Predictions of when international flights may resume/bans lifted

[jrfsp]

How 2 Flights to Europe May Have Spurred Spread of New Variant (Published 2021)

A confounding array of Covid rules and lax enforcement of mask wearing may have sent infected passengers on two KLM flights from South Africa on to “who knows where.”

www.nytimes.com

Two KLM flights looking like being confirmed for super spreading events for the new varient

 

[Batterytraveller]

Hopefully we don’t get any ideas from japan

ANA, JAL stop flight bookings to Japan amid Omicron variant fears - The Mainichi

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- All Nippon Airways Co. and Japan Airlines Co. said Wednesday they have stopped accepting reservations for inbound international fligh

mainichi.jp

 

[Andrewt]

Please keep us posted. I had been speculating that there may not be much in the way of checking up on those who are doing their 3 day isolation. Looks like I was wrong, either that or you just got unlucky.

Couple of questions from a fellow Victorian, if I may:
1. Did you go to one of the state run test centres or to a private provider?
2. What evidence can you provide to show that you've had a test? (in the event that you are still awaiting the result)

There was no entry into the house to check on how I was isolating. The flight I was on only had 10 passengers so not hard to follow us all up.

I specifically asked at the airport about testing and was told just go to a bulk billing provider, there is no need to pay for the returning tests. I got an email confirming my attendance, but literally 10 minutes before the knock on the door I got my negative result (which I showed them).

 

[Andrewt]

There was no entry into the house to check on how I was isolating. The flight I was on only had 10 passengers so not hard to follow us all up.

I specifically asked at the airport about testing and was told just go to a bulk billing provider, there is no need to pay for the returning tests. I got an email confirming my attendance, but literally 10 minutes before the knock on the door I got my negative result (which I showed them).

Just had a second visit for Dept of Health

 

[Must...Fly!]

Just had a second visit for Dept of Health

Justifying their employ no doubt. Not that it's their fault.

 

[jrfsp]

Taken from ABC:
"Health authorities in NSW have confirmed a seventh Omicron COVID-19 variant in the state, this time from someone who has not been in southern Africa.

The person arrived on flight QR908 from Doha to Sydney on November 23.

These travellers have not been in southern Africa and NSW Health is concerned transmission may have occurred on this flight."

As with the KLM flights, if we are seeing more transmission on flights, what are the chances of increased testing / quarantine?

 

[PineappleSkip]

Watching any new cases off QR908 with interest, and even more interest any cases off SQ211, which had a good load and arrived the first day of the 72 hours quarantine. My experience has been that QR are desultory about enforcing mask wearing in the J cabin (hopefully better in Y) and SQ are better. LH are ruthless.

The NYT article suggests the "superspreader" event says more about pax with fake certificates than about Omicron. 60 positive passengers of whom only 14 had Omicron; and to enter the Netherlands and much of the rest of Schengen those 60 passengers would only have had to produce a test certificate or a vaccination certificate. They apparently got picked up when the whlle flight was tested on arrival at AMS.

Hopeful, but not entirely confident, that the powers that be will balanced any increased transmissibility with any reduced severity.

It's now day 5 for pax off QR908 and day four for pax off SQ211. Time will tell.

cheers skip

 

[andye]

NSW health seems to be saying get tested and 14 days isolation for all pax on the SQ flight.
This was the final straw for mrsandye to say she won't come to the UK with me She has already pulled every string to get the week off in ED following our return due to the restrictions on entering healthcare but the odds on a single passenger on a returning flight becoming positive are just too high
We would have been in J and I would have thought that targeted isolation requirements (rather than blanket 14 days) would not be terribly unsafe
(I'll still go but it won't be nearly as enjoyable)

 

[Silvia]

For those in Melbourne - histopath do not do any arrival rapid testing, you have to go to a state funded testing clinic. In saying that, hats off to Showgrounds - parents got tested at 3pm Friday, got results Saturday 5am. Both did their transit from Sydney to Melbourne with no issues and currently within their first 24hrs of self-iso. Happy to report more if needed be.

 

[RAM]

For those in Melbourne - histopath do not do any arrival rapid testing, you have to go to a state funded testing clinic. In saying that, hats off to Showgrounds - parents got tested at 3pm Friday, got results Saturday 5am. Both did their transit from Sydney to Melbourne with no issues and currently within their first 24hrs of self-iso. Happy to report more if needed be.

Also in Sydney they offer a cut-price exit PCA test with the results back within 4 to 5 hours complete with certificate (a friend merrily reported). Do your own due diligence.

 

[Flashback]

UK now has testing requirements to enter .... Again. PCR or LFT. Kicks in 4am Tuesday, so those of you heading here beware!

 

[Amanad78]

UK now has testing requirements to enter .... Again. PCR or LFT. Kicks in 4am Tuesday, so those of you heading here beware!

I just saw that. I'm only going for 2 weeks and will have to have 3 tests in that time, not including whatever I need after I return here (to QLD ). It's getting worse instead of better!

 

[Flashback]

I just saw that. I'm only going for 2 weeks and will have to have 3 tests in that time, not including whatever I need after I return here (to QLD ). It's getting worse instead of better!

Yes, we fly back Tuesday evening, so with the last minute rapid test I had to get yesterday, plus the test to return.. and then a pricy day 2 PCR so I can get out to the client site it's quickly become an expensive trip!

 

[andye]

Wow, another spanner in the works. Does anyone have any idea how the UK would view connecting flights on separate PNRs? Flying SYD-HKG-HEL with a HEL-LHR leg a few hours after. I'm hoping that 48h before SYD would be OK as otherwise that leaves me very tight

 

[andye]

NSW health seems to be saying get tested and 14 days isolation for all pax on the SQ flight.
This was the final straw for mrsandye to say she won't come to the UK with me She has already pulled every string to get the week off in ED following our return due to the restrictions on entering healthcare but the odds on a single passenger on a returning flight becoming positive are just too high
We would have been in J and I would have thought that targeted isolation requirements (rather than blanket 14 days) would not be terribly unsafe
(I'll still go but it won't be nearly as enjoyable)

Thank you for all the sympathetic reactions-really appreciated
After a tearful night, mrsandye has thankfully exercised her prerogative to change her mind so happy days
Now there's just the problem of arranging the new UK pre-entry testing with 3 consecutive 12-hour shifts coming up
At least snow is only forecast for the North

 

[Flashback]

Wow, another spanner in the works. Does anyone have any idea how the UK would view connecting flights on separate PNRs? Flying SYD-HKG-HEL with a HEL-LHR leg a few hours after. I'm hoping that 48h before SYD would be OK as otherwise that leaves me very tight

The SI hasn't been updated but it's usually 72 hours prior to departure if last time is anything is to go by. So long as you're not stopping anywhere I think you'll be ok.

 

[Telemachus]

The SI hasn't been updated but it's usually 72 hours prior to departure if last time is anything is to go by. So long as you're not stopping anywhere I think you'll be ok.

It’s going to be a narrower window so 2 not 3 days. Initial reports have been ambiguous about whether it would be 2 days pre-arrival or 2 days pre-dep. As you rightly say, the wording of the amended SI will be the authoritative source but in the meantime the the Gov.UK guidance has been updated within the last hour. Key sentence: ‘From 4am 7 December, you can take the test any time in the 2 days before the service on which you will arrive in England departs’. So that is better than it might have been for long-haul arrivals.

EDIT: Still to be clarified whether that 2 day period is prior to departure from AU or to subsequent departure from transit ports when one is travelling straight through. Depends on interpretation of ‘the service on which you will arrive in England’. Text on Gov.UK confusingly talks about '3 days' (not yet updated?): 'If you’re travelling by plane and changing flights, where possible you should get a test within 3 days of your final departure point to England'.

 

[Flashback]

It’s going to be a narrower window so 2 not 3 days. Initial reports have been ambiguous about whether it would be 2 days pre-arrival or 2 days pre-dep. As you rightly say, the wording of the amended SI will be the authoritative source but in the meantime the the Gov.UK guidance has been updated within the last hour. Key sentence: ‘From 4am 7 December, you can take the test any time in the 2 days before the service on which you will arrive in England departs’. So that is better than it might have been for long-haul arrivals.

Thanks, I hadn't checked yet - just had a friend message me while I was out letting me know as she knew I was away. I'll get ours sorted on Monday then.

 

[Pushka]

This is the summary email just now from UK Gov
Change made:
From 4am, Tuesday 7 December all people aged 12 years and over must take a PCR or LFD COVID-19 test before they travel to England from abroad.

Time updated:
8:23pm, 4 December 2021

This is just getting too much now. And the three boffins in SA are meeting again today to discuss closing SA borders. Honestly this is likely the straw for so many people now.

 

[Flashback]

May as well go into hibernation for winter again.