Predictions of when international flights may resume/bans lifted

[MEL_Traveller]

Booking a return flight to NZ and not booking anything until in NZ would seem to be the trick. No reason to stop you exiting Australia then.

Yes, good point. The airline might dob you in if they checked you in for a flight beyond NZ, or were aware of the onward flight. But a separate ticket you could book that at anytime.

 

[Pushka]

No it’s everyone who enters the UK from those countries

Transits for Aussies would be problematic?

 

[Flashback]

Transits for Aussies would be problematic?

Unless going via Singapore, then currently that's a yes.

 

[Pushka]

Unless going via Singapore, then currently that's a yes.

So Singapore a green then?

 

[dajop]

So Singapore a green then?

See post #6315

 

[Bigskytraveller]

So Singapore a green then?

Yes Singapore is Green on the UK system.

The only route where the UK system would allow you to be quarantine free on arrival is Aus ie MEL/SYD-SIN-LHR (or other UK airport), any stop over in another location which is Amber or Red would mean your routing was now classed with the highest rated place you passed through ie Red if there was a red country.

The UK classification is based on a range of metrics including:

overall prevalence
Vaccine rollout
Testing rates
Genomic sequencing rates
Health system resilience
Variant prevalence

 

[dajop]

Yes Singapore is Green on the UK system.

The only route where the UK system would allow you to be quarantine free on arrival is Aus ie MEL/SYD-SIN-LHR (or other UK airport),

Other options would be ADL/AKL/BNE/CHC/PER-SIN-LHR or of course DRW-LHR .

 

[Flashback]

Yes Singapore is Green on the UK system.

The only route where the UK system would allow you to be quarantine free on arrival is Aus ie MEL/SYD-SIN-LHR (or other UK airport), any stop over in another location which is Amber or Red would mean your routing was now classed with the highest rated place you passed through ie Red if there was a red country.

The UK classification is based on a range of metrics including:

overall prevalence
Vaccine rollout
Testing rates
Genomic sequencing rates
Health system resilience
Variant prevalence

You can add 'politics' to the list, too.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Transits for Aussies would be problematic?

Transits for anyone are problematic unless via SIN.
Hopefully in time we will reciprocate with the UK and QF can start doing QF1/2/9/10

 

[Flashback]

Transits for anyone are problematic unless via SIN.
Hopefully in time we will reciprocate with the UK and QF can start doing QF1/2/9/10

Look, over there ....... a flying pig .......... !

 

[hb13]

You can add 'politics' to the list, too.

I would have thought politics was top of the list....

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Other options would be ADL/AKL/BNE/CHC/PER-SIN-LHR or of course DRW-LHR .

Or via Brunei on Royal Brunei. But I'm not sure what their schedule is these days.

Qantas is selling 'reverse repatriation' flights from Darwin to Australia: https://www.qantas.com/au/en/travel...tional-network-changes/flights-to-london.html - don't know how to book as I get an error when trying to book on line. The flights are fairly unappealing... bring your own food (limited food and bottles of water on board), no FF points, no seat selection. But i guess it gets you around the UK's quarantine. (I get it they might not want full crockery and service utensils which they might not be able to get cleaned and re-stoked in the UK, but they could do some pretty substantial ready meals in a box if they wanted.)

 

[hb13]

Transits for anyone are problematic unless via SIN.
Hopefully in time we will reciprocate with the UK and QF can start doing QF1/2/9/10

Yes, this is correct. For anyone considering coming to the UK, make sure you don't transit in a 'Red-list' country because you will then have to spend 11 days in hotel quarantine in the UK - even if your transit is only a couple of hours.

The red-list countries include the UAE and Qatar, so flying with Emirates, Etihad or Qatar Airways will mean you transit via these places and end up in hotel quarantine - UNLESS you spend more than 10 days in a different country after you have been in said red-list country.

For example, lets say you fly from SYD-DXB-FRA. If you spend more than 10 days in Frankfurt, you won't have to do hotel quarantine in the UK. If you spend less than 10 days, you will be stuck in hotel quarantine on arrival in the UK.

 

[Pushka]

Or via Brunei on Royal Brunei. But I'm not sure what their schedule is these days.

Qantas is selling 'reverse repatriation' flights from Darwin to Australia: https://www.qantas.com/au/en/travel...tional-network-changes/flights-to-london.html - don't know how to book as I get an error when trying to book on line. The flights are fairly unappealing... bring your own food (limited food and bottles of water on board), no FF points, no seat selection. But i guess it gets you around the UK's quarantine. (I get it they might not want full crockery and service utensils which they might not be able to get cleaned and re-stoked in the UK, but they could do some pretty substantial ready meals in a box if they wanted.)

Need to select Darwin as departure point and the dates listed as I can get as far as adding in flyer details to book.

 

[Flashback]

Yes, this is correct. For anyone considering coming to the UK, make sure you don't transit in a 'Red-list' country because you will then have to spend 11 days in hotel quarantine in the UK - even if your transit is only a couple of hours.

The red-list countries include the UAE and Qatar, so flying with Emirates, Etihad or Qatar Airways will mean you transit via these places and end up in hotel quarantine - UNLESS you spend more than 10 days in a different country after you have been in said red-list country.

For example, lets say you fly from SYD-DXB-FRA. If you spend more than 10 days in Frankfurt, you won't have to do hotel quarantine in the UK. If you spend less than 10 days, you will be stuck in hotel quarantine on arrival in the UK.

Just noting also that the previous method of spending some days in green would subtract from the days you had to self isolate (or quarantine), on this new system that doesn't exist so if you're 1 day red country 9 days green before arriving, you still need to do the full 10 days self isolation (or quarantine), whereas previously if that 1 red day was 9 days ago, you'd only need to self-iso for 1 day.

 

[Flashback]

Several inaccurate statements on the Qantas website.

For example:

1. All arrivals must quarantine for 10 days unless exempt. If you have travelled through a red list countryOpens external site in the last 10 days, you must have a valid managed quarantine facilityOpens external site in a new window booked prior to departure. For information, refer to how to quarantine when you arrive in EnglandOpens external site in a new window. Check the list of exempt countriesOpens external site in a new window immediately before travel and the list of work-related exemptionsOpens external site in a new window if travelling for work.
2. Everyone is required to take a coronavirus test on days 2 and 8 of their quarantine. You must have this booked prior to departure. For information, visit how to quarantine when you arrive in EnglandOpens external site in a new window.

And......

COVID-19 test​

Before you're accepted for travel to, or via the UK, you're required to undergo a COVID-19 PCR test.

1. Your COVID-19 PCR test must be completed within 3 days of departure.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Need to select Darwin as departure point and the dates listed as I can get as far as adding in flyer details to book.

Thanks. I did that and first time it gave me an error... 'no flights', the second time it offered me via SYD on EK, and just now it offered the non-stop!

I wonder how full the flights are. I can't see why anyone would book PEY if they could get three seats in economy, especially with no service.

 

[Flashback]

Thanks. I did that and first time it gave me an error... 'no flights', the second time it offered me via SYD on EK, and just now it offered the non-stop!

I wonder how full the flights are. I can't see why anyone would book PEY if they could get three seats in economy, especially with no service.

It does say someone could be seated next to you, so I wouldn't necessarily rely on having 3 seats to yourself (if that's what you meant?).

 

[MEL_Traveller]

It does say someone could be seated next to you, so I wouldn't necessarily rely on having 3 seats to yourself (if that's what you meant?).

Yes, that's what I meant. But I wonder how many UK people actually need repatriation atm? Flights to Europe are pretty easy to come by, cheaper than QF, full service and a swag of points (SQ is AUD1246 ex MEL, daily, and wide open).

SQ's business class is a staggering AUD3100 cheaper than the QF flight ($5800 vs $8900). Is QF trying to price off demand?

 

[dajop]

It does say someone could be seated next to you, so I wouldn't necessarily rely on having 3 seats to yourself (if that's what you meant?).

Well QF109 leaves tomorrow morning from DRW (to LHR) at 08:25, we’ll have to check seat map after it departs. Although of course one flight isn’t necessarily representative.