Australian state border restrictions

[exceladdict]

More opinion writing from media.

The West are certainly no stranger to taking sides, at least those are clearly marked editorials. I get more concerned when opinion creeps into articles.

I enjoy Jacob Kagi's work, this article highlights some of the broken promise elements of the change. The loss of any light at the end of the tunnel is a good point.

 

[antycbr]

The West are certainly no stranger to taking sides, at least those are clearly marked editorials. I get more concerned when opinion creeps into articles.

I enjoy Jacob Kagi's work, this article highlights some of the broken promise elements of the change. The loss of any light at the end of the tunnel is a good point.

To be frank, people voted for this.

Not too much sympathy from this end, especially when we have been lectured at length about the alleged continued failures of the NSW Government who have done the majority of freight and repatriation flights. WA has sat at the end of a very long highway and very long railway, handled minimal airfreight and few returning passengers.

I hope the airlines cancel all services to and from WA, and I also hope that the AFL hubs one of the WA teams in Sydney.

 

[oz_mark]

To be frank, people voted for this.

Not too much sympathy from this end, especially when we have been lectured at length about the alleged continued failures of the NSW Government who have done the majority of freight and repatriation flights. WA has sat at the end of a very long highway and very long railway, handled minimal airfreight and few returning passengers.

I hope the airlines cancel all services to and from WA, and I also hope that the AFL hubs one of the WA teams in Sydney.

It's a good approach. Outsource the risk, then complain about the people taking the risk!

 

[wandering_fred]

To be frank, people voted for this.

Not too much sympathy from this end, especially when we have been lectured at length about the alleged continued failures of the NSW Government who have done the majority of freight and repatriation flights. WA has sat at the end of a very long highway and very long railway, handled minimal airfreight and few returning passengers.

I hope the airlines cancel all services to and from WA, and I also hope that the AFL hubs one of the WA teams in Sydney.

Well the country people (ie outside of Perth metro) who as a percentage voted less for it, will get an even smaller voice in the next election.
In the next election, may there be more wandering
Fred

 

[antycbr]

It's a good approach. Outsource the risk, then complain about the people taking the risk!

Tasmania was doing the same thing.

 

[TomVexille]

To be frank, people voted for this.

Not too much sympathy from this end, especially when we have been lectured at length about the alleged continued failures of the NSW Government who have done the majority of freight and repatriation flights. WA has sat at the end of a very long highway and very long railway, handled minimal airfreight and few returning passengers.

I hope the airlines cancel all services to and from WA, and I also hope that the AFL hubs one of the WA teams in Sydney.

Personally I think the Hobart Dockers and Launceston Eagles has a nice ring to it

 

[Jenya]

 

[antycbr]

View attachment 269437

Transition to where? They aren't going anywhere, and covid isnt going anywhere either.

 

[jrfsp]

Frustrating to see WA delaying the border reopening indefinitely but not surprising coming from them. Every other state has moved on past COVID but there they are in their continued false belief that they can keep COVID out of their communities (look at COVID numbers in WA over past few days).

One key question is what impact these restrictions will have on flights, especially for QF? In particular, SYD > LHR and SYD > FCO might be a challenge on a 777 or A380 without a stopover. I suppose they could continue with DRW as the stop-over point, but that begs the question will PER lose out on international travel in the long-term if airlines realize they can't trust a word they say when it comes to making travel plans? I suspect DRW would be more than happy to take the role of PER when it comes to an international connection point, but one has to question what happens to PER long-term? Will it become simply another domestic hub on the QF network being demoted from a top tier international connection point? Travellers and businesses need certainty and the WA government ain't providing it. I've got a trip booked to PER in early September, and it's now unclear if I'll be able to visit the country of WA then.

-RooFlyer88

I think SIN will pivot back to the main transit point for the moment.

Slightly off topic but if certain developments happen in Russia that may make the DRW routing problematic if Russia becomes a no fly zone.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

I think SIN will pivot back to the main transit point for the moment.

Slightly off topic but if certain developments happen in Russia that may make the DRW routing problematic if Russia becomes a no fly zone.

I'm surprised QF doesn't use the US as a main hub for flights to Europe. Pre-COVID I would be flying SYD to LHR (via LAX). Way better airports, way better connection experience than the dump that is SIN IMHO. Plus you earn more status credits and you are flying over friendly airspace at all times.

The way I see it, right now WA is very lucky. They managed to keep Omicron out, but even with these restrictions cases can still break through and took hold in the community. We saw that with Delta in Sydney with that lone taxi driver, there is no reason to believe that won't happen in WA especially with a variant which we know is at least 3 times more infectious than Delta. What will be interesting to see is how WA responds to that with closed borders. It's one thing to say we're taking away your freedom to protect you, but if you can't keep that promise there'll be a lot of upset people who will be left wondering why was it worth listening to the government all along when it came to vaccines, social distancing, etc?

-RooFlyer88

 

[antycbr]

I'm surprised QF doesn't use the US as a main hub for flights to Europe. Pre-COVID I would be flying SYD to LHR (via LAX). Way better airports, way better connection experience than the dump that is SIN IMHO. Plus you earn more status credits and you are flying over friendly airspace at all times.

The rigmarole of transiting in the US is astronomical - ESTA, clearing customs even though transiting, TSA screening and pretty appalling lounges.

Singapore - you deplane into a modern terminal with interterminal shuttle train, clean, calm and with frequent flights to a wide variety of european destinations. Decent lounges from all of the main carriers. Good terminal food.

I think you're going to be pretty alone in your opinion on US transit!

The way I see it, right now WA is very lucky. They managed to keep Omicron out, but even with these restrictions cases can still break through and took hold in the community. We saw that with Delta in Sydney with that lone taxi driver, there is no reason to believe that won't happen in WA especially with a variant which we know is at least 3 times more infectious than Delta. What will be interesting to see is how WA responds to that with closed borders. It's one thing to say we're taking away your freedom to protect you, but if you can't keep that promise there'll be a lot of upset people who will be left wondering why was it worth listening to the government all along when it came to vaccines, social distancing, etc?

-RooFlyer88

We are about to find out I suspect. Mystery cases coming in thick now.

 

[jrfsp]

I'm surprised QF doesn't use the US as a main hub for flights to Europe. Pre-COVID I would be flying SYD to LHR (via LAX). Way better airports, way better connection experience than the dump that is SIN IMHO. Plus you earn more status credits and you are flying over friendly airspace at all times.

The way I see it, right now WA is very lucky. They managed to keep Omicron out, but even with these restrictions cases can still break through and took hold in the community. We saw that with Delta in Sydney with that lone taxi driver, there is no reason to believe that won't happen in WA especially with a variant which we know is at least 3 times more infectious than Delta. What will be interesting to see is how WA responds to that with closed borders. It's one thing to say we're taking away your freedom to protect you, but if you can't keep that promise there'll be a lot of upset people who will be left wondering why was it worth listening to the government all along when it came to vaccines, social distancing, etc?

-RooFlyer88

Via LAX is a lot further and is awful as a transit experience we'll have to disagree on SIN - its great for transit.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

The rigmarole of transiting in the US is astronomical - ESTA, clearing customs even though transiting, TSA screening and pretty appalling lounges.

Singapore - you deplane into a modern terminal with interterminal shuttle train, clean, calm and with frequent connetions. Decent lounges from all of the main carriers.

I think you're going to be pretty alone in your opinion on US transit!

Depends on if you have Global Entry or not. In my case it's a finger print scan at the Global Entry kiosk and then walk past the immigration hall. Then grab luggage (which is usually first out), then recheck. Security is super quick thanks to TSA Precheck and we're clearing security before the gate (not at the gate) so I can spend more time in lounges and board last minute. In terms of lounges, I suppose that depends on airport. But certainly LAX's lounges easily beat whatever SIN has to offer. As a UA Premier Gold flyer I would gladly take the Star Alliance lounge at TBIT or even the new UA Club at T8 over the SQ Gold lounge and the TG lounge with its half warm samosas.

-RooFlyer88

 

[antycbr]

Depends on if you have Global Entry or not. In my case it's a finger print scan at the Global Entry kiosk and then walk past the immigration hall. Then grab luggage (which is usually first out), then recheck. Security is super quick thanks to TSA Precheck and we're clearing security before the gate (not at the gate) so I can spend more time in lounges and board last minute. In terms of lounges, I suppose that depends on airport. But certainly LAX's lounges easily beat whatever SIN has to offer. As a UA Premier Gold flyer I would gladly take the Star Alliance lounge at TBIT or even the new UA Club at T8 over the SQ Gold lounge and the TG lounge with its half warm samosas.

-RooFlyer88

Global entry makes a big difference there. Not that many people have it.

 

[jb747]

I cannot see any positives for a US airport, versus Singapore. You may not like the place, but as a aviation hub it's extremely good. Far better than anything the US has to offer.

 

[oz_mark]

The way I see it, right now WA is very lucky. They managed to keep Omicron out, but even with these restrictions cases can still break through and took hold in the community. We saw that with Delta in Sydney with that lone taxi driver, there is no reason to believe that won't happen in WA especially with a variant which we know is at least 3 times more infectious than Delta.

Kept Delta out. Jury is still out on omicron.

 

[ketsuzei]

Kept Delta out. Jury is still out on omicron.

(points in the direction of the jury)

“They’re coming back in!”

 

[love_the_life]

As someone on a different board noted, you can get in to see a terminally ill relative on compassionate grounds but by the time you do the quarantine they may well have died and if not, certainly shortens any time that could be spent with them. Just wrong.

 

[MARTINE]

As someone on a different board noted, you can get in to see a terminally ill relative on compassionate grounds but by the time you do the quarantine they may well have died and if not, certainly shortens any time that could be spent with them. Just wrong.

Disgraceful

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Via LAX is a lot further and is awful as a transit experience we'll have to disagree on SIN - its great for transit.

It really depends what you are after. Some of us would much prefer taking a longer routing especially when travelling in J if the fare is cheaper and you end up earning WAY more points, get to experience more lounges, etc. Going back to the LHR example, if you were to fly direct routing to LHR from SYD, say SYD > SIN > LHR you would net 580 status credits on a return trip (125 for the SYD <> SIN segment and 165 for the SIN <> LHR segment). However, if you were to fly via the US say SYD > LAX > ORD > LHR, you could easily earn 820 status credits return (190 status credits for the SYD <> LAX segment, 100 status credits for the LAX <> ORD segment and 120 status for the ORD <> LHR status credit) and that isn't even playing around with the crazy routings you can get in the US. I reckon if you had time and patience you could just about re-qualify for QF WP in one trip!

If that wasn't enough if you're leaving Europe you actually want to maximize those connections since EU261 would apply if you end up arriving back in SYD more than 4 hours after the scheduled arrival (doesn't matter that you are connecting in the US several times). Who wouldn't mind grabbing 600 Euro cash for their troubles?

-RooFlyer88