New Zealand Travel Bubble Announcement

[henrus]

Thanks Henrus - I’m still looking to confirm these flights (Auckland-Aust) will be green/quarantine free before we cancel our (rebooked) QF flight on 30th and book on Air NZ.
There’s actually no mention of quarantine free status of the flights on the link to AIrNZ advice ?

I guess they haven't specifically mentioned the quarantine-free status because it's a given. This was just recently updated on the Air NZ website and they're still calling it "Quarantine-free travel from New Zealand to Australia":



Remember there was quarantine-free travel from NZ to AU for many months operating one way only before the full bubble was set up.

 

[Berlin]

I guess they haven't specifically mentioned the quarantine-free status because it's a given. This was just recently updated on the Air NZ website and they're still calling it "Quarantine-free travel from New Zealand to Australia":

View attachment 254144

Remember there was quarantine-free travel from NZ to AU for many months operating one way only before the full bubble was set up.

That is my understanding too. The Australian government still says the following on their site so it's, as you say, simply back to how it was before NZ agreed to the two way bubble:

Travelling from New Zealand to Australia quarantine-free​

Before you travel to Australia, you should complete the Australia Travel Declaration at least 72 hours before your departure for Australia.

The Australia Travel Declaration collects your contact details in Australia, flight details, quarantine requirements and your health status.

This information helps the Australian Government determine your quarantine arrangements (if required) and also allows the relevant health departments to contact you if someone you travelled with tests positive for COVID-19.

If you are arriving in Australia by air, and you have been in either Australia or New Zealand for 14 days or more before you travel, you do not need to apply for an exemption to Australia’s travel restrictions. You are automatically exempt.

 

[henrus]

That is my understanding too. The Australian government still says the following on their site so it's, as you say, simply back to how it was before NZ agreed to the two way bubble:

Another dead giveaway is that Air NZ isn't selling flights over the AU to NZ pause period subject to Australia's arrival caps for international flights. On all their services during the pause every seat is available.

 

[Berlin]

Another dead giveaway is that Air NZ isn't selling flights over the AU to NZ pause period subject to Australia's arrival caps for international flights. On all their services during the pause every seat is available.

True, I've noticed that and thought "Clearly these flights are not pax restricted". Bet my 1A will be pretty lonely up there anyway!

 

[henrus]

True, I've noticed that and thought "Clearly these flights are not pax restricted". Bet my 1A will be pretty lonely up there anyway!

Can't be anywhere near as bad as Qantas' QF146 AKL-SYD. They've been operated by A330's (presumably for freight) and some flights have had 10-15 people on them.

 

[Berlin]

Can't be anywhere near as bad as Qantas' QF146 AKL-SYD. They've been operated by A330's (presumably for freight) and some flights have had 10-15 people on them.

I've been one an A330 with 22 pax even DURING the two way bubble!

It apparently will be a 787. Hopefully, as I've booked myself into Business class.

 

[henrus]

It apparently will be a 787. Hopefully, as I've booked myself into Business class.

Should be a 787. They normally operate the 787's for freight.

I was booked on a CHC-OOL on an A320 in Works Deluxe. Yesterday that got moved to a CHC-AKL-BNE with the AKL-BNE on a 787 but all in Economy (works). I didn't ask during the rebooking but in theory, there should be a refund one would think.

 

[Berlin]

Yesterday that got moved to a CHC-AKL-BNE with the AKL-BNE on a 787 but all in Economy (works). I didn't ask during the rebooking but in theory, there should be a refund one would think.

There definitely should. And you shouldn't have to ask for one imho.

 

[DC3]

NZ bubble?

 

[henrus]

NZ bubble.

Look it was good whilst it lasted and the NZ govt has said they remain committed to it (ie it'll be back).

In ~8 weeks' time, one of three things will be happening. 1. COVID is exploded across Australia, 2. COVID is still a problem but only in NSW/Specific states or 3. COVID has been eliminated again.

Obviously, in the first case, they won't reopen it and if it's gone completely then they'll reopen fully but perhaps if it's just still a problem in specific states, the NZ govt will have a change of mind and allow the bubble to continue with just specific states.

 

[Berlin]

Obviously, in the first case, they won't reopen it and if it's gone completely then they'll reopen fully but perhaps if it's just still a problem in specific states, the NZ govt will have a change of mind and allow the bubble to continue with just specific states.

My best guess is the latter. Not quite convinced there was a need for this blanket stop of the entire bubble but it's NZ's decision so what can one do. Unless the bulk of both populations are vaccinated, I foresee outbreak after outbreak as it has happened over the past year or so.

 

[DC3]

Bubble, or not, I’m hoping that my trip to ZQN will be a goer in February 2022.

 

[Kiwi_Flyer]

Look it was good whilst it lasted and the NZ govt has said they remain committed to it (ie it'll be back).

In ~8 weeks' time, one of three things will be happening. 1. COVID is exploded across Australia, 2. COVID is still a problem but only in NSW/Specific states or 3. COVID has been eliminated again.

4, 5 & 6. As above but also with an outbreak in NZ.

 

[henrus]

4, 5 & 6. As above but also with an outbreak in NZ.

Entirely possible but much less likely. NZ govt 1000x more likely to lockdown and jump on any cases that appear compared to a particular Australian state that I shall not name.

 

[henrus]

Each day leading up to the pause the NZ covid website has given a daily update. On today's update they put the following:

• There are no red flights to New Zealand from anywhere in Australia after 30 July.

I guess this means anyone who hasn't chosen to travel is now stuck (as it's almost impossible to get a PCR test returned in the amount of time left).

There are some seats left on the evening Perth to Auckland (+9 in Y, +9 in PE and 5J), Brisbane to Wellington (+9 Y) which means if you're super determined it may be possible to get an urgent test done in the morning.

 

[Mattg]

I flew today from BNE to CHC on Air New Zealand. My flight was full, although the earlier Qantas flight had lots of empty seats.

NZ immigration officials were checking everyone's COVID-19 test results/certificates and NZ travel declaration forms before you could enter the check-in area in Brisbane, and there was a ~30-minute queue for this which stretched all the way to the end of the terminal and out the door! (There was also a full 787 flight to AKL leaving around the same time which contributed to the long queue.)

On arrival in Christchurch, there were lots of quite thorough checks and it took well over an hour to get out of the airport (compared to 8 minutes when I flew to Auckland back in May)!

First they checked everyone's temperature and handed out forms with health information. There was then a very long wait to clear immigration as the smart gates were closed and everyone had to be processed/questioned manually. Here, they checked everyone's covid test results again and I was asked if I had been to NSW since 26 June. I had, and was asked for proof that I'd left more than 14 days ago (which I was able to provide). Quite a lot of people were taken away for secondary screening after this stage, but I wasn't one of them. Then finally, after collecting bags there was the usual customs check and everyone's bags were x-rayed.

 

[henrus]

I flew today from BNE to CHC on Air New Zealand. My flight was full, although the earlier Qantas flight had lots of empty seats.

I assume you hold just an Australian passport? Were there any extra checks that you'd been to NZ since the 6th of April?

 

[Mattg]

Were there any extra checks that you'd been to NZ since the 6th of April?

I think there was a question relating to this at NZ check-in in BNE.

Other than that I wasn't specifically asked about this. But based on our discussion I got the impression that the NZ immigration official could already see on his system that I was in NZ in May & June this year.

 

[henrus]

but based on our discussion I got the impression that the NZ immigration official

ah, gotcha. What sort of questions/discussion occurred? I assume you just marked tourism/business on the arrival form?

Apologies for the barrage of questions, I'm meeting some people from Australia who are flying on the last flight out of BNE to WLG tomorrow. They hold Australian passports and have been a few times since the bubble opened but for some reason, they're a little concerned they're going to be rejected or something so any advice I can pass on would be good.

 

[Mattg]

ah, gotcha. What sort of questions/discussion occurred? I assume you just marked tourism/business on the arrival form?

Apologies for the barrage of questions, I'm meeting some people from Australia who are flying on the last flight out of BNE to WLG tomorrow. They hold Australian passports and have been a few times since the bubble opened but for some reason, they're a little concerned they're going to be rejected or something so any advice I can pass on would be good.

The immigration guy seemed to know (without asking me) that I'd left NZ about a month ago, and just wanted to know where I had been in Australia. The main thing he wanted to know was when I'd left NSW. I was able to show the boarding pass for my flight to QLD and he checked with a supervisor that sufficient time had passed.

Basically, the questions were focused on whether I had been to any hotspots. There wasn't any real issue with coming in on an Australian passport, as long as you meet the criteria obviously, although in my case I am moving to NZ anyway.