New Zealand Travel Bubble Announcement

[henrus]

There wasn't any real issue with coming in on an Australian passport,

Cheers Matt, I'll let them know.

although in my case I am moving to NZ anyway.

Time to rack up some serious Air NZ status. You never know who you might meet... a couple of weeks ago the NZ PM was in the Koru club at the same time I was visting.

 

[Mattg]

Time to rack up some serious Air NZ status. You never know who you might meet... a couple of weeks ago the NZ PM was in the Koru club at the same time I was visting.

To be honest, I'm not even an Airpoints member and have no intention of joining! By I do have United status which gets me into the Koru lounges.

Did you say hi to Jacinda?

 

[serfty]

Time to rack up some serious Air NZ status. You never know who you might meet... a couple of weeks ago the NZ PM was in the Koru club at the same time I was visting

What KC was that? Major one do have the discrete "frosted doors".

 

[henrus]

To be honest, I'm not even an Airpoints member and have no intention of joining! By I do have United status which gets me into the Koru lounges.

Getting rather off-topic here but I would recommend joining, you pick up points at random stores and even some Z petrol stations give a 4c discount just for scanning a frequent flyer card after all every bit counts. I got NZ Gold from the status match and am not likely to retain however the one biggest perk (that you get over and above *G) is the premium phone support, even just after the bubble pause the wait time was about 2 minutes and changes were done instantly.

 

[henrus]

What KC was that? Major one do have the discrete "frosted doors".

Just the regular Auckland domestic. The frosted doors lead to the Elite Priority One (shortened to EP1) which is reserved for the top spenders on Air New Zealand, rumors are there are only a hundred who have EP1 status but take that with a grain of salt. Being a CEO of a company or a politician doesn't cut it for EP1 status. The NZ PM has Air NZ Elite status which I've seen because occasionally she posts her boarding pass on social media (obviously with booking ref/barcode cut out).

Did you say hi to Jacinda?

No, I was actually on the phone with a work colleague when she came in and sat nearby. It looked like the NZ PM but no one batted an eyelid which made me think it wasn't however a few minutes later some kids came up and asked for a photo. I was a bit surprised by the whole thing because obviously in Australia our politicians travel a lot differently and even then they'd attract a bit more attention.

 

[DC3]

Just the regular Auckland domestic … . The NZ PM has Air NZ Elite status which I've seen because occasionally she posts her boarding pass on social media … in Australia our politicians travel a lot differently and even then they'd attract a bit more attention.

No ‘Shark One’ or Airforce One equivalent for the Kiwi PM?

 

[kiwitripper64]

We wish we had a private jet for PM and visiting dignitaries. We have been looking at this as a do-up. Lick of paint, new wings, engines and seats, couple of tyres. Should take a few of the lads a week or so to fix her up. We expect to see it up and running soon, fueled with cow methane. ( we just cant keep the sheep methane collectors in place)

 

[Mattg]

Right now there are two Qantas 737s parked side by side at CHC. Sadly, this is something that won’t be seen again for at least 2 months.



There were a lot of comments from the New Zealanders on my flight yesterday along the lines of “holiday from hell” and “I’ll never go to Australia again”. Many Kiwis were already hesitant to take advantage of the trans-Tasman bubble, but this will even further impact on the confidence of Kiwis to travel once the bubble is restored. Once bitten, twice shy - as they say.

 

[henrus]

There were a lot of comments from the New Zealanders on my flight yesterday along the lines of “holiday from hell” and “I’ll never go to Australia again”. Many Kiwis were already hesitant to take advantage of the trans-Tasman bubble, but this will even further impact on the confidence of Kiwis to travel once the bubble is restored.

I'm sorry but I have ZERO sympathies for them. The bubble was always launched as a flyer beware, this has been the case when it was first announced, on airline websites, and even in-flight when the airline made announcements about it.

It is a bit like the people who complained about QLD shutting their border to the whole of NSW despite giving over a week's notice as things went south. Anyone expecting a normal pre covid travel experience right now must be kidding themselves and I suspect things are only going to get worse.

 

[kiwitripper64]

What is the vapor trial here from? Christchurch, covid bubble pop. Was it a secret Chinese low flying satellite.
Agree with you about hesitancy and extra expense with pre-departure tests. Friends in Cairns could get the test, but as the sample had to be sent to Brisbane it took a day to process. They were told NZ govt would not accept a test done in 3 hours at cairns hospital. This means in many places you cant get a test and leave that day if things go wrong

 

[bcworld]

What is the vapor trial here from? Christchurch, covid bubble pop. Was it a secret Chinese low flying satellite.

Something like WLG-DUD is an A321 and goes right over CHC.

 

[Berlin]

and “I’ll never go to Australia again”.

Well- their loss then I'd say!

And I also agree with the above- they had plenty of warning and now even a whole week till the bubble closes. So not quite sure where the anger comes from...?

 

[henrus]

And I also agree with the above- they had plenty of warning and now even a whole week till the bubble closes. So not quite sure where the anger comes from...?

There have also been lots of spare seats! Apparently, over the last 48 hours, there have been 3000 spare seats in to NZ (a large number of that on Qantas). The last return green quarantine free flight to leave the AU east coast will be the BNE-WLG tonight and it has enough spare seats:


the last flight to land in NZ tomorrow morning will be the PER-AKL.

Both of those flights having spare seats shows that there has been enough of a chance to do so. Unlike AU borders which shut whilst flights are mid-air they've given everyone plenty of time.

 

[RooFlyer]

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.

Especially the direct HBA-AKL flight by Air NZ. Tas has been cleaner longer than NZ!

Based on @Mattg 's experience with them grilling him re time in NSW, you'd think the same could be applied to possible prior arrival into Tas - there are only 2 ways in to the state, both requiring transport tickets.

 

[henrus]

there are only 2 ways in to the state, both requiring transport tickets.

Whilst the ferry is a bit more strict, there is still no checking of arrival documentation before boarding Australian domestic flights nor are officials at the airport stopping locked down people from leaving.

All Australian states regardless of border rules also allow for people to transit without entering the state which adds an extra layer of complexity. Technically someone in locked down Sydney could get on a plane to Perth then transit to Hobart. The WA gov wouldn't stop them from transiting and given the amount of COVID lying that's been happening it is possible they could lie their way into Tasmania. At first glance, it does seem silly what NZ has done but upon further inspection, there are just too many holes in the state borders. Instead of 4 phased plans that mean nothing, this is what the national cabinet should be working on fixing.

 

[RooFlyer]

At first glance, it does seem silly what NZ has done but upon further inspection, there are just too many holes in the state borders.

True, and its much easier to have a blanket ban than a number of exceptions. And their previous ban on BNE and SYD transits prevented me from flying to NZ from HBA. But in the example you gave, (BNE-xPER-HBA), and Matt's experience, they would have to show BPs before boarding in HBA and that would demonstrate a recent, non acceptable arival into Tas, so no-fly.

 

[henrus]

Media in NZ are suggesting that when/if the bubble does reopen things will be a bit different.

During today's press conference they hinted at possibly reopening the bubble with some states and requiring proof of vaccination.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Media in NZ are suggesting that when/if the bubble does reopen things will be a bit different.

During today's press conference they hinted at possibly reopening the bubble with some states and requiring proof of vaccination.

No problem with that at all.

 

[burmans]

Media in NZ are suggesting that when/if the bubble does reopen things will be a bit different.

During today's press conference they hinted at possibly reopening the bubble with some states and requiring proof of vaccination.

Excellent!

 

[justinbrett]

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