New Zealand Travel Bubble Announcement

[henrus]

But it doesn't sound like they're planning to actually resume quarantine-free flights to New Zealand in September.

Yep, just this morning a Qantas CHC-BNE flight I had booked in October was officially canceled.

It was reported on the news here in NZ the other night that WA had changed their classification for NZ to "very low risk", not sure what that was about - they must have gotten it wrong.

Air NZ have been causing this... they told everyone 2 days ago that NZ->WA flights would resume from Sunday but weren't very clear that it was low risk flights (involving 14 days of home isolation). The next day (yesterday) the WA gov changed NZ to a medium risk. Air NZ has now told everyone the first NZ->WA flight will be 1 September.

What everyone is forgetting (specifically Air NZ) is that the bubble is now paused both ways, whilst the WA govt may allow people in from NZ as a medium risk, the AU federal gov is suspending all quaratine free flights from NZ to AU on a rolling basis (and this is unlikely to be lifted until NZ gets everywhere under control).

The other thing I can't understand is why Air NZ has been publishing almost daily updates about NZ->WA flights but nothing about flights from NZ into NSW/QLD/VIC.

 

[Berlin]

What everyone is forgetting (specifically Air NZ) is that the bubble is now paused both ways, whilst the WA govt may allow people in from NZ as a medium risk, the AU federal gov is suspending all quaratine free flights from NZ to AU on a rolling basis (and this is unlikely to be lifted until NZ gets everywhere under control).

The other thing I can't understand is why Air NZ has been publishing almost daily updates about NZ->WA flights but nothing about flights from NZ into NSW/QLD/VIC.

As I am eager to cross the Tasman (one way) as soon as possible, I've been monitoring this closely over the past two weeks. Looks like AirNZ keeps inventory alive and then cancels the flights only a few days ahead, in line with government announcements.

I had my original flight canceled and given a flight credit but now applied that credit for a flight mid September which was available as if everything is fine again by then. I highly doubt that it will be the case so expect they will just cancel again and I'll continue to play this game until I finally can go. I'm well aware that once I can finally go, I can't expect to be back before 2023ish and most likely visit Singapore and Europe before being allowed back into NZ.

 

[henrus]

As I am eager to cross the Tasman (one way) as soon as possible, I've been monitoring this closely over the past two weeks. Looks like AirNZ keeps inventory alive and then cancels the flights only a few days ahead, in line with government announcements.

Unsure if you're still looking to travel but Air NZ will release some red zone seats from NZ to AU for sale tomorrow (2 September at 10am NZT). I got this email today with the details.

Obviously as these flights enter into hotel quarantine then regular HQ fees apply. For NSW it's $3000, QLD it's $3220, VIC it's $3000 and WA it's $2520.

 

[Berlin]

Unsure if you're still looking to travel but Air NZ will release some red zone seats from NZ to AU for sale tomorrow (2 September at 10am NZT). I got this email today with the details.

Obviously as these flights enter into hotel quarantine then regular HQ fees apply. For NSW it's $3000, QLD it's $3220, VIC it's $3000 and WA it's $2520.

Thanks a lot- yes, I got the same email and will be staring at my computer tomorrow morning at 10 Auckland time. At the current stage I'd go anywhere but Sydney- Melbourne ideally but BNE or even Perth doesn't sound like the worst idea either, at least after MIQ I then I should still be able to enter the danger zone from any of these if I so want.

Feels a bit ridiculous to having to quarantine on arrival from Auckland into Sydney or Melbourne as they both have way more daily cases than we do here but if that's what is needed, then so be it. Not too scared of the fees as I would have paid more at a normal non MIQ hotel for a few weeks at first anyway. And it's food included even- hey, bargain!

 

[henrus]

Thanks a lot- yes, I got the same email and will be staring at my computer tomorrow morning at 10 Auckland time. At the current stage I'd go anywhere but Sydney- Melbourne ideally but BNE or even Perth doesn't sound like the worst idea either, at least after MIQ I then I should still be able to enter the danger zone from any of these if I so want.

Good luck, let us know how you go. If it's anything like the SYD-AKL/CHC flights these will go rather quickly. If you've got an airpoints account it helps speed things up if you've got all your details saved and are logged in.

 

[Berlin]

Good luck, let us know how you go.

I wonder if Qantas also has any red zone flights and how I'd access those. Their systems always say zero flights happening anymore but then I see QF flights here in the skies over Auckland quite regularly still. It's all a bit secretive with those hard to get MIQ flights but I will of course try AirNZ tomorrow.

 

[henrus]

I wonder if Qantas also has any red zone flights and how I'd access those. Their systems always say zero flights happening anymore but then I see QF flights here in the skies over Auckland quite regularly still. It's all a bit secretive with those hard to get MIQ flights but I will of course try AirNZ tomorrow.

I doubt Qantas will bother with any red zone flights unless the HQ space is openly given to them. Qantas operated some SYD-AKL red zone flights but only because the NZ govt gave them an allocation.

I suspect these Air NZ flights will have less than 50 seats for sale per flight and they've only been able to acheive these through a lot of negotiation (they might even be on top of the current international caps).

 

[Berlin]

I suspect these Air NZ flights will have less than 50 seats for sale per flight and they've only been able to acheive these through a lot of negotiation (they might even be on top of the current international caps).

Ah, I see- those flights will not even have every seat taken. I understand now how this will be a real gamble to get any of those seats.

In the meantime, my new work has found ways to allow me to work remotely from Auckland for now. So it's not all doom and gloom if I have to stay put a bit longer. Definitely not ideal but nothing is ideal in these strange and, I find, quite sad days.

 

[henrus]

Just shows there's clearly large demand... according to Air NZ the NZ to AU flights sold out in minutes.

 

[Berlin]

Just shows there's clearly large demand... according to Air NZ the NZ to AU flights sold out in minutes.

View attachment 257086

I had no luck either :-( Have now re-booked for early October onto one of the next available "regular" flights, hoping it might come to these.

 

[Mattg]

I had no luck either :-( Have now re-booked for early October onto one of the next available "regular" flights, hoping it might come to these.

Once the lockdown in NZ ends (i.e. down to level 2 in Auckland), Australia should theoretically open back up to us at least. Even if it still doesn't open in the other direction.

 

[Berlin]

Once the lockdown in NZ ends (i.e. down to level 2 in Auckland), Australia should theoretically open back up to us at least. Even if it still doesn't open in the other direction.

I'd strongly hope that this will be the case, yes. With today's numbers in Melbourne, I'd hope NZ will be out of this faster as well. I'm booked for early October for now, fingers crossed that by then Auckland might be down to level 2.

 

[henrus]

Stuff is reporting that the flights sold old out in hours which is slightly false given it was minutes. Hardly a surprise given the total Air NZ allocation was just 250 seats (spread across 10 flights), some flights have an allocation of just 12 seats.

 

[henrus]

In other news, if a 2 way bubble does reopen later this month (extraordinary unlikely in my opinion) then Air NZ claims they'll slash frequencies to the following:

 

[Berlin]

Stuff is reporting that the flights sold old out in hours which is slightly false given it was minutes. Hardly a surprise given the total Air NZ allocation was just 250 seats (spread across 10 flights), some flights have an allocation of just 12 seats.

Only 250 seats in total? Wow, that explains why I hardly had a chance. Maybe its for the better though in my case- the idea of entering MIQ at a place that has hundreds (VIC) or even thousand (NSW) of new Covid cases a day while coming from a place that has just under 50 just feels wrong.

I just hope that, in case we really get it under control here in NZ, Australia allows us to enter again without the need for quarantine.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

For Kiwis stuck in Australia, another red flight:

reporting from stuff.co.nz

Kiwis stuck in New South Wales will have another opportunity to get back to New Zealand, if they meet the criteria.

The Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) announced on Wednesday a second red flight would depart Sydney for Auckland next Wednesday for people who fit the emergency requirements.

People will have until 5pm (3pm AEST) on Saturday, September 11, to apply for the flight via the Managed Isolation and Quarantine website.

Everyone eligible is encouraged to take up this opportunity to return to New Zealand, MBIE said.

 

[henrus]

For Kiwis stuck in Australia, another red flight:

It's not a surprise they're doing this. Right now things are worse than they ever were last year.

Last year they operated flights to/from SYD/MEL/BNE and AKL as red zone services (about 2-3 times per week) from basically March through to the start of oneway travel. Once the one way travel bubble opened up from NZ to AU then they operated as green services from NZ to AU and then "teal" services from AU to NZ (meaning only those who'd spend the past 14 days in AU/NZ were allowed in but still had to complete 2 weeks of NZ hotel quarantine). Obviously the bubble put a stop to the teal thing as flights become green in both directions.

Now there is not a single scheduled flight from AU to NZ until at least 25 September although this date is questionable at best (except for this single proposed SYD-AKL flight). Things are no better from NZ to AU with just 250 seats released during September spread across 10 flights (these services booked out in about 2 minutes).

 

[jrfsp]

Trans-Tasman bubble won’t restart when suspension ends

The country’s COVID response minister, Chris Hipkins, said on Wednesday it was “unrealistic” to expect a decision in the next few weeks.

australianaviation.com.au

Sounds like the bubble has burst for good

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Trans-Tasman bubble won’t restart when suspension ends

The country’s COVID response minister, Chris Hipkins, said on Wednesday it was “unrealistic” to expect a decision in the next few weeks.

australianaviation.com.au

Sounds like the bubble has burst for good

Not sure where NZ would look to for a model for opening up internationally - or whether they will be sticking with covid-zero nations.

 

[Berlin]

I just hope that I at least will be able to leave and come back home to Australia as soon as Auckland's breakout has been contained. I fear that New Zealand will remain closed off for longer than WA will.