Predictions of when international flights may resume/bans lifted

[Must...Fly!]

I swear I feel like i'm getting bumped because they can get good prices for the seat I agreed to months ago on points

In a choice between incompetence and shrewd revenue practices when it comes to airline ticketing, I pick the former every time.

 

[dajop]

SOME services. don't scare people. Mainly QLD and NZ.

QF MEL-LHR not selling well but they've increased SYD-LHR which is selling like hotcakes.

Qantas has made changes to its international schedule in response to quarantine requirements in New Zealand and Queensland and varying levels of demand.

In the biggest adjustments, flights out of Brisbane to New Zealand, Los Angeles and Singapore will not recommence until late January or early February, three months later than those out of Sydney.

In addition, services from Melbourne to London were being pushed back from November 6 to November 27, following “subdued” demand for the earlier flights from Victorians.

The opposite was true of Sydney-London, recommencing on Monday November 1, with Qantas adding another ten return services in that month.

Melburnians happy to travel on carriers other than QF, always have been.

 

[justinbrett]

Melburnians happy to travel on carriers other than QF, always have been.

Only because the MEL Flounge has nothing on the OG FLounge.

 

[andye]

CX also cancelled one of their planned ex-MEL flights on 8 Dec. Caused me a spot of trouble but worked out well for me in the end as snagged a better itinerary ex-SYD

 

[mviy]

So what happens if they cancel the MEL flight, will they move people to flights via SYD? If MEL won't start till the 27th that's getting pretty close till when I want to fly?

I'm not seeing points planes at the end of November for MEL-LHR flights? I'd certainly like it if they put in points planes at the end of Nov for MEL-LHR to try to stimulate demand.

 

[jrfsp]

So what happens if they cancel the MEL flight, will they move people to flights via SYD? If MEL won't start till the 27th that's getting pretty close till when I want to fly?

I'm not seeing points planes at the end of November for MEL-LHR flights? I'd certainly like it if they put in points planes at the end of Nov for MEL-LHR to try to stimulate demand.

Yes via SYD or DXB if you wanted to go on EK metal (1 stop)

 

[mviy]

I'd be fine with going via SYD but I assume it'd kill the chance of an upgrade. I was hoping the upgrade chances might be reasonably good on MEL-LHR around the end of November, but if they cancel the flights...

 

[NM]

Tony Hancock has reported to have received two AZ in the UK and 2 Pfizer in the US to satisfy their requirements to gain onsite access. Chemist booking easily done.

I understand that Mr Hancock received 2 x Moderna shots after arriving in the USA, following his 2 x AZ from the UK.

 

[jakeseven7]

Melburnians happy to travel on carriers other than QF, always have been.

I’m not surprised ex MEL it’s a bit slower given they are really only opening up tonight! They are weeks behind NSW in freedoms.

 

[jrfsp]

There is still lots of availability for classic rewards on QF1 (economy) in November so cant be that much "Pent up" demand outbound.

Mid Dec - Mid Jan only a few reward seats with lots of availability again from Mid Jan on.

 

[Pushka]

I understand that Mr Hancock received 2 x Moderna shots after arriving in the USA, following his 2 x AZ from the UK.

Ok. Moderna. Pfizer. Same same kind of.

 

[hb13]

I did a bit of research into this over the past few days. It looks as though EK, SQ, CX will only be doing FEPO flights into SYD/MEL. So no unvaccinated passengers on any of their flights into these destinations. QF obviously on all Int.

I think for the Airlines it makes business sense and just cuts the hassle of trying to manage caps.

From a passenger perspective, particularly those with young kids or who are medically vulnerable they would way rather travel on one of these flights.

To me this makes complete sense. Especially from a passenger perspective from those that are not medically compromised at all.

As it stands, travel will come with multiple PCR tests - if you're on a plane with only vaccinated people, your chances of getting Covid is less, therefore, less risk. Even if catching Covid has nil effect on you personally, you definitely don't want to be stranded somewhere isolating for 2 weeks.

 

[Ktan89]

Predictions when Japan will be open for tourists? Any chance by 23rd December this year?

 

[levelnine]

Predictions when Japan will be open for tourists? Any chance by 23rd December this year?

Certainly hoping by early-ish next year. I'm planning to travel then.

 

[love_the_life]

Son and partner are off to UK for Christmas on Qatar. No need for PCR on way in as both are vaccinated.

Will be an interesting trip with the little one but bet they are excited esp DIL.

 

[Lynda2475]

There is still lots of availability for classic rewards on QF1 (economy) in November so cant be that much "Pent up" demand outbound.

Well a large cohort of those that tend to choose economy rewards have kids and parents are happy to have kids back in school after 4 months of home school, so makes sens most will wait for the school holidays so as not to have a bigger impact on their education than covid already has.

Plus people need to get approval for leave etc and short notice leave isnt always an option, November is pretty busy month for corporates before the December wind down.

I wouldnt read too much into it. The J seats are long gone.

 

[jase05]

There is still lots of availability for classic rewards on QF1 (economy) in November so cant be that much "Pent up" demand outbound.

Mid Dec - Mid Jan only a few reward seats with lots of availability again from Mid Jan on.

Who wants to fly Y to anywhere OS much less on a horrible QF Y product all the way to the UK

 

[Lynda2475]

Some more info on QF flight delays:

• Sydney-Noumea is being rescheduled to March 27, 2022, with Brisbane-Noumea following on April 2, 2022.
• Flights from Sydney and Melbourne to NZ pushed back until at least January 3, 2022
• Internationals flight to/from Brisbane will progressively rollut from mid January if Queensland hits 90% fully vaccinated by then, as HQ and caps apply before then
• Resumption of MEL-LHR pushed back unti 27 Nov.

 

[Chalkie]

And I believe if you have mixed vaccines (one dose Sinopharm, one dose Pfizer), you are not considered fully vaccinated by TGA yet (might change though in next few months).

This situation is so messy....

This has been resolved, at least for those who received combinations of TGA approved or recognised vaccines: Travel for vaccinated Australians and permanent residents | COVID-19 and the border, and Smartraveller has been updated to reflect this: COVID-19 vaccinations. This is from the Home Affairs webpage herein linked:



(While I doubt it was just me (particularly given the ABC ran a story on it), I'd like to think I can claim at least a tiny bit of credit for this - I wrote to the Department of Home Affairs a few days ago pointing out the absurdity of a situation where the Federal government was issuing international and domestic vaccination certificates / proofs of full vaccination to people who were heterologously vaccinated, but the advisory and informational government websites were silent, ambiguous or contradictory on the matter, and pointed to the Smartraveller website as an example of the contradiction. Until today, Smartraveller said that heterologous vaccination was not full vaccination. That's now been fixed.

 

[Princess Fiona]

And they have fixed the issue of partially vaccinated or unvaccinated young teens and their families getting bumped off FEPO flights/ placed into HQ.

VIC/NSW/ACT agree to 7 days home quarantine for this group with a testing regime.

Returning Australian Children