New Zealand Travel Bubble Announcement

[Mwenenzi]

It makes no sense that people from the South Island can't fly to Australia right now. There is virtually no risk to Australia.

Comon sense and governments are opposite.
With Air Sydney and Jetrats abandoning TT travel, that leaves Air Auckland. As post above Air Auckland only have flights AKL to BNE SYD MEL.
If some demand they should be able to operate a TT flight say once a week from WLG, CHC and/or ZQN to SYD and/or MEL (with freight).
Getting up to AKL from the mainland to get one of those AU flights is not that easy. (been looking)

 

[Berlin]

Well- that was a highly frustrating experience, trying to get one of the few quarantine spots. 6 different browser windows open at the same time and both of us who got seats at 10am on the dot where told that "These seats have sold out" by the time we had entered our credit card details.

Now we're in deep trouble and no end in sight

 

[Mwenenzi]

Well- that was a highly frustrating experience, trying to get one of the few quarantine spots. 6 different browser windows open at the same time and both of us who got seats at 10am on the dot where told that "These seats have sold out" by the time we had entered our credit card details.

Now we're in deep trouble and no end in sight

Trying to go from NZ to AU?
Going the other way NZ MIQ slot sold out quickly (NZ time 11:32 opened at 09:00)

Message last updated: 11:32
The room release has now concluded. Thanks for your patience. There will be another room release soon with more October, November and December rooms.

 

[Berlin]

Trying to go from NZ to AU?
Going the other way NZ MIQ slot sold out quickly (NZ time 11:32 opened at 09:00)

Well- about a minute in NZ to AU case this morning. I grabbed the first slots at 10am and by the time I had entered my and my partner's name and birthdate and then my credit card details, the seats had been snapped. By 10:02, no seats available at all anymore (and I even tried Brissy and Perth which, while not ideal, at least would have gotten us into the country).

Guess we have to stay put until AU allows us in again, maybe with home (or in our case, hotel) self quarantine. And then flights need to be released- this is not going to happen anytime soon I fear.

 

[justinbrett]

It makes no sense that people from the South Island can't fly to Australia right now. There is virtually no risk to Australia.

No different to stopping people in QLD (and other states) flying to NZ.

I can't help but wonder had NZ not suspended the travel bubble entirely, Australia would probably have only suspended travel from AKL.

 

[henrus]

Genuine question. How much does a private jet cost and are they also limited by the caps?

This morning there were about 4 private jets (5-10 seat jets) flying from Auckland to either Sydney or Brisbane. I wonder if people have become so desperate that the only way is to get their own jet to avoid the caps (assuming the caps are only applied to commercial flights?)

 

[seandenn]

Genuine question. How much does a private jet cost and are they also limited by the caps?

This morning there were about 4 private jets (5-10 seat jets) flying from Auckland to either Sydney or Brisbane. I wonder if people have become so desperate that the only way is to get their own jet to avoid the caps (assuming the caps are only applied to commercial flights?)

There was a story about this on RNZ this morning.

NZ family charters plane to fly to new life in Australia after weeks stuck in Aotearoa

The closing of the trans-Tasman bubble and the New Zealand lockdown has left Kiwis and Aussies stranded - and it has pushed some to extreme measures.

www.rnz.co.nz

 

[Berlin]

There was a story about this on RNZ this morning.

NZ family charters plane to fly to new life in Australia after weeks stuck in Aotearoa

The closing of the trans-Tasman bubble and the New Zealand lockdown has left Kiwis and Aussies stranded - and it has pushed some to extreme measures.

www.rnz.co.nz

40,000? Well, ouhm. I thought I was getting desperate but maybe not THAT desperate.

 

[Mattg]

There was a story about this on RNZ this morning.

NZ family charters plane to fly to new life in Australia after weeks stuck in Aotearoa

The closing of the trans-Tasman bubble and the New Zealand lockdown has left Kiwis and Aussies stranded - and it has pushed some to extreme measures.

www.rnz.co.nz

There are now travel agents selling private jet flights from New Zealand to Australia to people stuck in places all over the world. The idea is that the people fly to Auckland on a commercial flight, then immediately board a private jet from Auckland to Australia and go into quarantine for 2 weeks after arriving in Australia. Apparently this works because private jets aren't subject to the arrival caps. The cost is $13,000+ per person.

I don't endorse this and wouldn't do it myself, but it seems to be a workable option for those who can afford it.

 

[henrus]

I don't endorse this and wouldn't do it myself, but it seems to be working for those who can afford it.

Compared to some of the cash fares from the US/Europe it's a much cheaper option.

 

[Mattg]

I personally don't understand why travel from the South Island (or anywhere in NZ outside of Auckland) to Australia is still not possible. There is no covid outside of Auckland, they are not in lockdown there, and there is no risk to Australia. It seems like the Australian government simply doesn't care that it's unnecessarily burdening hundreds of its citizens stuck in New Zealand.

 

[bernardblack]

There are now travel agents selling private jet flights from New Zealand to Australia to people stuck in places all over the world. The idea is that the people fly to Auckland on a commercial flight, then immediately board a private jet from Auckland to Australia and go into quarantine for 2 weeks after arriving in Australia. Apparently this works because private jets aren't subject to the arrival caps. The cost is $13,000+ per person.

I don't endorse this and wouldn't do it myself, but it seems to be a workable option for those who can afford it.

If one could afford this, I struggle to think of a reason why one would actually come back to Australia now?

 

[Berlin]

If one could afford this, I struggle to think of a reason why one would actually come back to Australia now?

Income, family, life- you know, those kinda things...

 

[burmans]

My wife asked me today if we would be able to go to NZ for Xmas as planned. My answer was a definite maybe.

Anyway we decided to have a look at flights anyway, and to my surprise was able to find a SQ reward flight (air NZ) on the 14th December, returning first week of Jan. Pretty good value given prices are close to $700 these days and I do need to do something with my SQ points.

Now we just need to cross fingers the borders will open!

 

[Berlin]

My wife asked me today if we would be able to go to NZ for Xmas as planned. My answer was a definite maybe.

Your answer is definitely correct: Given that NSW and VIC will most likely open to the world 'living with Covid' (that's my impression from what friends/colleagues tell me and what I read in the media- I might be wrong though), I can't really see Jacinda opening up yet.

Unless there's a HUGE shift in public opinion over here in NZ once we have the majority of population vaccinated. That could still happen but it certainly is a big maybe at this stage.

 

[Princess Fiona]

My wife asked me today if we would be able to go to NZ for Xmas as planned. My answer was a definite maybe.

Anyway we decided to have a look at flights anyway, and to my surprise was able to find a SQ reward flight (air NZ) on the 14th December, returning first week of Jan. Pretty good value given prices are close to $700 these days and I do need to do something with my SQ points.

Now we just need to cross fingers the borders will open!

That’s awesome.
I think it’s looking increasingly unlikely that Delta will be eliminated in AKL.
They will be living with it the same as us and hopefully revise their plan for TT travel.

 

[Berlin]

I think it’s looking increasingly unlikely that Delta will be eliminated in AKL.
They will be living with it the same as us and hopefully revise their plan for TT travel.

That's certainly not the feeling I get here in Auckland from the people around me. If anything, there was a LOT of criticism about going down to level 3 'already'.

Getting to a point where Kiwis are happy to "live with Covid" is still miles away I think- and outside of Auckland even more so, that's a bit like with WA or QLD to a degree: Why the heck should we let this bug in here while having no cases at all? I don't think overseas travel is very high on most peoples' minds over here.

 

[Princess Fiona]

That's certainly not the feeling I get here in Auckland from the people around me. If anything, there was a LOT of criticism about going down to level 3 'already'.

Getting to a point where Kiwis are happy to "live with Covid" is still miles away I think- and outside of Auckland even more so, that's a bit like with WA or QLD to a degree: Why the heck should we let this bug in here while having no cases at all? I don't think overseas travel is very high on most peoples' minds over here.

Oh I totally understand that nobody in NZ wants to live with Covid. Why would you ?
I just get the feeling looking at the numbers and the recent commentary from Ashley Bloomfield and Rodney Jones that eliminating Delta from AKL may well never happen.

 

[burmans]

While I take your point I also think you are also underestimating the possibility of opinions changing and fairly quickly. That has certainly been the case here in at least NSW and VIC when people realise that Covid zero is not going to happen and the attractions of the alternative, i.e. vaccinations as a way of living with Covid. This happened fairly quickly here, much less than 3 months for opinions on this to change totally. Particularly in Auckland as lockdown drags on.

 

[Hillbilly64]

My mate got one for herslef, hubby and two kids for this Friday... not sure how though. I did send her the info about miq booking. She didn't have q booking a week ago.