New Zealand Travel Bubble Announcement

[henrus]

Seems odd to announce these now.

Perhaps they're intending for other states (other than NSW/VIC) to also get onboard?

 

[burmans]

NZ Vax rates just overtook Au so maybe NZ will open up soon.

 

[henrus]

NZ Vax rates just overtook NZ so maybe NZ will open up soon.

Problem is they're still aiming for a 90% rate across the country. At this point it's only 65.9% fully vaccinated and 84.9% first dose so they've still got a fair way to go.

Also I assume you mean AU. Would be weird if they overtook themselves as a one off.

 

[DC3]

NZ Vax rates just overtook NZ so maybe NZ will open up soon.

We know what you meant.

 

[Berlin]

NZ Vax rates just overtook NZ so maybe NZ will open up soon.

Interesting. But I'd not be too hopeful- the appetite for risk seems to be way lower over here than in Australia. We're still stuck at level 3 here in Auckland and people are slowly but surely getting over it. May be the realities in the end forcing politics to get onboard with the rest of the planet- we can hope.

 

[justinbrett]

NZ Vax rates just overtook NZ so maybe NZ will open up soon.

View attachment 262478

Impressive but if you treat them like a state they are a fair way down the list.

WA and QLD are dragging down our average....

 

[henrus]

Hopefully Air NZ (or Qantas) operate some services from the South Island to Queensland. The QLD gov has just announced that they'll let flights in from the South Island as green zone services which is all well and good but then there are no airlines to operate it.

 

[encryptededdy]

For anyone interested in my debacle regarding whether New Zealand citizens usually resident in Australia can enter, the answer is yes, the Department of Home Affairs has approved my Travel Restriction Exemption Request.

I have a question for people who probably know more than me though: @henrus mentioned that in Level 3, AirNZ only operates one or two flights a day from Wellington to Auckland, both of which would not meet the minimum connection time for the 12pm flight to Sydney.

Given I'm booked to travel on the 14th of November from WLG to SYD via. AKL, do people know what's likely to happen if AirNZ keeps the Level 3 schedule through then (and therefore my domestic connecting flight is not available)? Would they just cancel the whole thing? Would they arrange for an overnight transfer for me?

 

[henrus]

Would they just cancel the whole thing? Would they arrange for an overnight transfer for me?

There are a range of factors that play into this. Firstly if the change is made then they'll attempt to rebook on the next best option which may include something the day before (keep an eye out on the app as schedule changes appear in the app first before an email is sent). If there isn't a next best option then they'll just issue a credit cancelling the booking but you don't need to take this option.

I had a few CHC-OOL and OOL-CHC flights this year where there wasn't any next best option (they weren't operating anything to/from OOL) but I called, was able to have the booking reinstated and placed on a CHC-AKL-BNE option instead - I did have to suggest this though. Mine didn't need accommodation because it was a same day transfer.

Now if they offer accommodation depends on a couple of things. For any changes made more than 14 days prior to departure they won't offer anything.

For changes that are made within 14 days of departure they'll offer a single nights accommodation but they specifically note:

Please note, accommodation will only be provided where the situation is defined controllable, for uncontrollable situations such as Government imposed travel restrictions as a result of COVID-19, accommodation will not be provided.

Now the cancellation of WLG-AKL is very much an Air NZ controlled situation, they're choosing to operate less flights because of depressed demand not because the government is tell them they can't. Despite this early in the pandemic Air NZ was claiming it was an uncontrollable situation for any flight reductions, more recently someone took them to court about it and won so they seem to have changed their tune.

The most recently example is when the NZ went into lockdown and people were still returning from the Cook Islands. They still operated one way flights from RAR-AKL but due to complete lack of domestic flights many people had to wait in Auckland until the next day, in this situation Air NZ did pay for a nights accommodation in Auckland for those impacted.

Their official policy outlining this is listed here, the page intended for travel agents but the same policy applies to the public : Schedule Change Expenses

I guess it'll mean if a night is required and they change the booking within 14 days of departure then they should pay however you may have to be prepared to quote their own policy and get them to honour it.

 

[jakeseven7]

Interesting. But I'd not be too hopeful- the appetite for risk seems to be way lower over here than in Australia. We're still stuck at level 3 here in Auckland and people are slowly but surely getting over it.

Yes there is a lot of anti government sentiment building in Auckland, with the shifting goal posts as well causing friction.

 

[Mwenenzi]

Yes there is a lot of anti government sentiment building in Auckland, with the shifting goal posts as well causing friction.

You know where the goal posts are? (today that is: tomorrow will be different)

In the mainland the anti government of Auckland & Northland sentiment is as high as the Southern Alps. Been close to 1 year without local community transmission, yet still have restrictions. And have a natural border with few people crossing. If the NZ Gov had not failed in planning everyone crossing could have a quick antigen or equal test (like many other places in the world). And no restrictions in the South Island.

For anyone interested in my debacle regarding whether New Zealand citizens usually resident in Australia can enter, the answer is yes, the Department of Home Affairs has approved my Travel Restriction Exemption Request.

In the last green zone bubble NZ to AU flights people in NZ could go to AU for hoilday, work, business , whatever. Did not need an AU exemption. Is why some people got stuck in AU when NZ closed the AU to NZ tt bubble. But was clear going NZ to AU was at your own risk

 

[encryptededdy]

In the last green zone bubble NZ to AU flights people in NZ could go to AU for hoilday, work, business , whatever. Did not need an AU exemption. Is why some people got stuck in AU when NZ closed the AU to NZ tt bubble. But was clear going NZ to AU was at your own risk

Yeah, I was aware of this. However the arrangement with NSW isn't really a travel bubble per se, and the Prime Minister's announcements talked specifically about how they would only allow Australian Citizens and Permanent Residents in, hence my concern.

 

[Mwenenzi]

The different words from the Feds and the various state govt's are not in sync.
(nothing unusual about that)

 

[burmans]

Impressive but if you treat them like a state they are a fair way down the list.

WA and QLD are dragging down our average....

Actually averages can be funny things. In fact only two Aus states are above the average AUS rate (ACT and NSW), but NSW carries a high weighting. TAS and VIC just below (and definitely just) so NZ would in fact be third, just ahead of them.

Totally take your point about WA and QLD!

 

[henrus]

Air New Zealand has said they are basically not going to operate any South Island Green Flights:

While we would love to be able to operate quarantine-free flights out of Christchurch, there are a number of operational issues for our airline.
The Australian Government has stated that our crew need to have been in the South Island for the preceding 14 days before quarantine-free flying. As our main crew group is based out of Auckland, this is unfortunately not viable.
For those who have been stuck in Aotearoa for the past few months, we are operating two flights per week from Auckland to Sydney from 5 November. From 1 December, these services will increase to six flights per week. Customers in the South Island are able to transit Auckland to connect with these services.

Maybe Qantas/Jetstar should step in because I imagine there is enough demand to fill a few flights from Christchurch to Brisbane allowing people to then reach the rest of the country (other than Sydney/Melbourne).

 

[justinbrett]

Air New Zealand has said they are basically not going to operate any South Island Green Flights:


Maybe Qantas/Jetstar should step in because I imagine there is enough demand to fill a few flights from Christchurch to Brisbane allowing people to then reach the rest of the country (other than Sydney/Melbourne).

QF/JQ aren't even flying SYD-AKL after 01 Nov. They obviously don't want to operate one way only.

I'm guessing ANZ have freight contracts to make it worth while.

 

[jakeseven7]

Air New Zealand has said they are basically not going to operate any South Island Green Flights:


Maybe Qantas/Jetstar should step in because I imagine there is enough demand to fill a few flights from Christchurch to Brisbane allowing people to then reach the rest of the country (other than Sydney/Melbourne).

Why bother with the hassle, QF are flying some freight and making some money off that, who cares about a few passengers (harsh but true).

I think TT won’t really open up until NZ pulls the plug out of the bath when they finally get their vaccination rates at an acceptable level to them…

 

[MooTime]

Why bother with the hassle, QF are flying some freight and making some money off that, who cares about a few passengers (harsh but true).

I think TT won’t really open up until NZ pulls the plug out of the bath when they finally get their vaccination rates at an acceptable level to them…

Aren't NZ vac rates already at 70%+ double juiced?
I'd so there going pretty well.
Open by Xmas imo.

 

[jakeseven7]

Aren't NZ vac rates already at 70%+ double juiced?

Yes but not good enough for their government to open though, which is frustrating a lot of kiwis

 

[justinbrett]

The bubble is gone. Australia will be open to the UK before NZ opens to us.

I'm on record for predicting we'll be able to fly to London or Los Angeles before Auckland.

Just going to leave this here from August...