Melbourne to NZ via Sydney

[acinod]

I booked a direct flight from Melbourne to Christchurch through AMEX for next month but they changed the flight to stopover at Sydney a few weeks ago (i.e. MEL-SYD-CHC).

I'm worried that next month the NZ bubble will be up for Melbourne but not Sydney.

What should I do?

Would I still be allowed in because I'm coming from Melbourne and only transiting through Sydney? Or should I rebook to a direct flight (e.g. flying into Queenstown instead)?

 

[TheInsider]

I booked a direct flight from Melbourne to Christchurch through AMEX for next month but they changed the flight to stopover at Sydney a few weeks ago (i.e. MEL-SYD-CHC).

I'm worried that next month the NZ bubble will be up for Melbourne but not Sydney.

What should I do?

Would I still be allowed in because I'm coming from Melbourne and only transiting through Sydney? Or should I rebook to a direct flight (e.g. flying into Queenstown instead)?

Transits are fine and not counted as entering that state. Just still need to make sure you do an entry pas for VIC and probs NSW.

 

[stryker]

Surprised they are flying from SYD rather than MEL. Doesn't quite make sense ATM.

But what would Amex know (unfortunately).

 

[Mattg]

Transits are fine and not counted as entering that state. Just still need to make sure you do an entry pas for VIC and probs NSW.

If the NZ government is still not allowing travel from NSW when the OP is due to travel, this would be an issue as no flights will be allowed to take passengers from SYD to CHC. I'm also not sure that NZ has an exemption for transits. The rules could change, but I don't think NZ allowed you to transit via MEL during the pause on flights from Melbourne earlier this month.

That said, if flying via SYD isn't possible, I suspect the SYD-CHC flight would be cancelled and you would be rebooked on a direct flight/via BNE/to ZQN anyway.

 

[Anna]

Transits are fine and not counted as entering that state.

I am not sure that this is correct for dom-int (or vice versa) transits at SYD which require a terminal change that currently has to be done either by public train or by taxi as there is no airport bus running.

It is correct for dom-dom transits AFAIK.

 

[BD1959]

Surprised they are flying from SYD rather than MEL. Doesn't quite make sense ATM.

But what would Amex know (unfortunately).

AFAIK the AMEX site directly lifts the availability (for certain fare buckets) from one of the major GDS (IIRC Sabre?) - so it would be whatever information QF decide to release to the market rather than AMEX just making it up ...

Regards,

BD

 

[kangarooflyer88]

I booked a direct flight from Melbourne to Christchurch through AMEX for next month but they changed the flight to stopover at Sydney a few weeks ago (i.e. MEL-SYD-CHC).

I'm worried that next month the NZ bubble will be up for Melbourne but not Sydney.

What should I do?

Would I still be allowed in because I'm coming from Melbourne and only transiting through Sydney? Or should I rebook to a direct flight (e.g. flying into Queenstown instead)?

The good news is at this point you have full control over your itinerary, that ticket is now fully flexible and fully refundable. After all, it was the airline who made the change to your itinerary not you! My recommendation would be to not touch the ticket until you get closer to the travel date and know what is happening, then call up QF to get this sorted. You shouldn't have to pay any change fees or fare differentials since it was the airline who interrupted your plans, not you.

Cheers,

KangarooFlyer88