Predictions of when international flights may resume/bans lifted

[Pushka]

Interested in what specific knowledge about this variant informed Israel's decision to close its borders ..

Israel gets inundated at Christmas time. Our now cancelled trip had us arriving there this Saturday.

 

[Rebus]

Also in relation to international flights apparently the exemption rubber stamping staff are completely overloaded, so people are not getting their exemptions in time, having to cancel and rebook flights at last minute…..

Anyone not managed to get an exemption?

My parents are booked to visit from the UK in early January. I applied for their exemption on 10th November, it was approved 10 days later.

 

[PineappleSkip]

No rubber stamping of inbound travel exemptions. Still reading on FB group of many exemptions not being approved.

 

[Silvia]

We applied for an exemption for my parents, exemption and visa approved within 7 days (we applied around 3 weeks ago).

I am just crossing my fingers that there are no changes. My parents are ok with the 72 hr self isolation and testing, and I really just want to see them after 2 years. I would assume that a same day transit from SYD-MEL is OK?

 

[mviy]

Not sure on that I would think you’d be meant to do the 72 hours at the port you arrive at.

The exception would be QF2 and QF10 where only those passengers that came from LHR would be allowed to go on the final leg of those flights from DRW to SYD and MEL respectively. It’s possible if things got really bad that passengers might be required to remain onboard in DRW.

 

[PineappleSkip]

I would assume that a same day transit from SYD-MEL is OK?

It appears so, according to the amendment to the NSW Order made yesterday. see sub-para 20G(b)(i).

However, on my reading of it a same day transit by air intrastate is not acceptable. The lady from NSW Health also said this was the case. I am wondering if the exception for interstate transits exists because of constitutionality concerns.

cheers skip

 

[antycbr]

However, on my reading of it a same day transit by air intrastate is not acceptable. The lady from NSW Health also said this was the case. I am wondering if the exception for interstate transits exists because of constitutionality concerns.

That'd be the first time that our states have actually paid attention to what they signed up to at Federation if that was the case.

More likely to do with lack of inbound services and people ending up in the wrong state (NSW instead of VIC).

 

[Princess Fiona]

We applied for an exemption for my parents, exemption and visa approved within 7 days (we applied around 3 weeks ago).

I am just crossing my fingers that there are no changes. My parents are ok with the 72 hr self isolation and testing, and I really just want to see them after 2 years. I would assume that a same day transit from SYD-MEL is OK?

When do they arrive ?
Reports this morning on Facebook that a flight from SIN-MEL passengers expecting to transit to SYD were instead put into hotel quarantine on arrival in MEL.
These are not travellers from Southern Africa.
So I don’t think they are allowing any interstate transit at the minute.

 

[Silvia]

They arrive on Friday. I read that VIC is not allowing transit but NSW is?
I'm just absolutely stressed about this as they are wanting to meet my child who is only 1.

 

[dajop]

When do they arrive ?
Reports this morning on Facebook that a flight from SIN-MEL passengers expecting to transit to SYD were instead put into hotel quarantine on arrival in MEL.
These are not travellers from Southern Africa.
So I don’t think they are allowing any interstate transit at the minute.

The trouble with lack of lateral thinking by governments. If they want to manage the risk of transmission via air travel, all they have to do is organise for Rex to take all the transit pax …..

 

[Princess Fiona]

They arrive on Friday. I read that VIC is not allowing transit but NSW is?
I'm just absolutely stressed about this as they are wanting to meet my child who is only 1.

Unfortunately they cannot travel on a domestic flight.
International Travellers Arriving Into NSW

 

[Jenya]

advised by NSW Health no next day flight permissible

and how they control it? what actually stops you from going from going straight from Int to domestic terminal and board flight to BNE?

 

[Silvia]

thanks for the info. useful to know this. Cheers

 

[mviy]

and how they control it? what actually stops you from going from going straight from Int to domestic terminal and board flight to BNE?

I presume those unable to provide a NSW address could find themselves in hotel quarantine. Random checks could identify if people are not quarantining how they are supposed to.

 

[PineappleSkip]

and how they control it? what actually stops you from going from going straight from Int to domestic terminal and board flight to BNE?

Bit of a shambles in SYD last night. No addresses were being asked for, apart from on the border declaration, on which I put my Qld home address. I'm hoping to be back there before christmas.

NSW Health lady said no flights. but there were only 3 of them, no counters, surrounded by large numbers of PAX. All they were interested in was which country you came from. And after that you went off wherever. Whether you saw them or not.

Guy who checked in at hotel before me told reception he had an onward flight next day, they said noworries, we'll book you a taxi.

cheers skip

 

[Silvia]

That’s so confusing, so how on earth do they prevent you to go onto the next flight? And how do they monitor self iso? All these rules make no sense and are just further separating families and creating anxiety for people

 

[Princess Fiona]

Haven’t seen it posted yet here but all of those African countries have now been updated to Level 4 Do Not Travel on the Smart traveller website
ABC news

 

[Silvia]

for those who are now self-isolating - does isolation Day 1 starts from when you arrive?
thanks again for all responses, this group is so valuable! so far my parents have not received any reschedule or cancelation of their domestic VA leg but we assume it's just a matter of time for it to happen.

 

[Princess Fiona]

for those who are now self-isolating - does isolation Day 1 starts from when you arrive?
thanks again for all responses, this group is so valuable! so far my parents have not received any reschedule or cancelation of their domestic VA leg but we assume it's just a matter of time for it to happen.

The day they arrive is day 1.
They may well not get any reschedule.
The airlines don’t generally update individual reservations due to state public health changes.

I would look into making a refundable booking for them at Rydges Sydney airport for when they arrive. VA can change them to an alternative flight for them once they are here and assuming that the 72 hour isolation requirement before Domestic flight is still in place on Friday.

 

[Sbb4]

Have just pushed out my MEL-SIN SQ J on Wednesday to March next year. Gutted as was my first great hurrah since Jan 2020 (AKL in May 2021 doesn't really count). Too much uncertainty doing my head in and not willing to do 14 days hotel or home quarantine in VIC (if that becomes the case) for what was just a quick 3 day trip (including stressing about changing rules while in SIN/upon return).

Got a MEL-SIN-BKK on Boxing Day so looking forward to that and hoping preliminary reports of the strain being mild end up being substantiated.