I’m due to fly to the Canaries this weekend. Feeling slightly anxious now the mask rules etc have been dropped. I know it’s my decision whether I wear one but has anyone flown recently and how did you find it? I went last year but the mask rules were still in place.
Also has anyone needed anti virals while abroad? Guess I’m slightly worried about picking it up while travelling and being ill on holiday.
Thanks x
Hi. I flew to Paris (and back) a couple of weeks ago. It is the first time I’ve been on a plane since before Covid.
I bought some FFP2 masks from Boots and paid for extra legroom (no one in front of me). It was fine.
Thanks! I’ve got some ffp2s. I’ve booked speedy boarding and we are row 3. It’s hard to adjust after being told to be so careful for so long.
I just wore a fresh mask every day and kept it on in crowded areas. Random, but pack some slippers 😎. Works a treat for helping you feel relaxed when you’re away x
I have also taken dettol spray and wipes when I’ve been away this year (UK). It alleviates stress quite considerably x
Just flown back from Greece. Noone wears a mask on board any more. A few locals had them on in supermarkets. I decided after vaccination that I was just going to live life normally so I didn't wear one either. I have made a response to the vaccine and have had covid last January.
Hi, I’ve been on 2 long haul flights, 1 with a change and then 1 short haul flight this year. The most recent (4wksago) was the short haul. Very few with masks now, but I choose to wear one in the airport and for the flight. I also had anti bac wipes to wipe down the seats and tray as there is sometimes a very short turn around on the flights. I still carry hand sanitizer with me. I’ve just decided I have to get on with it. I do qualify for the anti virals if I get Covid, but so far I’ve managed to avoid it. I struggled on my first flight back in January, 12 hrs as well. My watch kept telling me to breathe and relax 😂 I had downloaded some meditative tracks which I listened to and they did help me in the departure lounge and on the flight. Enjoy your holiday, and do what makes you feel more comfortable.
if and when I travel I always wear a mask. Still wear one when I go into shops. don't forget planes have usually cleaned the air that's circulated. Have a lovely time.
Thank you everyone. I think it’s the thought of a being stuck in a confined space with quite a lot of people for a few hours that worries me. Realistically we could pick up any bugs anywhere we go. I’m stocked up on wipes/anti bact, masks, cold n flu meds and first defence nasal spray. What will be will be. Thank you x
wear a mask and enjoy your holiday! Just do what you have been doing and try not to worry. Covid is around us all the time and will be for some time unfortunately. Try not let it rule your life. Have a fab time in the warm sunshine.
I felt anxious when flying earlier in the year but within an hour of landing being sat in a pavement cafe in the sunshine I knew it was worth the flight.
I came back from Tenerife in September - there were a couple of older people on plane with masks but that was it. I chose to wear one on plane and in airport. You had to wear them in taxis too in Tenerife. I think you have to keep doing what you've been doing - be sensible, anti bac and handwash! Try not to worry and have a brilliant time x
Hi I'm in the canaries right now they will ask you still to wear a mask on any transport buses or taxis and it's still the law you can be fined majorly if you don't ps they never told us this till the bus was getting ready to leave
How about in food shops Bethany? Are people still wearing them in there? K.
no not in shops but have seen a few people going about wearing
Thank you. We are off, hopefully, to Lanzarote next month and I'm a bit wary. We will have a hire car because I don't fancy going on public transport or taxis. Hope you are having a good time. It's lovely out there out of season. Take care, xx
I understand your concerns, especially as numbers seem to be rising. Hopefully you have made a good response to the vaccines. I’m on 5 immunosuppressants and steroid inhalers on top of that, yet was surprised to find I had a moderate response to the vaccine. My local Trust is going back to mask wearing due to numbers rising.
Re antivirals, other countries have different rules re access to them. It is unlikely you would get them. I enquired in April, when I was considering travel to Spain to attend my father in-laws funeral. I was told that I was unlikely to get the antivirals, and that they won’t issue to take with you as a precaution. I ended up not going as my mother in-law said she would never forgive herself if I caught covid. My ribs are fused, I have no chest expansion, and I have a lot of lung damage due to the inflammation though. My specialists are still cautious about me using public transport. I would love to travel back to Glasgow to visit my mum & sister, I haven’t been back since November 2019, hoping when I see specialists next week, they give me the thumbs up to travel 9hrs on trains. It would be lovely to do a bit of Christmas with them 🤞🤗.
Hi…yes I flew a few weeks ago to Spain. Wore my mask from start to finish. There was only one other with a mask on the plane but didnt bother me….got to look after no. 1. We did bring a virus back, but only a cold one! We really enjoyed ourselves as first proper holiday. Enjoy
We just came back from Florida. I am on Etanercept and Methatrexate. During Covid I worked from home and never went out. But I caught Covid in April this year and was just like a heavy cold. I keep up to date with my vaccinations and felt totally safe through the whole holiday. (I was surprised as I never thought would be surrounded by people again like that). I did take wipes on the plane and wiped the trays etc.. which made me feel better and we also had masks and hand gel. It’s ok to wear a mask if you feel more comfortable and we saw lots of people wearing them on holiday but I didn’t use mine at all and felt ok. Oddly my partner did get a normal cold but nothing more than that. I was so happy to be away for the first time in three years I did forget about Covid for most of the holiday. I hope you enjoy yourself and maybe as long as you have your masks and hand gel with you you can wear it them anytime you feel you need to.
Hi, yes. I've done 6 flights since May. Always worn a mask and always been the only one on the plane to do so. Have been fine all except the last flight. I caught covid, but suspect I got it over there rather than on the flight as had a cough but was testing negative till I got home. Kept outdoors day and night but unfortunately this last one, had to share lifts etc as were on the 16th floor. Earlier on in the year the lifts were only allowing 2 people in but there doesn't seem to be any restrictions now. Even though you are still supposed to wear masks on public transport in Spain, I saw very few people with them on. I should have been able to get anti virals when got back but unfortunately there was a lot of messing on with 111 and 119 that it was too late to get them. Next time I won't wait for them to ring me, I will be straight on to them.
Hi I have only traveled to Ireland. The first time I went masks were still in use. However when I went in September no one was wearing a mask other than me. It was scary but I just stayed away from people as much as I could and used my hand sanitiser often. Good luck and hope you enjoy your holiday ❤️
Here in Tenerife masks are worn in buses, taxis , chemists doctors.
I totally understand your nervousness. I was similar. We travelled abroad in April June & September & have been ok. I really was worried & every time someone coughed I was a wreck but all was ok.
I hope it all goes well & you have a lovely time x
good to read all these comments i am going to Tenerife for Christmas !
I have flown a number of times. I always have assistance as I have a number of medical issues. At Gatwick I am deposited in a quiet area before the flight which I like as I can use my nebuliser in peace. I always wear the thicker masks upon entering the airport. I still got a chest infection the last time I flew and ended up having to go to A&E showing my EHIC card which is still valid, I am not sure if we would get antivirals abroad so I can’t answer that aspect but I would definitely go and enjoy yourself.
I had good care in Lazarote when I had a urine infection and the hospital was great when my eldest, adult, son had a kidney stone. They were spot on.
I live in the US and have flown recently to see my daughters. Once to New York City and once to SanFrancisco. I brought sanitizer wipes and wore a mask each time. Both flights went very smoothly so I did not spend hours with delays in the airport. I am lucky enough to get Evusheld so have about 77% immunity to Covid despite being unable to create antibodies to Covid.
I just decided I couldn’t put my life on hold any longer and needed to enjoy being with my daughters and my grandchildren. I also came to the conclusion that I could just as easily pick up Covid at my local grocery store as at a restaurant in New York. We all have our own anxiety levels and have to evaluate the risks involved in relation to our health issues.
hi Rachel, we are not long back from Tenerife and are also going to USA end of November all being well. On the plane to Tenerife, I would say only a handful wore masks. I would advise getting good quality masks as already advised and change them every day. I would definitely use hand sanitizer evertime you eat etc and I also bought wee cheap disposable gloves to wear when using the toilets etc on the plane and airports. Be careful of the plane trays as they can carry a lot of bacteria. We decided not to have room service just to feel a bit safer, and we just rang and requested new towels etc from housekeeping. When we go into our room, we always wipe down all surfaces and then as I said, we keep the do not disturb sign out all the time.
One other thing, make sure you have plenty of medication with you and take a nite or even a pic on phone if all the medication you are on. We wore masks in lifts and everywhere when we were inside and to be honest we were the only ones doing that in the hotel, but we just did what we felt made us feel a bit safer and we only took the masks off when outside or eating. Hope you have a wonderful time away and keep safe 😊
We were wondering how to avoid the daily cleaning. Each apartment has a mop and bucket anyway which we used inbetween cleans for any spillages or drip from the shower in the bathroom. Like you we always clean down the sufaces and wash all cutlery and crockery on arrival. This time there will be a dishwasher so the latter will be easy. I think a 'do not disturb notice on the door' will be a great idea. Great tip.
hi. I have been on 2 long haul flights this year. I'm exempt from wearing a facemask, so I booked assistant at the airports. It does get you through security and passports quicker and you avoid the quese and get on the aircraft first.
i just try and avoid crowds if possible. I was perfect both times. Picked up mild pneumonia in Canada but that was due to the weather. Take some medication with you just in case you need it. Enjoy your holiday. Winter sunshine is good for all of us with lower immunity.
HI, I got covid when in France June/July this year. I had a GHIC card, and was able to access antivirals through a local GP The card means you get the same treatment as locals. The criteria was the same as here
Good to know; thanks x
Racehel, I hope you won't mind me asking but who did you get your holiday insurance through? I am anticipating that this will be my last holiday in Lanzarote so don't want to take out annual cover, as I usually do, just for a single trip. Our accomodation is cancellable until 24hrs prior to arrival, and I'm not too worried about recovering the high flight costs...we have moved our flight dates several times since March 2019, when this nightmare of Covid began, having been due to fly two days after the chaos started. I have other health issues as well as RA (Chron's being the other major one, as well as a TIA six years ago) so really looking for cover for repatriation should it be necessary. I know that we have recipricol health care, and have experience of using that... and it was good. Thanks in anticipation of your help in this, Knip
I know you didn’t ask me 😂, but I recently got Travel Insurance from All Clear. I got an annual one which covers Europe, parts of North Africa/ Turkey and cruises. I think it was about £100; so maybe £30 for one trip?? *I wanted to cover all bases*
Thank you for your reply. That is an excellent price. I used them for our last planned holiday but it cost me £340 then so would probably be more now. That was for European annual cover, so I might try them again. It wasn't much less then, for a single journey. Sad thing is that it was never needed, because Covid put paid to that! Ah well, that's life. I am now 77 so my age migth have made a difference. Take care. Knip.
What made a difference to me, was the ‘number of meds’ bit. Initially I put down ALL the meds I take, but the RA question only asks about meds you take for RA; in my case 2, Mtx and Sulfasalazine. Don’t know if this will aid you; but it made a difference to my quote. But yes, I am a sprightly 54 (😂) so age will make a difference I am sure x
Right, I usually list every medication. From what you say, I only need to list what is relevant to each condition. Perhaps that will help. I only take extra meds for Chrons when I have a flare because the MTX covers both conditions. Nothing ventured nothing gained! Thank you
I got my through the post office. I just added my conditions. I’ve got my niece on mine as well so not sure of cost. I don’t remember it asking for a list of meds. I also selected covid cover. I think for a single trip I usually pay about £30ish.
Recently diagnosed with RA. 
Recently diagnosed RA
Recently diagnosed but struggling with Methotrexate
49, single and recently diagnosed
Recently diagnosed ~ but no progress is the pain in my mind
