Qantas 7 Day COVID Submission - How Long to process?

[big_RED]

Has anyone had to submit a COVID medical exemption to Qantas yet?

I submitted ours last night. Received a default reply saying they'll be in touch shortly. Just wondered what type of turn around anyone has seen as I'm just concious of our upcoming flights.

We've got 10 days until our flights so we've given Qantas more than the 7 days they request, just hoping there are no complications/issues with the paperwork which then bump out our flights again.

 

[Scr77]

Has anyone had to submit a COVID medical exemption to Qantas yet?

I submitted ours last night. Received a default reply saying they'll be in touch shortly. Just wondered what type of turn around anyone has seen as I'm just concious of our upcoming flights.

We've got 10 days until our flights so we've given Qantas more than the 7 days they request, just hoping there are no complications/issues with the paperwork which then bump out our flights again.

Was your original flight home paid or reward? I’m wondering how accommodating Qantas was with change of date or if you had to pay for new flights?

 

[MARTINE]

going to be over 100k cases today from the look of things and i have these stupid hoop after hoop to jump through to prove i'm through, god this is annoying.

Do you play tennis?

 

[big_RED]

Was your original flight home paid or reward? I’m wondering how accommodating Qantas was with change of date or if you had to pay for new flights?

Was paid. The day I rebooked was only $100/pp extra. Some other days were $800/pp. Was very easy to do online actually.

 

[Lynda2475]

Djokovics recent claim that he got a negative PCR a week after a positive have me wondering if Qantas will still make you wait and get clearance to fly, if you miraculously were also able to get a negative PCR much sooner?

 

[big_RED]

Due to my lack of confidence that Qantas will get back to me on day 7 for me to fly home, I'm also hoping our 72hr PCR is negative...

 

[Scr77]

Due to my lack of confidence that Qantas will get back to me on day 7 for me to fly home, I'm also hoping our 72hr PCR is negative...

Very interested to see both of these answers.

 

[big_RED]

In 9hrs it'll have been 7 days since my medical exemption was submitted. The Qantas website doesn't stipulate 7 business days, so I'm taking into account weekends as real days.

Also did our 72hr pre departure PCR this morning so if that comes back negative then Qantas doesn't matter and this will be the ideal result!

I called Qantas after 3 days post medical submission to ask if they have ETAs on response times, if I should receive a ticket number related to my case so I can reference that, and is there a phone number for the medical team.

The call centre said:

• Min 7 day turnaround for a reply and it'll be via email. But it could take longer
• No comment could be provided on the current bandwidth of this team and if replies were delayed due to reduced team numbers due to COVID sickness
• No telephone number is available. Only contact option is email via the Qantas medical exemption website
• If they don't get back to me after 7 days I was told to email them again to follow up. As I don't have a case number I'm wondering how they'll address my email..

So far, not confident in this process but who knows. Tonight could be a different story! We are able to change flights up to 3hrs before departure I was told. We rescheduled with a 3 day buffer from the 7 day submission period so hoping that works if required. Otherwise it'll be a 4th week WFH in the US

 

[madman2020]

Oh dear. I will be in the same boat for the same medical exception process. I'm currently stuck overseas due to COVID positive before my flight back to SYD. Had reschedule the flight for this coming Sunday hoping to get a negative PCR test 3 days before. Otherwise, have to look for a GP and get a medical clearance and reschedule my flight for further 7 days to give Qantas time to review my medical certificate.

Can you let me know how long did Qantas take to respond your medical exception request?

 

[big_RED]

Can you let me know how long did Qantas take to respond your medical exception request?

Yep will let you know once I hear from them.

I got an automatic reply straight away saying I'd be contacted "shortly". But nothing since.

I'd honestly recommend your rescheduled flights to be 10-12 days after the Qantas submission date as this process is the opposite of transparent. However if I get their reply today it'll be 7 days and there 7-10 day lead time might be ok.

Will keep you posted!

 

[Must...Fly!]

Or don't fly Qantas while they insist on this ridiculous procedure.

 

[Pushka]

Or don't fly Qantas while they insist on this ridiculous procedure.

For my trip to the UK I was searching Qantas flights in J. After hearing of poochie's similar issue a few days ago I booked Qatar.

 

[madman2020]

Yep will let you know once I hear from them.

I got an automatic reply straight away saying I'd be contacted "shortly". But nothing since.

I'd honestly recommend your rescheduled flights to be 10-12 days after the Qantas submission date as this process is the opposite of transparent. However if I get their reply today it'll be 7 days and there 7-10 day lead time might be ok.

Will keep you posted!

Thank you.

With all this drama I only wish there could be a way to trick those PCR test. I have booked another PCR test for this Friday which is 3 days beofre the Qantas flight, hoping to get negative.. It cost AU$70 here in Colombia I thought I give it a try.

 

[Seat0B]

For my trip to the UK I was searching Qantas flights in J. After hearing of poochie's similar issue a few days ago I booked Qatar.

It's a hard choice isn't it - crazy COVID rules or unscheduled gynae exams....

 

[Pushka]

It's a hard choice isn't it - crazy COVID rules or unscheduled gynae exams....

one benefit of being older....

 

[jb747]

one benefit of being older....

Or a bloke.

If QF wants to make it hard, then sadly there's no reason to fly with them.

 

[big_RED]

UPDATE:

• PCR tests were received after 24hrs and thankfully for my wife and I came back negative. This means we don't need the Qantas medical exemption to fly as we've tested negative
• I submitted my Qantas medical exemption email on 11/1/22 at 12:14am USA time
• I received a long reply from Qantas on 19/1/22 at 6:03am. I calculate this to be 8 days and 6hrs for them to reply.
• Literally the only official line in the email said "Based on the information that has been provided to us, if your pre-departure COVID-19 test is positive or inconclusive, you can still travel on your upcoming Qantas international flight.".
• No certificate or signed "official" medical document from Qantas was attached. The email just said "You’ll need to show your pre-departure PCR test result at the airport when checking in, along with your other travel documentation."

So to me, really the ground staff are still responsible for accepting positive PCR tests, and you literally just need to show this easily forgable email to them lol!

Hope this helps others in the same situation!

 

[madman2020]

UPDATE:

• PCR tests were received after 24hrs and thankfully for my wife and I came back negative. This means we don't need the Qantas medical exemption to fly as we've tested negative
• I submitted my Qantas medical exemption email on 11/1/22 at 12:14am USA time
• I received a long reply from Qantas on 19/1/22 at 6:03am. I calculate this to be 8 days and 6hrs for them to reply.
• Literally the only official line in the email said "Based on the information that has been provided to us, if your pre-departure COVID-19 test is positive or inconclusive, you can still travel on your upcoming Qantas international flight.".
• No certificate or signed "official" medical document from Qantas was attached. The email just said "You’ll need to show your pre-departure PCR test result at the airport when checking in, along with your other travel documentation."

So to me, really the ground staff are still responsible for accepting positive PCR tests, and you literally just need to show this easily forgable email to them lol!

Hope this helps others in the same situation!

This is excellent news. I am happy for you.

Can you advise the timing between your first positive PCR result and your negative result please? Also what symptoms did you develop while infectious with COVID?

I appreciate your help and response.

 

[Must...Fly!]

UPDATE:

• PCR tests were received after 24hrs and thankfully for my wife and I came back negative. This means we don't need the Qantas medical exemption to fly as we've tested negative
• I submitted my Qantas medical exemption email on 11/1/22 at 12:14am USA time
• I received a long reply from Qantas on 19/1/22 at 6:03am. I calculate this to be 8 days and 6hrs for them to reply.
• Literally the only official line in the email said "Based on the information that has been provided to us, if your pre-departure COVID-19 test is positive or inconclusive, you can still travel on your upcoming Qantas international flight.".
• No certificate or signed "official" medical document from Qantas was attached. The email just said "You’ll need to show your pre-departure PCR test result at the airport when checking in, along with your other travel documentation."

So to me, really the ground staff are still responsible for accepting positive PCR tests, and you literally just need to show this easily forgable email to them lol!

Hope this helps others in the same situation!

What an absolutely ridiculous response and shows up this Qantas "requirement" for what it is - a complete and utter waste of time. Just like calling 13 13 13, actually.

Glad you will shortly be on the way home. Have a great flight.

 

[big_RED]

Can you advise the timing between your first positive PCR result and your negative result please? Also what symptoms did you develop while infectious with COVID?

• Wife COVID positive Dec 24. Bad fever and fatigue and cough for 3 days and then just mild fatigue and cough for 2 days then completely fine
• Me COVID positive Dec 27. Just really really sore throat for 8 days, then 2 days for it fully go, and some body/skin aches for 3 days during the bad throat.
• Negative results were swabbed from us both on Jan 17. We didn't see the point of doing them any sooner as we already had the rescheduled flights locked in, and all the changes and work changes was just too difficult. I also thought we'd literally turn up positive results for weeks... But obviously not the case at all