Qantas reopens international bookings from July 2021 [now December]

[John in Melbourne]

I’m not so certain that the Australiawide vaccine rollout for first AND second jabs will be completed by the end of October. The second AstraZeneca jab will be given 12 weeks after the first. As of today (1 March), 3,762 vaccines have been given across Victoria since the program started on 22 February (Health and Human Services website). Am I too impatient?

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

I'm prepared to do two weeks quarantine (though I would prefer not to need to do that), meet family in a third country etc.

What I would find unacceptable is to travel overseas and not be able to get back to Australia for months after I had booked to come home. A week or so later than planned, maybe, but certainly not months.

So what I'm looking for is some assurances from the government that there is sufficient capacity for vaccinated travellers departing to return in a timely manner. Once that is given, I'll be looking for the next suitable time for my schedule to travel and most likely booking shortly thereafter.

Perhaps you should get in contact with madrooster, who has looked quite extensively into minimal disruption for return to Australia. In terms of leaving Australia, you need to find a rule/exemption that applies to you.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

I’m not so certain that the Australiawide vaccine rollout for first AND second jabs will be completed by the end of October. The second AstraZeneca jab will be given 12 weeks after the first. As of today (1 March), 3,762 vaccines have been given across Victoria since the program started on 22 February (Health and Human Services website). Am I too impatient?

Agree with the sentiment. If we don’t get halfway by end of June or not vaccinating at over 1.5 million per week by end of June, we are mathematically not going to get there unless there is a good chunk (20%?) refusing vaccination or we get to a substantially higher vaccination rate (like 2m per week) to make up for the earlier shortfall.

Astra Zeneca’s second shot can be given between 4 weeks and 12 weeks.

 

[albatross710]

For the first time in 12 months I did an international travel search October this year. $2.5K BNE-LAS return for a conference. QF ticket on AA metal.

My search was prompted by the 44M US citizens so far vaccinated and our soon to be ramped up vax program. The political pressure of containing a vaccinated population is a different pressure than the protective measures of the last year.

Still don't want to play the airline game of having the cash in their bank with 'unlimited free changes' and would rather keep it in my bank.

 

[Vic]

They no longer have the crew to bring them back any time soon. The vast majority of the Captains are permanently gone. To get them (the aircraft) back now would take a training effort equivalent to that which introduced the aircraft in the first place. And the difficulty of that will be compounded by the fact that quite a bit of the 330 side is also now gone.

When new types come into service there is a transition from the old to the new. In the case of the 380 much of the motion was from the Classic 747, and later the -400 and 767. Now, all of the types are run down to varying degrees.

In the industries were I work the solution to this is to hire back all the ex-employees as consultants, at vastly inflated fees. Have you got your ABN set up?*


* yes, I realise you probably don't have a rating on type and you commercial licence is probably gone.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Still don't want to play the airline game of having the cash in their bank with 'unlimited free changes' and would rather keep it in my bank.

I think the key is picking an airline that isn't going to go bankrupt and being able to fully refund, or refund with only a small fee.

The strong aussie dollar is making departures outside of Australia very competitive, far more profitable than any interest that could be earned on the money in the bank. Plus advantages if the dollar drops. For departures ex Australia, fares seem to be going up, also potentially off-setting any interest that could be earned in the bank. But all depends on a fare that can be fully refunded rather than a credit.

 

[Spacetravel]

I guess its time to resurrect this thread (mods feel free to move my post if a newer one has started).

Qantas brings non-reclining business class to Bangkok

Get ready for the business class seat that’s more like a sofa...

www.executivetraveller.com

Looks like Qantas has added some extra flights to the schedule to SE Asia and Johannesburg. I can tell they are keen to get flying but these destinations this early are a bit of a surprise to me.

I've got a flight booked on QF75 to YVR in March, its starting to look more and more likely it will go ahead! At least for those located in NSW.

 

[Mox_Fulder]

I am hoping QF would roll out another double status promo for next year before I book for a trip to YVR during northern spring. Looking forward to those flights on a 787-9.

 

[BD1959]

I am hoping QF would roll out another double status promo for next year before I book for a trip to YVR during northern spring. Looking forward to those flights on a 787-9.

Just as long as you're not crammed in one of the Y seats toward the rear of the aircraft, where it starts to narrow. I was rammed in one of these for a LHR-PER sector, swore me off 787 Y for life!

Regards,

BD