Do you miss flying?

[Wd40]

Very interesting points both.

I think Singapore had already scored a big win by getting to host the WEF.

For expats with young children, it is a such a big relief that schools are open. I can stay and home and forego leisure travel but cannot imagine kids at home for an extended period of time.

Sent from my Redmi 10X using Tapatalk

[PNGMK]

To add to this I see our local news is suggesting tighter restrictions around CNY.

[BigginHill]

The way most of the rest of the world is careening towards Covid hell, it's not unthinkable that Singapore ends up as one of a very select number of countries where travelers can actually consider spending a holiday whilst feeling relatively safe. A moated sanctuary if you will.

In fact, with community cases consistently negligible here and authorities uber-vigilant, Singapore could, starting from, say, the second half of this year, morph into a holiday hot-spot, perhaps together with Australia and China.

Perhaps - but I don't quite see it.

Singapore is playing a completely different strategy than Dubai. (the current "Casablanca of global COVID refugees")

China could care less about us, domestic tourism is plenty for them.

Australia can't even keep their own state borders open, no way they'd open up wholesale to Singapore.

Basically none of these governments have any interest in exposure with tiny insignificant Singapore.

If EU/US is able to turn things around in a decisive way in 2021, I reckon they'll be the largest beneficiaries of world tourism in 2022 - not Singapore/Asia.

[Jgrif96229]

US is going to start requesting a negative test or certificate of recovery. Also 10 day Quarantine.

[Jgrif96229]

Tripadvisor
Dear traveler,
Are you considering an international trip? If so, read on. The CDC has issued a COVID-19 order that may impact your plans for re-entering the United States.
Effective January 26, 2021 travelers arriving in the U.S. must:
1) Get tested for COVID-19 no more than 3 days before departing to the United States and show a negative test result to the airline before boarding OR 2) show documentation of recent recovery from COVID-19 to the airline before boarding.
This new order applies to all air passengers — including U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents — aged 2 years and older. It also applies regardless of the length of time spent outside of the United States.
Acceptable documentation of recovery from COVID-19 includes both a positive viral test result within 3 months of travel (or the time period specified in current CDC guidance) AND a letter from a healthcare provider or public health official stating that the passenger is cleared to end isolation.
Passengers who have tested positive for COVID-19 will need to delay their travel until they meet the criteria to end isolation; learn more here.
Need more information? Visit this FAQ page at CDC.gov.

[BigginHill]

Has China done too well against Covid-19?

Things will probably get only more complicated for Chinese health officials like my acquaintance if countries in the West, having pushed much harder than China on mass-vaccination efforts (if rather shoddily at times), reach herd immunity before it does. That so-called immunity gap could undermine China's approach, especially if the government decides to keep the country's borders closed on public health grounds after life returns to semi-normal elsewhere in the world.

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"Immunity Gap" - an apt description that could well describe other zero-infection policy countries like SG, Aus, NZ, Taiwan, Pac nations etc.

[malcontent]

There are other solutions...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pox_party

[PNGMK]

The way most of the rest of the world is careening towards Covid hell, it's not unthinkable that Singapore ends up as one of a very select number of countries where travelers can actually consider spending a holiday whilst feeling relatively safe. A moated sanctuary if you will.

In fact, with community cases consistently negligible here and authorities uber-vigilant, Singapore could, starting from, say, the second half of this year, morph into a holiday hot-spot, perhaps together with Australia and China.

Perhaps - but I don't quite see it.

Singapore is playing a completely different strategy than Dubai. (the current "Casablanca of global COVID refugees")

China could care less about us, domestic tourism is plenty for them.

Australia can't even keep their own state borders open, no way they'd open up wholesale to Singapore.

Basically none of these governments have any interest in exposure with tiny insignificant Singapore.

If EU/US is able to turn things around in a decisive way in 2021, I reckon they'll be the largest beneficiaries of world tourism in 2022 - not Singapore/Asia.

I like your description of Duai / UAE. It's the place I've been recommending to friends stuck... Turkey and Serbia also.

[BigginHill]

Get ready to stay in the Red Dot for another 2 years?

I'll have to stand by this estimate for Asia/Pac & probably other regions as well.

Even US/UK/EU, I have a feeling it'll be end of this year before things really start moving sustainably in the right direction & not by summer. Hmm...

Brace yourself: Long-haul travel may not get going until 2023

[malcontent]

I’m not expecting to get back to the US until summer 2022.

[sundaymorningstaple]

I’m not expecting to get back to the US until summer 2022.

I'm currently hoping for fall of '22 to FL/MD (both scary states)

[Lisafuller]

I don’t miss flying for the experience, but I miss the excitement of going overseas. Flying is usually a nightmare for me, I usually go back home to Miami once or twice a year. The flights are over 20 hours in total. Absolute torture even if you sit in a premium economy or business class seat. The discomfort of not being able to move around, the stale and tasteless food, and the dryness of the air makes it a miserable experience. I can’t imagine having to fly with a mask on, would be an absolute horror!

[malcontent]

My best flight experience was SQ business class SG-NY direct (over the North Pole). I slept most of the 18 hour flight in fully flat bed, after the turn down service no less. I had zero jet lag.

Still, no matter how nice the experience, you can’t escape the dry air, the pressure and the constant noise (although Bose QC headphones do help).

[BigginHill]

I'm currently hoping for fall of '22 to FL/MD (both scary states)

I think there's a decent chance things will be under control in US already this fall '21 - if & only if, I already had the jab locally here before leaving, I'd make the trip.

(in fact, I do plan to leave for EU/US as soon as I can secure a jab either here or overseas)

Still, no matter how nice the experience, you can’t escape the dry air, the pressure and the constant noise (although Bose QC headphones do help).

I hear you - however, honestly I'd take 18 hrs of dry air in SQ biz over another 24 mths spent here in Singers.

[sundaymorningstaple]

I'm currently hoping for fall of '22 to FL/MD (both scary states)

I think there's a decent chance things will be under control in US already this fall '21 - if & only if, I already had the jab locally here before leaving, I'd make the trip.

(in fact, I do plan to leave for EU/US as soon as I can secure a jab either here or overseas)

As a member of the RC here I went to a briefing last night for those of us who will be assisting in the notification & addressing of concerns for the Seniors who should be receiving their invitation letters on/around 19 Feb. With vaccinations starting on the 20th, as I'm technically a leading edge boomer, I should also be getting that letter as I am also over 70 (73.5). I will see how that goes and where the airline prices are heading (or stabilizing as the case may be). I wouldn't mind pushing it up a year but I feel better maybe late spring/early summer of '22. I really can no longer cotton cold weather.