Australia to Reduce Incoming Int. Passenger Capacity from July 2021

[Ric]

This week at least there seems to be a daily flight from SYD to CBR that leaves in the morning or around lunch time. If SQ 231 arrives on time at 11am this flight should be OK, as he can leave HQ from 6am onwards. We arrived on the same flight in December which was during DS and it was due in at 12:15 but we reached the gate at 11:58 - that was important as arrivals after 12 noon must stay in HQ until 6pm. (Or this was the case in December). But SQ 231 seems to always run on time or early so that is looking good. Also if Cooma doesn’t work Wagga and Moruya are both shorter drives than Sydney.

As explained to us by the Police Officer in charge of the hotel that we were to be quarantine in, they go by the time that the plane tyres actually touched down on the runway. This technically means that you have arrived in Australia. Now as to whether he was pulling our legs, I know not!!

 

[Flying mermaid]

So, the flight that Seat Son is booked on still seems to be running. It’s SQ231 SIN-SYD, and seems to be running each day. Their other flights SIN-SYD seem to be more hit and miss at the moment, and are definitely not running every day. So hopefully he does not get bumped from the flight for a higher paying person.

Next challenge is getting him from Sydney to Canberra after his 14 day HQ, as there seem to be very few direct flights to Canberra (not even one a day) and so otherwise he will have to try to fly via BNE, if nothing more changes and locks him out. We are also looking closely at all the standing exemptions, and there may be a way for us to drive there (Sydney Airport), load him up and drive and back, as long as we don’t get out of the car in any hotspots or areas of concern. Potentially doable, but will require a return to my military logistics skills to put it all together.

I am finding this extremely stressful.

Well this sent me down a rabbit hole . I had a look at flight schedules for late September for Syd-Mel and of course no problem heaps of flights. Master FM gets into Sydney late, so will be released from Quarantine between 4pm and 6pm. 8pm flight to Melbourne looking good.

Then I checked on what the schedules look like at the moment - no flights after about 3pm. However looking at departure information there do seem to be some late night flights running. Off to consult the expert.

Does anyone know whether it is possible to voluntarily stay an extra night in hotel quarantine so he can get a morning flight?

 

[awmac1]

I seriously doubt it.

When I have done it in the past, the hotels are just not set up for anything additional i.e. payments or anything beyond the 2 week limit. Once those 14 days are up, they seem just as desperate to move you out as you are to get out! You get escorted straight out the door!

I would suggest a booking in a hotel nearby would be preferable. After 14 nights, honestly, the last thing you want is to stay yet another inside that room (he wouldn't be able leave the room even if possible) when you could be out walking the streets/having dinner/having a beer etc.!

Oh...and I was allowed out the morning of the 14th. day irrespective of the flight arrival time, however you have to wait until the police come to get you and escort you out - in my case that was around 11AM when my flight had arrived in the afternoon. I had heard it was based on the arrival time, and that might be true in some cases or in some states, but wasn't in mine.

 

[Flying mermaid]

I seriously doubt it.

When I have done it in the past, the hotels are just not set up for anything additional i.e. payments or anything beyond the 2 week limit. Once those 14 days are up, they seem just as desperate to move you out as you are to get out!

I would suggest a booking in a close by hotel would be preferable. After 14 nights, honestly, the last thing you want is to stay yet another inside that room (he wouldn't be able leave the room even if possible) when you could be out walking the streets/having dinner/having a beer etc.!

Unfortunately won’t work. . NSW is a red zone and Sydney even worse. If he leaves HQ he won’t be able to travel to Melbourne. Rules are you have to travel to the airport immediately from HQ in order to be viewed as Green Zone. Madrooster says they have recently allowed it, presumably because of the lack of flights. Yet another thing to add to my worry list

 

[awmac1]

Unfortunately won’t work. . NSW is a red zone and Sydney even worse. If he leaves HQ he won’t be able to travel to Melbourne. Rules are you have to travel to the airport immediately from HQ in order to be viewed as Green Zone. Madrooster says they have recently allowed it, presumably because of the lack of flights. Yet another thing to add to my worry list

Ah yeah! There's that....!! Tricky isn't it?!

 

[nancypants]

Unfortunately won’t work. . NSW is a red zone and Sydney even worse. If he leaves HQ he won’t be able to travel to Melbourne. Rules are you have to travel to the airport immediately from HQ in order to be viewed as Green Zone. Madrooster says they have recently allowed it, presumably because of the lack of flights. Yet another thing to add to my worry list

Any flights from Sydney to anywhere that allows direct exits from HQ around that time? Would be a pain but realistically less so than another 14 days of quarantine

 

[Flying mermaid]

Ah yeah! There's that....!! Tricky isn't it?!

Yep - nothing easy in the time of Covid I now have two flights booked for him - one on the day he is scheduled to leave (he doesn’t get out until after 4, which is the problem) and 1 the next morning.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Any flights from Sydney to anywhere that allows direct exits from HQ around that time? Would be a pain but realistically less so than another 14 days of quarantine

I am checking but haven’t found anything yet - will look closer to the time. I was thinking maybe flying to Queensland, but currently that would be jumping from the frying pan into the fire, as they are now red. I think I just need to wait until he is in HQ and see what’s happening with flights and also what HQ are doing about allowing people to stay.

 

[nancypants]

I am checking but haven’t found anything yet - will look closer to the time. I was thinking maybe flying to Queensland, but currently that would be jumping from the frying pan into the fire, as they are now red. I think I just need to wait until he is in HQ and see what’s happening with flights and also what HQ are doing about allowing people to stay.

Agree, I would book it at very short notice. Plus then you’ll also have more of a handle on whether staying to the following morning is allowed

 

[Seat0B]

Unfortunately won’t work. . NSW is a red zone and Sydney even worse. If he leaves HQ he won’t be able to travel to Melbourne. Rules are you have to travel to the airport immediately from HQ in order to be viewed as Green Zone. Madrooster says they have recently allowed it, presumably because of the lack of flights. Yet another thing to add to my worry list

and my worry list as well for Seat Son if he makes it here on 15 August.

 

[dajop]

I am checking but haven’t found anything yet - will look closer to the time. I was thinking maybe flying to Queensland, but currently that would be jumping from the frying pan into the fire, as they are now red. I think I just need to wait until he is in HQ and see what’s happening with flights and also what HQ are doing about allowing people to stay.

My partner recalls sometime ago (when Sydney was a red zone once before) one of the Victorian health officials suggesting that it would be OK to go straight to the airport and stay at the airport until flight departs. But I doubt if that would be possible. Pretty sure that anyone going to SYD would be kicked out.

It does look like the last flights to MEL this week are at 17:00 Friday-Monday and 15:00 Tue-Thu, with an MQL flight @17:45 on Thu and 17:15 on Sun.

 

[Seat0B]

My partner recalls sometime ago (when Sydney was a red zone once before) one of the Victorian health officials suggesting that it would be OK to go straight to the airport and stay at the airport until flight departs. But I doubt if that would be possible. Pretty sure that anyone going to SYD would be kicked out.

It does look like the last flights to MEL this week are at 17:00 Friday-Monday and 15:00 Tue-Thu, with an MQL flight @17:45 on Thu and 17:15 on Sun.

The rules for Seat Son, coming to ACT from HQ in SYD, are that he must take private transport to the airport - taxi OK. Bus, train, shuttle bus not OK. Uber unclear. He can then stay as long as needed in SYD airport to connect to a flight to CBR. That is regarded by ACT govt as transiting a hot spot, and is permitted without the need for further quarantine or isolation on arrival in the ACT. As long as he sticks to those rules. Which is pretty much the same as your partner recalls @dajop.

The issue for Seat Son is that there is not even a daily flight SYD-CBR at the moment, and on days when there is a flight, it is just one flight. So if he exits HQ on a non-flight day, he will be screwed because even if he stays at a hotel, that is then regarded by ACT government as being in Sydney rather than transiting a hot spot. he will then have to quarantine at home here in ACT for 14 days. That means he will have exactly 2 days left to see his family and friends and do his various life admin business (driver licence, tax returns, banking) that he needs to do in person before he has to go back. If he leaves HQ at the wrong time, he will miss the only flight and be screwed if he has to wait overnight for the next flight. Or he might have a very long wait at SYD airport if released at 6 am but flight not until 4 pm, and I fear they certainly would not allow him to overnight there if he is released at 6pm and the flight already left at 4pm. As suggested elsewhere by the helpful @Mattg , he may be able to fly SYD-OOM (or SYD-MIM, or similar) and we can collect him there, if those flights are operating on days when there is no suitable SYD-CBR flight, or just outright no SYD-CBR flight.

We are also looking at one way car rentals, and even considering doing a high precision-logistics drive through to the airport to collect him - the rules permit this as long as we do not get out of the car anywhere in Greater Sydney or any other hot spot. So at the moment we could drive up, last toilet stop in Camden, to airport, have him self-load bags while we stay in the car and drive away home, again with no stops until Camden. Not sure my 60 year old, mother of two bladder can last that long... And i saw on the news that there are several cases in Camden, so it might even be locked down by then

On the other hand he arrives am 15 August, so we assume release is am on 29 August, and maybe the restrictions in Sydney will lift on 28 August as currently planned .

And of course, as he said yesterday Singapore Airlines are being "helpfully unhelpful" as to whether his flight will proceed and if it does, whether he will be on it.

This is just so depressing. I cannot believe that this is Australia I am talking about. He lives in the repressive middle east, and is actually as free as a bird by comparison to us.

 

[Flying mermaid]

The rules for Seat Son, coming to ACT from HQ in SYD, are that he must take private transport to the airport - taxi OK. Bus, train, shuttle bus not OK. Uber unclear. He can then stay as long as needed in SYD airport to connect to a flight to CBR. That is regarded by ACT govt as transiting a hot spot, and is permitted without the need for further quarantine or isolation on arrival in the ACT. As long as he sticks to those rules. Which is pretty much the same as your partner recalls @dajop.

The issue for Seat Son is that there is not even a daily flight SYD-CBR at the moment, and on days when there is a flight, it is just one flight. So if he exits HQ on a non-flight day, he will be screwed because even if he stays at a hotel, that is then regarded by ACT government as being in Sydney rather than transiting a hot spot. he will then have to quarantine at home here in ACT for 14 days. That means he will have exactly 2 days left to see his family and friends and do his various life admin business (driver licence, tax returns, banking) that he needs to do in person before he has to go back. If he leaves HQ at the wrong time, he will miss the only flight and be screwed if he has to wait overnight for the next flight. Or he might have a very long wait at SYD airport if released at 6 am but flight not until 4 pm, and I fear they certainly would not allow him to overnight there if he is released at 6pm and the flight already left at 4pm. As suggested elsewhere by the helpful @Mattg , he may be able to fly SYD-OOM (or SYD-MIM, or similar) and we can collect him there, if those flights are operating on days when there is no suitable SYD-CBR flight, or just outright no SYD-CBR flight.

We are also looking at one way car rentals, and even considering doing a high precision-logistics drive through to the airport to collect him - the rules permit this as long as we do not get out of the car anywhere in Greater Sydney or any other hot spot. So at the moment we could drive up, last toilet stop in Camden, to airport, have him self-load bags while we stay in the car and drive away home, again with no stops until Camden. Not sure my 60 year old, mother of two bladder can last that long... And i saw on the news that there are several cases in Camden, so it might even be locked down by then

On the other hand he arrives am 15 August, so we assume release is am on 29 August, and maybe the restrictions in Sydney will lift on 28 August as currently planned .

And of course, as he said yesterday Singapore Airlines are being "helpfully unhelpful" as to whether his flight will proceed and if it does, whether he will be on it.

This is just so depressing. I cannot believe that this is Australia I am talking about. He lives in the repressive middle east, and is actually as free as a bird by comparison to us.

I think release will be on the 28th in the morning? Master FM arrives late on the 7th and Madrooster has told us he will be released between 4pm and 6pm on the 21st. Apparently it is either morning or afternoon depending what time you arrive. When Dr FM did quarantine in Adelaide the hotel asked her travel plans and were very helpful in making sure she was released to get her plane.

Even if restrictions are lifted in Sydney as planned (seems impossible at the moment), NSW will be a red zone for ages afterwards, so I am not assuming any joy from that even by 21 September.

I have this feeling (probably wrong) that HQ won’t just throw you out if there isn’t an available flight, but who knows.

As you say all very worrying - at least Master FM has two months so he has some ability to do extra quarantine if he has to, but he has to get into Melbourne and so he needs to go somewhere immediately from HQ that Melbourne will allow in!

Anyway all in the too hard basket - please share what happens as your experiences will be helpful (not that you need that!)

 

[louie-m]

On the other hand he arrives am 15 August, so we assume release is am on 29 August, and maybe the restrictions in Sydney will lift on 28 August as currently planned

Datapoint if it helps - cousin arrived on SQ231 at 11am a month ago and was given a choice of leaving HQ at any point between 4am and 10am fourteen days later.

 

[Seat0B]

Anyway all in the too hard basket - please share what happens as your experiences will be helpful (not that you need that!)

I certainly will!

 

[Seat0B]

So I always told myself not to get too excited about Seat Son’s visit, even before the cap was cut in half. I thought I was manage to keep a lid on my emotions, but apparently I was not. Because I was totally devastated today to learn that his flight is not going to happen.

Not sure if SQ231 is cancelled or if he has just been bumped for a higher paying passenger but he was formally advised this afternoon that he will not be travelling.

I am extremely upset. Even though not really surprised, and I thought I was prepared for the inevitable, but I wasn’t.

I feel so powerlessly angry.

 

[Pushka]

So I always told myself not to get too excited about Seat Son’s visit, even before the cap was cut in half. I thought I was manage to keep a lid on my emotions, but apparently I was not. Because I was totally devastated today to learn that his flight is not going to happen.

Not sure if SQ231 is cancelled or if he has just been bumped for a higher paying passenger but he was formally advised this afternoon that he will not be travelling.

I am extremely upset. Even though not really surprised, and I thought I was prepared for the inevitable, but I wasn’t.

I feel so powerlessly angry.

Have you tried @madrooster for help?

 

[Seat0B]

Have you tried @madrooster for help?

No not yet as we don’t really have the info needed. I will try soon though if I feel up to it. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[Flying mermaid]

So I always told myself not to get too excited about Seat Son’s visit, even before the cap was cut in half. I thought I was manage to keep a lid on my emotions, but apparently I was not. Because I was totally devastated today to learn that his flight is not going to happen.

Not sure if SQ231 is cancelled or if he has just been bumped for a higher paying passenger but he was formally advised this afternoon that he will not be travelling.

I am extremely upset. Even though not really surprised, and I thought I was prepared for the inevitable, but I wasn’t.

I feel so powerlessly angry.

Oh gosh I am so sorry! I know just how you feel, as we went through this with Dr FM. I agree with Pushka - get in touch with Madrooster and see if he can help with a new flight. Once again so sorry to hear this

 

[Seat0B]

Have you tried @madrooster for help?

Just messaged him now.

Post automatically merged: Aug 3, 2021

Oh gosh I am so sorry! I know just how you feel, as we went through this with Dr FM. I agree with Pushka - get in touch with Madrooster and see if he can help with a new flight. Once again so sorry to hear this

thanks. Just messaged him now.