Future of QF27/28 travel post covid

[justinbrett]

So as we start to look at overseas travel again, options between Australia and South America are barely existent compared to where we left off before covid.

-Qantas SCL-SYD direct (QF27/28) not scheduled
-LATAM no longer in oneworld
-LATAM SCL-MEL direct not scheduled
-LATAM SCL-SYD still via AKL
-LATAM QF codeshare doesn't seem bookable via QF website - but is listed on EF
-AKL restricts transit pax to a small area - no airline lounges, restaurants, showers etc. Not great on the return flight.

With all that said, Chile has a vaccination rate of 73% double jabbed (entire population - so well above 90% 16+), and only getting less than 300 daily cases despite a population similar to Australia (around 19 million). Surely a perfect bubble candidate.

Is this an oversight of Qantas?

Perhaps LATAM can fly SCL-SYD direct?

 

[NSun]

I'm sure flights to and from Santiago will come back but they'll be among the last to return, probably only when Qantas take delivery of those last 3 Dreamliners currently sitting at Victorville.

From my experience on QF27/28 a majority of passengers are connecting to other destinations such as Brazil, Argentina and Peru. While Chile has done a good job with their vaccination campaign the same can't be said for many other nations in Latin America.

 

[Mattg]

Not to mention, Air New Zealand has permanently cancelled its AKL-EZE route. That was the only other direct flight from our region to South America.

 

[drron]

Although Chile has reached 70+% vaccinations a lot are with Sinovac.At 3 weeks post dose 2 it's effectiveness is 66% but at 4 weeks post dose 2 antibody levels start falling consistently.So I doubt a bubble will be forthcoming.

 

[justinbrett]

Although Chile has reached 70+% vaccinations a lot are with Sinovac.At 3 weeks post dose 2 it's effectiveness is 66% but at 4 weeks post dose 2 antibody levels start falling consistently.So I doubt a bubble will be forthcoming.

Seems to be working at the moment with a very low case load, especially compared to its neighbours.

 

[Mattg]

Seems to be working at the moment with a very low case load, especially compared to its neighbours.

Perhaps. But since the Sinovac vaccine is not currently recognised by the Australian regulator, it is unlikely that the Australian government will extend whatever reduced quarantine/entry requirements will soon apply for vaccinated arrivals to people from Chile who have only received a non-TGA approved vaccine.

We're also still waiting for details about the Chilean e-visa that was supposed to be rolled out to Australian citizens (replacing the reciprocity fee) on 9 May 2020.

RECIPROCITY FEE - Chile Abroad

chile.gob.cl

I'm sure QF27/28 will return when there is sufficient demand (due to entry requirements on both sides of the South Pacific Ocean being sufficiently relaxed to allow "normal" resumption of travel).

 

[justinbrett]

Perhaps. But since the Sinovac vaccine is not currently recognised by the Australian regulator, it is unlikely that the Australian government will extend whatever reduced quarantine/entry requirements will soon apply for vaccinated arrivals to people from Chile who have only received a non-TGA approved vaccine.

We're also still waiting for details about the Chilean e-visa that was supposed to be rolled out to Australian citizens (replacing the reciprocity fee) on 9 May 2020.

RECIPROCITY FEE - Chile Abroad

chile.gob.cl

I'm sure QF27/28 will return when there is sufficient demand (due to entry requirements on both sides of the South Pacific Ocean being sufficiently relaxed to allow "normal" resumption of travel).

It's not really any great danger to Australia if tourists have Sinovac or Pfizer - just the individual themselves. Neither completely stop transmission. The UK are being petitioned to accept Sinovac and I've heard Gladys is already pushing the same.

Biggest issue for QF is lack of widebodies to fly the route, but if NZ still can't travel seems logical for LA to flying SCL-SYD non stop at least every other day.

The AKL QF F lounge was bad enough, I don't want to try this new hellish covid transit lounge.

 

[Mattg]

It's not really any great danger to Australia if tourists have Sinovac or Pfizer - just the individual themselves. Neither completely stop transmission. The UK are being petitioned to accept Sinovac and I've heard Gladys is already pushing the same.

This isn't my opinion, it's just the current position of the Australian government - they are only recognising vaccines authorised by the TGA. If this changes, it will make travel from certain parts of the world easier.

 

[jakeseven7]

This isn't my opinion, it's just the current position of the Australian government - they are only recognising vaccines authorised by the TGA. If this changes, it will make travel from certain parts of the world easier.

Screech alert:
Please think of the children, love Queensland

 

[Jacques Vert]

But since the Sinovac vaccine is not currently recognised by the Australian regulator, it is unlikely that the Australian government will extend whatever reduced quarantine/entry requirements will soon apply for vaccinated arrivals to people from Chile who have only received a non-TGA approved vaccine.

However, if they want to host international students from China then they will have to recognise Sinovac.

 

[wandering_fred]

However, if they want to host international students from China then they will have to recognise Sinovac.

and/or insist on a booster
without wandering
Fred

 

[Mattg]

QF27/28 is currently on sale from 27 March 2022.

 

[docjames]

With LA departing one world, will be interesting to see of QF continue codeshare onto LA or if just onward selling connections. Makes a RTW into South America very difficult.

AA now have a share in Jetsmart - wonder if QF will line up with them? ULCC - wont be popular with business (class) travellers…..

Will be fascinating to see how it plays out. There’s a clear market there (Aus-SthAm), but market forces will be wildly different to pre-2020.

 

[Mattg]

Qantas has just zeroed out all SYD-SCL flights (QF27/28) from late March until late October this year.

LATAM 's SYD-AKL-SCL flights are still on sale from late March 2022. Who knows if that will happen, though.

 

[baarg]

I booked one of these QF27/28 to Argentina and although still visible in " manage my booking" cannot find any new of these flights in Qantas website, is it because they won't be travelling then? Did they sell the tickets without the possibility of travel?

 

[baarg]

I got one these qf27 and 28 to eze for 30.03.22 but cant find any new flights for that or other date so wondering if it'll be cancelled?

 

[Mattg]

Qantas has zeroed out availability for all QF27/28 lights from late March until late October 2022. This is normally a prerequisite for the flights being cancelled, although they typically wait a while before officially cancelling so they can hold onto your money for longer.

You'll likely be notified in a few weeks that the flight has been cancelled, and offered either a credit, refund or (if you're lucky) rebooking onto a codeshare flight operated by LATAM.

 

[Matt_01]

I booked one of these QF27/28 to Argentina and although still visible in " manage my booking" cannot find any new of these flights in Qantas website, is it because they won't be travelling then? Did they sell the tickets without the possibility of travel?

At the time of booking QF were probably planning to run the service but @Mattg mentioned have zeroed out the service. With a bit of luck QF may quite quickly cancel the flight and you should be able to get a refund. If you are unlucky QF may claim they are still planning to run the service but not allowing new bookings. I have been in the later situation as QF would not cancel the booking so they did not have to refund straight away. They have had my cash for nearly 2 years.

 

[Lynda2475]

28 to eze

Confused as QF ceased flying to EZE back in 2012, I did one of the last ever SYD-EZE flights; and a few weeks later when I came home all the QF flights were only going to/from SCL.

Been to South America twice since then and always had to connect through SCL using LATAM (or a competitor) or come down from DFW using AA or LATAM.

 

[Mattg]

Confused as QF ceased flying to EZE back in 2012, I did one of the last ever SYD-EZE flights; and a few weeks later when I came home all the QF flights were only going to/from SCL.

Been to South America twice since then and always had to connect through SCL using LATAM (or a competitor) or come down from DFW using AA or LATAM.

The OP obviously booked on QF27 to SCL, with a connecting flight to EZE.