Predictions of when international flights may resume/bans lifted

[jellybelly]

So desperate to go to the US- Have been pushing my LSL leave each year, surely May 2022 might be possible or Mark may think otherwise

Hmm he was saying the other day maybe Sept 2022

 

[Pom-DownUnder]

Some good news:

How to get your EU covid pass based on your Australian vaccinations:

France's vaccine passport is now available to Australians

Hawaiian Airlines return to Sydney mid-December.

Hawaiian Airlines set to resume flights to Australia?

any idea if this is accepted in the UK ? I know they require USA / EU proof so wonder if this could tag in under the EU header

 

[sydunipete]

any idea if this is accepted in the UK ? I know they require USA / EU proof so wonder if this could tag in under the EU header

Not yet. But it is only a matter of time.

 

[Pom-DownUnder]

re: international travel to the uk:

Covid vaccine passports scrapped for winter by Boris Johnson

Boris Johnson will announce this week that he is scrapping plans that would have required vaccine passports for entry to nightclubs, cinemas and sports grounds.

www.thetimes.co.uk

 

[OATEK]

As ever with this government it appears that very little work is done beyond the initial announcement. I can remember earlier in the year Singapore airlines coming out public ally and bemoaning the lack of work being done one the bubble procedures. As can be seen from the German travel corridor to Singapore these arrangements are complex and don’t happen overnight.

As I suggested yesterday, the Feds are now unwilling to put their heads above the parapet until they have some ammunition.

Today's announcement: Australia’s vaccine passport technology will be tested in major cities around the world this week to ensure it is compatible with our prospective travel bubble partners, as home quarantine trials in Adelaide prepare to take on international arrivals.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/coronavirus-australia-live-news-global-technology-trials-for-australian-vax-passport/live-coverage/608b63f20732b3e5349e366a00b27d3b

 

[Batterytraveller]

As I suggested yesterday, the Feds are now unwilling to put their heads above the parapet until they have some ammunition.

Today's announcement: Australia’s vaccine passport technology will be tested in major cities around the world this week to ensure it is compatible with our prospective travel bubble partners, as home quarantine trials in Adelaide prepare to take on international arrivals.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/coronavirus-australia-live-news-global-technology-trials-for-australian-vax-passport/live-coverage/608b63f20732b3e5349e366a00b27d3b

I get why we aren’t seeing anything above the parapet, but let’s not kid ourselves that it’s because they are busy working on some masterwork, it’s because they are scrambling to cobble something together at the last minute.

Evidence to date suggests they will be too late and a dollar short. We should be well past testing by now, the track record is not good. The Covid safe app remember that? Being a year late and more with dedicated quarantine facilities, home quarantine not even being trialled till last month and let’s not forget the absolutely shambolic vaccine procurement and roll out, which still can’t get 100% of those who care for our most vulnerable vaccinated.

 

[antycbr]

I get why we aren’t seeing anything above the parapet, but let’s not kid ourselves that it’s because they are busy working on some masterwork, it’s because they are scrambling to cobble something together at the last minute.

Evidence to date suggests they will be too late and a dollar short. We should be well past testing by now, the track record is not good. The Covid safe app remember that? Being a year late and more with dedicated quarantine facilities, home quarantine not even being trialled till last month and let’s not forget the absolutely shambolic vaccine procurement and roll out, which still can’t get 100% of those who care for our most vulnerable vaccinated.

I'm sorry but those who care for the vulnerable have no excuse, which is why the Government is mandating it to compel those who are unwilling. With the greatest of respect, carers have been eligible for months now. We have 11 million vaccines arriving in September.

 

[Princess Fiona]

<Mod Hat>
All the recent vaccine AZ/Pfizer/ Research etc posts have been moved.
Please stick to the topic of resumption of International travel
Thank you
<Mod Hat>

 

[jakeseven7]

I'm sorry but those who care for the vulnerable have no excuse, which is why the Government is mandating it to compel those who are unwilling. With the greatest of respect, carers have been eligible for months now. We have 11 million vaccines arriving in September.

Im so sick of ‘hopeless’ humans stalling freedoms like international flying for the rest of us just because someone hasn’t rocked up on their doorstep with the vaccine of their ‘preference’ to save their own life… sigh… sorry bad day having to deal with anti-vaxxers again at work…

 

[Telemachus]

As I suggested yesterday, the Feds are now unwilling to put their heads above the parapet until they have some ammunition.

Today's announcement: Australia’s vaccine passport technology will be tested in major cities around the world this week to ensure it is compatible with our prospective travel bubble partners, as home quarantine trials in Adelaide prepare to take on international arrivals.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/coronavirus-australia-live-news-global-technology-trials-for-australian-vax-passport/live-coverage/608b63f20732b3e5349e366a00b27d3b

Foreign recognition of AU-administered vaccines, via the federal govt’s international digital certificate, is one of the troubling items on my personal Risk Register for the Xmas trip to UK I am planning. Dual citizenship adds another twist to this.

It is clear that work is happening quickly (but started late) to avoid an unfortunate scenario where the outbound travel ban is lifted but we are directed into home quarantine at the UK end despite being fully jabbed. Until this is resolved, as noted in earlier posts all AU-jabbed arrivals will be deemed unvaccinated apart from those who fly via transit ports classed (like AU) as Green in the UK Traffic Light System. And it’s not just an AZ problem.

Maybe the UK’s narrow definition of recognised vaccination will change and maybe more transit ports will move from Amber to Green in the UK Traffic Light System which is reviewed every 3 weeks. Another of the moving parts is the AZ brand name change to Vaxzevria which is designed in part to address the validation problem arising from slightly different vaccine names in national documentation: Recognition of locally-manufactured COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca.

We are told by the PM that ‘from October’ the Commonwealth will roll out the international vax digital certificate, on smartphones and in hard copy, linked to one’s passport chip and number, using the ICAO Visual Digital Seal technology with cryptographic protection. The app will also be a repository for Covid test results. Excellent…a complex IT project being managed by the Commonwealth, designed for international interoperability, using sensitive personal health and passport data, benefitting from new security and integrity features – and all being done in a hurry. Not at all worried.

There is also the IATA Travel Pass which seems to offer similar functionality and is being used already (in trial) by multiple carriers including QF, EK, EY, QR, SQ. Presumably this doesn’t have any solution (yet) to UK recognition of AU-administered vaccination.

Lastly, what are dual citizens to do on arrival in the UK (or other countries where we hold non-AU citizenship)? louie-m has suggested presenting an AU ppt in order to ensure vax status is accepted:

I know I am repeating myself, but I am in the same situation in reverse, with the UK not recognising my Australian administered AZ shots. I don't want to get unnecessary jabs, but equally I am not so keen to have to home quarantine and to pay for two extra covids tests every time I cross the UK border (if coming from an amber country). That said, there are rumours of changes to the traffic light system in the UK at the end of the month and also that Aussie vaccinations might be recognised for Aussies, which puts me in the odd position of probably using my Aussie passport to get into the UK to avoid home quarantine.

That is a thought-provoking idea but UK Border Force doesn’t like it if a UK citizen tries to enter on a foreign ppt. As the planned Commonwealth app will be linked to the AU ppt, I wonder if we should show both passports – entry on UK document but also showing AU ppt to support vax status shown in the linked new app ('from October')? Or there is an old school option of presenting Border Force with just UK ppt and hard copy of the AU vax digital certificate. Someone with more professional knowledge may be able to clarify in due course. I see there are several of us on this forum with a keen interest in how it should work.

 

[Lynda2475]

Im so sick of ‘hopeless’ humans stalling freedoms like international flying for the rest of us just because someone hasn’t rocked up on their doorstep

Agree with that bit.

But vaccine choice is no longer really an issue, there are 3 choices available for those aged 18-59 in all states, and 2 choices for 60+ in some states (probably soon to be all states), 12-17s also have a choice of 2 vaccines. Vaccine choice encourages uptake, no choice creates false hesitancy.

 

[hb13]

having to deal with anti-vaxxers again at work…

you're not alone

 

[Pom-DownUnder]

That is a thought-provoking idea but UK Border Force doesn’t like it if a UK citizen tries to enter on a foreign ppt. As the planned Commonwealth app will be linked to the AU ppt, I wonder if we should show both passports – entry on UK document but also showing AU ppt to support vax status shown in the linked new app ('from October')? Or there is an old school option of presenting Border Force with just UK ppt and hard copy of the AU vax digital certificate. Someone with more professional knowledge may be able to clarify in due course. I see there are several of us on this forum with a keen interest in how it should work.

Yea I was asking this a week or so ago, if they are linking it to passport i'm PR but not citizen so dont have AU passport, cant see UK passport linking to AU vaccination mygov.

 

[mviy]

The main point of linking the Australian passport to the vaccination status is to streamline the process in Australia, primarily on arrival back to Australia. If the majority of travellers are single national Australian citizens manual processing for foreigners may be considered acceptable.

On departure from Australia the airlines can have processes in place to streamline verifying vaccination and COVID-19 test status before issuing tickets at check-in. Perhaps they may even use a code of sorts and print that on the boarding pass to indicate vaccination status.

On arrival to or departure from foreign countries it's really up to what those countries will accept and how vaccination status is shared. The airlines would also likely face fines if they bring back to Australia more unvaccinated passengers than they are allowed for any given flight so again they would be likely to verify vaccination status prior to issuing boarding passes at check-in.

I think how this will all work will become clearer as international travel gets closer.

 

[OATEK]

It is not feasible for dual nationals for there to be a link to the vaccination certificate from a foreign passport, like that for Mrsoatek's UK passport for vaccine administered in AU. I have always expected that the vax certificate for foreign travel will be held independent;y of a passport, but we shall see.

 

[Seat0B]

That is a thought-provoking idea but UK Border Force doesn’t like it if a UK citizen tries to enter on a foreign ppt.

And not just UK Border Force. Seat Son is a dual Australian-US citizen and the USA is not keen for him to enter as anything other than American. Indeed in the past when Australians needed a visa to enter USA, he was refused a visa when we sent his Australian passport off for visa insert, before we realised he held US citizenship (long and complicated story).
And he has been told by Australian Border Force that he will only be permitted to enter Australia on his Australian passport. So it is certainly something that needs to be sorted.

 

[mviy]

My understanding is that the linking of the passport to vaccination status is primarily intended for streamlining arrival back to Australia. It may be that that is all that it is for. If you just have to scan your passport on arrival then they can quickly verify that you are eligible for home quarantine, especially if you can use an app to link your COVID test results to your Australian Passport as well. If border force have to manually check too many documents it will slow the process down too much to have scale in passenger numbers. With the restrictions as most travellers to Australia will be Australians a bit more manual processing of foreigners and Australians who were vaccinated overseas or are unvaccinated should be manageable.

For departure when you are leaving Australia, Australia probably don't care as much about vaccination status and the airlines can do a lot of the checking at check-in prior to giving a boarding pass to meet the airline and your destination's requirements.

Verification of vaccination status on arrival overseas could be using a separate document or an app with a QR code that can be scanned to verify vaccination status.

 

[jakeseven7]

you're not alone

I can’t even relay the dumbness of the dumbasses I had to speak to today, we take turns on the frontline because it’s exhausting. Mostly people from regional NSW and QLD today. Anyway wayyy off topic.

Back on topic, more information on the international passport mechanic;

———

New digital border pass to tick off on overseas travel for vaccinated Australians​

A new digital border pass that will collect travel and health information including people’s vaccination status will be introduced within months after an international IT firm was awarded the tender to automate the process of entering the country.

The Digital Passenger Declaration (DPD) will replace the physical Incoming Passenger Card and the digital COVID-19 Australian Travel Declaration form. It will collect personal information including passengers’ vaccination status up to 72 hours before boarding and provide the digital authority for vaccinated Australians to travel.

Digital border pass first step to allow vaccinated Australians to come and go

The Digital Passenger Declaration will collect personal information including vaccination status before boarding and provide the authority for vaccinated Australians to travel.

www.theage.com.au

 

[oznflfan]

I can’t even relay the dumbness of the dumbasses I had to speak to today, we take turns on the frontline because it’s exhausting. Mostly people from regional NSW and QLD today. Anyway wayyy off topic.

Back on topic, more information on the international passport mechanic;

———

New digital border pass to tick off on overseas travel for vaccinated Australians​

A new digital border pass that will collect travel and health information including people’s vaccination status will be introduced within months after an international IT firm was awarded the tender to automate the process of entering the country.

The Digital Passenger Declaration (DPD) will replace the physical Incoming Passenger Card and the digital COVID-19 Australian Travel Declaration form. It will collect personal information including passengers’ vaccination status up to 72 hours before boarding and provide the digital authority for vaccinated Australians to travel.

Digital border pass first step to allow vaccinated Australians to come and go

The Digital Passenger Declaration will collect personal information including vaccination status before boarding and provide the authority for vaccinated Australians to travel.

www.theage.com.au

Hanging on the news daily to see how quarantine is proposed.......................

 

[Pushka]

I can’t even relay the dumbness of the dumbasses I had to speak to today, we take turns on the frontline because it’s exhausting. Mostly people from regional NSW and QLD today. Anyway wayyy off topic.

Take heart in the knowledge that the Anti vaxxers can see the writing on the wall and are seriously panicking. Thankfully now on the FB pages, as more get vaccinated they are being put back in their rightful place.

For the first time in 18 long months Im seeing the light. And have now booked another cruise. Iceland. Now my issue there will be seasickness for MrP. Because by 2023 it will be a distant memory.