Status Run: SYD-DPS-SYD

[Aeolus]

Had a good chuckle about the too scared to visit Dps/Kul/Bkk and even Japan comments. These are cities I visit yearly on my own, as a female, and not once did ever feel unsafe even when I don’t speak their language.

 

[Pushka]

I agree, too much misinformation, waffle, troll etc, ... and I go OT too much, but will try to tame it.
First time I saw the street beggars in AKL city (they don't carry their possessions around), in about 2013, it popped my eyes, scary as you know what, scary it sure was, then I realised, they tend to only have their tins out, or people do give them money or talk to them, then I noticed that they tend to leave pedestrians alone.
Then, of late, ADL now has a lot of rough sleepers, or beggars, (who do have huge piles of their possessions}, also they tend to leave pedestrians alone.
Like I said, I have not stepped into Indonesian soil, they might be nice people, but just reading on websites, that I don't write on, is scary enough.
Anyway, to each their own sense of security, or what's right/appropriate.
I will keep my thoughts to myself about Bali DPS or KUL from now on.

Poochie please continue to add your thoughts and experiences about places you have been to - you have every right to do that. But it’s not helpful to make up elaborate stories of places you’ve not been to.

 

[RichardMEL]

Detroit.. now yeah that is a place I felt unsafe walking down the main drag to the train station. I got the feeling if I happened to meet the eye of someone in the wrong way there could be trouble somehow. I was fine of course, but there was definitely a feeling of unease even in the bright sunshine. I can't explain it (the burned out buildings in downtown did not help). This was some years ago so hopefully it's much better now. I hope so.

At any rate EVERY city has beggars (well actually maybe a place like Japan doesn't? I don't know? Scandi countries?) and rough sleepers. Seattle has whole areas set up where many stay in a comune if you will (I don't want to use the word ghetto, but seems like it's potentially headed that way) and yes, some can be intimidating. For awhile a few years back in the Melbourne CBD they would be rather agressive and in your face and abusive. and yes, there were quite a few "street shanties" that were created of rough sleepers with matteresses and the like setting up camp. The city did a lot to clear a lot of that out (possibly just moving them to other areas) and trying to find help/accom (for those that would accept it - some do not for many reasons). Lately it's been.. better in my experience.

I was recently in Dallas and was surprised at the numbers in the downtown there of a pretty wealthy city/state but there was no agression. A few "Hey buddy can you spare a buck?" but that's about it.

In some ways "chuggers" are more an issue in some places in my view, but that's a whole other issue.

It's sad if NZ has an increasing homeless issue to be honest. They are one of the best countries in the world with progressive social policies and a great economy. I've spent a bit of time over there (not including many transits ) and had not felt a huge issue, but I suppose like here in Australia society does have it's poor, mentally ill and homeless. I know I would still feel overall so much more safe in Auckland than in many other parts of the world (except maybe Singapore).

At the end of the day tough it does not matter where you are - at home or away - you can get scammed, robbed, abused, confronted or intimidated. It's how we react and how we manage ourselves (ie common sense, being aware of who and what is around us etc) that i think is the key.

 

[ausfox]

I don't have to leave AUS, I have plenty of beggars here in Melbourne.

 

[mrsterryn]

I found Warsaw to have so many beggars. They would tend to send a small child over or a slightly older child with a baby

 

[flyingfan]

I'll be flying through on 22 Feb, will post back.

01Feb for me. I'll try to do the same

6th Feb for me

I'll look as well to confirm the data point ;-)

Did you spot the international transfers area and did it look serviceable (open and no huge lines etc)? With the current DSC promo I'm looking at a couple of DPS runs but really don't want to turn it into a holiday - time is short so want an immediate turnaround.

 

[sudoer]

Did you spot the international transfers area and did it look serviceable (open and no huge lines etc)? With the current DSC promo I'm looking at a couple of DPS runs but really don't want to turn it into a holiday - time is short so want an immediate turnaround.

Argh, I'm sorry, I completely forgot to look when I arrived last night...

 

[Pushka]

Argh, I'm sorry, I completely forgot to look when I arrived last night...

We will be flying into Bali in 4 weeks - planned holiday. Is there a noticeable drop in passenger numbers and additional Corona virus checks (temperature monitors?) Any other observations?

 

[sudoer]

We will be flying into Bali in 4 weeks - planned holiday. Is there a noticeable drop in passenger numbers and additional Corona virus checks (temperature monitors?) Any other observations?

Yes, my jaw dropped when I saw how empty the immigration hall was. Last time I came in on QF45, which arrives at about the same time as QF43, immigration queues spanned the entire immigration hall. This time we were about 20th in line, through in no more than 5 minutes.

You'll be handed a yellow 'health check card' questionnaire with your customs declaration by cabin crew. One of the field's will ask for 'address' but doesn't specify home or destination - they want your intended address in Bali. Saw multiple people get sent away to correct the form.

Didn't see any temperature monitors.

Unrelated to your question but I've just posted some pics from QF43 over in the Meals thread, if anyone is interested.

 

[Pushka]

Yes, my jaw dropped when I saw how empty the immigration hall was. Last time I came in on QF45, which arrives at about the same time as QF43, immigration queues spanned the entire immigration hall. This time we were about 20th in line, through in no more than 5 minutes.

You'll be handed a yellow 'health check card' questionnaire with your customs declaration by cabin crew. One of the field's will ask for 'address' but doesn't specify home or destination - they want your intended address in Bali. Saw multiple people get sent away to correct the form.

Didn't see any temperature monitors.

Unrelated to your question but I've just posted some pics from QF43 over in the Meals thread, if anyone is interested.

That sounds quite wonderful. We were originally booked as a couple but in the current DSC I did end up separating from my husband of 40 years and have a new PNR. He kept the same one as he doesn’t need to to requal WP so if it works, well, bingo!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

We will be flying into Bali in 4 weeks - planned holiday. Is there a noticeable drop in passenger numbers and additional Corona virus checks (temperature monitors?) Any other observations?

In contrast to sbor90's experience, last week there were still queues of around 300 people in the immigration hall around midday when we arrived. Chinese visitor numbers are well down - apparently they get around 5000 a day? That's dried up. But still plenty of Aussies arriving, and there were flights from Singapore and KL that had just come in and must have been fairly full.

of course a couple of weeks is a long time. Perhaps forward bookings will drop off.

 

[RealtimeY]

Is there any verdict on whether or not DPS has a transit desk for QF passengers? The DPS website seems to say that transit passengers do not need to go through customs, but there's not much more information out there.

I'm flying into DPS at 21:05 and leaving at 20:15, giving myself a measly 1h 10m connecting time...not sure if it's too tight or what will happen if I were to miss it.

 

[Aeolus]

I'm flying into DPS at 21:05 and leaving at 20:15, giving myself a measly 1h 10m connecting time...not sure if it's too tight or what will happen if I were to miss it.

Unless you’re Dr Who, I’m assuming you meant 2215hrs and not 2015hrs departure?
Rather than worrying the entire flight to DPS on whether you could make the connection or not, why don’t you spend a night there? Accommodation is cheap enough.
To be honest, even if there’s a transfer desk, if there’s a queue you’ll be struggling to make your connecting. Remember, you’ll still need to add the time for the plane to taxi and for you to disembark and god forbid if they can’t get the airbridge access, you’ll have to wait for the bus transfer as well which will add more time. Personally I won’t do it - way too stressful.

 

[Jimmy Chen]

so uh... back on topic... did those who attempt QF43/44 get through without clearing customs?