Foreign Travel?

[ultrarunner]

Last time I flew was 2015.

In 2024 should travelers carry masks just in case?

 

[WinterDeere]

Last time I flew was 2015.

In 2024 should travelers carry masks just in case?

I flew twice in the last month, but domestic and not west coast. There were a half-dozen people on each plane wearing masks, but that was it. I assume those people consisted of a few sick individuals and a bunch just exercising extra caution.

Frustratingly, I heard the people behind me stating they had just tested positive, and they coughed on the back of my seat the entire flight. I don't care if it's COVID or a common cold, that's just inconsiderate.

If the few people who actually have COVID would just wear a mask in public for a week, this really wouldn't even become an issue worth discussing. Making healthy people wear masks is somewhere between stupid and useless, they're only very effective when worn by the sick person.

 

[newbury]

It was kind of freaky. I'm at a power plant that would probably be turned into a smoldering pile in the first few minutes of such an attack.

That would be bad for me, I've gotten to the age that it is difficult to stick my head between my legs and kiss my rear goodbye.

 

[MAX-24-Dean]

The U.S. also bought into the scam, only a few didn't unfortunately. Hopefully, we are more aware now and would not go along without proof of a real danger!

History repeats itself, so some narrative will be set to instill fear without any scientific basis and scare the masses into compliance.

 

[gsganzer]

The Taiwanese were accustomed to wearing masks pre-covid. Part of that had to do with them being hit hard with the SAARs epidemic around 2001-2004. The concern for them in 2020 wasn't being asked to wear N95s, but that they could only produce something like two N95s per week per resident. And it seemed like China stepped up their saber rattling at the same time.

The Asians have always been pretty agreeable to wearing masks. I think you correctly point out that they've dealt with many more regional respiratory pandemics, then we've had.

 

[tradosaurus]

The U.S. also bought into the scam, only a few didn't unfortunately. Hopefully, we are more aware now and would not go along without proof of a real danger!

Some rural areas in east Texas didn’t buy into it.

 

[ultrarunner]

Some rural areas in east Texas didn’t buy into it.

Can’t comment nationwide but the difference leaving the SF Bay Area to Oregon and up to Olympia was night and day…

I was thinking Twilight Zone seeing everyone out and about no mask…

 

[2manyrocks]

I think the entire USA is living in the Twilight Zone today, but for different reasons.

 

[dmccarty]

Our first flight after the pandemic, we took masks just in case. I was worried about someone being sick near me on the plane. The last flight we took, I can't remember if I took the mask or not.

This weekend I met in passing, two Filipino teachers traveling in the US. I mentioned that I knew someone traveling to Mindanao. She did not saying anything other than where she lived. My impression from her body language was she did not want to say anything negative about Mindanao. The teachers were very nice and polite with very good English.

 

[ultrarunner]

I’m still getting that… great, wonderful, you are going to love it… where exactly?

Mindanao then silence…

 

[2manyrocks]

Philippines Travel Advisory

travel.state.gov

For comparison, look at UK travel advisory map. Some areas are a no travel. Philippines travel advice

Both the US and the UK are saying there are places where not to expect a rescue.

 

[dmccarty]

Philippines Travel Advisory

travel.state.gov

For comparison, look at UK travel advisory map. Some areas are a no travel. Philippines travel advice

Both the US and the UK are saying there are places where not to expect a rescue.

The map is showing the most dangerous areas are in the eastern part of Mindanao, which is where much of the violence, including against westerners, was taking place.

 

[2manyrocks]

It's one thing when they use loose-goosey warnings, but seems pretty clear when they draw a map in red ink saying "don't go there and don't expect us to rescue you."

 

[ultrarunner]

Was ticketed to fly out 12 hours ago SFO destination Davao.

Received a text relaying information from a friend in the Philippine National Police force saying not a good time to come as 2000 police mobilized and clashing with protestors at my destination with injuries.

Press release PAL and Cebu Pacific offering rebooking and refunds but I’m not holding my breath.

It’s a corner of the world I was looking forward to visiting but it’s no longer a pleasure trip if there is civil unrest…

Worst case is I made a contribution to the Philippine economy.

Best case I dodged a bullet metaphorically.

On a side note just about everyone in my circle flying is coming home sick… 2 were hospitalized in country… one Costa Rica and the other Greece.

 

[California]

Update?

 

[ultrarunner]

Update?

Philippine Airlines sent me email offering to rebook second leg and apologizing for delay.

I purchased a one stop through airfare from PAL and their position is there was no problem on first leg SF to Manila except I declined to board.

The second leg was delayed to the point the flight left Manila 6 hours delayed and then returned because of the situation in Davao did not permit landing.

Flight made a second attempt and did reach Davao

My RN friend and her family opted to go and reached destination... plane was nearly empty.

They navigated their way through the field of protesters and closed roads and 33 hours from SF reached the farm on Mindanao.

The protestors created the chaos but they never felt threatened and cleared multiple police checkpoints quickly.

For a vacation it just seemed to iffy to me... my first vacation without a work component since 2001 so naturally disappointed.

I called credit card to contest but said I first need to go through airline...

Airline did nothing wrong and had I proceeded they would have delivered me somewhere... not sure what recourse I really have for my $920 airfare?

Using my time off to turn over a rental... paint, deep clean, floor coverings, etc...

 

[gsganzer]

Philippine Airlines sent me email offering to rebook second leg and apologizing for delay.

I purchased a one stop through airfare from PAL and their position is there was no problem on first leg SF to Manila except I declined to board.

The second leg was delayed to the point the flight left Manila 6 hours delayed and then returned because of the situation in Davao did not permit landing.

Flight made a second attempt and did reach Davao

My RN friend and her family opted to go and reached destination... plane was nearly empty.

They navigated their way through the field of protesters and closed roads and 33 hours from SF reached the farm on Mindanao.

The protestors created the chaos but they never felt threatened and cleared multiple police checkpoints quickly.

For a vacation it just seemed to iffy to me... my first vacation without a work component since 2001 so naturally disappointed.

I called credit card to contest but said I first need to go through airline...

Airline did nothing wrong and had I proceeded they would have delivered me somewhere... not sure what recourse I really have for my $920 airfare?

Using my time off to turn over a rental... paint, deep clean, floor coverings, etc...

Sorry that your trip had to be canceled, but it sounds like you did the right thing. Sometimes we take a chance on adventure and have to pull up at the last minute.

 

[California]

My RN friend and her family opted to go and reached destination... plane was nearly empty.

They navigated their way through the field of protesters and closed roads and 33 hours from SF reached the farm on Mindanao.

The protestors created the chaos but they never felt threatened and cleared multiple police checkpoints quickly.

Bummer, but you made the right call.

As an American you might have become the token hostage.

 

[ultrarunner]

Bummer, but you made the right call.

As an American you might have become the token hostage.

It has and does happen... too bad the airline sees the situation as a temporary disruption of service taking a refund off the table.

One thing is certain and that is no way for me to blend in being head and shoulders above everyone in height.

If I had a compelling reason to go I'm sure my decision would have been different.

I come from a time when the hospital did not have a single employee with ties to the Philippines and safe bet to say staff with ties to the Philippines now make up about half of my coworkers.

As an aside last Thursday I was summoned to the office of our premier orthopedic surgeon thinking it's urgent...

He said I heard you are going to the Philippines and said don't do it... you have no idea what trouble you can get into.

When I said I was going with our charge nurse and her family he said ok... that is a little bit different but be very careful with food and drink and don't come back married!

 

[NoTrespassing]

It has and does happen... too bad the airline sees the situation as a temporary disruption of service taking a refund off the table.

One thing is certain and that is no way for me to blend in being head and shoulders above everyone in height.

If I had a compelling reason to go I'm sure my decision would have been different.

I come from a time when the hospital did not have a single employee with ties to the Philippines and safe bet to say staff with ties to the Philippines now make up about half of my coworkers.

As an aside last Thursday I was summoned to the office of our premier orthopedic surgeon thinking it's urgent...

He said I heard you are going to the Philippines and said don't do it... you have no idea what trouble you can get into.

When I said I was going with our charge nurse and her family he said ok... that is a little bit different but be very careful with food and drink and don't come back married!

Wow, that is terrible. It looks like you have one man to blame.

https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/human-trafficking/apollo-carreon-quiboloy

This guy is a fugitive from the law and his church refuses to hand him over.

It reminds me of the Branch Davidians in Texas.