I have a large food and water supply and wouldn't need to grocery shop for quite some time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:^For those that have been to Italy and specifically Lombardy -- what's it like/how big is it? Is this the equivalent of locking down a US state or 5 US states or half the US? Also how's the living situation there -- densely congested like apts in China or more single family homes etc.

Lombardy is the size of South Carolina and its the fashion capital of Italy/Europe. Very wealthy area.

Well if I'm going to be quarantined that looks pretty good.

You would be stuck inside. Unable to go to the store for groceries. It would be awful.

If you own a SFH, you can't go outside, on your own property? What about pets? I can't bring my dog into my backyard? I'm not worried about food.

Wow, the first human who can survive on...air.

Water would be helpful.

Haha. I meant I have a large food and water supply and wouldn't need to grocery shop for quite some time.

You...who don't live in Lombard but for some reason think you'd be living the high-life suddenly have a food+water supply in a Italian region you weren't even aware of prior to this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:^For those that have been to Italy and specifically Lombardy -- what's it like/how big is it? Is this the equivalent of locking down a US state or 5 US states or half the US? Also how's the living situation there -- densely congested like apts in China or more single family homes etc.

Lombardy is the size of South Carolina and its the fashion capital of Italy/Europe. Very wealthy area.

Well if I'm going to be quarantined that looks pretty good.

You would be stuck inside. Unable to go to the store for groceries. It would be awful.

If you own a SFH, you can't go outside, on your own property? What about pets? I can't bring my dog into my backyard? I'm not worried about food.

Wow, the first human who can survive on...air.

Water would be helpful.

Haha. I meant I have a large food and water supply and wouldn't need to grocery shop for quite some time.

You...who don't live in Lombard but for some reason think you'd be living the high-life suddenly have a food+water supply in a Italian region you weren't even aware of prior to this?

I am not that poster. I was countering your point that people would be stuck INSIDE. I assume I would still have access to my yard.

[Anonymous]

Interesting poll

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Interesting poll

This means nothing. Define “travel plans” how many people polled...meaningless.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Re the lockdown in Lombardy and 11 provinces in N Italy

I am now reading it has yet to be approved and may have changes.

But the proposal as written did not say people had to stay in their homes. Stores could be open, even restaurants provided people could keep a certain distance apart.

But very little congregating -- no amusements are open, no recreation; schools are already closed of course throughout Italy.

And no one can leave their province or city limits.

The previous responses explain why people are emptying out Costco. I read a blog by someone in China who was under quarantine, and they were going out to buy food. They aren't going to make you stay in your house and starve to death. However, obviously, if you have the coronavirus, you should stay in, and if you don't have it and are in a hard hit area, it's probably smart to stay in as much as possible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn’t be surprised if many traveling to the Caribbean or other small countries without reported cases of the virus do not permit Americans to enter their country. It would suck to be stuck in an airport.

Where do you come up with this crap? Just sit around drumming up scenarios? Like places where the entire economy depends on tourism will keep everybody out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting poll

This means nothing. Define “travel plans” how many people polled...meaningless.

Look before posting. Says right in the chart how many were polled.

[Anonymous]

Friends still planning to go to London next week for spring break

[Jkirsh64]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:My kid’s admitted student event at an LA college has been canceled. Will American refund my tickets? I’m guessing not but hoping.

When did you book the flight? American is currently offering "change fees waived" for flights booked during a certain time. They might not refund you, but could possibly waive any change fees so you could use the credit towards "move in weekend" or "parents weekend" or something. It's definitely worth calling and asking.

I saw that notice unfortunately I booked before March since I was trying to get a good fare and not wait too long. That sure backfired. I might try calling but I can’t see them trying to help me out:

I booked in February too, trying to get a good rate. I guess I should have waited too. I’m bummed. It makes zero sense for them to offer refunds for travel booked in March but not February.

It is worth a call. I think they are offering the change fee waivers for travel booked in March as an incentive for people to book travel without worrying about canceling. I booked a trip on Delta in late Feb. and decided not to travel. I contacted them yesterday and they were very nice and readily agreed to waive my change fee. It did take a while to get through to customer service. I used the on-line chat and just kept it up on my browser. They responded after about an hour and then they took care of it in about 5-10 minutes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Friends still planning to go to London next week for spring break

We've got London tickets too, for next month, and I'm still considering going. I've long been in the "people aren't taking this seriously enough" camp, but at this point, I think the UK is doing a far better job than the USA with this, so our chance of infection is probably lower there than here. I think it's unlikely the US will ban flights coming in from England and, if we absolutely had to stay there for a bit, it would be expensive but not crushing to us. I think we could do a fair amount of our work from England, and we wouldn't lose our jobs. Of course, if they get a blowup in cases like Italy, that changes the equation. Or if it looks like everything would be closed when we get there. If United offered free cancellation on the tickets, maybe I'd reconsider, but at this point we'd be out many thousands of dollars if we don't go, and the risk of going seems pretty much the same as the risk of staying here.

I'm more worried about some upcoming family reunions that involve elderly family members. Would be crushing to cancel or for them to skip as this is really likely a "once in a lifetime" or "last time ever" situation for them and some others...but it feels like Russian roulette for them.