Predictions of when international flights may resume/bans lifted

[Pushka]

Hi everyone. We are the Californians waiting for clearance to take our vacation in Port Douglas. Is this latest opening what we have been waiting for? We had a false alarm last month about who was allowed in and the AFF crew came through and clarified the opening was only of a limited scope. This opening sounds like it is for everyone but I won't go forward on that presumption until I hear from the AFF membership, as you have been our primary source of credible information.

It sure is. You need to do the PCR test or pre 24 hour supervised RAT prior to boarding as well as being double vaccinated. You might need to do a test on arrival into Aus depending on state you arrive to. There is a entry to Australia online form to complete. So follow those rules all of which are found here officially

Department of Home Affairs Website

Home Affairs brings together Australia's federal law enforcement, national and transport security, criminal justice, emergency management, multicultural affairs, settlement services and immigration and border-related functions, working together to keep Australia safe.

covid19.homeaffairs.gov.au

 

[dairyfloss]

Hi everyone. We are the Californians waiting for clearance to take our vacation in Port Douglas. Is this latest opening what we have been waiting for? We had a false alarm last month about who was allowed in and the AFF crew came through and clarified the opening was only of a limited scope. This opening sounds like it is for everyone but I won't go forward on that presumption until I hear from the AFF membership, as you have been our primary source of credible information.

Yes! - provided you're fully vaccinated, and you're not looking to visit Western Australia anytime soon, you should be able to come whenever you're ready for a visit. There's more detail on the requirements in the links below, which - as far as COVID-19 is concerned - should now be no more onerous than a pre-departure test (PCR with 3 days, or supervised RAT within 24 hrs) and then for Queensland, a negative test within 24 hours of arrival before you can go about enjoying your stay. The arrival test I don't believe needs to be verified, and so you could bring some RAT tests with you, and test after arrival before travelling up from Cairns, and then have no need to do anything more other than get to enjoying Port Dougie!

Australia border: What I need to do before I travel | COVID-19 and the border
Queensland entry for international visitors: Entering Queensland from overseas

Lastly, while things are starting to get closer to normal, some services and venues are still struggling with staff and supply chain issues, and that might mean things are a little different than they were for you last time. Give the hotel a shout for the latest with them, or check out their social media pages to see updates . You can also find the local community groups on social media to see what's happening on the ground. It's usually a good source for chatter about what's open and closed, disruptions, etc. There's a Facebook group simply called 'Port Douglas' that you can find and join which is quite active.

Enjoy!

Cheers,
Matt.

Post automatically merged: Feb 21, 2022

It sure is. You need to do the PCR test or pre 24 hour supervised RAT prior to boarding as well as being double vaccinated. You might need to do a test on arrival into Aus depending on state you arrive to. There is a entry to Australia online form to complete. So follow those rules all of which are found here officially

Department of Home Affairs Website

Home Affairs brings together Australia's federal law enforcement, national and transport security, criminal justice, emergency management, multicultural affairs, settlement services and immigration and border-related functions, working together to keep Australia safe.

covid19.homeaffairs.gov.au

A collision of kindness jinx! Buy me a coke

 

[PineappleSkip]

Is this latest opening what we have been waiting for?

It is, as above, and welcome back!

 

[FoothillFlyer]

What an awesome response! This is why I love the country. I had the one J&J and then the booster which appears to be on the list. The wife has three Moderna's. We are not coming until October. My next question is the requirement to have a QR code showing vaccine status. Are these required for example, to dine out? We have a centralized California database so we have the CA version of the QR code on our phone. To my knowledge, though I have seen no effort to interface such systems on an international basis. We are hoping this all gets sorted out in the next 240 days (not that we're counting or anything ).

 

[mviy]

The one J&J I think is enough to travel here as a single dose is enough for full vaccination with that vaccine (though obviously having a booster as well is better not only for your health, but also in case any state decides to mandate a booster for doing things).

QR codes are likely to get phased out. If they haven't been by the time you arrive (e.g. if a new variant comes) you should still be able to scan the QR code with your phone and enter your name and contact number. If you can't use the QR code for some reason where it's mandatory there is the alternative to write down your details.

October is a good time to go to Port Douglas. After the school holidays and still well before summer.

You should check any pre-departure and on arrival testing requirements closer to your trip. They may still be in place or may have been phased out by then. Vaccination requirements may have changed as well by then so you'll need to check those requirements as well.

 

[FoothillFlyer]

Thank you mviy, pushka, PineappleSkip and dairyfloss. I sincerely appreciate your feedback. We look forward to our return, barring any further national health issues in either country.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

So qantas is flying to coughet now! who knew! (AJ was in the news tonight talking up the opening of the borders saying he has flights arriving from Los Angeles, Singapore, coughet, Delhi and New Zealand today.)

(of course I know it’s jetstar… just jetstar ‘is not part of qantas’ when it comes to anything else like refunds or getting on a qantas plane when jetstar cancels, or FF benefits…)

 

[MARTINE]

So qantas is flying to coughet now! who knew! (AJ was in the news tonight talking up the opening of the borders saying he has flights arriving from Los Angeles, Singapore, coughet, Delhi and New Zealand today.)

(of course I know it’s jetstar… just jetstar ‘is not part of qantas’ when it comes to anything else like refunds or getting on a qantas plane when jetstar cancels, or FF benefits…)

You spelt it wrong - it’s ‘Jester’! Just look for the laughing AJ on the livery…

 

[jakeseven7]

So qantas is flying to coughet now! who knew! (AJ was in the news tonight talking up the opening of the borders saying he has flights arriving from Los Angeles, Singapore, coughet, Delhi and New Zealand today.)

(of course I know it’s jetstar… just jetstar ‘is not part of qantas’ when it comes to anything else like refunds or getting on a qantas plane when jetstar cancels, or FF benefits…)

Many people have been rebooked onto QF planes when Jetstar cancels - ask people flying out of Tasmania at the moment… Also if you select certain bundles on Jetstar you can earn FF and SC’s….(in fact some are good value at the moment if you can stomach Jetstar! - there is a thread on these you can read up on to get yourself up to speed). And why would Qantas refund you in relation to a Jetstar matter…..

 

[jase05]

So…….,
Any predictions on how long pre departure testing is going to be a requirement for Australia?

 

[Oubline]

So…….,
Any predictions on how long pre departure testing is going to be a requirement for Australia?

Completely uninformed opinion, but maybe prior to the Easter school holidays (and election)

 

[Pushka]

Theoretically it’s currently until May 17 but wouldn’t put it past SA to ignore that and keep it happening.

 

[N860CR]

Theoretically it’s currently until May 17 but wouldn’t put it past SA to ignore that and keep it happening.

Wasn’t it only extended to 17 April?

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Not sure where to put this info, so since UK (England) is not in Europe and is international to us, it might be just left here....

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that from Thursday this week, the country will move to a new phase of "living with COVID".

This will mean people infected with COVID will no longer be legally required to self-isolate and routine tracing of people's contacts will stop.

Free rapid and PCR tests will also be scrapped, except in the case of older people and for those who are immune compromised.

From April 1, people with COVID-19 symptoms will be encouraged simply to exercise personal responsibility in the same way as those with flu would be encouraged to be considerate of others.

England removing nearly all COVID restrictions from Thursday

People infected with COVID-19 will no longer be legally required to self-isolate in England, after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announces the end of several major COVID-19 precautions would end from Thursday this week.

www.abc.net.au

 

[clifford]

From April 1, people with COVID-19 symptoms will be encouraged simply to exercise personal responsibility in the same way as those with flu would be encouraged to be considerate of others.

Yes, I'm sure that will work just fine for everybody in the UK.

I think I'll hold off booking flights to the UK until we see how this pans out.

(I'm a UK passport holder).

 

[drron]

Wasn’t it only extended to 17 April?

Pandemic emergency measures extended to April

The human biosecurity period under the Biosecurity Act 2015 has been extended for a further two months.

www.health.gov.au

 

[mviy]

Yes, I'm sure that will work just fine for everybody in the UK.

I think I'll hold off booking flights to the UK until we see how this pans out.

(I'm a UK passport holder).

It won’t deter me as a tourist. I will probably try and have a vaccine dose a few weeks before travelling and then hope for the best.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Yes, I'm sure that will work just fine for everybody in the UK.

I think I'll hold off booking flights to the UK until we see how this pans out.

(I'm a UK passport holder).

I think Boris is right. How long do we need the government to tell people by law to stay home when sick?

 

[Danger]

Not sure where to put this info, so since UK (England) is not in Europe and is international to us, it might be just left here....

...

Not in Europe?

 

[N860CR]

I think Boris is right. How long do we need the government to tell people by law to stay home when sick?

Not just Boris, either. I wouldn’t be surprised if we’re not far off the same by April. And realistically, why shouldn’t we be? We’ll be as good as 100% triple vaccinated.