LAX/BNE. QF handed parcel of masks, bio-disposable plastic bags, additional Aust border entry form, health check was a pre-boarding digital thermo to forehead. Understandably the entire flight crew had minimal contact with pax, no leaving seat except bathroom, mask worn at all times, all waste into bio bag before cabin crew would collect. Meal was one coarse basic economy with two choices, water but no alcohol, no movies, no queuing at toilets. Economy & PE seating only. 789 forward J cabin used by cabin crew. Pax separated by empty seats or aisle. Exit row seating near toilets not allocated. “Effectively sit down, shut up, don’t call us don’t come to us” occasional walk through with water.
Arrival BNE - Apart from normal border security, met with bio forehead temp check & QLD police border entry tables, handed over form. Interesting question “do you have a connecting flight” didn’t know it was possible. Allocated hotel (no choice) collected bags, seated in baggage area, escorted by QLDPOL & army onto bus, load own bags. Met at Novotel BNE Airport by QLDPOL & army. Unload own bags, check in, hand over credit card, don’t know what we are going to buy? (more likely to cover damage) No room choice and here it starts, 14 days of keeping your best humour. I would never wish a jail term.
Only contact during detainment was QLDPOL, most were great. On our second day we were escorted for fresh air exercise to open roof top (how small pleasures are so welcome), Sgt from traffic div. asked how the Dan Murphys order is going..what we can order delivery! paid for express delivery. Having experienced two days of meals we welcomed Woolworths apples, avocados, tomatoes, bananas, fresh bread, toaster, jam & butter. The hotel never ever supplied butter or spreads. Meal photos explain it all, some ok, some inedible. We took steel cutlery & light weight bamboo washable plates. Cutlery was rubbish & card board containers basic. Just so good to have a fork that would spear the food, a knife that cuts & not break. Sounds simple but helped us get through the 14 days. Brought the toaster home.
Hotel staff tried hard to make our stay pleasant. Free internet & movies. We both preloaded iPad movies, pod casts etc.
Uber eats possible, cold food better as no way to reheat hot food.
Learnt very quickly to ring reception for early fresh air walk then as we arrive back ring again. Varied between one to three walks a day depending on guest numbers particularly smokers. The QLD warmth was a welcome change from our Chicago chill.
QLDPOL inside Hotel escorting guests for smoke or fresh air rooftop breaks. Army with protective service officers did ring the hotel outside. Spent many hours theorising a breakout.
Asked the Sgt. why not private security like Vic - advised no authority to arrest, Army would have authority under health act..pvt guards could only be a citizen to citizen detainment. So why different in Victoria.
Noticed Army assist female police return rooftop dissident smokers objecting to room return. Heard no walks for some rooms along with rationed alcohol..workers returning from PNG gas fields. Obviously very thirst people.
We were never asked to submit for a Covid test, only asked how are we feeling, any symptoms, do we need medical or mental support, four calls from Qld health, two from Red Cross, one from QLD Justice Dept. who where running the quarantine hotels. This was early May and there was never any information pertaining if you tested positive could they hold you. The agreement signed at BNE Airport was timed & dated but unclear if release was one minute past midnight as per advised at hotel. Qld Justice Dept confirmed 14 x 24hr periods. Over all the follow up was very good.
Would we Quarantine again..YES! if it meant visiting family OS.. Prefer the “W” BNE next time.