Predictions of when international flights may resume/bans lifted

[Toula92122]

12 months in are people still “rushing” to return to Oz for the better lives ?

I suspect with such a large number of Australians still based overseas, there will always be people wanting to visit family back in Australia. There will also always be changes to circumstances. Someone’s parents get ill. Someone else loses their job and needs to return (for example those in Singapore who are on an employment pass linked to their employer have 30 days to leave the country if they lose their job.) Employment is always dynamic, so someone who was secure in their job in March 2020 and February 2021 may need to come home in June 2021 as their circumstance has changed.
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Too true. In my circle, of the long term expats who remain overseas, only a couple have plans to come back for an extended 6 month holiday and only one of them on a permanent basis and we are mainly of the age group within a decade of retirement or already retired. I don't get the sense that there is anyone rushing these days.

 

[VPS]

So how many people will go to NZ for a "holiday" and then go somewhere else in the big wide world then come back to NZ to quarantine before flying back to Australia

 

[mviy]

Wouldn‘t you need to be a NZ citizen or permanent resident to do that?

It also depends I guess on whether there’s some agreement to stop visiting Aussies from departing NZ to anywhere other than Australia.

 

[dajop]

So how many people will go to NZ for a "holiday" and then go somewhere else in the big wide world then come back to NZ to quarantine before flying back to Australia

Very few. Australians can’t enter NZ on a flight from anywhere other than Australia unless they are ordinarily resident in NZ.

But I guess there is nothing stopping people leaving NZ and joining the fray trying to get straight back into Australia with 2 weeks quarantine (eg into Auckland then onto Singapore and then back to Australia for 2 weeks HQ, TBH that is a consideration should one of our mothers want to visit us here in Singapore, although it will still be much better for us to visit AU again).

 

[Lynda2475]

So how many people will go to NZ for a "holiday" and then go somewhere else in the big wide world then come back to NZ to quarantine before flying back to Australia

Not too many, as you need to have your HQ in NZ booked before you can book an international flight into NZ; and unless things have changed NZ were pretty much only letting Kiwi citizens and permanent residents fly in (oh and the celebrities and sports stars). Dont think Aussie holidays makers would be allowed to fly in, if they did would likely find yourself on a plane into Aus and HQ there.

 

[Pushka]

So how many people will go to NZ for a "holiday" and then go somewhere else in the big wide world then come back to NZ to quarantine before flying back to Australia

Wouldn‘t you need to be a NZ citizen or permanent resident to do that?

It also depends I guess on whether there’s some agreement to stop visiting Aussies from departing NZ to anywhere other than Australia.

Very few. Australians can’t enter NZ on a flight from anywhere other than Australia unless they are ordinarily resident in NZ.

But I guess there is nothing stopping people leaving NZ and joining the fray trying to get back into Australia with 2 weeks quarantine.

Not too many, as you need to have your HQ in NZ booked before you can book an international flight into NZ; and unless things have changed NZ were pretty much only letting Kiwi citizens and permanent residents fly in (oh and the celebrities and sports stars). Dont think Aussie holidays makers would be allowed to fly in, if they did would likely find yourself on a plane into Aus and HQ there.

I'll just pop this in here now:

New Zealand travel bubble: Loophole means Australians can travel to other countries via NZ

A travel bubble with New Zealand is set to open late on April 18, but for Australians looking to visit other countries, a loophole in the agreement will allow them to do so.

www.traveller.com.au

 

[mviy]

If this bubble was in place when I needed to travel last year I may have tried to exploit such a loophole, however at this point I want some degree of certainty even if I have to quarantine for 14 days as to when I can get home. I don’t want to spend months longer than planned overseas so I will continue to wait.

 

[burmans]

I'll just pop this in here now:

New Zealand travel bubble: Loophole means Australians can travel to other countries via NZ

A travel bubble with New Zealand is set to open late on April 18, but for Australians looking to visit other countries, a loophole in the agreement will allow them to do so.

www.traveller.com.au

Sure, its a 'possibility', but for all the reasons given above I doubt very many people will actually do it, just ask all those people who've been trying to get back to OZ how hard its been. Why would you do that to yourself unless you had a bloody good reason.

A one way trip, maybe.

 

[Flashback]

If nothing else it allows international travel for you lot without needing to apply.... Until the bubble bursts anyway

 

[Pushka]

Sure, its a 'possibility', but for all the reasons given above I doubt very many people will actually do it, just ask all those people who've been trying to get back to OZ how hard its been. Why would you do that to yourself unless you had a bloody good reason.

A one way trip, maybe.

If you decided to try it then you would need to really want to go and expect to have issues coming home again. Depending on the reason it may be worth it.

 

[dajop]

, just ask all those people who've been trying to get back to OZ how hard its been

Depends on where you go and how much you want to pay. For travel from some countries, it's not particularly hard to get back, just very expensive!

 

[jase05]

I believe NZ are opening a two way bubble with the Cook Islands in May so that might also be something that could work

 

[MEL_Traveller]

PM is allegedly talking about changes to quarantine later in the year, allowing home quarantine for those with an approved vaccine. Business travellers and students likely in the list of people under such a scheme.

Shame. Our front line workers... doctors, nurses, paramedics, aged care, teachers... down the back of the queue after someone who rather might like to visit a trade fair in somewhere nice like Thailand

 

[drron]

I don't think anyone is going to be going to a Thai trade fair this year.Thailand is dealing with a worsening 3rd wave.

Thailand says Bangkok Covid-19 outbreak may take months to contain

BANGKOK (Reuters): A coronavirus outbreak in Thailand's capital may take more than two months to control, a health official said on Thursday (April 8), as authorities announced a broad ban on nightlife to tackle a new wave of infections and a highly contagious variant.

www.thestar.com.my

 

[prozac]

If you decided to try it then you would need to really want to go and expect to have issues coming home again. Depending on the reason it may be worth it.

I can see dual nationals trying this.

With the latest vaccination pullbacks I cannot see the govt doing travel bubble deals anywhere at all.

 

[ayushamity]

With the recommendation for under 50's to not take AZ, I think under 50's who actually dont mind taking AZ will be able to get it faster becaue people too scared of taking AZ so less demand and more supply.

That's pretty good for people on this forum as it looks like quarantine and travel bans will become less strict for vaccinated citizens.

So really, if people are desperate to travel, they can get the AZ vaccine because Pfizer will take its sweet as time to get here sometime late this year.

 

[mviy]

I can see dual nationals trying this.

With the latest vaccination pullbacks I cannot see the govt doing travel bubble deals anywhere at all.

From what's posted earlier in the thread being a dual national may just make things easier (can fly back to NZ from other countries rather than find a way to AU). If I wanted to go badly enough now I'd probably get help from madrooster or a different travel agent to try to maximise my chances of getting back to Australia when I expect to, but the once in a lifetime reason for needing to travel last year has passed, so I'm not that desperate at the present time.

With the recommendation for under 50's to not take AZ, I think under 50's who actually dont mind taking AZ will be able to get it faster becaue people too scared of taking AZ so less demand and more supply.

I may very well end up doing just that.

That's pretty good for people on this forum as it looks like quarantine and travel bans will become less strict for vaccinated citizens.

Well I may want some clarity as to when travel for vaccinated travellers will happen before making a final decision to get the AZ vaccine. Not much point getting the AZ vaccine if I can't travel till after I would have had both doses of Pfizer anyway. I also have specific time periods in which I'd prefer to travel so if I miss one of those windows regardless of which vaccine I get that would also affect my thinking.

 

[burmans]

PM is allegedly talking about changes to quarantine later in the year, allowing home quarantine for those with an approved vaccine. Business travellers and students likely in the list of people under such a scheme.

Shame. Our front line workers... doctors, nurses, paramedics, aged care, teachers... down the back of the queue after someone who rather might like to visit a trade fair in somewhere nice like Thailand

Except those front line workers are more likely to have actually had the vaccine than those business travellers or students!

 

[Pushka]

There is going to be an opt in for AZ I read today.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Except those front line workers are more likely to have actually had the vaccine than those business travellers or students!

Exactly. But business travellers get first crack at flights and permission to travel.

As far as testing out whether home quarantine is workable... you'd have to think nurses and paramedics would be the most suitable and appropriate candidates?