DFAT Warning [Do NOT Travel overseas]

[JessicaTam]

[mod hat]
A large number of posts have been moved to the general Discussion thread:

General COVID-19 (Coronavirus) discussion

I’ve uploaded a speech by the SIN PM few days ago, here’s another example of a sane leader (foreign minister) talking about how their country is combating COVID-19:

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

Please restrict discussion here to the topic (DFAT Warning [Do NOT Travel overseas])
[/mod hat]

 

[drron]

This is a genuine question and not attacking you, but in the interests of more input, would appreciate you elaborating a bit more why you are trusting the figures being produced so far when the authorities of one state have stated publicly they believe there are 100K or more current cases (as of last week) in their one US state alone.

That is a guess and no more.If you look at informed health sources they really can't agree on how many cases or deaths to expect.Even in Australia you have predictions from 255 to 755 of us will get this virus.Way too early to really know but the Media like the more disastrous predictions.

 

[RooFlyer]

Question for the hive mind...

I am due to fly to BKK tomorrow AM for a three night stay arriving back in SYD from SIN (QF2 if it is not going via Perth yet) at 0610. It's a status run and a treat after doing a long stint with the fires.

Will I be let back in?

If you are an Australian citizen AND your outbound and return flights operate as you expect it to, then yes. I'm sure you are aware of the insurance etc consequences of travelling against a DFAT '(Advice to) Do not travel' advisory.

 

[Katja]

That's odd. I can understand why he would want that for Canada, but at the same time imagine if you were a Canadian abroad...

Also who is then responsible for medical costs, one would think countries want the beds for their own citizens...
On a bright note I’ve just landed back in oz, smart gates working, no temperature checks, just a two page isolation guide...
Very happy to be home.

 

[Maisy33]

Have made the decision to not bring my son home from the US. He’s in college over there. I know he’s safe where he is and his health cover is great but the mother bear in me wants my kid home.

 

[dajop]

Also who is then responsible for medical costs, one would think countries want the beds for their own citizens...

As far as medical costs goes, some, if not many, countries are concerned about their own residents, but not necessarily all their citizens. Subtle, but important distinction.

As a non-resident Australian, who has permanent residency (or even if I had an employment pass) in Singapore, if I get COVID-19 here in Singapore that requires treatment, then the government has indicated they will cover the medical costs (but won't for visitors). As we have been away for a while, when if we were to come back to Australia (to be with our elderly mothers), as visitors, we are then liable for medical costs (or in our case, insurance would be). Many Australians living abroad probably don't realise this.

 

[Ric]

Friends in the Philippines and today they raced to airport from islands before border closed and QF charged them each $900 to change return flights.

Consider their original return flight would be cancelled, it's a bit sucky.

My son was charged USD875!!

 

[N860CR]

My son was charged USD875!!

The Spirit of Australia

 

[amaroo]

The Spirit of Australia

Did you get sucked in by the marketing ?

Post automatically merged: Mar 18, 2020

My son was charged USD875!!

Cheap - considering the other option.

 

[AIRwin]

I am due to fly to BKK tomorrow AM for a three night stay arriving back in SYD from SIN (QF2 if it is not going via Perth yet) at 0610. It's a status run and a treat after doing a long stint with the fires.

No need for a risky status run now that QF is granting a status extension?

 

[PineappleSkip]

]

No need for a risky status run now that QF is granting a status extension?

My status year ends end April and I have requalified. QF have offered me nothing, but circumstances mean I really would need to do runs to maintain status in 2021. But won’t do them overseas

cheers skip

 

[Ric]

[QUOTE="
Cheap - considering the other option.
[/QUOTE]

Yah but he is going the other direction ... into Manila!

 

[kiwitripper64]

Question for the hive mind...

I am due to fly to BKK tomorrow AM for a three night stay arriving back in SYD from SIN (QF2 if it is not going via Perth yet) at 0610. It's a status run and a treat after doing a long stint with the fires.

Will I be let back in?

Will you be let into SIN?

 

[Must...Fly!]

Will you be let into SIN?

That is a good question. Never mind the fact that almost all, if not all TI policies would be invalid now. Have a heart attack or get a cut o/s and you're up for the full cost. Pays to be informed at least.

 

[Peter78]

[QUOTE="
Cheap - considering the other option.

Yah but he is going the other direction ... into Manila!
[/QUOTE]

Why would one want to go to Manila?? I booked a cheap QR J flight to Germany in April and I am obviously not going any longer. Cancelled my Novotel non-refundable stays - Accor refunded in full for what it's worth - before/ after the flights, and the lady at reservations said 'you are making the right decision, you definitely don't want to be in the Philippines right now', and it sounded like she expected this comment to be valid for the medium term...

 

[Mattg]

Well now that the advice has been upgraded to "Do not travel", my worldwide travel insurance policy is now effectively void. (An unfortunate and perhaps unintended consequence of this decision...)

 

[Pushka]

Well now that the advice has been upgraded to "Do not travel", my worldwide travel insurance policy is now effectively void. (An unfortunate and perhaps unintended consequence of this decision...)

Will it come back "live" once the alert is lowered? It does mean, assuming coverage for pandemics, that non refundable expenses can be claimed.

 

[eastwest101]

Well now that the advice has been upgraded to "Do not travel", my worldwide travel insurance policy is now effectively void. (An unfortunate and perhaps unintended consequence of this decision...)

I realise this question may only relate to your particular travel insurance policy but if your policy is an annual one and say was due for renewal in June, if you cancelled this policy now (because the policy is void in that you would not be able to make a claim) would they give you a pro-rata refund? Just curious and let us know if you do explore this option.

 

[Pushka]

I realise this question may only relate to your particular travel insurance policy but if your policy is an annual one and say was due for renewal in June, if you cancelled this policy now (because the policy is void in that you would not be able to make a claim) would they give you a pro-rata refund? Just curious and let us know if you do explore this option.

I'd hope it would re-validate once the level dropped. Our annual policy only started in February. On the other hand I will be making more claims, already have done, than what I paid for it.

 

[Ric]

Yah but he is going the other direction ... into Manila!

Why would one want to go to Manila?? I booked a cheap QR J flight to Germany in April and I am obviously not going any longer. Cancelled my Novotel non-refundable stays - Accor refunded in full for what it's worth - before/ after the flights, and the lady at reservations said 'you are making the right decision, you definitely don't want to be in the Philippines right now', and it sounded like she expected this comment to be valid for the medium term...
[/QUOTE]

He has a couple of hundred of employees there that he needs to take care of ..... check on his stores security, salaries, advance money to them etc etc. Corporate/business responsibilities? But have to self isolate for 14 days first.