Posted on 03/10/2020 8:10:29 AM PDT by C19fan
As more and more people grow hesitant to travel by plane because of concerns about the coronavirus, domestic and international fares have plummeted. Expedia is marketing a New York to Los Angeles round-trip flight for $142, which costs, on average, about $300 one-way. A Miami to Chicago flight is usually about $193, but Frontier Airlines is advertising a $67 round-trip ticket. Prices for international flights are also shockingly low: A round-trip fare from Boston to Barcelona is $196, compared to an average of $681.
It might seem tempting to snatch up these deals, if not for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s warning to avoid nonessential travel for certain vulnerable populations, especially long plane trips, and crowded spaces, which is pretty much the definition of every airport. These precautions are extremely important to heed, especially for older and sick people as the outbreak continues, and the CDC has travel alerts for South Korea, China, Italy, Iran, and Japan — places Americans are advised to avoid.
(Excerpt) Read more at vox.com ...
And then have the prospect of being quarantined for 14 days if you have a fever when you get off the plane.
You’re not kidding! I have hotel reservations for Italy in July and haven’t booked airfare yet.
Today, 5 tickets costs me about what 2 tickets cost me the last time I went with my wife (2 years ago). It’s INSANELY cheap. Yet I’m hemming and hawing about pulling the trigger.
I think I have to do it.
Millions have over the past two months and they’ve been exposed, so has every airport employee.
That's the biggie.
The disease should have burned itself out by then in Italy. Also it appears heat is effective at killing the virus as there are a minimal number of cases in the tropics.
These diseases tend to follow a bell curve. Massive exponential growth then peak then equally rapid decline.
I tend to agree with you and United is waving all fees if I book by the end of this month. Can’t do it right now as I don’t have passports at the ready but will discuss with the spousal unit.
Really, it’s about $510 round trip and that includes an upgrade to “Full Economy”. It’s nuts.
“I think I have to do it.”
I hear ya! I’d be all over a trip to Italy, France and Spain if I didn’t have two dogs and security clearance pre-authorizations.
Congrats.
“And then have the prospect of being quarantined for 14 days if you have a fever when you get off the plane.”
—
Or if anyone else on the plane has a fever.
It’s about $510 round trip. Which coincidentally is only about $150 more than I paid in August to fly to Charlotte for a College Move In. (EWR to CLT)
“That’s the biggie.”
—
The bill for your treatment or just being quarantined probably won’t be a joy to behold either, I suspect.
Quarantine is the issue. My wife wanted to go to San Fran for Spring Break (don't ask me why... just likes it there). She saw ticket prices about ⅓ of what they were a month ago. I told her, "We can go. Might enjoy ourselves. Then, we'll have to be ready for quarantine for at least another two weeks as a result!"
Bought my plane ticket last week (it had dropped $75) and now, the fare is $92 higher. However, American Airlines is allowing a no charge change once for tickets purchased between 3/5 and 3/31. I figure if my fare goes down enough, I will take advantage of it. Or, if this virus gets worse, I will cancel and reschedule.
I bet there are terrific deals to certain cities in China.
Other heavier physical objects will plummet as well.
I was able to book the one nonstop flight to DC and back with no problem. It popped up as the cheapest option; usually it’s booked and when I can get it it’s $100 more roundtrip than a flight with stops.
So the $48,000 question is, what will the next Trump crisis be for the media for the Spring?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.