Coronavirus: Poland, Denmark, Slovakia and Ukraine close their borders

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• Will says:

  14 Mar14 March 09:12

  Do you have any info on Thailand?
  Can’t seem to find anything.

  • Philip Tata says:

    14 Mar14 March 10:30

    Yes, I can’t find any information either that Rob is alluding to regarding Thailand. Due to go there on Tuesday, but will be cancelling. Worth adding that Etihad have been unhelpful, to put it mildly, about all of this, as they are refunding UAE nationals but no one else, as the UAE minister of health has banned there nationals from going to Thailand. When I spoke to them last week again, they agreed there was a significant chance that we would not be allowed back through Abu Dhabi from Thailand, as after all the UAE have deemed it too dangerous for their own nationals, but Etihad still refused any cancellation. Apart from being discriminatory, this won’t do their goodwill or reputation much good once the dust has settled.

    • Shoestring says:

      14 Mar14 March 10:41

      I think you’re OK – today – but it wouldn’t take much for Thailand to add UK to the list below:

      35. Thailand: Anyone who has travelled to or transited through China (including Hong Kong and Macau), Italy, Iran and South Korea in the 14 days prior to their arrival in Thailand may be subject to quarantine.

      • pixielott says:

        15 Mar15 March 15:04

        @Rob, can you please post your source for your Thailand comment? thank you

• krysk says:

  14 Mar14 March 09:20

  Travelled to Poland on Thursday morning BA flight to meet a big wig. On arrival Went to buy coffee in empty coffee shop, by the time I finished coffee all contact between government ministers and civilians had been banned. Ended up jumping onto flight that evening (hardly anyone on it) and having a Skype call with said individual instead next day. Folks in Poland seems to be much more attuned to potential dangers of viral infection. By the time I had landed late in the evening heard that border close measures would be in place. Regarding food. Wouldn’t have a problem eating it for a good while since it includes more than just the few ingredients mentioned by earlier poster 😉

  • Polly says:

    15 Mar15 March 08:28

    Well, at least you got the TPS and avios, hopefully..

• Paul says:

  14 Mar14 March 09:20

  Any thoughts on travel insurance claims for countries now enforcing mandatory quarantine? I’ve internal flights in Argentina booked for a couple of weeks time (I’m no longer intending to travel; was routing there via Sao Paulo on the now cancelled VS flights). Assuming the flights don’t get cancelled, is there a claim on the basis that the country’s mandatory quarantine rules would mean I don’t believe I’d be able to take the flights, even if I did find a re-route to the region?

  Great coverage of the rapidly evolving situation, Rob/HfP.

  • Rob says:

    14 Mar14 March 10:30

    You’re not covered if the flights operate.

    • tony says:

      14 Mar14 March 15:09

      This is interesting, as my insurance has a payout if I’m quarantined whilst travelling. It’s not a huge amount, but interesting all the same that they would encourage you to travel into something which both parties know will result in a claim.

• Clive says:

  14 Mar14 March 10:56

  NZ announced 14 quarantine for all

• Thomas Howard says:

  14 Mar14 March 13:36

  Spain announcing lockdown after numerous jet2 flights heading for the country were turned back mid flight.

• Daniel says:

  14 Mar14 March 14:36

  OT Flights next Thursday booked yesterday on expedia, and the long haul leg got canncelled. Can’t get through to either expedia or Lufthansa to get a refund, and I still don’t have a 13-digit ticket number yet (so tickets aren’t confirmed?).

  Any idea how to deal with this? Should I send an email to say I want to cancel the entire trip to get a timestamp history to do this retrospectively? Thanks

  • marcw says:

    14 Mar14 March 16:01

    It´s outside my understanding why someone bothers booking flights in 1 week time. For today or tomorrow, I can understand. But next week , or indeed in the next couple of weeks??? It´s just torture to get through CS at the moment on any airline or travel agency.

    • Daniel says:

      14 Mar14 March 20:43

      I was considering moving to China for a couple of weeks where the situation is under much more control than the UK at the moment. It’s for a lot of reasons… sorry if it annoys you

      • Yan says:

        14 Mar14 March 23:41

        Things are under control in China because substantial social distancing measurements are still in place (e.g. Spain & France from now on). That’s after spending the first 14 days in a quarantine centre.

• Clive says:

  14 Mar14 March 14:59

  If you are within the 24 hour cool off period that would be the best option. LH will not deal with you so your communication needs to be with Expedia.

• Clive says:

  14 Mar14 March 16:30

  Latest update on Vietnam:

  Vietnam Passengers who meet one or more of the following criteria are not permitted to enter Vietnam:
  Visited or transited through Mainland China (excluding Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR) in the past 14days.
  Effective: 15 March 2020, foreigners who have visited the United Kingdom and the 26 Schengen countries past 14days.
  Effective: 15 March 2020, foreigners holding a “visa on arrival” approval letter.

  To Ho Chi Minh City
  People’s Republic of China passport holder with a “visa on arrival” approval letter.
  Other foreign passport holders with a “visa on arrival” approval letter who have visited Mainalnd China (excluding Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR) in the past 14days.

  To Hanoi or Da Nang
  People’s Republic of China holders with a “visa on arrival” approval letter or a “tourist” visa (DL).

  Exemptions:
  General
  Vietnam passport holder
  Diplomatic / official passport holders
  Passenger transit through Vietnam

  To Hanoi or Da Nang
  People’s Republic of China holders with APEC card must present an invitation letter from their company / business partners in Vietnam to prove the entry purpose is for business (not leisure)

  Quarantine Requirements:
  Passengers who have visited or transited through Iran are required to undergo 14-day mandatory quarantine upon arrival.
  Vietnamese citizens who have been to the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland and the 26 Schengen countries in the past 14days, shall be centrally isolated for 14days upon entry.
  Foreigners who have been to the United Kingdom and the 26 Schengen countries AND arriving Vietnam before 15th March, 1200pm (Local Time), will require to undergo 14days quarantine upon entry.

  Others:
  Suspension of the visa waiver program for the following nationals:
  South Korea, Italy, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Sweden
  United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain
  Effective 15 March 2020, 12:00pm (local time) Suspension of the Visa on Arrival to all nationals:
  Suspension of visa exemption for Vietnamese or family members of Vietnamese holding foreign passport.

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