Comments on: Too sick to travel? When to put yourself on the no-fly list http://www.elliott.org/the-travel-critic/too-sick-to-travel-when-to-put-yourself-on-the-no-fly-list/ Consumer advocate Christopher Elliott's site. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:25:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Carver http://www.elliott.org/the-travel-critic/too-sick-to-travel-when-to-put-yourself-on-the-no-fly-list/comment-page-1/#comment-35879 Carver Tue, 16 Mar 2010 05:50:58 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=11361#comment-35879 Does Travel insurance cover your hotel if you get sick whle traveling? Does Travel insurance cover your hotel if you get sick whle traveling?

]]> By: Elisa http://www.elliott.org/the-travel-critic/too-sick-to-travel-when-to-put-yourself-on-the-no-fly-list/comment-page-1/#comment-35870 Elisa Mon, 15 Mar 2010 22:37:36 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=11361#comment-35870 Sorry but where is the travel insurance in this discussion? If you contract the flu, a good policy would cover that and mean that you were less out of pocket than the change fee. Perhaps we should be choosing the credit card with the built in insurance? I agree the change fees are obscene. I can understand them if it's within 48 hours of the flight though - airlines know that seat will be hard to sell again, so they would be losing out on the $ if you change your flight. Sorry but where is the travel insurance in this discussion? If you contract the flu, a good policy would cover that and mean that you were less out of pocket than the change fee. Perhaps we should be choosing the credit card with the built in insurance?

I agree the change fees are obscene. I can understand them if it’s within 48 hours of the flight though – airlines know that seat will be hard to sell again, so they would be losing out on the $ if you change your flight.

]]> By: Sarah Di http://www.elliott.org/the-travel-critic/too-sick-to-travel-when-to-put-yourself-on-the-no-fly-list/comment-page-1/#comment-35867 Sarah Di Mon, 15 Mar 2010 20:57:09 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=11361#comment-35867 I think a major problem comes in when other passengers or staff try to make a determination about whether you should have flown or not. Just because someone is coughing doesn't mean they're contagious. Maybe it's dry air or they ate something that went down the wrong way. Maybe they've had a cold but they are on the tail end of it and they are fine to fly. Typical symptoms of a cold or the flu can also be symptoms of other problems that are not contagious or dangerous to others in any way. I can have sinus problems and sound completely horrible but not be contagious. Also, most people who are flying probably could afford the change fees, if it were budgeted. But since a bad illness tends to come up right before a trip, 100 - 150 dollars per person might not be in the budget. I think a major problem comes in when other passengers or staff try to make a determination about whether you should have flown or not. Just because someone is coughing doesn’t mean they’re contagious. Maybe it’s dry air or they ate something that went down the wrong way. Maybe they’ve had a cold but they are on the tail end of it and they are fine to fly. Typical symptoms of a cold or the flu can also be symptoms of other problems that are not contagious or dangerous to others in any way. I can have sinus problems and sound completely horrible but not be contagious.

Also, most people who are flying probably could afford the change fees, if it were budgeted. But since a bad illness tends to come up right before a trip, 100 – 150 dollars per person might not be in the budget.

]]> By: abigail@ west bengal travel http://www.elliott.org/the-travel-critic/too-sick-to-travel-when-to-put-yourself-on-the-no-fly-list/comment-page-1/#comment-35861 abigail@ west bengal travel Mon, 15 Mar 2010 19:36:07 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=11361#comment-35861 Very intelligent way of representation. I like your writing style. i think people should not fly when they suffering form flue or something else . A good descriptive article.Thanks for the detail informative post. Very intelligent way of representation. I like your writing style. i think people should not fly when they suffering form flue or something else . A good descriptive article.Thanks for the detail informative post.

]]> By: Allison http://www.elliott.org/the-travel-critic/too-sick-to-travel-when-to-put-yourself-on-the-no-fly-list/comment-page-1/#comment-35835 Allison Mon, 15 Mar 2010 05:58:30 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=11361#comment-35835 I recently flew back from Europe with a horrible sinus infection. I would have loved to have spent a few days more in Vienna to have my condition improve but two things prevented me: 1. I also had injured my knee and had no reasonable medical assistance option, and 2. My airline (Iberia) told me I would have to wait two weeks to fly my itinerary due to "capacity controls." In February? It's one thing to not start travel due to a medical condition; it is something entirely different when one is trying to get home. I recently flew back from Europe with a horrible sinus infection. I would have loved to have spent a few days more in Vienna to have my condition improve but two things prevented me: 1. I also had injured my knee and had no reasonable medical assistance option, and 2. My airline (Iberia) told me I would have to wait two weeks to fly my itinerary due to “capacity controls.” In February? It’s one thing to not start travel due to a medical condition; it is something entirely different when one is trying to get home.

]]> By: Alan Gore http://www.elliott.org/the-travel-critic/too-sick-to-travel-when-to-put-yourself-on-the-no-fly-list/comment-page-1/#comment-35815 Alan Gore Sun, 14 Mar 2010 23:12:33 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=11361#comment-35815 I wish I didn't have to fly with the flu, but being retired I can't afford to eat the cost of my ticket. So long as I still stagger onto the plane, I'm going. I wish I didn’t have to fly with the flu, but being retired I can’t afford to eat the cost of my ticket. So long as I still stagger onto the plane, I’m going.

]]> By: Susan http://www.elliott.org/the-travel-critic/too-sick-to-travel-when-to-put-yourself-on-the-no-fly-list/comment-page-1/#comment-35793 Susan Sun, 14 Mar 2010 15:17:36 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=11361#comment-35793 I can definitely understand flying when sick. I have in the past because I needed to get home and return to work..Maybe if the airlines wouldn't charge $150.00 to change a ticket ( a piece of paper) more people would stay off planes when sick. Most airline tickets are bought in advance and vacation time is put in at work so changing your schedule is not as easy as written. The airlines are so overbooked now with less flights if you try to change a ticket it could take 2-3 days off your vacation as the next flight is booked already. Unless something is done on the airlines end I don't see many people changing reservations because they are sick.. Just do what I do when I hear coughing around me on a plane, don't turn on the air above your seat, so far it has worked well.. I can definitely understand flying when sick. I have in the past because I needed to get home and return to work..Maybe if the airlines wouldn’t charge $150.00 to change a ticket ( a piece of paper) more people would stay off planes when sick. Most airline tickets are bought in advance and vacation time is put in at work so changing your schedule is not as easy as written. The airlines are so overbooked now with less flights if you try to change a ticket it could take 2-3 days off your vacation as the next flight is booked already. Unless something is done on the airlines end I don’t see many people changing reservations because they are sick.. Just do what I do when I hear coughing around me on a plane, don’t turn on the air above your seat, so far it has worked well..

]]> By: Sean http://www.elliott.org/the-travel-critic/too-sick-to-travel-when-to-put-yourself-on-the-no-fly-list/comment-page-1/#comment-35792 Sean Sun, 14 Mar 2010 15:16:34 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=11361#comment-35792 Great, another bout of, "If you can't afford it . . . " posts. I'm sorry, but paying $300 for a change fee is obscene, and no one should have to pay it. People don't plan on getting sick and I respect anyone that takes themselves off a flight while they are sick, but I also understand when those that need to be somewhere or don't want to pay the change fee take a flight while sick. I travel for business and I won't fly out if I'm sick, but I sure will fly home if I'm sick as I'd much rather be at home then stuck in a hotel. I'm going to change it around, If you don't want to fly with sick people, may you shouldn't be flying and should find another means of travel. Flying with healthy people is a privilege, not a right. Great, another bout of, “If you can’t afford it . . . ” posts. I’m sorry, but paying $300 for a change fee is obscene, and no one should have to pay it. People don’t plan on getting sick and I respect anyone that takes themselves off a flight while they are sick, but I also understand when those that need to be somewhere or don’t want to pay the change fee take a flight while sick. I travel for business and I won’t fly out if I’m sick, but I sure will fly home if I’m sick as I’d much rather be at home then stuck in a hotel.

I’m going to change it around, If you don’t want to fly with sick people, may you shouldn’t be flying and should find another means of travel. Flying with healthy people is a privilege, not a right.

]]> By: sweepergrl http://www.elliott.org/the-travel-critic/too-sick-to-travel-when-to-put-yourself-on-the-no-fly-list/comment-page-1/#comment-35791 sweepergrl Sun, 14 Mar 2010 15:16:13 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=11361#comment-35791 I agree that, in theory, no one should fly when they're sick. Until the airlines waive some of their stupid rules and fees, though, people will fly sick. Unless, of course, they can afford to eat the $150 per ticket and any money lost on hotel and car reservations. A week before my sister's wedding in Florida, I came down with what the doctor diagnosed as shingles. He said no flying so I immediately contacted the airline. I offered a doctor's note, begged and pleaded, but the airline wouldn't budge and said I would have to pay the $150 fee for myself and my child. This left a $54 credit for each of us to use against a new ticket. What a joke. I do not have the money to buy walk-up fares for two, which is what I would have had to do and I bet a lot of people don't, either. The worst part was when I flat out asked the customer service rep how she could defy doctor's orders and push me to fly with an infectious disease. She replied, "We aren't telling you to fly sick. We're assessing our fees because you insist on changing your ticket." What kind of logic is that? The nightmare had a happy ending, though. It wasn't shingles after all, which saved me the guilt that would have come from flying sick. I agree that, in theory, no one should fly when they’re sick. Until the airlines waive some of their stupid rules and fees, though, people will fly sick. Unless, of course, they can afford to eat the $150 per ticket and any money lost on hotel and car reservations.
A week before my sister’s wedding in Florida, I came down with what the doctor diagnosed as shingles. He said no flying so I immediately contacted the airline. I offered a doctor’s note, begged and pleaded, but the airline wouldn’t budge and said I would have to pay the $150 fee for myself and my child. This left a $54 credit for each of us to use against a new ticket. What a joke. I do not have the money to buy walk-up fares for two, which is what I would have had to do and I bet a lot of people don’t, either.
The worst part was when I flat out asked the customer service rep how she could defy doctor’s orders and push me to fly with an infectious disease. She replied, “We aren’t telling you to fly sick. We’re assessing our fees because you insist on changing your ticket.” What kind of logic is that?
The nightmare had a happy ending, though. It wasn’t shingles after all, which saved me the guilt that would have come from flying sick.

]]> By: Crissy http://www.elliott.org/the-travel-critic/too-sick-to-travel-when-to-put-yourself-on-the-no-fly-list/comment-page-1/#comment-35784 Crissy Sun, 14 Mar 2010 14:04:25 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=11361#comment-35784 A couple years ago I was going away on a month long trip. Based on when my flight was and when I started getting cold symptoms, it's quite likely that I caught something on the flight over. I ended up sick for almost the whole month and a cough lingered past my trip. Having said that, I can still understand flying with a cold, but the flu? I wouldn't want to fly with the flu myself and if I couldn't afford the change fee then maybe I shouldn't be traveling. And then to get the flu once I'm on my trip, that would be horrible. A couple years ago I was going away on a month long trip. Based on when my flight was and when I started getting cold symptoms, it’s quite likely that I caught something on the flight over. I ended up sick for almost the whole month and a cough lingered past my trip. Having said that, I can still understand flying with a cold, but the flu? I wouldn’t want to fly with the flu myself and if I couldn’t afford the change fee then maybe I shouldn’t be traveling. And then to get the flu once I’m on my trip, that would be horrible.

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