Defiant Britons eager for a summer holiday say the government’s mandatory 14-day quarantine won’t stop them travelling to sunny Spain.
The quarantine was imposed with just five hours’ notice on Saturday causing chaos for the roughly 600,000 British holidaymakers who were in Spain or had booked to go.
But lockdown-weary sunseekers said the rules won’t stop them travelling.
Defiant Britons eager for a summer holiday say the government’s mandatory 14-day quarantine won’t stop them travelling to sunny Spain. Pictured: Britons arriving at the Malaga-Costa del Sol Airport on Monday
The quarantine was imposed with just five hours’ notice on Saturday causing chaos for the roughly 600,000 British holidaymakers who were in Spain or had booked to go. Pictured: Britons arriving at the Malaga-Costa del Sol Airport on Monday
Their defiance came as the government heaped further agony on holidaymakers by officially advising Britons against all ‘non-essential’ travel to the Balearic and Canary Islands – including Ibiza, Majorca and Lanzarote.
This is on top of the same advice already issued for the Spanish mainland.
But there had been confusion because the islands were already alongside mainland Spain in having arrivals from them subjected to 14-day quarantine in the UK because a spike in coronavirus cases.
Responding to the 14-day quarantine, one Twitter user wrote: ‘Going to Spain soon, gonna have a great time couldn’t care less about the quarantine rules.
‘Laughing at all the morons panicking over nothing thinking about cancelling their holidays. This is nothing but another a*** covering exercise from the government.’
Defiant Britons took to Twitter to share their thoughts on the sudden mandatory 14-day quarantine
Lockdown-weary British sunseekers said the rules won’t stop them. Pictured: Britons arriving at the Malaga-Costa del Sol Airport on Monday
Britons arriving at Palma de Majorca on Monday after the 14-day quarantine was imposed
Tourists walk with their luggage outside the airport upon their arrival to Palma de Majorca
Tourists can be seen waiting with the luggage in the airport in Palma de Majorca on Monday
Rich Oliver said as long as his flights are going ahead he would still travel to Spain.
He wrote: ‘I was going to go regardless of UK quarantine anyway. I booked as soon as Spain relaxed.
‘Obviously, I’d rather not have to quarantine but I’ve a feeling that by this time next week it may have been lifted.’
Michael Garvock said the regulations won’t stop him as his ‘work pays for quarantine anyway’ or he could work from home.
Downing Street said British holidaymakers who miss out on work due to the newly-imposed quarantine period may be eligible for Universal Credit or employment support allowance of up to £74.35 a week, but not statutory sick pay.
Travellers may be offered a voucher to the value of the ticket or a chance to re-book if they wish to cancel – but customers should check the policy with the airlines.
EasyJet will operate its full schedule of flights. Those who don’t want to travel can transfer their flight with no admin fee or can get a credit voucher for the cost of their booking.
A Jet2 spokesperson said: ‘Following the latest government advice regarding travel to the Balearic and Canary Islands from the UK, we are advising customers who are due to travel to the following destinations (Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Majorca, Menorca and Ibiza) not to go to the airport tomorrow (Tuesday 28th July) as we are not operating flights to these destinations. This advice also applies to customers travelling to any of our destinations in Mainland Spain.
‘We will be operating our scheduled programme of flights back to the UK from these destinations tomorrow.’
But employers are under no obligation to pay staff while they are in quarantine, self-employed workers will be forced to give up jobs and some people could even face the sack if they have to isolate when returning home.
The Government also warned ‘no travel is risk-free’ – and said workers who lose their jobs because they are quarantining after returning from Spain could appeal to the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas).
Individual airlines appear to have differing policies on flights to Spain that have already been booked.
Ryanair and BA will continue to run their flights to Spanish airports.
Tui has cancelled all holidays to the Spanish mainland from July 26 up to and including August 9.
They have also cancelled all holidays to the Balearic Islands and Canary Islands from July 28 up to and including July 31.
British tourists walk with their luggage outside the airport in Palma de Majorca. They arrived the same day the government heaped further agony on holidaymakers by officially advising Britons against all ‘non-essential’ travel to the Balearic and Canary Islands – including Ibiza, Majorca and Lanzarote
British Citizens arrive at the Malaga-Costa del Sol Airport in spite of the newly-introduced 14-day quarantine they will have to complete when they land
British holidaymakers wearing protective face masks arrive at the Malaga-Costa del Sol Airport on Monday
Jet2 has suspended flights and holidays to Costa de Almeria, Alicante, Malaga and Murcia from July 28 up to and including August 16. Pictured: A woman clutching a Jet2holidays board outside the Malaga-Costa del Sol Airport
All customers due to travel to Spanish destinations between July 26 and August 9 will be able to cancel or amend their holiday and will be able to receive a full refund or the option to rebook their holiday with a booking incentive.
Customers with holidays to Balearic Islands and Canary Islands from August 1 and mainland Spain from August 10 will be updated on Friday 31st July.
A Foreign Office spokesperson said: ‘The FCO is not advising those already travelling in Spain to leave at this time. Travellers should follow the advice of the local authorities on how best to protect themselves and others, including any measures that they bring in to control the virus.
‘If you are returning from Spain you will be required to self-isolate on your return to the UK, but the FCO is not advising you to cut short your visit. You should contact your tour operator or airline if you have any questions about your return journey.’