Predictions of when international flights may resume/bans lifted

[Pushka]

I guess...but another missed northern hemisphere ski season (said tongue in cheek - this isn't about skiing)- that was going to be combined with a family visit in the USA. This was our Jan 2021 plan which was obviously put on ice - thankfully, cancelled while in planning & coordination phase with my Seattle-based family. My kids will hardly know their USA grandparents (my parents) which is the most painful part of this.

I think Europe winter might not be the time to open up. Much as some of my family would love to be in UK for Christmas. For similar reasons as you.

 

[roogirl]

I think Europe winter might not be the time to open up. Much as some of my family would love to be in UK for Christmas. For similar reasons as you.

You *might* find a pacific island loophole / bubble where you can meet US based family. But it sucks.

 

[Doctor of Travel]

July 2022, for fully vaccinated Australians, to all relatively safe countries with COVID and vaccinations under control (think no India nor South America), immediate test on arrival back into Australia (some kind on instant airport saliva test - not shoved up your nose) + home quarantine for 7 days. This for a further 6 months to end of 2022 when switches to no quarantine.

That's incredibly optimistic. I think 2022 will be Covid - the Delta and Lambda strain, then mid to end of 2022 there will be there kappa and mu strain. 2023 will be covid 2 - electric boogaloo which will be immune to all known vaccines. This will probably go all the way to covid omega

 

[NM]

I think that kids under 12 will probably end up at phase 5 of the opening up non plan.

Phase 5 is when all children under the age of 12 be able to receive a vaccine. Phase 5 will operate on a continuously rolling basis of a "waiting list" eligible children will have to wait between 1 and 12 years depending on their age when registered with the program.

 

[oznflfan]

That's incredibly optimistic. I think 2022 will be Covid - the Delta and Lambda strain, then mid to end of 2022 there will be there kappa and mu strain. 2023 will be covid 2 - electric boogaloo which will be immune to all known vaccines. This will probably go all the way to covid omega

You forgot about the dreaded Kardashian Strain - that one no-one wants.

 

[mviy]

There’s a news article today that the vaccine may be just as effective against Lambda as against Delta. It’s too early to say that Lambda will delay reopening further.

 

[jb747]

You forgot about the dreaded Kardashian Strain - that one no-one wants.

Vacuous and with a big backside?

 

[RAM]

I wonder if this is the shape of things to come when international borders are opened up, or is it a 'Clayton's opening'.

NZ travel bubble reopens with mandatory $150 COVID test

Pre-departure COVID tests are now part of the Australia-NZ travel bubble.

www.executivetraveller.com

New Zealand has cautiously reopened its travel bubble to a handful of Australian states, but with the new requirement of a pre-departure COVID-19 test which costs $150 per passenger – even for travellers who've already been fully vaccinated.

Given you can still be infected & transmit even when fully vaccinated - the next major growth industry for the global travel industry?

Certainly would make (in Europe) those GBP19.95 or Eur 25 cheap fares not so enticing. I hope no State Premiers think this way.

 

[mviy]

Apparently a ‘vaccine passport’ app is planned to be made available by the end of the calendar year.

This could suggest that by the end of the year they may require full vaccination for outbound travel except for foreigners and in some very limited circumstances.

So no easing till next year is looking more and more likely.

 

[JB expat]

Apparently a ‘vaccine passport’ app is planned to be made available by the end of the calendar year.

This could suggest that by the end of the year they may require full vaccination for outbound travel except for foreigners and in some very limited circumstances.

So no easing till next year is looking more and more likely.

Whether you have the vaccine is already in your medicare immunization statement - accessible via the app or via download from the app. Before I was fully vaccinated, it said something along the top in bold that I wasn't vaccinated. Now that I am fully vaccinated, it not only has the record of such below my flu shot but also in bold letters at the top right below all my personal details (name, DOB, etc), COVID Vaccination Status with a big tick mark and that I have received all required COVID vaccines.

And more to your point, it via the medicare app on my phone I can access something called a COVID digital certificate that is, well, exactly this - a digital vaccine passport. So it isn't coming, it is here. Why would they need to roll out a separate app - other than to waste more taxpayer money. (not a dig at you mviy, just my frustration showing).

 

[mviy]

Well the app will also store the results of COVID-19 tests. Presumably it will show whether you’ve met all the requirements to travel on the flight you’ve booked or not. So rather than needing to show several docs at checkin and boarding you would presumably only need to show one thing.

 

[Ric]

Well the app will also store the results of COVID-19 tests. Presumably it will show whether you’ve met all the requirements to travel on the flight you’ve booked or not. So rather than needing to show several docs at checkin and boarding you would presumably only need to show one thing.

And will NZ government recognises this? Or we will still have to fork $150 per pax to do a Covid test at their accredited laboratories with a printed result?

 

[mviy]

And will NZ government recognises this? Or we will still have to fork $150 per pax to do a Covid test at their accredited laboratories with a printed result?

Well we’d need to see more detail and part of that would be up to NZ. I guess the app might verify that you have taken the test at their accredited laboratory. Having the COVID test results in the app would be pretty pointless if you still had to show all the printed docs at the AU end. The whole point of this app would be to provide clarity to everyone and have the check-in, immigration etc. process as fast as possible so that social distancing and efficiency can be maintained as well as possible.

Ideally the app could be used to find out where you need to get tested, remind you to get tested etc.

The app would presumably start out with a core feature set and depending on funding, complexity etc. may have features added over time.

 

[dajop]

Isn't IATA working on such an app already? Would the government app feed into the IATA app?

 

[mviy]

There may be more info in the tender: Current ATM View - RFT DH3389: AusTender

 

[Ric]

Well we’d need to see more detail and part of that would be up to NZ. I guess the app might verify that you have taken the test at their accredited laboratory. Having the COVID test results in the app would be pretty pointless if you still had to show all the printed docs at the AU end. The whole point of this app would be to provide clarity to everyone and have the check-in, immigration etc. process as fast as possible so that social distancing and efficiency can be maintained as well as possible.

Ideally the app could be used to find out where you need to get tested, remind you to get tested etc.

The app would presumably start out with a core feature set and depending on funding, complexity etc. may have features added over time.

Thanks. That was a sort of a kind of question.

 

[oznflfan]

Getting more and more confident on July 2022 trip to Europe. Of course we are always 3 steps forward and 2 steps back, so see what roadblocks and storms are raised in next 6 months.

 

[JB expat]

Getting more and more confident on July 2022 trip to Europe. Of course we are always 3 steps forward and 2 steps back, so see what roadblocks and storms are raised in next 6 months.

What makes you confident re: this timeframe (question being asked from someone hoping for Jan-March 2022).

 

[louie-m]

New Zealand has cautiously reopened its travel bubble to a handful of Australian states, but with the new requirement of a pre-departure COVID-19 test which costs $150 per passenger – even for travellers who've already been fully vaccinated.

Given you can still be infected & transmit even when fully vaccinated - the next major growth industry for the global travel industry?

Certainly would make (in Europe) those GBP19.95 or Eur 25 cheap fares not so enticing. I hope no State Premiers think this way.

You are a bit behind! Have you seen how much testing is required to travel in Europe and how much it costs? For most people in say the UK travelling to Europe you need four or five tests (pre-departure, pre-return, day 2, day 5 (test to release) and day 8). Start at about $350, more if you need a quick turnaround. The testing companies are rubbing their hands together with glee.

 

[Pushka]

What makes you confident re: this timeframe (question being asked from someone hoping for Jan-March 2022).

I've got a flight booked for May and expect to spend 2-3 months away in UK.