FULL STEAM
BA prices rocket as Brits race to avoid quarantine
A FERRY captain went full steam ahead to hurry Brits home in time to avoid a twoweek quarantine.
The Stena Line boat from Holland hit top speeds as it raced across the North Sea to reach the UK coast by yesterday’s 4am cut-off.
It had been due to dock at 6.30am in Harwich, Essex, but went flat out to get passengers home.
The ferry arrived just 30 minutes before the deadline.
Thousands scrambled home after the new quarantine was announced on Thursday night with only 30 hours’ notice.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps set the new rules for people arriving from France, the Netherlands and Malta.
It left frazzled travellers to stagger off boats in the middle of Friday night, with some admitting they had left children behind with family members to get back for work. Others forked out to grab last-minute seats on crammed ferries, and some were even chartering fishing boats.
The panic came as the Government t announced holidaymakers from a string of f destinations must quar- antine for 14 days.
It followed news that t some countries had seen n a spike in coronavirus cases. ases
But the 11th-hour move sparked chaos for an estimated 500,000 Brits in France.
One couple forked out £1,000 for business class Eurostar seats and a family drove for 12 hours to get home in time.
Children were worried they could miss the start of school after months stuck at home due to lockdown. Pupils who failed to return to the
UK in time will still be in isolation when the majority of schools go back on September 2.
British Airways hiked flight prices and demand for Eurostar seats soared – sparking chaos at airports and terminals.
P&O Ferries also reported a surge in interest, with more than 8,000 searches for tickets on Friday morning. As BA flight prices rocketed to £770, Eurotunnel Le
Shuttle also warned all services were fully booked.
Around 12,000 people tried to book tickets for its trains in the hour after the new rules were formally announced.
There were winding queues to board ferries at Calais for Dover – with passengers struggling to get last-minute tickets.
One mother said she had been forced to leave two of her children behind with her husband when she fled France on the last Eurostar train. The woman – who had to return to the UK before quarantine began due to her job – was only able to get tickets for herself and her baby.
She now fears that her two daughters – who will return tomorrow – may not be out of quarantine by the time their school starts up again.
A music group was forced to charter a fishing boat to get home.
The Dunedin Consort, from Scotland, wrote on Twitter: “As exits from concerts go, this one is quite unique.”