Fiji nightmare

[cmon0005]

All up can you answer:
1) the number of RATS and PCR each person had to do to make the trip happen
2) the total cost of all that testing

Departing Aust: 2x PCR's for the Adults $79AUD each (Children under 12 don't require test to enter Fiji).

RAT test in Fiji at resort: $30FJD each x 2 Adults (again Children not required to get RAT)

PCR test in Fiji at resort for return to Aust: $150FJD each x 3 (2 Adults, 1 Child over 4 years -this is an aust requirement, my under 4 year old didn't require a test to enter australia)

So all up about $500 AUD in total for all the tests..

 

[straitman]

Departing Aust: 2x PCR's for the Adults $79AUD each (Children under 12 don't require test to enter Fiji).

RAT test in Fiji at resort: $30FJD each x 2 Adults (again Children not required to get RAT)

PCR test in Fiji at resort for return to Aust: $150FJD each x 3 (2 Adults, 1 Child over 4 years -this is an aust requirement, my under 4 year old didn't require a test to enter australia)

So all up about $500 AUD in total for all the tests..

Then whatever testing is required in your home state after the return.

 

[cmon0005]

Then whatever testing is required in your home state after the return.

For Victoria we can either do a free pcr on return or a rat ourselves.

 

[straitman]

For Victoria we can either do a free pcr on return or a rat ourselves.

If you can actually get either.

 

[cmon0005]

If you can actually get either.

Yes very true, luckily for us I had purchased a pack of RAT's when they first came out before the rush.

 

[N860CR]

Departing Aust: 2x PCR's for the Adults $79AUD each (Children under 12 don't require test to enter Fiji).

RAT test in Fiji at resort: $30FJD each x 2 Adults (again Children not required to get RAT)

PCR test in Fiji at resort for return to Aust: $150FJD each x 3 (2 Adults, 1 Child over 4 years -this is an aust requirement, my under 4 year old didn't require a test to enter australia)

So all up about $500 AUD in total for all the tests..

That’s inline with the DoubleTree which I thought was fairly reasonable. They also managed it quite well. Have a room setup as a “clinic” and you just wander in at your appointment time and the nurses jump off the bed and do it in a few minutes.

Marriott are charging double that. Apparently the RAT took 90 mins. PCR about an hour. Lots of sitting around on plastic chairs.

 

[drron]

Well in Tassie RATS are definitely becoming easier to find. And last week any place that had stock was limit of 1 pack per customer. this week 2 pack limit at 2 places today.

 

[antycbr]

That’s inline with the DoubleTree which I thought was fairly reasonable. They also managed it quite well. Have a room setup as a “clinic” and you just wander in at your appointment time and the nurses jump off the bed and do it in a few minutes.

Marriott are charging double that. Apparently the RAT took 90 mins. PCR about an hour. Lots of sitting around on plastic chairs.

What are the nurses doing? Sleeping? Why are they in bed? Sounds like a strange clinic to me…

 

[N860CR]

What are the nurses doing? Sleeping? Why are they in bed? Sounds like a strange clinic to me…

Clinic may have been a strong word. They’re basically waiting for “patients” in a hotel room. Lying on the bed on their phone seems to be the between appointment protocol.

 

[N860CR]

As expected, second PCR has returned negative. Extremely sheepish Marriott is saying "it's all the Fijian governments fault". God knows how many others who are locked up also have invalid results!

 

[cmon0005]

That’s inline with the DoubleTree which I thought was fairly reasonable.

$500 AUD is still quite a bit that could have paid for our drinks and food bill

 

[Berlin]

It is all covered here. Fiji Entry Requirements.

Slightly off topic but not covered in writing neither here nor on Air Fiji's website- what are the rules for someone not entering Fiji but rather only connecting through NAN airport? I'll be traveling SYD-NAN-LAX return in Mach and would have thought that the US (and return Aussie) rules are what I have to look at. Anyone having any ideas? Not that we get trapped in Fiji...

 

[cmon0005]

Slightly off topic but not covered in writing neither here nor on Air Fiji's website- what are the rules for someone not entering Fiji but rather only connecting through NAN airport? I'll be traveling SYD-NAN-LAX return in Mach and would have thought that the US (and return Aussie) rules are what I have to look at. Anyone having any ideas? Not that we get trapped in Fiji...

It is covered here: https://www.fiji.travel/faq#transit-through-fiji
The gist I got from this is that it's advisable to get a PCR rather than a RAT (which is required for US entry) in case you need to have a forced stopover in Fiji. Might save you headache if flight delays/cancellations happen in NAN.

 

[Berlin]

It is covered here: https://www.fiji.travel/faq#transit-through-fiji
The gist I got from this is that it's advisable to get a PCR rather than a RAT (which is required for US entry) in case you need to have a forced stopover in Fiji. Might save you headache if flight delays/cancellations happen in NAN.

Thanks a lot for this!

So in other words, it's the easiest if we just get PCRs on departure which will then cover both Fiji and the US, right?

 

[straitman]

If you can actually get either.

Yes very true, luckily for us I had purchased a pack of RAT's when they first came out before the rush.

RA tests are available in Fiji at $FJ15 ea so I have bought enough for our requirements on returning to Victoria.

 

[cmon0005]

Thanks a lot for this!

So in other words, it's the easiest if we just get PCRs on departure which will then cover both Fiji and the US, right?

That's my understanding of it, PCR seems to be 'backwards compatible' whereas RAT is not, due to other countries requirements.

Post automatically merged: Jan 19, 2022

RA tests are available in Fiji so I have bought enough for our requirements on returning to Victoria.

Good point didn't think of that whilst I was there!

 

[jaseb]

But that is very different to a “false negative rate of 70-90%”.
Again the worst False negative rate of the currently available RAT is 20%. At best it’s around 2%.

Wherever you heard it, I am just saying that it is wrong. Any Test that has a false negative rate of 70% would have not been approved by the TGA.

I am not doubting you by any means but I have noticed that TGA have now begun validating whether or not an approved Rapid Test manufacturer has been proven to detect Omicron or not. This is yet another factor to be considered when we talk about assumed false neg/pos rates.

 

[flyinpod]

Slightly off topic but not covered in writing neither here nor on Air Fiji's website- what are the rules for someone not entering Fiji but rather only connecting through NAN airport? I'll be traveling SYD-NAN-LAX return in Mach and would have thought that the US (and return Aussie) rules are what I have to look at. Anyone having any ideas? Not that we get trapped in Fiji...

I read that you need to get a PCR for transit. Ive got a flight booked to Lax in a 12 days or so via Fiji.. i'm a bit cautious this may not happen from BNE or not at all!

 

[Berlin]

I read that you need to get a PCR for transit. Ive got a flight booked to Lax in a 12 days or so via Fiji.. i'm a bit cautious this may not happen from BNE or not at all!

Okay, yes- will get a PCR on departure which will do for both the US and Fiji, just to be safe.

Please report back after your trip, would be very helpful to hear how this all went via NAN!

 

[flyinpod]

Okay, yes- will get a PCR on departure which will do for both the US and Fiji, just to be safe.

Please report back after your trip, would be very helpful to hear how this all went via NAN!

Thanks will do . If it starts i'm guessing it will be very eventful, i have ten flights booked on the one trip.... lets see what happens ... i think i may just be a bit mad