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Spain travel rules: What are my rights? Coronavirus: When I come back from Spain, will I get paid if I self-isolate?
(about 16 hours later)
The government's decision to impose a 14-day quarantine on travellers arriving in the UK from Spain has caused a great deal of "uncertainty and confusion", as one holiday firm has put it. The government's decision to impose a 14-day quarantine on travellers arriving in the UK from Spain has caused "uncertainty and confusion", as one holiday firm has put it.
Here are some of the issues it raises and what you can do about them. So, what does it mean for those visiting Spain?
Why is the Foreign Office advice different from that of the Department for Transport? Will my employer pay me if I have to isolate on return from Spain? Lisa, Horsham
There have been two main changes over the weekend. The first, announced by the Department for Transport (DfT), is that anyone arriving in the UK from any part of Spain now has to quarantine for 14 days. It will depend on individual employers.
In addition, the Foreign Office (FCO) is advising against all non-essential travel to mainland Spain - but not the Balearic and Canary Islands. You're not automatically entitled to statutory sick pay if you are self-isolating after returning from holiday or business travel, industrial relations body Acas says.
As to what counts as essential travel, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has previously said this is "is a personal decision and circumstances differ from person to person". You should let your boss know as soon as possible and ask them about the company's policy.
But why does the advice differ? It's essentially because they serve different purposes. The FCO advice applies to the whole of the UK and tells people which countries "no longer pose an unacceptably high risk for British travellers". If you can work from home, for instance, then you can be paid as normal. But if you can't, another solution could be to take annual leave so you can get holiday pay while self-isolating.
In other words, the FCO is assessing whether coronavirus poses a threat to UK travellers' well-being, as part of its wider remit to warn people of dangerous areas and trouble-spots around the world. Your employer could choose to pay you sick pay, either at the statutory rate or a higher level.
The DfT advice, however, applies only to England. It is designed to offer a list of countries from which travellers may be able to return without self-isolation. However, if you have coronavirus or its symptoms and have to self-isolate, then you are eligible for statutory sick pay, which pays £95.85 per week.
The devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own views and are entitled to offer different guidance. But in this case, they have also decided to take Spain off the list of countries exempt from quarantine.
Is my insurance valid if I'm already there?Is my insurance valid if I'm already there?
The Association of British Insurers has advised holidaymakers that if they were already in Spain when the government's advice changed, their insurance was likely to cover them until they returned home. The Association of British Insurers has advised holidaymakers who were in Spain when the government's advice changed, their insurance was likely to cover them until they returned home.
But it added: "Travelling to countries against FCO advice is likely to invalidate your travel insurance and this would apply to those yet to travel to mainland Spain. But it added: "Travelling to countries against FCO advice is likely to invalidate your travel insurance and this would apply to those yet to travel to mainland Spain."
"Customers looking to change or cancel their travel plans should speak with the airline provider, tour operator or travel agent in the first instance. A hotel I've booked online in Majorca is closed. Can I reject the offer of an alternative and get a full refund? Christian Evans
"If you booked your trip or took out your travel insurance after Covid-19 was declared a pandemic, you may not be covered for travel disruption or cancellation. In either circumstance, we'd advise checking with your insurer." Under the regulations, if an online travel agent makes any significant change to your holiday - such as flight times or the hotel - they should tell you about the change and give you a reasonable period of time to accept it or cancel it with a full refund.
What about if I'm not there but plan to go? Can I get a refund? Additionally, the regulations also allow you to claim a refund for any trip to a destination with a Foreign and Commonwealth Office warning against it, such as Spain currently.
Again, the best thing to do is consult your airline, tour operator or travel agent. The issue is complicated because it depends on when and where you are booked to go. Besides, the government's advice could change again with very little notice. For refunds on other booked holidays, the best thing to do is consult your airline, tour operator or travel agent.
Tui, for one, has said that customers due to travel to all areas of Spain between 27 July and 9 August will be able to cancel or amend holidays and will be able to receive a full refund or the option to rebook their holiday with a booking incentive. Tui has said customers due to travel anywhere in Spain between 27 July and 9 August can cancel or amend holidays and receive a full refund or the option to rebook. People with holidays booked from 10 August will be updated on 31 July.
However, it adds that people with holidays from 10 August will be updated on 31 July. Jet2 is advising customers to arrive for their flights as normal, as its scheduled programme to and from mainland Spain, the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands is continuing.
Jet2 says it is advising customers to arrive for their flights as normal as it is continuing to operate its scheduled programme to and from mainland Spain, the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands. British Airways and EasyJet are also maintaining their flight schedules.
"Because the FCO travel advice to these destinations [the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands] remains unchanged, our usual terms and conditions apply. As always, we advise customers to purchase appropriate travel insurance before travelling," Jet2 says. People whose trips are cancelled should get a refund within two weeks, but that deadline may well be missed currently.
"This is a fast-moving situation, which we will continue to monitor very closely."
British Airways and easyJet have also said they are maintaining their flight schedules. But airlines have expressed frustration with the government's approach, complaining of the "uncertainty and confusion" that has resulted.
People whose trips are cancelled should get a refund within two weeks, but with the travel industry under so much pressure, that deadline may well be missed.
What are the quarantine rules for when I return?What are the quarantine rules for when I return?
When you arrive back in the UK, you must go straight home or to other suitable accommodation. You are allowed to travel by public transport.When you arrive back in the UK, you must go straight home or to other suitable accommodation. You are allowed to travel by public transport.
Your 14-day period of self-isolation starts from the day after you arrive.Your 14-day period of self-isolation starts from the day after you arrive.
You cannot leave home except for medical assistance, to attend court or go to a funeral - or to go shopping for essentials, if no-one else can do this for you.You cannot leave home except for medical assistance, to attend court or go to a funeral - or to go shopping for essentials, if no-one else can do this for you.
Leaving home for work, exercise or socialising is not allowed.Leaving home for work, exercise or socialising is not allowed.
In England, there are some other reasons you can leave your accommodation.
These include:
People can be fined up to £1,000 for breaking quarantine rules. However, the National Police Chiefs' Council says that as of 20 July, only one person has been fined for not self-isolating after arriving in England.
How long will the new rules last?How long will the new rules last?
It is difficult to say how restrictions on travel may change in the coming weeks. The UK government is reviewing nations on its "safe level" for travel every week. It is difficult to say, as the government is reviewing nations on its "safe level" for travel every week.
Which? magazine travel editor Rory Boland told BBC News that in this instance an update may come sooner as an exception, given that travel "is so important to UK travellers and to the economy of Spain". Which? magazine travel editor Rory Boland told BBC News that in this instance an update may come sooner, as travel "is so important to UK travellers and to the economy of Spain".
What are my rights with my employer if I have to self-isolate? What questions do you have about Spain travel regulations?
Employees or workers are not automatically entitled to statutory sick pay if they are self-isolating after returning from holiday or business travel and they cannot work from home. In some cases your question will be published, displaying your name, age and location as you provide it, unless you state otherwise. Your contact details will never be published. Please ensure you have read our terms & conditions and privacy policy.
That only applies if they have the virus or symptoms of it, or if there are other medical reasons. Use this form to ask your question:
But to a certain extent, it is at your employer's discretion.
The industrial relations body Acas advises employees to check their workplace's policy to see whether their employer pays statutory sick pay or a higher rate of sick pay if anyone needs to self-isolate after returning to the UK.