Travel Vs Coronavirus

L1996jojo on 01/02/2020 - 11:29
Last edited 01/02/2020 - 11:29

Hello Everyone

Thanks in advance for your guidance and view on my situation. Booked tickets in early jan

We are due to travel (2 adults and infant 4 months) from Australia to India and Singapore at the end of Feb and returning in 3 weeks with a stopover for 4 days in Singapore on the way back.
With the ongoing threat and news about Corona-virus , Mrs is very worried with traveling not to the countries but more so the travel time in the plane. We ave tried different options such as changing dates or cancelling the trip altogether, however the Flight booked are non refundable and the agent is saying change of ticket will be $700.00 each which is just shy of how much we paid for the tickets in the first place.

I paid via my Anz cc which comes with a travel insurance included for which Allianz has send the claim forms saying that we can try to claim it as a medical issue but they don`t guarantee anything since there has been no cancellation from he airlines:

My question are

Is this something we should be concerned about in terms of flying for long duration and transiting in Singapore?

If there is someone who has traveled recently with infants overseas and any tips they could give?

If the travel agent is not able to provide a refund due to their policy and if our doctor advises against travel with the Infant due to this virus , can we do a charge back or do we just go through the insurance and hope they cover the cost?

Thank you very much

Travel

Comments

  • Melb69 on 01/02/2020 - 11:53
    +1

    Its the kids I would be more worried about. If your healthy adults you should be fine. With precautions.

    Is this something we should be concerned about in terms of flying for long duration and transiting in Singapore? At the moment from what I hear not everyone on a plane is being affected, but there is now human to human transfer. This is where the issue may be is that you could be sitting next to an affected person. Just monitor your health when you arrive and ask to move seats if possible if the person you are sitting next to looks ill. Wash your hands a lot. Get some of that detoll wash as a handy alternative. As you have kids you will probably get a row to yourself.

    If the travel agent is not able to provide a refund due to their policy and if our doctor advises against travel with the Infant due to this virus , can we do a charge back or do we just go through the insurance and hope they cover the cost? Call you insurance company for advise as to what you are covered by and what proof you need.

    By the way. Wearing masks is only really for those infected spreading the germs further. Not for the unaffected at this stage. They are not recommending the need to wear the surgical masks. You actually need a N95 mask if your going to wear one at all from the advice so far. That I know of.

    • 1996jojo on 01/02/2020 - 11:59

      Thank you for your reply. Yes, the main concern is the kid. We have got the front row seats with the bassinet. Good point with carrying the dettol hand sanitizer.We asked the doctor about masks she said the same and the baby can`t wear masks anyways.

  • Melb69 on 01/02/2020 - 12:06

    As you aren't going till end of month monitor what is happening with advice from Aus Govt travel notices. From the sounds if it is only getting worse, but there is still minimal issues with India and Singapore I think. I wouldn't stress over it too much. The good thing is you are in Aus.

    • 1996jojo on 01/02/2020 - 12:26

      We tried the the 1800# hotline for corona-virus and were advised of taking precautions on the plane as you advised and clean hands and alcohol wipes.
      Its just so stressful as Mrs is very worried for the kid, though she did feel bit better taking to the 1800# guy.
      Thank you for replying

  • [Deactivated] on 01/02/2020 - 12:57
    +1

    The only way you're getting your money back is if the airlines refuse to fly you or one of you actually gets sick. Going to Singapore and India is not very high risk currently, you'll know when if it is because airlines will stop flying there…..

    Chargebacks are only applicable if the supplier fails to deliver what is promised and you have tried (unsuccessfully) to get them to resolve the issue, it doesn't apply for change of mind. There's basically zero chance you'll be successfully doing a chargeback (unless your airline goes bust basically).

    Travel insurance is generally applicable when something prevents you from travelling, depending on your policy will really depend on what level of government advice they'll pay out on, but Singapore and India aren't even on the scale as yet, you're much more likely to have an issue on the way to the airport.

    Note that as of yet there hasn't been a single case of transmission recorded just by sharing a plane. Human to human transmission has been between people who have spent days or weeks in very close proximity.

    You are very very likely to be fine, but if you have massive anxiety then you'll just need to accept that unless things get much worse your only option is to cancel with whatever refund is available even if that is $0 (sometimes you can get partial airline credit).

    • 1996jojo on 01/02/2020 - 13:06

      Thank you for your reply

  • Edeena on 01/02/2020 - 13:38
    +2

    I think the coronavirus and airplane travel is low concern for you right now. Actually, Singapore has barred visitors from China starting today. Your baby is very young, travel is risky anywhere pretty much, the baby can be exposed to flu virus and other viruses etc doesn't have to be corona.

    • [Deactivated] on 01/02/2020 - 13:50
      +1

      Banning visitors (directly) from China actually increases the risk, which is why the WHO advises countries against it. Unless China bans people from leaving it just leads to people going via a third country in a way which makes the spread harder to track and detect (country of origin quarantine measures rely on people being honest, and if they know there's a ban they won't be).

      • Edeena on 01/02/2020 - 14:10
        +1

        Singapore is banning all China passport holders and not issuing new visas for Chinese visitors. No point going via a third party if they can't get visa to Singapore and if they turn up will be denied entry anyway.

    • 1996jojo on 01/02/2020 - 13:58

      Thank you for your reply. You are right in saying that baby can be exposed to various other viruses and we have got the BCG vaccine already as advised by the doctor and was more of the concern with the 1800# hotline person when he mentioned a zillion other viruses which are out there. Good hygiene is what he referred us to practice as well. Hopefully everything goes fine.

  • hasselbladsnapper on 01/02/2020 - 18:11

    Well I'm sorry, as an older person who visited Bali a few months ago and was amazed at parents there with very young babies, hell, with Denge, Zika, and a whole multitude of other viruses serious conditions, is it wise to subject them to such serious conditions. Now with the possible out of control situation now across China and occurring in other country's, might it not be sensible to offer your young bub a presently and generally safe place that is Australia for a holiday?.
    A family friend recently had their son visit India with a group of 12 students - they all became sick over a 4 week period!. Indeed Singapore is a very safe country, however with the present China situation and the general health outlook in India I would suggest caution is an important consideration. Some of the airlines are offering re-booking and some refunds, but I would not expect the travel insurance providers to be of much help, as is often the case!, they just love to avoid a claim!.

    • cheaplee on 01/02/2020 - 23:15

      That must be why the population of India is dwindling. The general health outlook and serious conditions knocking off all the sub-continental babies.

      We should all just stay in Australia always and never leave it's a dangerous world out there we could die for any reason anywhere anytime. Except America, that place is very civilised and safe, just like Australia.

      Get a grip man…

    • snooksy on 02/02/2020 - 08:51
      +3

      Umm any person visiting India should expect to get some mild sickness. They have lower hygiene standards because they are a developing country. I travelled for four months in India and had a few separate bouts of Delhi Belly. Perfectly normal and expected. Take precautions for the serious stuff but except that if you want to see the world you will get sick in foreign places sometimes. Calm down. This new strain of coronavirus is nothing to worry about living here in Australia or travelling to Singapore. Other than visiting China then I don’t think you will get sick. The flu is a much greater killer world wide then the novel coronavirus but that doesn’t stop people travelling to areas where there is a seasonal flu outbreak.

      • cheaplee on 02/02/2020 - 13:32
        +1

        My point exactly, but you said it much nicer.

      • icecold27 on 04/02/2020 - 17:35

        take some travelan it works great against this sort of stuff. scientifically proven and backed by the us department of defence.

  • anna10 on 01/02/2020 - 19:18
    +1

    You have weeks before departure so just gather info and be ready to act, but too early yet. A danger is that you will get stuck somewhere and not be able to get back.

  • SnoozeAndLose on 01/02/2020 - 19:26
    +1

    Life vs hard earning money. Money you can not bring into coffin, if you loss few K, you still can earn it back in months.

    I wouldn't risk it especially during this time.

  • alwaysis on 02/02/2020 - 07:09
    +1

    I would suggest waiting to decide. I am going to Vietnam next week and transiting through Singapore. Probably wouldn’t be with young child though

    • Ughhh on 08/02/2020 - 10:09
      +1

      Are you still going to Vietnam?

      My departure date to Vietnam is getting close, but I'm having second thoughts.

      • alwaysis on 16/02/2020 - 20:41

        Yes I am here now - no regrets

  • snooksy on 02/02/2020 - 08:45

    Nothing to worry about. If there was an normal (excluding perhaps the bird flu) influenza outbreak in China would you travel? The media has overblown this newly discovered virus. Unless you and your family already have underlying illnesses that already affect your quality of life then there is no need for concern. The 2009 flu pandemic has killed hundreds of thousands of people yet people weren’t all of a sudden wearing masks and cancelling travelling plans because of the flu then. This virus has so far killed about 200, most of which had underlying health issues. In a normal year about 500,000 people die from pneumonia in China. Most of the people who get pneumonia would have some form of virus as well. From your post you aren’t going to China so, percentage wise, you have such a minimal chance of catching this new strain of Coronavirus that you have Much more chance of dying by a car accident or partaking in an extreme sport.

    • snooksy on 02/02/2020 - 09:06
      +2

      My advice for India is don’t eat meats. Stick to vegetarian food because there is less chance of getting viruses and infections from vegetarian food than there is from meat that hasn’t been properly cooked and handled properly. This is good advice while travelling anywhere really. Singapore’s health standards are pretty good. I’ve been to Singapore about 7 times and India twice. Don’t go swimming in any waterways in India. Avoid wild animals - monkeys, wild dogs, cows etc. because they can carry disease. General common sense when travelling undeveloped countries. As a foreigner you can’t drink tap water in India but it is used to cook with, ice for drinks and wash food with so there is always a chance of getting sick. You can’t do much about the aeroplane environment no matter where you go. However because you asked such a question and are worried I’m a bit puzzled why you chose India as a place to take your young children? If you are the sort of person who worries then any undeveloped country has higher health risks than a developed one. I’d be generally questioning your choice on visiting India and not worrying about the new strain of coronavirus. If you and your wife are already worried then I think you will be worried the whole time in India and not able to enjoy yourselves.

    • Mokr on 07/02/2020 - 17:23
      +1

      This virus has so far killed about 200, most of which had underlying health issues.

      The coronavirus outbreak has killed more than 560 people

      I mean being bed ridden for two weeks in a hospital icu doesn't sound like fun

      The virus is just getting worse, expect more deaths, and infections. I agree that the chances are slim but if I could I would avoid areas around asia.

      I mean they are now screening passengers from singapore in some countries

      Travellers arriving in Britain from nine countries and territories have been advised to stay at home and call the National Health Service (NHS) if they are ill within 14 days of their arrival.

      The advisory, which initially only covered mainland China, has been modified to include Thailand, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong and Macau.

      • snooksy on 08/02/2020 - 09:43

        China has 1.4 billion people. If 140,000 people get infected then it’s 0.0001% in a densely populated, developing country with a lot of elderly people and a ‘developing’ medical system. 600 extra dead when 500,000 die from pneumonia There in a normal year is still a small percentage. So far it’s about 75,000 people so 0.000005% of the population infected. This is in a country suffering from an outbreak. So far there’s more cases in Singapore than India but your likely hood of catching it is so small I wonder whether it’s worth worrying about. Singapore has a pretty good health system but lots of smokers who could more easily get a chest infection if the virus spread there. There is less chance of viruses spreading in warmer climates so by the time you travel I think Singapore will have no new cases. 50 cases in Singapore out of 5 million is less than China at 0.00001% of the population. Most countries have closed the border to bringing new cases in from China and are now just extinguishing the existing cases and waiting for China to sort itself out. There is an expectation that this new caronavirus will join the three common coronavirus that circulate the world every year contributing to cases of chest infections and pneumonia that already exists. The global perspective is an increase annually in sick people and the impact this has on economies. The point of containing it to stop it becoming an annual kind of virus like the other corona viruses and flu viruses is that viruses take some lives and cost money to economies.

  • cfuse on 02/02/2020 - 17:34
    +1

    Disinclination to travel is never covered. Unless there's a DFAT advisory against travel to your locations (and there isn't, nor likely to be) then you are probably out of luck.

    Just go, don't eat or drink anything suspect, and wash your hands frequently. Basically if you act like a civilised human being you're unlikely to get sick, even in the presence of virus.

  • Bargain80 on 03/02/2020 - 11:31

    I think Coronavirus is still a low risk outside China, at least for now and the next two weeks.

  • Icecold5000 on 04/02/2020 - 22:54
    +1

    Is this something we should be concerned about in terms of flying for long duration and transiting in Singapore?

    Nothing to be worried about transiting in Singapore. It’s a first world country. Taking an infant to India which is a filthy polluted country filled with disease and poverty is negligent.

    • snooksy on 08/02/2020 - 09:45

      Thanks Icecold.

  • SaberX on 06/02/2020 - 00:29

    OP - I have the ANZ cc and also Westpac. I can guarantee from discussions with ALlianz travel cancellations due to the epidemic e.g. coronavirus are not covered. Same with medical expenses caused by it - the second person I spoke to said the same thing, you can 'technically ' put a claim in , but it will be subject to review. i.e. ther eis no guarantee, and I would presume it is pretty much a disguised 'no' without saying so.

    SO just keep in mind the financial side is not covered. As for risk - we're transiting through HK to get To Tokyo. if anything these are at a small, but larger risk than you going through Singapore. Especially India currently - little risk. At best you could try to upgrade to premium economy or go business like we are - that way your not stuck amongst people. Short of someone coughing onto you the biggest risk in close proximity is just more things to touch that may be infected e.g. seats. Just make sure you disinfect your seats with wipes, use hand sanitiser constantly, and if you can bear it force yourself not to touch your face at all during the whole airport to airport trip, at which point disinfect hands and wash face before you finally touch it. If you do that your chances of transmitting it physically from infected surfaces is low and only clsoe contact or airborne coughs/sneezes - which would be pretty unlucky. Again you can't guarantee 0, but the chances are much lower, especially if you can upgrade to business class.

  • WillKillfor5Cents on 14/02/2020 - 18:50

    @Op, were you able to get airline travel credit by any chance? or did they just flat out tell you that changing flight schedule will set you back $700? I'm in similar predicament at the moment… :(

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