New Zealand Travel Bubble Announcement

[Berlin]

Well- took an hour longer and now it's all canceled. Spoken to a lovely lady on the phone who couldn't tell me anything more than what Qantas is listing on their website, namely that all flights on the Tasman will be canceled until the 25th September. That's the wording they are using:

"From 30 July, there will be very limited options to fly from New Zealand to Australia. If you wish to return to Australia you can change your booking to an available flight before 30 July at Manage booking."

"Very limited" does not sound the same as "none" though so I bet they will have seats once a week or so going- unfortunately there's not info on that yet. I'll just keep monitoring.

 

[neozelatino]

What about JQ and QF flights up to 30 July from Melbourne? I heard they were being cancelled too when I called to ask although they are still showing in my bookings.

 

[Berlin]

What about JQ and QF flights up to 30 July from Melbourne? I heard they were being cancelled too when I called to ask although they are still showing in my bookings.

The way I understand the information from Qantas is that up to 30th July you will still have (limited) flights going. Which is also in line with Jacinda's announcement that Kiwis have a week to come back home.

 

[henrus]

best I'll be able to book will be one of those once a week $1000 fares with either AirNZ or Qantas. As long as I make it all, I'll be happy though.

Book something now. Most of the Air NZ flights are still cheap as they haven't loaded the full post 30 July schedule yet.

Once they do if your flight is cancelled then you'll get rebooked anyway.

 

[Berlin]

Once they do if your flight is cancelled then you'll get rebooked anyway.

Will I though? I've seen those flights and the decent prices earlier today but am afraid that they will just cancel me and then I sit there with a flight voucher that isn't much use to me from Australia unless I am going to visit my old home and friends here in Auckland (which, of course, I could do).

Is Air NZ different in this respect? I had two flights booked on Qantas with exactly this in mind but they've just canceled out without the offer to re-book me to a different flight. Are you saying that Air NZ would do this differently and rather offer to re-book me onto whatever is available?

 

[henrus]

Will I though?

On Air NZ they remain committed to operating a minimal schedule across the ditch. I've had flights cancelled in the last week and was rebooked on a service via Auckland without a probmem.

Obviously just call and ask for a rebooking and it'll be fine.

 

[neozelatino]

Will I though? I've seen those flights and the decent prices earlier today but am afraid that they will just cancel me and then I sit there with a flight voucher that isn't much use to me from Australia unless I am going to visit my old home and friends here in Auckland (which, of course, I could do).

Is Air NZ different in this respect? I had two flights booked on Qantas with exactly this in mind but they've just canceled out without the offer to re-book me to a different flight. Are you saying that Air NZ would do this differently and rather offer to re-book me onto whatever is available?

I think at least there is a bit more surety around ANZ flights as they mention clearly on their website that they will be honouring all MIQ-free flights from Australia to New Zealand up to the bubble suspension. When I called both QF and Jetstar they could not confirm this.

 

[henrus]

So here is the latest information on NZ to AU flights.

Qantas and Jetstar will not operate any quarantine-free flights from NZ to AU between 31 July and 24 September. This has been confirmed on their website. Those traveling in this time are eligible for a refund, credit or move the date of travel - https://www.qantas.com/au/en/travel...al-network-changes/south-pacific-network.html

Air New Zealand will cancel all services from NZ to AU except the following which will continue to operate during the AU to NZ pause:

- 1x daily AKL-MEL service.
- 1x daily AKL-SYD service.
- 4x per week AKL-BNE service.
- 2x per week AKL-PER service.

The flights above will continue to be quarantine free and most of these will be operated by 787 aircraft. Anyone who holds a current booking on the routes listed above will be moved to the "next best service". Those holding bookings on routes not listed above will not be moved but can ask to be moved to an above flight. Apparently, bookings will begin to be updated this afternoon. Details of this update have been released here: https://p-airnz.com/cms/assets/NZ-Agents/Wing-Tips/2021/WTPS-5176-26-Jul-21.pdf

 

[Berlin]

So here is the latest information on NZ to AU flights.

Qantas and Jetstar will not operate any quarantine-free flights from NZ to AU between 31 July and 24 September. This has been confirmed on their website. Those traveling in this time are eligible for a refund, credit or move the date of travel - https://www.qantas.com/au/en/travel...al-network-changes/south-pacific-network.html

Air New Zealand will cancel all services from NZ to AU except the following which will continue to operate during the AU to NZ pause:

- 1x daily AKL-MEL service.
- 1x daily AKL-SYD service.
- 4x per week AKL-BNE service.
- 2x per week AKL-PER service.

The flights above will continue to be quarantine free and most of these will be operated by 787 aircraft. Anyone who holds a current booking on the routes listed above will be moved to the "next best service". Those holding bookings on routes not listed above will not be moved but can ask to be moved to an above flight. Apparently, bookings will begin to be updated this afternoon. Details of this update have been released here: https://p-airnz.com/cms/assets/NZ-Agents/Wing-Tips/2021/WTPS-5176-26-Jul-21.pdf

That's really good news! I am glad to have followed your advice and am holding an AirNz booking for my one way back to Australia. Thank you!

 

[kiwitripper64]

There goes the international holiday, again. We had booked AKL-MEL-CNS, then CNS-SYD and finally SYD-AKL, home by 15 Sept
Interesting that last night Mrs KT got email saying QF had made a change to itinerary, but I have had nothing. We both looked at the change online and we were advised the CNS-SYD was leaving a day earlier and routing through MEL. No mention at all about all trans-Tasman flights being cancelled.
QF contacted this morning and full refund offered.
Living in NZ, it will be difficult to get the SC up this year and everyone I know has had enough of Queenstown.

 

[Berlin]

Living in NZ, it will be difficult to get the SC up this year and everyone I know has had enough of Queenstown.

Definitely! Everyone I know too has had enough of Queenstown.

 

[kiwitripper64]

This might help the loss

Ski The Tasman Glacier

Ski the amazing Tasman Glacier at Aoraki Mount Cook New Zealand, with Alpine Guides. Operating every fine winter day.

skithetasman.co.nz

 

[burmans]

Definitely! Everyone I know too has had enough of Queenstown.

My wife's family live in Central Otago and many of them refuse to go to Queenstown.

 

[Berlin]

My wife's family live in Central Otago and many of them refuse to go to Queenstown.

They go the country's best wine, why would they bother going into that town?

 

[jakeseven7]

My wife's family live in Central Otago and many of them refuse to go to Queenstown.

Why?

 

[henrus]

After Friday (end of return green flights), officially the NZ govt has said people flying from AU to NZ will have to travel on red quarantine services booking their own spot in MIQ.

Air NZ put the following in an email this afternoon:

"A reduced Tasman schedule will be operating one-way only between New Zealand and Australia. All other flights will be cancelled."

Given Qantas isn't operating anything and Air NZ has said the above I'm wondering if there will actually be a single red zone service from AU to NZ during the pause. For Air New Zealand it's a crew issue as once the crew has operated a red zone flight then I don't think they can operate any domestic/quarantine free flights for a period of time (perhaps 14 days?). For Qantas, it's a financial decision as they'd be carrying almost no one given MIQ spots are relatively full.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that over the next 2 months it may be impossible for NZ citizens to return from AU to NZ (even if willing to enter MIQ/Hotel Quarantine).

 

[Mattg]

After Friday (end of return green flights), officially the NZ govt has said people flying from AU to NZ will have to travel on red quarantine services booking their own spot in MIQ.

Air NZ put the following in an email this afternoon:

"A reduced Tasman schedule will be operating one-way only between New Zealand and Australia. All other flights will be cancelled."

Given Qantas isn't operating anything and Air NZ has said the above I'm wondering if there will actually be a single red zone service from AU to NZ during the pause. For Air New Zealand it's a crew issue as once the crew has operated a red zone flight then I don't think they can operate any domestic/quarantine free flights for a period of time (perhaps 14 days?). For Qantas, it's a financial decision as they'd be carrying almost no one given MIQ spots are relatively full.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that over the next 2 months it may be impossible for NZ citizens to return from AU to NZ (even if willing to enter MIQ/Hotel Quarantine).

Well, failing everything else they could always fly SQ (via SIN)

 

[henrus]

Well, failing everything else they could always fly SQ (via SIN)

You joke but if you punch in BNE (or SYD or MEL) to AKL in early August the cheapest option is a ~$5000 flight via Singapore. You'd have to be desperate and also lucky enough to get a MIQ booking but it's possible. Some days show some Samoa Airways flights but it's all fantasy given Samoa airways says all flights are suspended except a few domestic ones.

 

[Mattg]

You joke

The sad thing is that I wasn't actually joking

 

[daveS]

So here is the latest information on NZ to AU flights.

Qantas and Jetstar will not operate any quarantine-free flights from NZ to AU between 31 July and 24 September. This has been confirmed on their website. Those traveling in this time are eligible for a refund, credit or move the date of travel - https://www.qantas.com/au/en/travel...al-network-changes/south-pacific-network.html

Air New Zealand will cancel all services from NZ to AU except the following which will continue to operate during the AU to NZ pause:

- 1x daily AKL-MEL service.
- 1x daily AKL-SYD service.
- 4x per week AKL-BNE service.
- 2x per week AKL-PER service.

The flights above will continue to be quarantine free and most of these will be operated by 787 aircraft. Anyone who holds a current booking on the routes listed above will be moved to the "next best service". Those holding bookings on routes not listed above will not be moved but can ask to be moved to an above flight. Apparently, bookings will begin to be updated this afternoon. Details of this update have been released here: https://p-airnz.com/cms/assets/NZ-Agents/Wing-Tips/2021/WTPS-5176-26-Jul-21.pdf

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 ?