Predictions of when international flights may resume/bans lifted

[Princess Fiona]

SIN

SYD-LAX I think

 

[justinbrett]

Fingers crossed we get some domestic A380 crew training flights? That would be fun.
Not sure how that would work with the only A380 gates being international side at most airports though.

I reckon they would fill a few going SYD-BNE on 17 December. But no gates in either domestic terminal is rated to A380 (B744 yes) so would have to be I-I which would not be worth the effort.

For Perth and Melbourne they are only in T1 and T2 respectively, so same issue.

SYD-AKL would make sense.

 

[Must...Fly!]

I could foresee Qantas selling some SYD-SYD and probably MEL-MEL tickets to facilitate crew training. Not just cycles but time in the air will be just as important. I think they'd get some takers

 

[burmans]

Anyone seen any stats on arrivals into Sydney this week and how fast people are actually taking advantage of the opportunity to return to OZ?

 

[justinbrett]

Anyone seen any stats on arrivals into Sydney this week and how fast people are actually taking advantage of the opportunity to return to OZ?

I have a mate flying back from the US tomorrow on DL41 and he asked me to check his seatmap on EF. It's practically empty.

Out of curiosity I also checked QF12 and it's also near empty.

So much for the massive queue of people (though to be fair QF2 is pretty full. I'm guessing most of the demand is coming from Europe).

Also people have rents/landlords to work with and the start date for the services kept coming forward, most people will need time to plan to tie up loose ends.

 

[Mrmaxwell]

I have a mate flying back from the US tomorrow on DL41 and he asked me to check his seatmap on EF. It's practically empty.

Out of curiosity I also checked QF12 and it's also near empty.

So much for the massive queue of people (though to be fair QF2 is pretty full. I'm guessing most of the demand is coming from Europe).

Also people have rents/landlords to work with and the start date for the services kept coming forward, most people will need time to plan to tie up loose ends.

Yes most of the demand was ex-Europe as QF2 was selling out as soon as QF announced the original flight commencement date of Dec 19th....QF2 is full for a few weeks well into January however I'm sure demand is not the same ex-LAX

I haven't seen anyone from AFF post their experience yet so assume no one from here has flown international yet since Nov 1?

 

[Must...Fly!]

Yes most of the demand was ex-Europe as QF2 was selling out as soon as QF announced the original flight commencement date of Dec 19th....QF2 is full for a few weeks well into January however I'm sure demand is not the same ex-LAX

I haven't seen anyone from AFF post their experience yet so assume no one from here has flown international yet since Nov 1?

@N860CR has a trip report going at the moment in the relevant sub forum

Abandoning Prison Island

It’s been 20 long months, but I’m finally sitting at the international terminal again. I thought I’d give a bit of a running update given things are a little different to my last trip in March 2020. Getting the train to T1 was a quiet affair. Nobody else got off. The terminal is still...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[burmans]

I have a mate flying back from the US tomorrow on DL41 and he asked me to check his seatmap on EF. It's practically empty.

Out of curiosity I also checked QF12 and it's also near empty.

So much for the massive queue of people (though to be fair QF2 is pretty full. I'm guessing most of the demand is coming from Europe).

Also people have rents/landlords to work with and the start date for the services kept coming forward, most people will need time to plan to tie up loose ends.

Yeah well I’ve always felt that returning travellers alone isn’t enough to sustain airline ramp up! Bringing on the tourists will though.

 

[Silvia]

FYI for anyone applying for a family member travel exemption - I got my parents approved within 7 days. As Matt indicated on the pod, different story with visas. My parents luckily got the visa fee waived as a result of not able to utilise a previously approved visa due to COVID but require to do again biometrics. If anyone is wanting an updated timeline for relatives applying for a subclass 600 visa I'm happy to provide an update.

 

[Pushka]

SYD-LAX I think

Princess Fiona, I read just now in a news.com.au in an international travel update for Aussies that a negative PCR test is required 72 hours before departure for a trip to the UK. My understanding was that isn't the case but that a test is simply required within 2 days on arrival into the UK for vaccinated passengers. Am I wrong?

 

[Berlin]

SYD-AKL would make sense.

Won’t happen unless NZ comes to their senses and let’s go of their crazy 90% vaccinated in all districts pipedream. Unlikely to happen before the new year to be honest.

 

[justinbrett]

Won’t happen unless NZ comes to their senses and let’s go of their crazy 90% vaccinated in all districts pipedream. Unlikely to happen before the new year to be honest.

Sorry, that was a conditional would. I just didn't finish the sentence.

"SYD-AKL would make sense, assuming NZ opens their border...."

 

[RAM]

I have a mate flying back from the US tomorrow on DL41 and he asked me to check his seatmap on EF. It's practically empty.

Out of curiosity I also checked QF12 and it's also near empty.

I wonder how the soon to be reinstated flights to/from India look like?

So much for the massive queue of people (though to be fair QF2 is pretty full. I'm guessing most of the demand is coming from Europe).

Also people have rents/landlords to work with and the start date for the services kept coming forward, most people will need time to plan to tie up loose ends.

Will be interesting to see what happens to QF2 once all the 'credit vouchers' are used up. A number of people I know who got caught out by Q's overnight grounding of the Q international fleet on June 9th 2020 have said that once they've used up the credits then Q is off their list.

Meanwhile, SIA's return flight sale looks like even better than pre-Covid prices for some destinations (in Y sorry!) - $499 Singapore return and low $1,200s to UK/Paris etc. Competition is back.

 

[MARTINE]

I wonder how the soon to be reinstated flights to/from India look like?

Will be interesting to see what happens to QF2 once all the 'credit vouchers' are used up. A number of people I know who got caught out by Q's overnight grounding of the Q international fleet on June 9th 2020 have said that once they've used up the credits then Q is off their list.

Meanwhile, SIA's return flight sale looks like even better than pre-Covid prices for some destinations (in Y sorry!) - $499 Singapore return and low $1,200s to UK/Paris etc. Competition is back.
View attachment 264303

I am from Melbourne and have suffered enough so its a no from me for goat class!!

 

[Princess Fiona]

Princess Fiona, I read just now in a news.com.au in an international travel update for Aussies that a negative PCR test is required 72 hours before departure for a trip to the UK. My understanding was that isn't the case but that a test is simply required within 2 days on arrival into the UK for vaccinated passengers. Am I wrong?

No PCR required

 

[hb13]

Princess Fiona, I read just now in a news.com.au in an international travel update for Aussies that a negative PCR test is required 72 hours before departure for a trip to the UK. My understanding was that isn't the case but that a test is simply required within 2 days on arrival into the UK for vaccinated passengers. Am I wrong?

Pushka, you only need a Day 2 Lateral Flow test. You need to purchase this prior to your trip however, and you need to fill out your passenger locator form (PLF). A section of the PLF will require you to put in a reference number from your purchase of the Day 2 test, which you will get when you buy it.

Here are two options for Day 2 tests under 20 GBP (approx AUD 40) - the first one is the easiest and will take you the shortest time to sort out and doesn't require a video call or anything, I've used them a few times:

Chronomics - world leaders in bio-infrastructure

Fully Vaccinated Arrivals To The UK | Day 2 tests | Qured

You need to buy a test separately for each pax. Also, you have to make sure you're buying a Day 2 test, not just any lateral flow test.

Once you've purchased it, you'll get an email with a reference number, which you'll need for your PLF. The link for the PLF can be found here:

[Withdrawn] Travel to England from another country – COVID-19 rules

Check if there are any COVID-19 rules in place for travel to England from abroad.

www.gov.uk

I know it may seem complicated, but its fairly simple. Buy the test and then do the PLF before you check in (you won't be able to check in without the PLF filled out). Also, make sure you download a copy of the PLF completed or print it out.

 

[Flashback]

Pushka, you only need a Day 2 Lateral Flow test. You need to purchase this prior to your trip however, and you need to fill out your passenger locator form (PLF). A section of the PLF will require you to put in a reference number from your purchase of the Day 2 test, which you will get when you buy it.

Here are two options for Day 2 tests under 20 GBP (approx AUD 40) - the first one is the easiest and will take you the shortest time to sort out and doesn't require a video call or anything, I've used them a few times:

Chronomics - world leaders in bio-infrastructure

Fully Vaccinated Arrivals To The UK | Day 2 tests | Qured

You need to buy a test separately for each pax. Also, you have to make sure you're buying a Day 2 test, not just any lateral flow test.

Once you've purchased it, you'll get an email with a reference number, which you'll need for your PLF. The link for the PLF can be found here:

[Withdrawn] Travel to England from another country – COVID-19 rules

Check if there are any COVID-19 rules in place for travel to England from abroad.

www.gov.uk

I know it may seem complicated, but its fairly simple. Buy the test and then do the PLF before you check in (you won't be able to check in without the PLF filled out). Also, make sure you download a copy of the PLF completed or print it out.

I would use Self-tests | Simply Test Me for £12, used them a few times now without issue.

 

[hb13]

I would use Self-tests | Simply Test Me for £12, used them a few times now without issue.

I've seen them but haven't tried, I may try them for my next trip.

 

[Flashback]

I've seen them but haven't tried, I may try them for my next trip.

I would say do it. Arrived on time every time and the test and upload process is very easy.

 

[arrow]

I would use Self-tests | Simply Test Me for £12, used them a few times now without issue.

We are there for 4 days, wondering if we can do a PCR test for the day 2 arrival test and have it double as the 72 hour pre-departure test back to Australia?