Predictions of when international flights may resume/bans lifted

[HappyFlyerFamily]

What does the RAT change in QLD mean in reality? The feds still require a PCR….

I think it means the post-arrival test i.e. after you get home to Australia. Lining up for a PCR after you arrive home and waiting potentially a handful of days for a result is a lot worse than taking a RAT at home and getting the result say 15 mins later.

If you have tested negative on a PCR within 72 hours of flying home as has everyone else on the plane you'd have to be pretty unfortunate to catch COVID between taking the PCR test and getting home.

If you are referring to today's Qld announcement it means the following...

Before announcement/current situation:
- PCR (pre-departure) within 72 hours prior (Federal requirement)
- PCR/RAT day 0 or 1 (Qld requirement)
- 14 days quarantine/isolation at home (separate bathroom/entry etc) (Qld requirement)
- PCR/RAT day 12 (Qld requirement)
- if all negative, 15th day released from isolation (Qld requirement)

After announcement:
- PCR (pre-departure) within 72 hours prior (Federal requirement)
- RAT within 24 hours (Qld requirement) I think PCR will also be accepted
- if negative, no further quarantine/isolation 'immediately' (Qld requirement)

 

[Tiki]

SQ need to move or risk being overflown. Changi exists because its a convenient hub, and PCR or RAT for transits is anything but if there is an alternative.

I had to burn some SQ points expiring in April 2022. Usually I prefer to go to Turkey on EK with a stopover in DXB.

 

[mviy]

PCR would still be accepted for post arrival testing but in most states being a recent international arrival on its own might not qualify for getting a PCR now or in the not too distant future.

 

[dajop]

SQ need to move or risk being overflown. Changi exists because its a convenient hub, and PCR or RAT for transits is anything but if there is an alternative.

This is a government requirement, not unique to SQ, although they are most impacted. Transit SIN from QF or JQ to 3K and it’s the same requirement.

Although SQ are owned and influenced by Singapore Inc (or as the locals say “the gahmen”), not sure how much the influence is the other way. .sg needs to move, and with them now seeing increasing omicron cases in the community anyway, there’s a chance they might now do that.

 

[antycbr]

This is a government requirement, not unique to SQ, although they are most impacted. Transit SIN from QF or JQ to 3K and it’s the same requirement.

Although SQ are owned and influenced by Singapore Inc (or as the locals say “the gahmen”), not sure how much the influence is the other way. .sg needs to move, and with them now seeing increasing omicron cases in the community anyway, there’s a chance they might now do that.

When you add up SQ + Changi Airport Group + the various hospitality and retail holdings of people like Capitaland and Frasers there's a lot of influence to get tourism moving. If they don't want to there is an example a few hours away - HKG.

 

[dajop]

When you add up SQ + Changi Airport Group + the various hospitality and retail holdings of people like Capitaland and Frasers there's a lot of influence to get tourism moving. If they don't want to there is an example a few hours away - HKG.

They're doing so every so cautiously. I certainly saw a few more thong wearing singleted caucasians (i.e Aussie visitors*) in November and December than I'd seen in the previous 18 months! Sign of tourism slowly returning! And the hop-on/hop-off buses had more than just locals spending their $100 tourism vouchers.

* to be a total snob, I've noticed that generally speaking us foreigners who live in the country tend to not wear singlets out and about unless exercising .

 

[drron]

They're doing so every so cautiously. I certainly saw a few more thong wearing singleted caucasians (i.e Aussie visitors*) in November and December than I'd seen in the previous 18 months! Sign of tourism slowly returning! And the hop-on/hop-off buses had more than just locals spending their $100 tourism vouchers.

* to be a total snob, I've noticed that generally speaking us foreigners who live in the country tend to not wear singlets out and about unless exercising .

As it should be. that is definitely not snobbery!

 

[PineappleSkip]

PCR would still be accepted for post arrival testing but in most states being a recent international arrival on its own might not qualify for getting a PCR now or in the not too distant future.

This is a worry. RATs are almost unobtainable and AP's special subject for 2022 is imposing requirements that are impossible to meet. I can just imagine her saying at a presser "PCRs are for sick Queenslanders, Travellers should have bought a RAT overseas".

There is no detail of how this regime will work (e.g. what constitutes the 'home or other accommodation" where you have to quarantine). The usual process is to put out the relevant direction on the day before it starts or later.

 

[Quickstatus]

 

[hb13]

So QLD only requires a RAT as a pre-departure test for international arrivals? Surely, with the prevalence of the virus in Australia, the government would switch to pre-departure RAT testing instead of PCR testing?

If you stop international travel altogether, you're still going to likely have the majority of people in NSW and VIC get infected or be fully jabbed (if not 100%). Why are PCRs still needed??

 

[N860CR]

So QLD only requires a RAT as a pre-departure test for international arrivals? Surely, with the prevalence of the virus in Australia, the government would switch to pre-departure RAT testing instead of PCR testing?

If you stop international travel altogether, you're still going to likely have the majority of people in NSW and VIC get infected or be fully jabbed (if not 100%). Why are PCRs still needed??

Because closed borders “saved us”. It’ll take a long time to kill that mentality. Especially with an election approaching.

 

[FoothillFlyer]

Can anyone tell me if this QLD open borders includes international (US) tourists? There are specific references to students and "backpackers" (whatever that means) but not to your run of the mill foreign national Australiophile. These seems almost too good to be true and very sudden. I am not sure whether this extends beyond the aforementioned identified groups plus Australian residents.

 

[hb13]

Can anyone tell me if this QLD open borders includes international (US) tourists? There are specific references to students and "backpackers" (whatever that means) but not to your run of the mill foreign national Australiophile. These seems almost too good to be true and very sudden. I am not sure whether this extends beyond the aforementioned identified groups plus Australian residents.

I'm not 100% certain, but tourists are not allowed into Australia currently, and that isn't changing with QLD anytime soon.

Regarding students, they mean international students who study at Australian universities, because this is a source of significant income for the Australian economy.

With regards to backpackers, I'm not sure what the situation is there.

 

[Port Power]

I'm not 100% certain, but tourists are not allowed into Australia currently, and that isn't changing with QLD anytime soon.

Regarding students, they mean international students who study at Australian universities, because this is a source of significant income for the Australian economy.

With regards to backpackers, I'm not sure what the situation is there.

Backpackers are needed for seasonal work, fruit picking and the like. They have been sorely missed.

 

[OATEK]

Backpackers are needed for seasonal work, fruit picking and the like. They have been sorely missed.

Agree, but wouldn't they have to be seasonal workers rather than backpackers to get in at present?

 

[Pushka]

The current push is for visa holders, ie students and those backpackers who plan to visit and also work. Not holiday makers. Yet. Has to happen though.

 

[FoothillFlyer]

Thanks, everyone from a plain old holiday maker. I have reservations for October, so I hope things change by then.

 

[drron]

Backpackers are needed for seasonal work, fruit picking and the like. They have been sorely missed.

They are more important in the hospitality sector especially in FNQ.

 

[FoothillFlyer]

And FNQ is in fact where I have reservations - Port Douglas.

 

[Pushka]

Thanks, everyone from a plain old holiday maker. I have reservations for October, so I hope things change by then.

Sorry, didnt mean to offend which I think I did. We need holiday makers and Australia is no longer the golden child for Covid anymore.