Difficult decision re quick trip to Perth Airport from the east

[ozflier]

Hello,

My organization wants an airport meet at Perth for various executive team members and consultants later next week to discuss some high-level changes in its business model.

Because of the highly confidential nature of the discussion, Zoom/remote access etc is not acceptable.

Most of the potential attendees would be coming from Sydney and Adelaide.

With the current skittishness of state governments and ease at which they will close borders at a moments notice , many of us are a little concerned re attending .

For most , potentially the arrangement would be to arrive on an early am flight to Perth , have the meeting and return same day and NOT leave the airport building.

Currently, all NSW and SA are regarded as "very low infectivity" and quarantine not needed on arrival if passenger is in good health etc .

I am wondering if any posters have done similar to this ?

My thoughts –

Its risky , what if WA closes again or the home state.

Is the usual paperwork (G2G Pass)required if stay in WA is restricted only to an airport conference room and QF lounge and boarding area.

Are you still able to collect return boarding pass at the originating airport?

 

[Happy Dude]

I'm of the opinion that any interstate flight is no less/more risky than what you've proposed. In a nutshell, if a COVID outbreak occurs either in the WA or NSW, between now and your departure date, you may need to rearrange your plans.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I think Happy Dude is on the money. What choice do you have (but to attend)? You should get 24 hours to return to your home state? Even Victoria gave a grace period. So arriving into PER in the morning should allow you to get home same day.

 

[ozflier]

I think Happy Dude is on the money. What choice do you have (but to attend)? You should get 24 hours to return to your home state? Even Victoria gave a grace period. So arriving into PER in the morning should allow you to get home same day.

That is my main concern- that there will be a grace period before borders are closed.
I can cancel up to the morning of the trip.
Does anyone know if it is possible to stay inside the Perth terminal building itself without having to go thru the WA entry process - eg G2G form etc?

 

[dk4]

Does anyone know if it is possible to stay inside the Perth terminal building itself without having to go thru the WA entry process - eg G2G form etc?

You will need the WA visa*. The entry checks take place at the point between the aerobridge and the gate lounge. (Except in T3, where they funnel arriving interstate passengers the "wrong way" down the international arrivals corridor into the gate 17c area where the checks take place.)

As you step out, you will be given a squirt of hand sanitiser, the next person takes your temperature, and then you are directed to a set of immigration style plastic boothes where your visa* QR code is scanned, and you are questioned by police. Then you can proceed onward into the terminal.

Remember it is federal regulation that masks are warn everywhere inside airport terminals at all times in Australia, including Perth. Therefore I personally would not want to stay inside the terminal for a meeting.

* also known as G2G

 

[BD1959]

Are you still able to collect return boarding pass at the originating airport?

You will be able to get your return BP as you check-in online for the outbound - in fact IME the QF App will prompt you to receive it.

Regards,

BD

 

[SeatBackForward]

Because of the highly confidential nature of the discussion, Zoom/remote access etc is not acceptable

This is the part I'm most confused about. Could it not be done via telephone with handouts in that case?

 

[ozflier]

Good thought- I contract for a South African multinational - they are only too aware of the ability to listen in on phone calls and are very sensitive to leaks to the ASX.
In any case, they may have to move it to the east coast as there is a fair bit of concern of other attendees re entering WA at this stage.
I'll let you know the outcome.

 

[petef]

Does anyone know if it is possible to stay inside the Perth terminal building itself without having to go thru the WA entry process - eg G2G form etc?

I've been through this, and as DK4 said, no it is not possible. You pass through this pseudo immigration/quarantine process as you exit the Aerobridge. So you cannot enter the terminal without completing the process.

Masks must be worn until exiting the terminal. There is an exception while eating, so if you make your meeting a meal also, masks can be removed.

Regarding the closures WA has in the past changed the process and without warning closed the borders while flights were in the air.

Upon arrival people were given the option to fly back out or quarantine. So in your case since you don't plan to leave the airport and will have same day return tickets, you should be fine.

 

[mviy]

There are other options to Zoom. You can get standalone video appliances that are locked down (most likely more difficult to hack) and make calls directly between them. Using a site to site VPN for such calls would be a good idea. Someone would need to both crack the VPN and any encryption used for the video call to snoop on your call which would be highly unlikely.

It may be worth to look into this if this is going to be a regular thing.

 

[ozflier]

Ta for all the advice - decision has been made to delay for 2 weeks - not sure what is going to happen in that time!

 

[Ade]

Are you still able to collect return boarding pass at the originating airport?

If the return flight is on the same day - yes. I usually get all my BP for flights taken on the same date