This was posted 4 years 6 months 23 days ago, and might be an out-dated deal.

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100,000 Complimentary Economy Class Return Tickets for Frontline Health Care Professionals @ Qatar Airways

6520
100,000 Complimentary Economy Class Return Tickets for Frontline Health Care Professionals @ Qatar AirwaysAffiliate
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ecrawler on 12/05/2020 - 06:06 qatarairways.com (18141 clicks)
Last edited 12/05/2020 - 12:05 by 2 other users
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Update: Allocations for 12 May have been reached. The allocation is refreshed daily at midnight Doha time (GMT+3) = 7am AEST

100,000 complimentary tickets on Qatar Airways flights. As a healthcare professional, you are entitled to the following benefits*:

  • Up to two complimentary return Economy Class tickets for yourself and a companion, so you can take a well-deserved holiday to a destination of your choice within our network.
  • Receive 35% off at Qatar Duty Free outlets at our state-of-the-art hub, Hamad International Airport in Doha.

Visit this page starting from 12 May 2020 at 00.01 Doha time (GMT +3) to register and receive your exclusive promo code.

  • This promotional offer is strictly available to medical frontline professionals only. Eligible healthcare professions are limited to: Doctor, Medical practitioner, Nurse, Paramedic, Lab Technician, Clinical Researcher, Pharmacist.
  • It is mandatory to present the original medical identification at the airport check-in desk at the time of departure, and it must clearly state the occupation, as submitted on the offer registration form. No photograph or printed identification will be accepted.
  • Boarding will be denied, should any customer fail to provide the required original identification i.e. Medical licence/registration in additional to regular passport documents.
  • If the medical professional is not able to travel, then the companion will not be accepted at check-in to board the flight.

Terms & conditions:
Offer period: From 12 to 18 May 2020
Promo code booking period: From 12 May until 28 November 2020
Travel period: 26 May to 10 December 2020 (last outbound travel)
Promo code applies to Economy Class tickets only.
Ticket fare and surcharges will be waived, however, taxes are payable by the passenger.
The promo code is valid for a single booking for up to two adult tickets (age 12+) for the healthcare professional and a companion.
Eligible healthcare professionals will be entitled to one booking during the campaign period. If more than one booking is made, the first booking will be retained and any subsequent bookings will be cancelled automatically.
Bookings must be made at least 14 days prior to departure.
Tickets are limited to 100,000 and available on first come first served basis. A daily allocation of codes will be distributed by country throughout the offer period.
Personal information submitted on the registration form (Passport number) is required to match that of the main booker (healthcare professional) within the booking.
Qatar Airways will not be held responsible for any fare differences if a customer does not enter the unique promo code at the time of booking.
The promo code is valid on Qatar Airways operated one-way, return and multicity flight itineraries worldwide, excluding codeshare and interline partnerships. Refer to the Qatar Airwyas operated destinations list below.
Tickets are non-endorsable and non-transferable.
In case of involuntary flight cancellation, the passenger can rebook and change dates or destination to any Qatar Airways operated flight.
Tickets will be fully flexible, with an unlimited number of destination or date changes allowed without any fees.
Price displayed at the time of booking will include the total amount of taxes to be paid. Base fare and surcharges will be waived.
Seats are limited and are subject to availability.
This offer cannot be combined with any other promotion.
Other terms and conditions apply, please refer to the fare rules at the time of booking.

Travel Airfare COVID-19 Healthcare Workers

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closed Comments

  • Mr Mrrtn on 12/05/2020 - 06:13
    +39

    Nice gesture, but sheesh - no love for allied health staff who are also amidst it all?

    • haji on 12/05/2020 - 07:19
      +18

      +1. Wife's a psychologist. Not necessarily saying I would have liked a free flight, who wouldn't, but seriously the anxiety levels of some people have gone through the roof.

      But then again Qatar didn't need to offer any free flights at all, so let's call it a draw.

        • 31mop on 12/05/2020 - 08:20
          +43

          Comments like that make me think you need a psychologist.

        • pepsicles on 12/05/2020 - 09:31
          +2

          I'm a psychologist in community mental health. I wouldn't say my risk of contracting coronavirus is 'basically zero'.

          I still see clients face to face, do home visits, help out at medication depot clinics, and sit in on psychiatry reviews with my clients.
          I even have to walk past the COVID-19 clinic at my hospital to get to the community health centre.

          • inasero on 12/05/2020 - 09:52
            +5

            @pepsicles: If you're going to play a game of oneupmanship, then I actually work in a COVID clinic. There ya go.

            I would say your risk of contracting COVID when walking past a clinic is minuscule, as the number of precautions we have to take is staggering

            • [Deactivated] on 12/05/2020 - 12:00
              +5

              @inasero: You're jumping at shadows with the oneupmanship comment. The clinic walkpast comment was an unnecessary embellishment but he/she was simply stating facts to rebut the grossly ignorant comment of stringbean402.

          • Lichen6420 on 12/05/2020 - 09:57
            +7

            @pepsicles: Your average supermarket worker has more chance of contracting coronavirus than you do. You don’t deserve a medal or a bunch of free shit for just doing your job.

            • [Deactivated] on 12/05/2020 - 12:07
              +4

              @Lichen6420: Maybe, maybe not (first sentence). There are no stats on that either way other than the fact that we know health workers have given their lives trying to help others. Irrespective, nothing excuses your ignorance of the risks others face or your off-handed, uninformed dismissal of their contribution to the community.

              That said there are plenty of unsung, lowly paid workers and volunteers who would be equally deserving of this gesture.

              • Lichen6420 on 12/05/2020 - 12:31
                -5

                @[Deactivated]: I haven’t heard about a bunch of dead psychologists that gave their lives in the great frontline battle against Coronavirus. Perhaps in all your wisdom you could point me source that suggests otherwise?

                Maybe we could commission you a study to get you some ‘stats’ of the COVID related deaths of our brave mental health professionals.

                Or maybe it’s just another profession that has sweet FA risk of death or infection much like most other professions and they don’t deserve a free ride on the “what about poor old me” train.

                Nurses and doctors yes…. many have died around the world and they 100% deserve our gratitude and thanks.

                • [Deactivated] on 12/05/2020 - 12:42
                  +2

                  @Lichen6420: Your straw man opening comment suggests you have comprehension problems. Your other comments show clearly that don't have even a vague understanding of what people in social/allied health do, or the stresses involved. Many give people like you a free ride almost every working day. The fact that there are many people in our society who are less well-rewarded and deserving of better treatment doesn't excuse your attitude.

                  Not my neg btw.

          • Worf on 12/05/2020 - 10:35

            @pepsicles: Which state?

        • [Deactivated] on 12/05/2020 - 11:23

          all

      • Kiz on 12/05/2020 - 08:32
        +8

        Hi Haji, I'm really greatful for what your wife does. It's a horrible time for a lot of people and the care psychologiests give (now and normally) is really appreciated. Thanks!

      • Vanit on 12/05/2020 - 09:22
        +2

        Wife is also a psychologist, little sad that we miss out but oh well.

      • blackhat77 on 12/05/2020 - 13:29
        -4

        Psychologists are the biggest scammers. They don't help or really care, they show fake empathy & they just keep those booking schedules re-occurring on the poor person as much as they can to get as much cash as they can. Thank god Qatar didn't offer that to them cause it'll be them that'll snag all the tickets

        • [Deactivated] on 12/05/2020 - 14:11
          +2

          Had a bad experience did you? Your comments on mask profiteering suggest your comment above might be a case of the pot and kettle, although I'd bet my house on the fact that what you know about psychologists could be written on the back of a postage stamp.

          • blackhat77 on 12/05/2020 - 22:19
            +1

            @[Deactivated]: Not myself no, 2 friends which later opened up to me about the experience and 1 has taken their life already few years back :(
            Make sure to include your car on the bet & stay on topic or educate us.

            • [Deactivated] on 12/05/2020 - 23:37
              +3

              @blackhat77: So your proposition is that you're an expert on the profession and everyone in it because of two second-hand discussions with people with problems? I'm all in and the neighbour wants in as well. Every walk of life has good, bad and indifferent people working in it. That's because we have different upbringings, life experiences, education, ethics, values, desires, needs, etc etc. It's called the human condition. Tarring everyone of a particular sector with the same brush is puerile rubbish.

    • tranter on 12/05/2020 - 07:48
      +7

      It's all too narrow a focus, there are so many parts of society feeling it. E.g. overworked, underfunded childcare educators, supermarket workers, teachers, and so on…

      Probably more stressful for the millions that have lost work at the moment, compared to some of the more secure professions in healthcare.

      • stockastics on 12/05/2020 - 08:28
        +1

        Maybe they shouldnt require doctors to study for 6+ years in Uni and another 6+ years to specialize.

      • dufflover on 12/05/2020 - 11:02

        Still better targeted than the joke JobKeeper is …

        (before anyone jumps down my throat, I am purely talking about the finer points of the scheme like criteria, not the general idea of it)

      • callum9999 on 12/05/2020 - 11:50
        +15

        I miss the days when people respected medical professionals. I don't mean pretend to, like you are, but ACTUALLY respected them.

        While I do agree people have been historically under appreciated, the number of people who seem to genuinely believe that stacking shelves in Woolworths is of equal importance, stress and dedication as devoting your entire life to saving lives and being in extremely close contact to highly infectious people as you're battling to save their life while they're (unwillingly) coughing the virus all over you is pathetic.

        It does not compare in any way, shape or form to being in a nice comfortable building with the possibility someone temporarily walking near you might unknowingly have it, so stop pretending that it does.

        • brongz on 12/05/2020 - 14:10
          +2

          No respect for doctor, no respect for teacher, no respect for police, no respect for parents/old people. Generation gap with different values of life.

          • callum9999 on 12/05/2020 - 16:21

            @brongz: Rubbish. If anything I find younger people respect the medical profession more than the older ones. Which generations are most ferocious in fighting to fund it properly and which generations are most ferocious in seeking to limit access to it?

      • LinkMonkey on 12/05/2020 - 12:53
        +2

        I haven't seen a single deal specific to cleaners, and they are at significantly higher risk than MOST healthcare workers.
        (Just saying)

        • callum9999 on 12/05/2020 - 13:34
          +2

          But they're not though, are they.
          (Just saying)

    • Helenn on 12/05/2020 - 08:14
      +2

      Haha yes! As a hospital respiratory physiotherapist I feel the slight 😄 but still an awesome deal

    • ivegan on 12/05/2020 - 08:26

      Shame no physio in the list.

    • jv on 12/05/2020 - 09:24
      +7

      no love for allied health staff who are also amidst it all?

      lots of other occupations are at much higher risk than most healthcare workers.

      Doctors doing zoom sessions only, qualify for this… go figure…

      • sistermay on 12/05/2020 - 12:16
        +4

        I don't understand why you get a neg for it, people are so petty.
        Honestly, not saying the front line staff are not doing a great job but with the amount of overtime pay, don't think they can't afford a holiday when things settled down, just saying..
        Spare a thought for the people who lost their businesses after this and the flow on effect, are you saying they are less deserve of this than the medical staffs ?

        • jv on 12/05/2020 - 12:42

          I don't understand why you get a neg for it

          I believe the Health Care workers union have set up dummy accounts here to post these "deals" and to downvote everyone calling them out on all this discrimination.

          Just my opinion…

        • jv on 12/05/2020 - 12:44
          +2

          Spare a thought for the people who lost their businesses after this and the flow on effect, are you saying they are less deserve of this than the medical staffs ?

          Agreed. I think all the hospitality workers who lost their jobs through no fault of their own and are now struggling to pay off their bills, mortgages and put food on the table are much more deserving to get a free holiday… It will be a very long time before they could afford to pay for a holiday on their own.

          This was good to read the other day…

          • [Deactivated] on 12/05/2020 - 13:04
            -3

            @jv: Maybe. I applaud your new-found sympathy for hospitality workers. When you voted for Smirk-Mo did your overlook the fact that the federal cons removed penalty rates many of those workers relied on to "pay off their bills, mortgages and put food on the table"?

            Got any evidence of your conspiracy theory or should we add you to the list of possible moronavirus victims ?

            • jv on 12/05/2020 - 13:14

              @[Deactivated]:

              your overlook the fact that the federal cons removed penalty rates many of those workers relied

              You mean like getting paid $70-$80 per hour triple pay to serve food on Sundays?

              • brongz on 12/05/2020 - 14:18
                +1

                @jv: Who got that much by serving food on Sunday?? I believe in so many Asian restaurant now in Australia that’s not the case.

                Even some local franchises like La Porc***, D*min***, 7-El**** not paying their staff’s income taxes, underpaid the staffs and relying on temporary visitor to work with them.

                • [Deactivated] on 12/05/2020 - 14:43

                  @brongz: Sunday standard rate used to be double time for some workers. If in fact anyone was paid the hourly rate he quotes it would be an extreme case and not even vaguely typical.

              • [Deactivated] on 12/05/2020 - 14:28

                @jv: Your empathy didn't take long to break down. Did that extra 20c you paid for your coffee to support a low-paid hospitality worker hurt that much?

                Time you familiarised yourself with their pay rates and why casuals get loadings in lieu. You can try the Fairwork website if you want in-depth details but here's a simple WA table which will help you get to grips with reality.

                https://www.commerce.wa.gov.au/sites/default/files/atoms/fil…

                https://www.pedestrian.tv/news/penalty-rate-cuts-2019/

                My daughter worked in hospitality as she did uni, fortunately before your mates cut their wages. Plenty of unpaid hours involved, as there are for some in retail.

                Found that evidence for your conspiracy theory yet?

                • sistermay on 12/05/2020 - 15:14

                  @[Deactivated]: Well serving coffee doesn't require a lot of skills. If she reckons the pay is low try to upskill herself to find better paid jobs. All restaurants charge extra 15% (at least) on a public holiday, I would not be able to afford to eat out on those days so lesser patronage, lesser staffs needed, you want more pay but someone has to pay, businesses will choose not to open if they are earning more only to pay more costs, everything is inter related and a balance is needed.
                  My son worked casual in retail and he got paid around $48 an hour on public holidays. There were days he got paid that but the sales was not even enough to cover his and his colleague's wages, let alone the rent and outgoings. The business finally folded so he and his colleague haven't got a job anymore, he is now back to uni studying dentistry.

                  • [Deactivated] on 12/05/2020 - 15:41
                    -2

                    @sistermay: Nothing to do with skills, although making good coffee and providing good service in both retail and hospitality is highly underrated by some, as your comment shows. Me, I appreciate the service I get from most (there are exceptions to every rule) "unskilled" workers - like cafe staff, supermarket employees, cleaners, trolley collectors etc etc.

                    Just an observation but if you can't afford the very small impost charged by some businesses for phs, Sundays etc then perhaps you should dine out on other days, or maybe upskill and get a (better) job? Sorry that was cruel, but your similar comment deserved it. My daughter has long since moved into a far better paid and more satisfying job, but not everyone has that opportunity for a huge variety of reasons. I only apologise because I don't know your circumstances any more than you know why businesses fail.

                    The additional surcharge some hospitality businesses put in place is negligible and isn't the reason why businesses fail or people can't eat out. That starts and often ends with ridiculous rents, unregulated franchise costs, bad business skills, etc.

                    Your final sentence is telling, even though I don't agree with your supposition about the reason why the business failed. The con government's claim for cutting penalty rates was that it would create jobs. There was no evidence given to prove that (in this country), and no evidence that it achieved anything like that. Rent control on the other hand….

            • jv on 12/05/2020 - 13:16

              @[Deactivated]:

              list of possible moronavirus victims

              I'd add all the people creating discriminating deals to that list, yes…

        • callum9999 on 15/05/2020 - 10:19
          +2

          @sistermay Yes, that's EXACTLY what I'm saying.

          During wars do you throw hissy fits about praising the soldiers saving your life, insisting that the key workers work just as hard and deserve more? I don't care how many times you say it, someone losing their job is NOT more deserving of a holiday than a person working 18 hour days in horrific conditions to literally save lives (there's a whole world outside Australia you know…). These perks (aside from being a PR exercise) are to give extraordinary people a break, not a social security safety net - so stop treating it like it is.

          Finally, this isn't a "who's worthy" competition or the workings of a government scheme. It's a private company wanting to help HEALTH workers during a HEALTH crisis. The suggestion of opening this up to 500 million people who have lost their job is exactly the level of stupidity I'd expect from the site. How on Earth do you think that could ever work?

    • [Deactivated] on 12/05/2020 - 11:13
      +4

      This is going straight to /r/choosingbeggars

    • [Deactivated] on 13/05/2020 - 14:12

      At least they are including clinical researchers this time. My best mate is part of the Australian team working on a vaccine. He's also a single parent. He could sure use a holiday when all this over.

  • [Deactivated] on 12/05/2020 - 06:15
    +2

    This is bonkers. Wish me luck!

  • [Deactivated] on 12/05/2020 - 06:16
    +1

    In 45min

  • forrester on 12/05/2020 - 06:25
    +3

    Fantastic gesture, note that taxes still need to be paid.

    Good way for the airline to ensure they have medically trained professionals on board in case of emergencies! I know which airline I will choose for my frail relatives, although the risk of contracting coronavirus may be higher…

  • Sestrooper on 12/05/2020 - 06:35
    +13

    Is there a doctor on board?

    • [Deactivated] on 13/05/2020 - 14:15

      For once, it's going to be :" is there a patient on board? All the doctors are bored."

  • Pingus on 12/05/2020 - 06:39
    +15

    But can you leave the country before December 2020?

    • Dont Care on 12/05/2020 - 08:58
      +5

      More importantly can you get back in

      • [Deactivated] on 12/05/2020 - 21:29
        +1

        Back in is easy if resident just need to isolate

        Leaving you literally need to apply for currently.

  • JudoChop on 12/05/2020 - 06:43
    +13

    Nice gesture but a couple of considerations for those that qualify.
    Will Australians actually be permitted to travel overseas, other than to NZ, by years end? If the answer is no, it's unlikely that Qatar will be operating any flights to Australia if there are no outbound passengers.

    And there's also this…..https://airwaysmag.com/airlines/qatar-airways-plans-job-cuts-due-to-covid-19

    • [Deactivated] on 12/05/2020 - 08:23

      yeah I realised this too after googling it I didn't realise it was world wide, maybe Aussies are better off not trying to sign up since we probably won't get to use it anyways and leaving it for those who can

    • 2024 on 12/05/2020 - 08:00
      +7

      Janitors have another reason to feel forgotten in all this..!

      (you could put any profession, working or not in that sentence and make them seem like they're in the soup line)

    • [Deactivated] on 12/05/2020 - 10:48

      Don't know why you're being downvoted. Teachers have been treated like baby sitters by entitled parents during this pandemic. It's ridiculous.

      • 2024 on 12/05/2020 - 21:31

        Because they're just doing their job, with a slightly different delivery method, with a lot lower risk.

        • [Deactivated] on 12/05/2020 - 23:40

          A teacher's job is to teach, not baby sit.

  • panacheski on 12/05/2020 - 06:54
    +8

    where can we go by December 2020 anyway???

    • DarkOz on 12/05/2020 - 08:25
      +3

      We could go to Australia. The best place many wished they'd be.

  • pennypincha on 12/05/2020 - 06:55
    -5

    Let's just do some rough maths here. And let's be conservative. Say each return ticket is worth $1,000.
    100,000 tickets = $100,000,000 cost.

    Wow.

    • Qmar on 12/05/2020 - 07:23
      +6

      Not Cost. Their cost base would be much lower

      • Hamlet on 12/05/2020 - 09:06
        +1

        Especially also because the customer pays for the airport taxes.

    • UberIsCool on 12/05/2020 - 08:19

      Umm no. Stand by tickets to a place like this return is about $580

  • EightImmortals on 12/05/2020 - 06:56
    +2

    Isn't economy class where all the germs are shared? (speaking from experience) :)

    • modsec802 on 12/05/2020 - 06:58

      Yeah can’t see myself getting on a plane any time soon

      • UberIsCool on 12/05/2020 - 08:19

        Do you take the train or a bus or an uber?

        • Ghost47 on 12/05/2020 - 09:44

          Personally I wouldn't want to get on a plane, and I also wouldn't want to get onto any of those things either.

          • UberIsCool on 12/05/2020 - 13:38

            @Ghost47: Well, enjoy two years inside then till a vaccine. I’ll be out living life and enjoying the world.

            • Ghost47 on 12/05/2020 - 14:05

              @UberIsCool: Right, because I'm not willing to get on transport with dozens of other people it means I can't use my car for the time being.

              I've come to terms that overseas or interstate trips may come at a higher risk, hence why I'd prefer to just travel locally within my state or drive interstate if I want.

              • UberIsCool on 13/05/2020 - 11:40
                -1

                @Ghost47: The last thing we need is roads filled with cars

                • Ghost47 on 13/05/2020 - 11:52

                  @UberIsCool: What kind of reply is this? Honestly, first thing I said is that I don't want to be on a plane risking my health with other people, to which you reply with some silly "enjoy being inside for two years" reply as if you're better, then I reply that I was simply thinking of my own health and you still find an issue with it?

                  You're insufferable, get over the fact that not everyone agrees with you. It's pretty sad that you keep trying to find fault with what I'm doing when I don't want to contract the disease or risk spreading it to my family.

                  • UberIsCool on 13/05/2020 - 11:59
                    -4

                    @Ghost47: “ I don't want to be on a plane risking my health with other people” this is a misconception that people get sick from a virus on an aircraft. You will get sick more from shopping at Woolworths, walking in the park exercising or visiting friends and family in other houses and units blocks. My original and current argument is people need to wisen up and understand the chances of getting COVID on an aircraft is extremely low and less than other ‘normal’ living arrangements. If you don’t want to fly cause you have a misunderstanding about getting sick than that’s your incorrect belief, don’t spread that incorrect information.

                    • Ghost47 on 13/05/2020 - 12:25

                      @UberIsCool: I don't think you realise that unless physical distancing is forced on a plane — and we have seen in recent times that overseas airlines have not followed guidelines and that our national flag carrier has requested that middle seats be filled — that contracting the virus is possible on a plane, although yes it may not be probable, I will give you that. But hey I'll bet you're going to say "but that article is about the flu, not coronavirus" and yes that is the case because I would argue there is not enough data to determine how transmissible coronavirus is on aircraft because the virus is still somewhat new. I'm sure you know the virus is very contagious, you have seen the cruise ship incidents correct? But then you'll go on about planes having HEPA filters, and I'll rebutt that saying "Well you do realise if someone next to you coughs and there is no PPE worn (or even if there is PPE such as a surgical facemask) that infected droplets can spread before making it into the HEPA filtering system". There are a multitude of factors when it comes to viruses spreading on aircraft.

                      My original and current argument is people need to wisen up and understand the chances of getting COVID on an aircraft is extremely low and less than other ‘normal’ living arrangements.

                      You did not present this argument anywhere. Asking "Do you take the train or a bus or an uber?" was not the same at all, and to frame it as if you were arguing that is completely disingenuous and a sad attempt to get some sort of upper hand. I'll also add, you never presented any information to back up your "argument" (which let's admit, was a silly question yet somehow encompasses everything about flying being safe? LOL).

                      If you don’t want to fly cause you have a misunderstanding about getting sick than that’s your incorrect belief, don’t spread that incorrect information.

                      I'm not spreading misinformation, I'm telling you what I would prefer not to do. I would rather err on the side of caution, yet you are making it out like I'm doing the wrong thing — especially with your reply "the last thing we need is roads filled with cars" which frankly is just a completely idiotic reply — even though what I will be doing won't affect you as you will be going overseas.

                      • UberIsCool on 13/05/2020 - 12:36

                        @Ghost47: If you think “ Do you take the train or a bus or an uber?” is not a direct implied statement and argument against the same chances of air travel or any other form of public placement or gathering then I can’t expand your restricted way of thinking.

                        Couldn’t be bothered going on anymore, regardless of what any airlines do, the main point that covers all these useless statements about ‘dangerous’ air travel is less harmful or on same level as all the other suggested and approved actions that people are allowed to do now and in the upcoming ease of restrictions.

                        Good on you for not wanting to fly, well done. Like I said, myself and many others will continue to live our lives flying the same as anyone wanting to venture outside their front door.

                        • Ghost47 on 13/05/2020 - 12:37
                          +2

                          @UberIsCool: Good reply, lots of evidence, 10/10.

                          If you think “ Do you take the train or a bus or an uber?” is not a direct implied statement and argument against the same chances of air travel or any other form of public placement or gathering then I can’t expand your restricted way of thinking.

                          Do you even read what you post? You said your original argument was:

                          My original and current argument is people need to wisen up and understand the chances of getting COVID on an aircraft is extremely low and less than other ‘normal’ living arrangements.

                          First you reply with some silly question that was supposed to equate the chances of contracting a virus on a bus to a plane (lol really — a bus is still a riskier environment because it's an enclosed space and you are near other people, if someone sneezes and droplets land on a surface when you then end up touching and then touch your face you are at a higher risk of contracting the virus — this is just one example of why being on a bus can be risky and by risky I don't mean 10000000x riskie, I just mean risky), yet you say that was supposed to be an argument that chances of getting the virus on a plane is very low, which makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.

                          Couldn’t be bothered going on anymore, regardless of what any airlines do, the main point that covers all these useless statements about ‘dangerous’ air travel is less harmful or on same level as all the other suggested and approved actions that people are allowed to do now and in the upcoming ease of restrictions.

                          1. You didn't present any data on plane travel being safe, you only threw that in as an afterthought, might I also add after you made some dumb comment about roads being filled up.
                          2. Right, so just because restrictions are eased that must mean that they are correct and that the government is some infallible entity that never makes mistakes, and we should blindly follow and extrapolate their guidelines to everything else.

                          Good on you for not wanting to fly, well done. Like I said, myself and many others will continue to live our lives flying the same as anyone wanting to venture outside their front door.

                          See, this is what is sad. You putting down me and others just because we don't want to do what you want to do. Do you always force others into guilt when they do something different to you especially when it doesn't cause you any actual harm? Take a look at yourself.

                    • [Deactivated] on 13/05/2020 - 14:16
                      +1

                      @UberIsCool: Extremely close contact as exists on planes and cruise ships is exactly the right environment for passing on viruses like colds, flu and Covid-19. The one caveat to that for C-19 is airlines will presumably/maybe be required to conduct temperature tests of passengers prior to boarding. Even that is no guarantee as experts have said on many occasions.

                      Please stop spreading your amateur guesswork and leave it to experts to advise on risks. People should read proper advice on travel and decide for themselves what sort of close contact they are prepared to risk - just as Ghost47 has.

                      • UberIsCool on 13/05/2020 - 15:29

                        @[Deactivated]: Nothing amateur about it. Air travel will be just as safe as getting on a bus or shopping at the supermarket.

                        • [Deactivated] on 13/05/2020 - 15:40

                          @UberIsCool: Obviously amateur, and obviously guesswork. Your assurances are meaningless garble.

                          • UberIsCool on 13/05/2020 - 15:42

                            @[Deactivated]: Thanks for your opinion.

                            “Aviation Fact: Pressurized Aircraft pose no risk to Coronavirus infection.

                            We hear the myth all the time that pressurized aircraft recirculate the same air around and around the cabin, slowly infecting all occupants with the same virus. This is NOT true. “

                            • [Deactivated] on 13/05/2020 - 18:27

                              @UberIsCool: And exactly what has that to do with the fact that Covid-19 is passed on via close contact with a carrier? Despite authorities hammering home the message wrt social distancing it seems you still haven't got it. It's not rocket surgery.

                              • UberIsCool on 13/05/2020 - 18:32

                                @[Deactivated]: You mean rocket science. If you bothered to actually follow the discussion you will see that the man discussion point is people’s misconception that they will have more chance of getting COVID on an aircraft than any other normal society deemed ok activity or area.

                                • [Deactivated] on 13/05/2020 - 18:50

                                  @UberIsCool: No I meant rocket surgery. Try the urban dictionary if you don't get the obvious origins of the term.

                                  I followed the discussion, and only one party showed he had absorbed and understood the myriad public messages and warnings, and would apply common sense to his future activities. Want a 50/50 split on who that was?

        • do-ob on 14/05/2020 - 19:41
          +1

          Here's something somewhat empirical.
          Read and make up your own minds.

          https://www.erinbromage.com/post/the-risks-know-them-avoid-t…

          • UberIsCool on 14/05/2020 - 23:34

            @do-ob: Great article. Also read the one she refers to that inspired her to write it, the link is at the bottom of her article. Here is a quote about aircraft from that original article:

            “ It’s similarly notable that airplanes don’t seem to be common sites for known SSEs(Super Spreader Events), notwithstanding the sardine-like manner in which airlines transport us and the ample opportunity that the industry’s bureaucracy offers for contact tracing. I have been made aware of a Vietnamese woman who apparently spread infection on a flight. And New Zealand has one cluster that’s based around an infected but asymptomatic flight attendant. But the many known infections he caused took place at a wedding reception, not in an airplane”

            Aircraft don’t fit into her description as they filter the air with hospital grade HEPA filters and also bring into the cabin fresh air from outside.

            • [Deactivated] on 15/05/2020 - 12:19

              @UberIsCool: Good article but she's making a huge number of broad assumptions in that article. Where and how people acquire Covid-19/corona viruses generally is not specifically known or well-understood however reasonable assumptions can be made and this is what health warnings and advice are drawn from.

              If you want to know the facts wrt aerosol spread - and there aren't many for corona viruses, esp Covid-19s for obvious reasons - then read some studies on previous corona virus outbreaks, SARS and MERS. The Conversation had a good summary if you can't be bothered with academic studies. Here it is: https://theconversation.com/coronavirus-drifts-through-the-a…

          • UberIsCool on 14/05/2020 - 23:53

            @do-ob: Also, a really easy YouTube to watch on how Cabin air works - https://youtu.be/ldm3n0hEsd4

            • Ghost47 on 15/05/2020 - 13:48

              @UberIsCool:

              Nothing amateur about it. Air travel will be just as safe as getting on a bus or shopping at the supermarket.

              And people are allowed to come to their own conclusions about whether they want to risk it or not.

              This is a new article today about a doctor who believes he contracted COVID-19 through his eyes on a plane. From the article, he is a virologist and epidemiologist "who has responded to multiple outbreaks around the world". I should not have to reiterate how obvious it is that this virus is extremely contagious, especially when countries that have eased their restrictions are seeing rises in cases again, for example in Germany and South Korea.

              This basically means that you should not expect your life to go back to normal and doing so is somewhat ignorant IMO. Even the head of the International Air Transportation Agency has said air travel will not resume to normalcy until 2023. That isn't to say travel will not resume at all, you can feel free to go to Italy or South Korea if you want, but just because other people can see that risks exist when catching PT or flying does not mean that they are wrong. Gloating about how you will "go back to travelling the world" is silly and above all disregards scientific fact. It's not rocket science either that being in a confined space with other people (whose health history is unavailable to you) is obviously riskier than being in your own car without any other passengers.

              Here is another article about how you actually can catch viruses on a plane:

              “To be honest, airplanes are not designed to prevent infectious-disease transmission,” said Chen, who was co-director of the FAA-funded Airliner Cabin Environment Research center from 2004 to 2010. “They’re not designed to do the job.”

              Experts agree that HEPA filters are highly effective at capturing everything from viruses to skin flakes.

              But that is only part of the picture.

              The problem is passengers can still breathe in tiny floating droplets from a coughing passenger seated nearby — before the air carrying those droplets can be vented out of the cabin and filtered.

              Precisely how far the droplets might float before being pulled out and cleaned has been the subject of intricate scientific observation, airflow modeling and disease tracing, from the onboard flu cases in Alaska to an earlier coronavirus outbreak in 2003, when severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) killed 774 people around the world.

              On March 15 of that year, a Boeing 737 took off from Hong Kong for a three-hour flight to Beijing, with a feverish 72-year-old man sitting in 14E, a middle seat.

              Of the 120 people on board, 22 were later diagnosed with confirmed or probable cases of SARS, according to a reconstruction published in the New England Journal of Medicine that year. Researchers said the “most plausible” explanation was that they were infected on the plane by the man in 14E. He died of atypical pneumonia a few days after the flight.

              The World Health Organization had defined “contact” with a SARS patient as sitting in the same row, or in the two rows ahead or behind the infected person.

              The researchers found that the risk for those in the three rows in front of the man in 14E, or in the same row, was much higher than for those sitting elsewhere. But two people seated as far as seven rows in front of him were also infected, as were two flight attendants. Five passengers later died.

              People moving around or touching surfaces may have played a role, or the virus may have floated in the air for longer than expected, the researchers concluded.

              In actuality though viruses can spread through touching surfaces. That article by Erin Bromage seems to largely ignore that fact as someone rightly commented: "I know that droplets are a big issue, but most discussions of transmissibility also talk about shared-touch surfaces, like door handles and PIN pads. Was there a reason you left that out?".

              The simple fact is, if you are in a space with other people whose medical history you are not aware of, it is a risk. When it comes to my personal health and the health of my family and the people I am around, I am not willing to risk taking the chance. You can go ahead and do it, but don't put others down as if they're being silly for reacting in this manner based on all the science.

              I can easily remember two groups of people forming when this virus emerged, the "what's the big deal it's just a flu" group and the "we should be very careful regarding this virus" group. I would say you are in the former and I am in the latter.

      • Icecold5000 on 12/05/2020 - 09:26
        +5

        How about a nice cruise?

        • downbythecreek on 12/05/2020 - 10:04

          I hear trips on the Ruby Princess are going cheap

    • Flying Ace on 12/05/2020 - 07:38
      +5

      First, business and economy all share the same air!

      • 2024 on 12/05/2020 - 08:01

        First class now get 1.5m spacing

        • JTTheMan on 12/05/2020 - 09:56

          irrelevant in an airborne container for so many hours!

          • 2024 on 12/05/2020 - 21:26

            @JTTheMan: Wow, is there actually 1.5m spacing?

            • JTTheMan on 13/05/2020 - 21:59

              @2024: I don't know, I thought that's what you were saying?

      • PCHammond on 12/05/2020 - 10:42
        +2

        Planes mainly use HEPA filters.

        From past studies on flu transmission in planes, transmission is primarily due to contact points. Eg: tops/backs of chairs that you touch when walking down the aisle, toilet doors, seatbelt buckles, etc.

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