Predictions of when international flights may resume/bans lifted

[Flashback]

Thanks for this. Also FYI, for anyone flying Qatar, I have tried to call and ask, spoke to 3 people who couldn't give me a straight answer. It seems like staff working the phone are useless at knowing this info, at least in my experience.

In any case, I have also checked the "Frequently Asked Questions" of the DOH website, and it does actually state this:

"The COVID-19 RAT must be done no more than 24 hours before the scheduled departure time of your flight (or first flight if you have one or more connecting flights booked for your travel to Australia)."

This can be found at this link:

https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2022/01/coronavirus-covid-19-frequently-asked-questions-international-travellers_2.pdf

Post automatically merged: Jan 22, 2022

Thankfully there is an airport hotel there which is in the transit area! It's not ideal, but it'll have to do.

At least now I can rest not having to worry about testing. I will be saving offline copies of the Australian DOH info just in case QR staff aren't aware.

If you have access to the Al Mourjan business lounge, they have some sleeping pods, and also some rooms / sectioned off areas down in the back corner. Have used both many times on overnight transits. 21 hours is tough, though.

 

[jakeseven7]

With the proviso that the medical certificate states no symptoms within 72 hrs of departure.

Lol, easy peasy to have that generated

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thanks for this. Also FYI, for anyone flying Qatar, I have tried to call and ask, spoke to 3 people who couldn't give me a straight answer. It seems like staff working the phone are useless at knowing this info, at least in my experience.

In any case, I have also checked the "Frequently Asked Questions" of the DOH website, and it does actually state this:

"The COVID-19 RAT must be done no more than 24 hours before the scheduled departure time of your flight (or first flight if you have one or more connecting flights booked for your travel to Australia)."

This can be found at this link:

https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2022/01/coronavirus-covid-19-frequently-asked-questions-international-travellers_2.pdf

Post automatically merged: Jan 22, 2022

Thankfully there is an airport hotel there which is in the transit area! It's not ideal, but it'll have to do.

At least now I can rest not having to worry about testing. I will be saving offline copies of the Australian DOH info just in case QR staff aren't aware.

Reservations staff aren’t expert in TIMATIC or entry requirements. And any information they give is pretty meaningless if check-in interprets the rules differently. It can be a good idea to find the relevant pages in TIMATIC yourself, have the bookmarked and ready to use in case needed at check-in. (This is not exclusive to QR, but most airlines, and even pre covid.)

 

[henrus]

Reservations staff aren’t expert in TIMATIC or entry requirements

Just last month I had the problem where a check-in staff was looking at timatic but now due to the addition of health entry the page was so long they didn't scroll down missing the key entry requirements that would allow me to enter.

That being said I wouldn't worry too much given most airlines have an internal desk to call regarding entry requirements, as a very last resort (which I've never had happen) I'd ask them to call the Australia border operations centre:

 

[hb13]

I've heard a few people say TIMATIC - excuse my ignorance, but what is that? And does it cost anything for the general public to access it? It seems like it is something really useful these days.

 

[Flashback]

I've heard a few people say TIMATIC - excuse my ignorance, but what is that? And does it cost anything for the general public to access it? It seems like it is something really useful these days.

It's basically a database that airlines refer to, there's ways to access it sometimes via airline websites etc.

http://www.united.com/web/en-us/apps/vendors/default.aspx?i=timatic

TravelDoc Passenger View - TravelDoc.Website

skyteam.traveldoc.aero

More background:

Timatic Solutions

Timatic is a leading provider of real-time information on travel document requirements for international air travel. Trusted by airlines, ground handlers, travel agents, security agents, and government officials, Timatic ensures a seamless and hassle-free travel experience for millions of...

www.iata.org

 

[PineappleSkip]

The problem for me is that I'm based in the UK, which is on Qatar's red list at this stage. So this means I can't leave the airport in Doha, and I'm fairly certain there is no testing facilities air-side at DOH.

My last layover in DOH was 18 hours. It was fine. I stayed in the Al Mourjan lounge and it was fine, but I found it a loooong time, including flights, to wear a mask so I went and ate a lot. There is an airside hotel which was asking about $350 a night, I didn’t do it but if you do you can hide in your room without a mask on, Normally you can just walk up and get a room.

or first flight

Which is your flight out of UK. Australia has always been thus.

 

[hb13]

My last layover in DOH was 18 hours. It was fine. I stayed in the Al Mourjan lounge and it was fine, but I found it a loooong time, including flights, to wear a mask so I went and ate a lot. There is an airside hotel which was asking about $350 a night, I didn’t do it but if you do you can hide in your room without a mask on, Normally you can just walk up and get a room.

Which is your flight out of UK. Australia has always been thus.

Thanks for the info. For me I'm considering getting a room at Al Safwa lounge which is about AUD 200 for entry.

While 21 hrs in an airport is a long time, it is definitely the not worst thing when I have decent food, internet and a bed for a few hours. Not ideal, but that's travel for the next few months.

 

[Flashback]

Thanks for the info. For me I'm considering getting a room at Al Safwa lounge which is about AUD 200 for entry.

While 21 hrs in an airport is a long time, it is definitely the not worst thing when I have decent food, internet and a bed for a few hours. Not ideal, but that's travel for the next few months.

Decent food, not anymore. Decent internet... Not really, it's the public one and it's shocking!

 

[oznflfan]

Thanks for the info. For me I'm considering getting a room at Al Safwa lounge which is about AUD 200 for entry.

While 21 hrs in an airport is a long time, it is definitely the not worst thing when I have decent food, internet and a bed for a few hours. Not ideal, but that's travel for the next few months 18 MONTHS

 

[OATEK]

It seems to me that International travel is going to be predominantly those who have a necessity whether work or otherwise, and those that have the flexibility to deal with delays of a week or more if covid strikes. Happily, we are in the second category.

 

[Princess Fiona]

It seems to me that International travel is going to be predominantly those who have a necessity whether work or otherwise, and those that have the flexibility to deal with delays of a week or more if covid strikes. Happily, we are in the second category.

Plenty of people in the world are going on holidays.
Even those without the flexibility.
I know from Australia it seems to be all in the too hard basket. Once outside you realize that our country is like living in a larger, slightly more flexible version of WA.
Hopefully the borders open fully soon and more people get to experience it.

 

[OATEK]

Plenty of people in the world are going on holidays.
Even those without the flexibility.
I know from Australia it seems to be all in the too hard basket. Once outside you realize that our country is like living in a larger, slightly more flexible version of WA.
Hopefully the borders open fully soon and more people get to experience it.

Yes, I should have qualified that I was thinking from here, not generally across the world. My daughter and family spent a week in lapland before Christmas, and while two of them caught covid recently it was back in London in January that they were infected. So agree, people overseas have begun return to leisure travel. But many willing to leave AU will be deterred by the chance of an extra week or two somewhere as the recent Fiji report mentioned.

 

[Pushka]

Yes, I should have qualified that I was thinking from here, not generally across the world. My daughter and family spent a week in lapland before Christmas, and while two of them caught covid recently it was back in London in January that they were infected. So agree, people overseas have begun return to leisure travel. But many willing to leave AU will be deterred by the chance of an extra week or two somewhere as the recent Fiji report mentioned.

That extra week if positive is why I will stick to the PCR test as far out as possible. That way it gives me just four days to be delayed before travel. And less time to show a positive result.

 

[Scr77]

I thought I read that Feds were working with Qantas to reduce the medical clearance from 7 days also. Can’t find article now.

For those who haven’t seen the other thread.

Qantas to Drop Medical Clearance Form for Past COVID Cases

Qantas will remove the requirement for passengers with a previous COVID-19 infection who are still testing positive on their pre-departure PCR test to

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[jase05]

Not ideal for those travelling to Europe

‘Danger zone’: Australia singled out

Australians wanting to travel to Europe may need to rethink their plans, with the country declared a “Covid danger zone” due to surging Omicron case numbers.

www.news.com.au

 

[sydneyboi]

Not ideal for those travelling to Europe

‘Danger zone’: Australia singled out

Australians wanting to travel to Europe may need to rethink their plans, with the country declared a “Covid danger zone” due to surging Omicron case numbers.

www.news.com.au

should we be worried about this.....I think by end of March this will no longer be the case...

 

[jase05]

should we be worried about this.....I think by end of March this will no longer be the case...

It gets reviewed every couple of weeks but we do know of some heading over in the next week or two and they are panicking a bit.

 

[jrfsp]

Not ideal for those travelling to Europe

‘Danger zone’: Australia singled out

Australians wanting to travel to Europe may need to rethink their plans, with the country declared a “Covid danger zone” due to surging Omicron case numbers.

www.news.com.au

I cant see many EU countries making it difficult, but one or two might mainly for political reasons rather than anything health related

The main issue is the media running these stores. SMH / the age has also ran with it, how many people will be put off booking by these stories?

If bookings are poor less flights will run for those that do travel and quite possibly making it more expensive

 

[hb13]

My advice for those travelling to Europe is to ignore these headlines and ensure that you look at each country's restrictions individually before you travel.

First of all, the majority of these travel bans are political - and WHO has come out and said travel bans are useless. It is also important to remember that France currently holds the EU presidency and there is still bad blood for Aus with that submarine deal.

Secondly, the EU likes to promote itself to the world as "one big united group" - it is anything but. Many people here are surprised the EU still stands. For example, the travel restrictions in Germany, France and Italy - three of the biggest EU countries - are COMPLETELY different to each other.

Ignore the noise, review each country's travel restrictions and plan your trip on that instead of highly sensationalised media headlines.