In thirty days we'll be touching down in Copenhagen after two flights totalling 20 hours in the air...Oh hang on, no we won't...Thanks for ruining everything COVID-19.
Faith and I have been planning a trip back to Europe for about a year; The main focus was to spend time with my family in Finland. My brother 
We had planned a week in Copenhagen and Finland for a few weeks plus a side trip to Estonia. Of course, none of that is happening because of the virus scenario.
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We booked our flights in January, before the flu-craziness began and as it ramped up became more concerned about the trip, and the money we had invested into the flights.
We still have the flights, and the airlines are still sending updates, some with a few slight time changes, which indicates their intention to fly but in reality it will not happen.
We have travel insurance covering the flights of course. I spoke to the insurer last week who said they needed proof, a letter from the airline that my flights had been cancelled although they haven't been...Yet. The problem arises when we consider that the Australian Government has travel bans in place; We are not allowed to travel within, and outside of, Australia currently. So...Where do we stand.
It has been impossible to contact our carriers, Singapore Airlines and Finnair, so we have had to rely on the interwebs. Both tell me that the flights are good to go of course; I've felt a little like I'm going in circles to be honest.
Last week I saw that Singapore Airlines have finally offered flight-vouchers for my dates of travel, plus the less-publicised option of a refund. Considering the circumstances, I went for the refund.
I have not had a response yet, however once they issue a refund, which will incur fees and charges, I will claim the remainder from my travel insurance. Finnair isn't making it as easy, so far, and I'm not sure how that's going to work out. I hope bot a loss of money.
When I think about the amount of travel, the millions of people that would normally be in the air at any given time around the globe, I can't help but wonder about the damage that this flu-situation has, and will cause, moving forward; The billions in lost revenue across so many industries and small tourist locations that may rely on tourists. It's mind-boggling to think about the impact.
Back on a personal level...We're annoyed and are certainly going to miss taking our holiday to Scandinavia, just like so many others will miss their own holidays. With travel being something we love so much we will have to fill the void with something else, domestic travel I guess, although that's not going to happen right now either.
We will make the best of it though, we don't have much choice. We're planning to do a lot of internal travel in 2021, camping and road-trip touring, and this year we will probably take a few short trips here and there, once things open up fully. It will have to do.
There's so much talk about being locked down and in isolation however in reality the impact of this flu-situation is going to keep rolling out for a long time to come, even as restrictions ease...Australia is in a recession now, the first in thirty years, and I believe there is a lot of pain to come yet...We've only seen the tip of the iceberg, so to speak. All we can do is make the best of the situation I guess though.
We have all been disadvantaged in some way, or will be moving forward. How have you been affected so far, what have you had to cancel, and how will that affect you moving forward? I'm curious.
Design and create your ideal life, don't live it by default - Tomorrow isn't promised.
Be well
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