Predictions of when international flights may resume/bans lifted

[levelnine]

The mainichi has some sort of maybe hoping for cherry blossom season next year. It’s not looking too hopeful though. Maybe get some movement after the election on sunday.

Yeah I saw that article. Seems like Japan might be one of the last to reopen to the world unfortunately. Starting to downgrade my prospects of getting there March/April next year.

 

[Pushka]

Isn't that what parents are for MissM who has never flown international Y and is only a teenager has already started asking if I will save some of my points for her or will I pay for her future travel. When I said 'No, you can pay for your own travel' the answer was 'Mummm, dad's being mean again'

Parents yes and son would gladly accept it. . DIL? Nup. Fiercely independent and comes from a very thrifty family where her dad was assaulted awfully at work, (nearly died, he was a Police Officer) way up in Northern England and couldn't work afterwards from about the age of 38. So, Mum, with two toddlers had to go back to work to support the family. Money extremely tight and that's the way things are. I did amass enough points to fly them both F on Emirates from UK to OZ after their honeymoon and then in Business on Qatar to get them to UK five months after grandson was born.

 

[hb13]

Yeh I'm with others here re Sth East Asia. I'd say end of 2022 is a small possibility at best as they're still very COVID-0 focused.

 

[Danger]

The downgrading of the travel advisories this week on the Smartraveller website have highlighted the absolute farce and lack of independence of the advisories.

The Smartraveller website states, "Our advisories are an objective assessment of the risks Australians face overseas. They're not impacted by diplomatic, political or commercial considerations."

Really? What exactly was the "objective assessment" of what I assume is about 90% of countries which this week saw them all of a sudden drop from "Do not travel" to "Exercise a high degree of caution" or "Reconsider your need to travel"? It's quite a coincidence, don't you think, that 28 October saw nearly ever monitored country lose its "Do not travel" designation. What changed in all these countries, on one single day, that they miraculously no longer posed an "extreme risk [to] your health and safety"? Conversely, what was the "extreme risk" to travellers wanting to travel to New Zealand or a number of Pacific island countries where covid infection rates per capita have been next to zero for the bulk of the pandemic?

Not political, my cough.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

The downgrading of the travel advisories this week on the Smartraveller website have highlighted the absolute farce and lack of independence of the advisories.

The Smartraveller website states, "Our advisories are an objective assessment of the risks Australians face overseas. They're not impacted by diplomatic, political or commercial considerations."

Really? What exactly was the "objective assessment" of what I assume is about 90% of countries which this week saw them all of a sudden drop from "Do not travel" to "Exercise a high degree of caution" or "Reconsider your need to travel"? It's quite a coincidence, don't you think, that 28 October saw nearly ever monitored country lose its "Do not travel" designation. What changed in all these countries, on one single day, that they miraculously no longer posed an "extreme risk [to] your health and safety"? Conversely, what was the "extreme risk" to travellers wanting to travel to New Zealand or a number of Pacific island countries where covid infection rates per capita have been next to zero for the bulk of the pandemic?

Not political, my cough.

Agree. While the travel ban was in place Smartraveller could/should have said 'exercise caution due to covid' but with a 'however, check any government limitations on departures'. That would have separated out the medical from the political.

 

[Batterytraveller]

Yeah I saw that article. Seems like Japan might be one of the last to reopen to the world unfortunately. Starting to downgrade my prospects of getting there March/April next year.

I was hoping for before the end of February, I’m even slightly unhopeful about stopping for dinner on the way to Vienna next July.

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

Email from Thai Airways = dated 27/10/21
THAI announces NON-Stop flights from Sydney to coughet
From 8 December, 2021, THAI will launch non-stop flights between Sydney and coughet, Thailand’s premier beach destination, three times each week on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Depart Sydney at 9.30am and arrive in time for coughtails at 2.40pm.
Flight Schedules Update:
Flights have resumed between Sydney and Bangkok and from 17 November 2021, 4 flights weekly are scheduled. Flights to/from Melbourne are scheduled to resume in April 2022.
Thailand is Open!
From 01 November 2021, Thailand will allow Australian passport holders to travel to Thailand quarantine-free.
Entry criteria still applies and can be found=

The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) | สำนักงานการบินพลเรือนแห่งประเทศไทย

www.caat.or.th

 

[Flashback]

Has anyone applied for family to come? (exemption and tourist visa - not Evisa that many European countries have) - would be useful to know any estimate period

Into Aus? Yes, still waiting for my wife's to be granted and submitted it a while back. We're cancelling our trip this week as the stress and uncertainties are too much, plus WA is looking like it'll still have HQ which again it just more stress looking at the rooms some of my friends have had.

 

[justinbrett]

The first (inbound) freedom flight is on its way - having left LAX a couple of hours ago

QF12 (QFA12) Qantas Flight Tracking and History - FlightAware

Track Qantas (QF) #12 flight from Los Angeles Intl to Sydney

flightaware.com

 

[Lynda2475]

WA is looking like it'll still have HQ

This is a certainty even for domestic travel from the eastern states. McGowan is on record saying HQ will remain past xmas. If you want to avoid HQ in WA dont expect a visit before February 2022.

 

[antycbr]

The first (inbound) freedom flight is on its way - having left LAX a couple of hours ago

QF12 (QFA12) Qantas Flight Tracking and History - FlightAware

Track Qantas (QF) #12 flight from Los Angeles Intl to Sydney

flightaware.com

Freedom Air anyone?

 

[DC3]

Pity that the new Oz airline, Bonsai Airlines, or whatever it’s to be called, isn’t up and running yet for onward connections.

 

[Lynda2475]

Given Bonza's aircraft choice, dont think too many will want to fly them

 

[jase05]

Given Bonza's aircraft choice, dont think too many will want to fly them

I wouldn’t fly with them but their aircraft choice would make no difference to that decision.

 

[Lynda2475]

I'll never fly the max, and will happily pay a premium to avoid doing so. Then again im not Bonzas target demographic.

 

[jase05]

I'll never fly the max, and will happily pay a premium to avoid doing so. Then again im not Bonzas target demographic.

Each to their own. Have flown on them before and fly on them again happily and so will millions of others. I wouldn’t fly Bonza no matter what they had, I won’t step foot on NoStar so no chance of Bonza

 

[Flashback]

Flew a 737 Max recently on Royal Air Maroc. Very pleasant flight.

 

[PineappleSkip]

The first (inbound) freedom flight is on its way - having left LAX a couple of hours ago

QF12 (QFA12) Qantas Flight Tracking and History - FlightAware

Track Qantas (QF) #12 flight from Los Angeles Intl to Sydney

flightaware.com

 

[http_x92]

Going to be a lot of stories from tommorow. Looking forward to understanding what the new processes look like.

 

[justinbrett]

Freedom Air anyone?

Wasn’t that a Kiwi LCC some years ago?