Don’t Be A Jerk! Why I Have Decided To Cancel Months Worth of Travel

I know this post is rather old at this point but I was wondering if you have any updates to share on how you are approaching travel 4 months into the pandemic. Specifically, if you have any tips for us (historically) frequent travelers who are both: a) interested in not being jerks and needlessly exposing others to sickness but also b) sinking into actual despair at the idea that any travel in 2020 is off the table (and 2021 isn’t looking much more optimistic). I know we aren’t supposed to feel sorry for ourselves but these feelings can be hard to push off forever. It seems that most of the advice available falls into two camps: a) do whatever you want without regard to anyone else (i.e., the jerk camp) or approach the absolute drudgery that our lives have become with a stiff upper lip (i.e. the wartime duty camp). Where is the advice for all of us who feel the need to recognize that this sucks! Maybe there isn’t anything to do about it sucking, but we actually want it recognized and some constructive non-jerkish suggestions about what to do with our time other than work and chores (or indoor hobbies that actually feel like chores at this point) .

“We recently got back from Cebu via Dubai on Emirates. Flight was full. In reply to The post by Chris we were no locked up in our hotel and business was usual until right before we left when they closed the mall, churches etc. our flights to the US were full and Dubai airport was open for business and very busy. Here is a post I made on a local Anchorage web site upon my return. Maybe this will open up your So I just got back to Anchorage coming from the Philippines. We traveled via Emirate Airlines from Cebu-Dubai, with Seattle being our US entry point. Emirates staff gave each of us (3) a form titled United States Travelers Health Declaration which took me 10 minutes each to fill out and included a detailed history of where we had been, where we were going and where we lived. Form asked for all demographics. Was also given the standard (1 per family) US Customs and Border Protection form to fill out. When we got to Seattle there was no one taking temperatures and no one asked about the health form or offered to take it. They did not even take the customs declaration form. We were basically waved thru after using the global entry kiosk. I was disturbed by this. In Dubai and Cebu City our temperatures were taken and we were asked questions in regards to our previous travel etc. If any of you think our borders are secure from this virus think again. There are more precautions in the Philippines where I own a home than here in the US. The Philippines is still a 3rd world country! What good are all these precautions we are now taking if any one can come into the US from a foreign country without being properly screened. Myself, wife, daughter are self imposing a quarantine due to our proximity to elderly relatives we live with whose immune systems are already compromised. However I doubt a lot of other travelers coming back to the US are taking similar steps. Honestly after seeing what I did at the airport I thought about going right back to the Philippines. I felt more secure there and the store shelves were full lol.”

Current list of country boarder closures
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/03/coronavirus-travel-restrictions-border-shutdowns-country-200318091505922.html
Before thinking its fun to grab cheap flights realize that your trip could be one way as you very well could find yourself trapped overseas.

Great post. As a frequent traveler, I am glad we are working from home. I celebrate a milestone birthday this year. I’d planned on taking a trip overseas to celebrate. Not………all plans cancelled and I no longer feel the excitement I previously felt. Those that continue to “not care” are selfish and do not realize it not about them. It’s impacting an entire world and their actions are beyond selfish.

Check this out to see how important each of our choices is … great animations showing why #SocialDistancing and #StayAtHomeForAmerica works … and is required!!

Click on the link to see the live simulations with great explanations. https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/world/corona-simulator/

Please share to help folks that will soon tire of the “cabin fever” or are letting their kids play together like there is no virus spreading.

Thanks Washington Post!

Not only for the simple fact that stopping leisure travel is the right thing to do its beyond me why anyone would want to take non-essential travel even if it was free. The world situation is changing by the min everything is shutting down by the hours. Why would someone want to travel deal with rigorous airport screening as we seen people jammed up in Chicago for hours in packed mobs that only increase your risk to transmit the virus. All of that risk and hardship to basically travel and sit in your hotel? What fun is that? With near 5000 cases and 100 deaths within the USA we will be on the high risk country list and you can even be denied entry in to another country, Mexico & Canada already closed its boarders to USA residents. The risk highly outweighs the reward even if your tickets are free.

If your planning to come to hawaii what is the point, here is a snapshot of everything that’s closed and closures are not slowing down. More and more local places are also closing.
https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2020/03/13/list-what-events-are-canceled-how-are-schools-planning-heres-latest/

You are right period. As I write this I’m dreaming of the cruise that was leaving this afternoon with 15 friends onboard,now cancelled. What a privilege to be able to complain about that. So easy to forget how very lucky we are, mostly by chance of birth. Will I get sick…no. Can I get someone sick and perhaps lose their life…yes. Worried about service workers, go buy a gift card from a local restaurant use it when this health crises has passed. Donate a portion of what you would have spent on your trip.

I, too, applaud the comments you have expressed. As a Boomer with a 90-year old parent for whom my siblings and I are responsible for, self-limiting contact with others is being practiced faithfully. One of my sisters and I have cancelled trips next month and in May for Spain and Central Europe. We are appreciative of our travel agency for permitting us to do so and to reschedule when things have settled down. On behalf of my family, composed of many over 60 years of age, a huge “thank you” to all younger and healthier folk for thinking globally, rather than just personally. I hope I would have been just as responsible as you all are when I was your ages.

That’s right. Everyone stay home, shelter in place, don’t go out. More room for me on the highway and cheaper flights and cheap hotel rooms with crazy incentives. Stay home and live in fear while my family and I enjoy the next few weeks somewhere in the sun.

You can’t travel when countries are on lockdown and airlines aren’t flying. Simple as that.

https://media.giphy.com/media/d3mlE7uhX8KFgEmY/giphy.gif

Over 60 years old here. I’ve cancelled 3 trips for the months of March, April and the beginning of May (the Kentucky Derby). My husband and I decided to self-isolate 2 days ago. We have enough food to last for 3 months. After that, we can re-evaluate. It’s the responsible thing to do…we all have a duty to #FlattentheCurve. Is that trending yet? It should be. If not, older people will die, younger people will end up with permanent lung damage. None of this is fun.
#Flattenthecurve

Thank you for posting this Shawn.

You are not looking at the big picture Shawn! I am currently in the Philippines with my wife and 8 yo daughter. There are far fewer cases here then back in the US. The hotel we are staying in relies mainly on foreigners. They are laying off staff with no pay. The bartender told me he has two kids and doesn’t know what he will do. Taxi drivers, service workers are all being sent home again with no pay. Your self righteous attitude of us westerners staying home and refusing to travel has a direct impact on others much less fortunate than the readers of this blog. Without pay these people cannot feed their children, buy medicines, clothing and other necessities. The media has blown this out of proportion. Common sense and precautions no longer prevail. Very disappointed in your statements here and the corresponding comments. Remember every action has a reaction.

Shawn, you are my hero! You know the battle I have at home. Only people like you that have a sense of responsibility and concern for others rate my admiration right now. It is a horrible thought to me that one of my travel buddies might be a cog in the wheel that kills people. Careless, uncaring attitudes are unforgivable.

A number of people have already articulated the reasons why what you wrote is correct, and good, and moral, so I’ll just thank you for writing it.

Sorry Shawn, but this article in my opinion is way out of line. People the world over die by the millions every year through no actions of their own or due to the actions of others and NOBODY in the travel space bats an eye or even cares to be a part of any solution. So bow because this is at your doorstep there’s Suddenly a reason to care? Hypocrisy at its finest. Not to mention not all of us can cancel and reschedule our six upcoming luxury trips for later in 2020. We may get one or two in a year given limited PTO, school schedule conflicts, holidays, unexpected bills, and the myriad other things that keep Americans from traveling. I may be the lone voice on this side of the issue but so be it. I won’t be #travelshamed. Next time I see a photo from the shores of Turkey with a drowned Syrian refugee toddler face down in the mud I expect a similar outcry to the “jerks” of the world.

I am 65 and in pretty good health. I may not quite be in a high risk group, but I still want to thank all those in lower risk groups those that realize that taking the proper precautions works to protect those that are at higher risk.

It’s time to be thinking of your parents and grandparents (even if they are Boomers).

Thanks.

Thank you for being a voice if reason. I hope things stabilize soon but I also think there’s a chance this lasts quite awhile.

I have struggled with how to respond to people posting about travel the last two weeks. It’s horribly selfish and foolish to travel right now. The attitude that young healthy people have been expressing about how they don’t need to worry because they are low risk is horrible. Selfish and stupid are a dangerous combination.

I am also not amused by all the business travel people are doing but in that case it’s the Human Resources department that’s being selfish. I have a friend that lives in one of the hot spots who was in 4 cities last week on business trips. Totally unnecessary meetings that they have every year to touch base with remote offices. 100% could have been delayed.

Shawn, you earned the back link from me in this post, thank you.

Shawn — this situation has caused me to take a hard look at which blogs I respect and which I will have no use for when things are back to normal. Travel discussion and boarding area in general has really exemplified the divide since travel right now lays bare the discussion between inconvenience and protecting the herd.

There is real economic consequence to self quarantine but it pales in comparison to the long slow national recovery challenges we will face if we do not flatten the curve. We delayed several days that we can never get back. But now we must just keep educating and not exacerbating.

There will be a day of reckoning when this passes. Some will have to look in the mirror. Others will know they did what they could to get the message out and save lives. Keep up the good work.

Thank you! It’s all about flattening the curve and not overwhelming the health system. If we don’t do that, people will die, not just from Coronavirus, but from numerous other illnesses because they are unable to receive any, or adequate, treatment in overwhelmed hospitals. I especially urge older adults essentially to self quarantine if they are able. And plenty of retired Americans are in a position to do this. (Yes, it’s unpleasant, but that’s really hardly the point in this situation.) Although younger adults can certainly end up in the hospital, and should also practice social distancing, the risk rises as we age. Frankly, I am quite mystified why I haven’t seen more public discussion of self quarantine by older adults, not just to protect themselves, but to protect the health system. It just seems like the logical and moral course of action.

I too agree and applaud your blog on this. I am trying to cancel a trip to Asia in April, that I booked with points. The airline is swamped and calls cannot go through. While we could still go, what happens if we get there and the other country will not let us in, or not give a Visa, or puts us in isolation for 14 days. Just too many risky things to travel. We also have a trip planned in June to Hawaii and Australia. We are hoping things come back to normal by then.

Thank you! We should all be practicing social distancing not primarily because we are worried about ourselves, but because of the impact we can have on everyone – this thing spreads exponentially, and each person that refuses to take that into account can cause so many other people to get sick (potentially very sick).
It is shocking to me how many people don’t get this (or don’t care).

I have a Europe trip for the month of June. I don’t plan on canceling unless it is by default.

The 2003 SARS (coronavirus family) timeline started dissipating in May, June, and July of 2003. So I am hoping this will happen here.

I applaud your sense of moral decency! We should be socially responsible and do everything we can to stop the spread of the virus. Yes you may be young and healthy and may only get a minor illness but while you travel who will you infect and kill? Also this is not just a disease that affects older people ! The scary part is you don’t know who will become severely ill. You young people may survive but you may have permanent lung damage. Also while you are out infecting everyone , me or a colleague of mine is trying to decide who lives and who dies because we don’t have enough resources to care for everyone!!! This is true even if just a fraction of people end up in the hospital. Our system is already at capacity from people with influenza. Those other illnesses don’t just go away because the Corona virus has moved in!!!
I have cancelled my month long vacation in Spain to prepare for the onslaught of sick people expected to overwhelm our health care system shortly. Thank you Shawn for sharing why social distancing is just the right thing to do right now.!! # don’t overwhelm our healthcare system

Bravo! #FlattenTheCurve is the only way to try to give our health care system the possibility of having enough resources to go around.

And we must remember that any of us could unknowlngly spread the virus to a waitress who lives with an aging, ill parent; a hotel worker with an asthmatic child; an airport employee with diabetes. Those are the folks who are at much greater risk for serious illness and death. And our staying home protects them while slowing the spread to flatten that darn curve.

Thanks for helping to get the word out.

Tend to agree but I do think there is nothing wrong with taking advantage of rock bottom pricing on airlines, hotels and cruise lines for travel later in the year. Agree right now is bad but August, September or November may be fine. Worst case if the virus is still a problem you can likely cancel or rebook for a date farther in the future.

Nothing wrong w taking advantage of pricing provided you have flexibility and plan it for a time when things have hopefully settled down.

Also I canceled travel for March and first half of April but still have trips scheduled for later in April, May and June. Can always cancel if things don’t improve but taking a wait and see approach over next month or two.

Well done,
I think you absolutely did the right thing. I cancelled a long planned trip and possibly lost thousands of €, but ultimately I consider it the most responsible way to go.

Glad you posted this article!

Completely agreed! Good point!
Government has to mandate full stoppage of travel!
Sick and tired of listening about effect on economy……Let the government tax so 100K+/year “professionals” to 60-70-80-90%. Those are pencil pushers anyway and never did real (physical) work….

Thank you. THANK YOU for being the first “travel guru” to address this very real problem and be selfless about it. Below is from an article I read today, and it really hit home. I might be ok (I hope). But I do not want my parents or my friends left to suffocate and die because of the self-centered people out there did not heed the warnings, caught and spread the virus, then taxed our medical system.

“ This is not theoretical. It is already happening in Italy, where people over 65 are being left alone on hospital gurneys to suffocate to death from pneumonia. They basically drown in their own sputum. There is simply not enough medical capacity to take care of them. The United States appears to be about two weeks behind Italy on the epidemic growth curve.”

Best article ever.. i’m so tired of posts bragging about going on trips now while prices are rock bottom. Be responsible people! The sooner we get this under control the faster life will get back to normal and more importantly the less people will die. Just because you are healthy doesn’t mean you can’t become infected and spread it to someone that is high risk.