A "Vacation response" (also known as "out of office responses" or "away messages") are automatic messages that are generated by the mail server in response to incoming messages. They are used to inform people who are sending you emails that you are not available.

Background

Revision id: 60204
Created: Apr 5, 2014, 5:10:45 PM
Creator: Matt
Comment: removed references to seive and the vacation response add-on which is has apparently slipped out of development. Emphasis on using the web interface.
Reviewed: No
Ready for localization: No

Thunderbird has no simple way to communicate to the mail server that the server should issue vacation responses, there is a protocol for this, but unfortunately it has not been adopted by the majority of mail providers and asthey are focused on web mail there is little likely hood of much change.

One suggestion that is often made is to create a Message Filter and respond to all incoming messages with a template. This solution requires that your device be turned on and Thunderbird be running the whole time you are away, this has it's own issues with regard to security and safety and is not recommended.

Use your providers web interface

Most mail providers provide a web-based email interface that can be used to configure a vacation response and using those is the simplest solution. Listed below are the vacation response links for some of the common mail providers (Please help extend this list by adding the address of your email provider's page in the comments.)