Seeking advice on RTW travel pl

[pn1]

My partner and I have a RTW booked 28 February-20 March but are still a little confused about COVID-19 testing requirements. We are both triple (double plus booster) vaccinated.

Part A is Melbourne-Sydney-San Francisco

Melbourne: 0900 (28 March 2022) [QF 426]
Sydney: 1025

Sydney: 1400 (28 March 2022) UA 870]
San Francisco: 0800 (28 March 2022)

Part B is San Francisco-Munich-Rome

San Francisco: 2240 (6 March 2022) [LH 459]
Munich: 1850 (7 March 2022)

Munich: 2105 (7 March 2022) [LH 1872]
Rome: 2235 (7 March 2022)

Part C is Rome-Frankfurt-Singapore-Sydney-Melbourne

Rome: 1840 (17 March 2022) [LH 239]
Frankfurt: 2035 (17 March 2022)

Frankfurt: 2155 (17 March 2022) [LH 778]
Singapore: 1700 (18 March 2022)

Singapore: 2030 (18 March 2022) [QF 82]
Sydney: 0730 (19 March 2022)

Sydney: 1000 (19 March 2022] [QF 433]
Melbourne: 1135 (19 March 2022)

The ticket has been issued by our travel agent but we are a little concerned the connection times may be too tight considering the various vaccination requirements (that we are still not entirely on top of as yet).

We appreciate requirements can change at short notice and that it is still seven weeks until our planned departure but any comments, thoughts, advice, etc., would be most appreciated.

Thank you from Paul (and Robyn) in Melbourne

We are experienced travellers but haven't travelled overseas since COVID-19. (This trip was deferred from 2020).

 

[Kerrodt]

Are you sure that your first dates are right? 28 March? You’re departing after you’ve arrived back home.

 

[Quickstatus]

Those connection times are in my opinion too tight even in precovid times.

Sydney 1025-1400: 3:35hrs
Munich 1850-2105 = 2:15hrs
Frankfurt 2035-2155 = 1:20hrs
Singapore 1700-2030 = 3:30hrs
Sydney 0730-1000 = 2:30hrd

They all work if you flights are in time - and let’s leave out addition of Covid time

But do this thought experiment
Take 15min away from departure time - you really have to be on the aircraft by then. You don’t want to be arriving as the aircraft doors are closing

Then take 1 hour away for potential aircraft delays (but how long is this piece of string)

Then also take away 15min away from arrival time

So remove 1:30 from each leg
And what do you get.
That itinerary is possible but I would suggest a bit longer for: Munich, Frankfurt and Sydney (last leg).

And note I have not added in any Covid exigencies.

 

[pn1]

T

Are you sure that your first dates are right? 28 March? You’re departing after you’ve arrived back home.

Thank you; it's 28 February. My oversight.

Post automatically merged: Jan 9, 2022

Those connection times are in my opinion too tight even in precovid times.

Sydney 1025-1400: 3:35hrs
Munich 1850-2105 = 2:15hrs
Frankfurt 2035-2155 = 1:20hrs
Singapore 1700-2030 = 3:30hrs
Sydney 0730-1000 = 2:30hrd

They all work if you flights are in time - and let’s leave out addition of Covid time

But do this thought experiment
Take 15min away from departure time - you really have to be on the aircraft by then. You don’t want to be arriving as the aircraft doors are closing

Then take 1 hour away for potential aircraft delays (but how long is this piece of string)

Then also take away 15min away from arrival time

So remove 1:30 from each leg
And what do you get.
That itinerary is possible but I would suggest a bit longer for: Munich, Frankfurt and Sydney (last leg).

And note I have not added in any Covid exigencies.

Yes; I am feeling much the same way but that was what the travel agent recommended. Maybe I should review the itinerary with her?

 

[Quickstatus]

travel agent recommended

They just sell flights which are “legal” in terms of minimum connection times MCT. It does not mean it’s a good idea.

just take the last leg: SYD-MEL.
You arrive in the international terminal
You have go through immigration queues
You have to pick up your bags
You have to go through biosecurity check
You then have to go upstairs to bag drop the bags
You then have to go to Qantas domestic transfer
You then catch a bus which goes to Domestic
You then have to go to your gate.

Not including the Covid Time, 2:30 is in my opinion really tight.

 

[VPS]

T

Thank you; it's 28 February. My oversight.

Post automatically merged: Jan 9, 2022

Yes; I am feeling much the same way but that was what the travel agent recommended. Maybe I should review the itinerary with her?

Also check if you are all on one PNR - some TA's choose these flights and if anything goes wrong you're not protected

 

[Quattro]

I'd be looking for a new travel agent... IMO. I thought I was being harsh but seems I'm not the only one thinking that there's just not enough room for delay

 

[pn1]

Thanks for the helpful comments. As a result, I've revised the itinerary with longer connection times. Additional charges (about 15% of the fare paid) seemed reasonable in the circumstances.

We also have the opportunity to stay overnight (at our own expense) at Singapore and take QF direct to Melbourne the following day. How would that work with any COVID-19 restrictions in Singapore?

Thanks again to all for the helpful thoughts and comments.

Paul (and Robyn) in Melbourne

 

[Quattro]

Thanks for the helpful comments. As a result, I've revised the itinerary with longer connection times. Additional charges (about 15% of the fare paid) seemed reasonable in the circumstances.

We also have the opportunity to stay overnight (at our own expense) at Singapore and take QF direct to Melbourne the following day. How would that work with any COVID-19 restrictions in Singapore?

Thanks again to all for the helpful thoughts and comments.

Paul (and Robyn) in Melbourne

Nice work!
I can tell you, I've never arrived for a Intl Flight 4 hours early (pre-Covid). First trip was Fiji last week. Got there at 4am (8:00am flight). Fiji changed the rules from 72 hours to 48 hours PCR test. I had a 72 hour one. Had to line up and anxiously await the 6am opening of the testing facility at Melb intl. Being I was there at 4am, I was second in line as I was not the only one caught up in that issue. I learnt to give yourself as much time as possible. Plan for the most inconvenient pop-ups.

To gain entry to SIN, all you need to be doing is arriving on a VTL (vaccinated travel lane) flight. Assuming your travel agent is doing the leg work, ensure that's the case for the flight arriving there. Obviously, you'll require the appropriate documentation. Easy to obtain what you need online. There was a couple of things we needed. Also needed to purchase some form of test from SIN airport (Covid Test); again was done online.