Egypt holiday worry

[father_and_son]

Why should they be? The 100ml liquids rule isn't a global thing, it's only EU airports and a few other places.

Flights in and out of EU and USA (plus places like Israel have had super-tight security for a lot longer!)

If the airport mixes passengers flying to airports with restrictions with passengers flying to "unrestricted" airports then this is a SERIOUS security risk and breaches the airport's contracts with the airlines.

If you can't split the passengers into different departure areas then you must hold them all to the same security standard, otherwise they breach their various contracts.

 

[Grassman]

I'm going to Egypt in February should i be worried. I'm traveling to hurghada airport but it is a little concerning

I went to Egypt for the weekend on a boat from Cyprus, back in late 90s. The day before we arrived in Cairo Islamists had shot up a bus full of German tourists outside the museum. As we'd been on holiday for the previous week we hadn't really heard any news, so happily walked the same path they had.

 

[father_and_son]

I'm going to Egypt in February should i be worried. I'm traveling to hurghada airport but it is a little concerning

You weren't concerned when you booked it, things have changed because of the lax security at Sharm, safeguards will be put in place in all the areas reliant on tourism quickly, things will change back and come february, you won't be scared again (more than anyone should be travelling to a country where areas are a warzone and have been for over a year).

My better half and her mother were due to fly NOW (9am today) and have had their holiday cancelled.
Their insurance will pay out and they might be able to get somewhere else at the weekend, but yours won't (unless the FCO recommendations are still in place). "Dis-inclination to Travel" (as it's known) is not a valid reason to claim. FCO changing their recommendations between you booking and travelling is.

If you cancel now, you will lose what you have already paid. If you continue to pay and, by some miracle, the Egyptians haven't got their act together and the FCO haven't changed their advice, then you can make an insurance claim and get your money back (assuming you ALREADY have insurance - if you haven't bought it yet you won't get anything if you can't go).

 

[Bold Seagull]

going in the second week of February. i have to make the final payment on 27th and am flying with thomas cook, its a holiday with a couple of friends.

One way of looking at it, is that Sharm airport will now probably be one of the most secure in the entire region once they fully sort through what has happened.

 

[Papa Lazarou]

You weren't concerned when you booked it, things have changed because of the lax security at Sharm, safeguards will be put in place in all the areas reliant on tourism quickly, things will change back and come february, you won't be scared again (more than anyone should be travelling to a country where areas are a warzone and have been for over a year).

My better half and her mother were due to fly NOW (9am today) and have had their holiday cancelled.
Their insurance will pay out and they might be able to get somewhere else at the weekend, but yours won't (unless the FCO recommendations are still in place). "Dis-inclination to Travel" (as it's known) is not a valid reason to claim. FCO changing their recommendations between you booking and travelling is.

If you cancel now, you will lose what you have already paid. If you continue to pay and, by some miracle, the Egyptians haven't got their act together and the FCO haven't changed their advice, then you can make an insurance claim and get your money back (assuming you ALREADY have insurance - if you haven't bought it yet you won't get anything if you can't go).

That's my take on it. I doubt I'll have any grounds to cancel and get my money back based purely on the current issues.

the list of reasonably close, safe and sunny places to holiday in February gets shorter by the day.

 

[smudge]

Having been to Egypt many times (with work), I wouldn't go there by choice. Not so much because of the terrorist threat, but more because I find it to be an utter khazi. The Pyramids has to be one of life's great anti climaxes.
I should add though that I haven't been to Sharm.

 

[father_and_son]

That's my take on it. I doubt I'll have any grounds to cancel and get my money back based purely on the current issues.

the list of reasonably close, safe and sunny places to holiday in February gets shorter by the day.

It's a cash flow issue mate. You can cancel and write off what you have spend or you can continue to pay and claim it back later, but if that leaves you without the cash to pay for the alternative holiday until the insurer coughs up (which also means your replacement holiday would be a last minute thing and probably more expensive than what you have) then you have to question whether writing off what you have spent isn't the best option.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Why should they be? The 100ml liquids rule isn't a global thing, it's only EU airports and a few other places.

It's a bit of a weird and arbitrary rule as well. I remember when it was implemented the government had no scientific justification for why they chose 100mls of liquid. Water is water regardless of it's volume. Same with explosives.

 

[Barham's tash]

It's a bit of a weird and arbitrary rule as well. I remember when it was implemented the government had no scientific justification for why they chose 100mls of liquid. Water is water regardless of it's volume. Same with explosives.

The volume chosen by the authorities is very closely linked to the ability to combine two liquid compounds of a certain volume that would provide sufficient explosive power to bring down an airliner but it's not like they're going to say exactly what quantity would do such a thing or the circumstances surrounding what sort of plan being foiled led them to implement such a rule.

 

[Balders]

As I'm in the business (and this isn't a shameless plug, just trying to be helpful!) the current situation is as follows:

The issue is with security at Sharm El Sheikh Airport, hence flights are still going to Cairo, Hurghada etc.. There is no security concerns in the Resorts themselves.

Sharm El Sheikh is relatively close to the Sinai Peninsula - the FCO have been advising against any travel to that part of Egypt for a while now.

It appears that flights may start up again from Friday according to the Government - we'll wait and see for that one.

Different Airlines/Tour Operators have all reacted differently and it depends on what type of Holiday you have booked, whether it be a Package or other.

Package Operators - Thomson/Thomas Cook/Red Sea Holidays have all cancelled flights for the next 7 days (may have jumped the gun in light of the above) If you are already in Resort, the Package Operators have a duty to put you up in a Hotel and feed/water you at their expense and get you home free to.

Scheduled Airlines - British Airways and Easyjet have only suspended flights until tomorrow and will restart flights according to FCO advice, potentially from tomorrow.

If you have a holiday booked, this will be a "moving feast" and will be totally dependent on FCO advice. If they give it the "green light", then you have no grounds to cancel your holiday, for whatever reason.If they continue to advise against travel, Package Operators will give you the option of changing dates free of charge (Thomas Cook are actually offering a £25 discount to do this) within a certain period or free cancellation. If you booked a non package holiday, commonly known as a Dynamic Package through a Travel Agent, it is likely the airlines and accommodation providers will follow suit. If you booked it yourself online, you need to talk to the relevant companies yourself.

Hope that helps - happy to answer questions, if needs be.

Hope that helps

 

[mwrpoole]

I went to Egypt for the weekend on a boat from Cyprus, back in late 90s. The day before we arrived in Cairo Islamists had shot up a bus full of German tourists outside the museum. As we'd been on holiday for the previous week we hadn't really heard any news, so happily walked the same path they had.

About 7 or 8 years ago I went on a day trip to Cairo from Paphos - long day did the pyramids, museums etc. and finished with a trip up & down the Nile. Only when we got back to the airport to fly back to Paphos were we told we'd had an armed escort all day following us around.

 

[Beach Hut]

It's a bit of a weird and arbitrary rule as well. I remember when it was implemented the government had no scientific justification for why they chose 100mls of liquid. Water is water regardless of it's volume. Same with explosives.

I thought I read around a year or so ago this would be abolished in the not to distant future

 

[BRIGHT ON Q]

Flying out to Hurghada tomorrow!

 

[dazzer6666]

It's a bit of a weird and arbitrary rule as well. I remember when it was implemented the government had no scientific justification for why they chose 100mls of liquid. Water is water regardless of it's volume. Same with explosives.

I read this a long time ago as I travel a lot.....interesting article

http://blog.tsa.gov/2008/02/more-on-liquid-rules-why-we-do-things.html

 

[Everest]

Sharm El Sheikh is relatively close to the Sinai Peninsula

SeS is IN the Sinai Peninsula, not close to it.

 

[The Stout Yeoman]

I went to Sharm earlier this year. The security around the town is quite visible - plain clothed police with either a pistol on the hip or an LMG in their hand. There are armed check-points along the roads but we were always waved straight through. I've worked in the aviation industry for just short of thirty years and have had the good fortune to visit a lot of places that I wouldn't have been able to had I not taken advantage of the opportunities that arise. I would say however that Sharm Airport was one of the most lax security checks I have ever experienced and at the time found that a concern. My heart goes out to those who have lost loved ones in the air-crash - and I also have sympathy for those who are currently stuck in Egypt but I'm also conscious that there are some very nice staff in the hotels who must be fearing for their future. Many of those staff having left their families in Cairo to take a job in Sharm.

 

[Bevendean Hillbilly]

It's just the way it is at the moment. Egypt, Tunisia, Bali, Madrid, London, Paris, Stockholm, New York...you would never go anywhere if you let Jihadis dictate to you.

Balls to them.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

The volume chosen by the authorities is very closely linked to the ability to combine two liquid compounds of a certain volume that would provide sufficient explosive power to bring down an airliner but it's not like they're going to say exactly what quantity would do such a thing or the circumstances surrounding what sort of plan being foiled led them to implement such a rule.

At the time I recall reading comment from scientists who were asked about it and none could come up with any justification as to why 100ml specifically was chosen.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

I thought I read around a year or so ago this would be abolished in the not to distant future

This rings a bell actually.

 

[Bold Seagull]

At the time I recall reading comment from scientists who were asked about it and none could come up with any justification as to why 100ml specifically was chosen.

It's going to hit the retailers hard and their huge mark up on water and drinks when you make it through security... Barcelona airport its pretty much €4 a bottle!