THE EXPERT VIEW

IT IS not so much the pandemic itself which is denying us our so-needed anti-viral summer holidays, but the overblown blanket FCO advice not to travel anywhere, followed by the irrational quarantine of arrivals.

Each week, tens of thousands are missing out on their longed-for break — and the only present relief is to book later in 2020, into 2021 and even 2022.

For the time being, there are some unprecedented discounts out there, but costs will rise as pent up demand brings scarcity. A few people have developed a new fear of flying, not understanding that the filtration of cabin air equates to the quality found in a sterile operating theatre.

All the sensible precautions we have in place in the UK are now universal to wherever you travel.

Many lessons have been learned from the crisis and many more will be realised in the future. The unseen risks of booking direct and being unsupported when things go awry has been starkly exposed, especially when it comes to refunds and repatriation.