Travelling to Australia During COVID-19 (Discussion)

[PineappleSkip]

Why is it so impossible NZ (with a similar culture, similar ethnic make up etc) can manage it well?

Not so well anymore. I have an Auckland based colleague pulling his hair out because he can't organise a work trip out. You can't book a flight in until you have a place in MIQ, and places in MIQ are now impossible to obtain in the short to medium term. There are agents trawling up MIQ places for a fee, which may be part of the problem.

If you have an existing work contract you shouldn't have too much trouble getting an AUS exit pass if you are fully vaccinated.

Cheers skip

 

[awmac1]

Not so well anymore. I have an Auckland based colleague pulling his hair out because he can't organise a work trip out. You can't book a flight in until you have a place in MIQ, and places in MIQ are now impossible to obtain in the short to medium term. There are agents trawling up MIQ places for a fee, which may be part of the problem.

If you have an existing work contract you shouldn't have too much trouble betting an exit pass if you are fully vaccinated.

Cheers skip

I agree with this, also have a Kiwi mate who is stuck in Singapore as no spots left in MIQ until NEXT YEAR!

 

[jakeseven7]

I agree with this, also have a Kiwi mate who is stuck in Singapore as no spots left in MIQ until NEXT YEAR!

Our kiwi team is now grounded because they are all jammed up as well. So although more ‘organised’ the kiwi system is actually worse (right now)

 

[madrooster]

The NZ system isn't necessarily any better and having been at the coal face dealing with repatriation for 12+ months, I personally think the NZ system is worse operationally than Australia's.

With Australia I can get people on a plane to Australia with < a week's notice, in economy, even with the reduced arrivals cap. With NZ, it's almost impossible.

There's many who boast about having 5+ MIQ vouchers booked up as there's no requirement for a deposit or down payment nor are there any checks for how many MIQ vouchers a single passport number is holding.

NZ can fix their system quite readily by requiring pre-payment of the MIQ fees AND limiting how many vouchers per passport number. Personally I think that should be 1 maybe 2 at absolute most. I am aware that those who stay in NZ long term don't need to pay the MIQ fees - those can be refunded once the required stay length has been reached. It is better than a system of charging people after the fact if someone then leaves NZ, where NZ is unlikely to collect the debt.

 

[map]

Does anyone have visibility of passenger loads on recently arriving SQ317 (London - Singapore) & SQ245 (Singapore - Brisbane)?

We are booked to depart LHR on 24 September arriving BNE on 25 September in Z class, fingers crossed we won’t be bumped or the flight cancelled. Bit worrying reading about the very low number of passengers coming in and airlines reconsidering whether to maintain flights if the ongoing severely limited caps remain in place beyond August.

 

[Flashback]

Does anyone have visibility of passenger loads on recently arriving SQ317 (London - Singapore) & SQ245 (Singapore - Brisbane)?

We are booked to depart LHR on 24 September arriving BNE on 25 September in Z class, fingers crossed we won’t be bumped or the flight cancelled. Bit worrying reading about the very low number of passengers coming in and airlines reconsidering whether to maintain flights if the ongoing severely limited caps remain in place beyond August.

Is Z an award ticket?

 

[map]

Is Z an award ticket?

It’s a paid fully flexi Business fare.

Not sure if airline status makes any difference in the current environment, but I’m a PPS Club member.

 

[Flashback]

It’s a paid fully flexi Business fare.

Not sure if airline status makes any difference in the current environment, but I’m a PPS Club member.

Sounds like you should be fine then.

 

[stryker]

Sounds like you should be fine then.

Subject to cancellations. but I did see a SQ 359 in CNS last week...

 

[Flying mermaid]

It’s a paid fully flexi Business fare.

Not sure if airline status makes any difference in the current environment, but I’m a PPS Club member.

I think Business should be fine. Although Dr FM still got booted with a SQ business fare but there were extra problems at that time (no transit from London).

I don’t think you are ever safe until the plane takes off, but paying for business and having status has to be as safe as it gets. Good luck!

 

[map]

I don’t think you are ever safe until the plane takes off

That’s what we’ve accepted, hopefully we are in the best position possible to make it back. Five years as an expat, overdue to return - with a 1 year old infant in tow!

We’ll be holed up in the airport hotel having vacated our home in London, not many options if we don’t get away. Looked at the QF repatriation flights to Darwin running this month but they were sold out less than 30 mins after the email went out…

 

[Flashback]

That’s what we’ve accepted, hopefully we are in the best position possible to make it back. Five years as an expat, overdue to return - with a 1 year old infant in tow!

We’ll be holed up in the airport hotel having vacated our home in London, not many options if we don’t get away. Looked at the QF repatriation flights to Darwin running this month but they were sold out less than 30 mins after the email went out…

Well if you do get stuck I'm happy to help, we're in Surrey and not far from London central.

 

[map]

Well if you do get stuck I'm happy to help, we're in Surrey and not far from London central.

That is extremely generous! Hopefully we won’t need to call on you but your message has lowered my stress levels a few notches

 

[snabbu]

Well if you do get stuck I'm happy to help, we're in Surrey and not far from London central.

Impressive offer sir, bravo.

 

[Seat0B]

So many nice people on AFF.

 

[Alexandraadventuretime]

Hi @madrooster
I think I need your help! My friend is currently in London working and needs to get home as early as possible after the 1st November 2021. But from last week to this week any flights I saw available are pretty much gone and tickets rising. He needs a business class fare to somewhat guarantee his return home as he has a small child here in Australia. What is his best bet at this stage? He had planned to dip into Dubai but if he goes to Dubai he cant get back to London without 2 week quarantine I believe?

Any guidance would be so appreciated and possibly may need to retain your services.
Thanks

 

[madrooster]

It’s a paid fully flexi Business fare.

Not sure if airline status makes any difference in the current environment, but I’m a PPS Club member.

If you are PPS, they won't touch you, except if the entire flight gets cancelled.

Post automatically merged: Aug 16, 2021

Hi @madrooster
I think I need your help! My friend is currently in London working and needs to get home as early as possible after the 1st November 2021. But from last week to this week any flights I saw available are pretty much gone and tickets rising. He needs a business class fare to somewhat guarantee his return home as he has a small child here in Australia. What is his best bet at this stage? He had planned to dip into Dubai but if he goes to Dubai he cant get back to London without 2 week quarantine I believe?

Any guidance would be so appreciated and possibly may need to retain your services.
Thanks

London in November is still quite easy in economy. Feel free to contact me.

 

[Revenge]

I am heading to Canada next month and I'm also shipping my dog. My dog was booked on a flight SYD-AKL-YVR on AC but the animal shipping company just contacted us saying that AC are starting a new nonstop service SYD-YVR from 1 September. I was wondering if anyone knew of this and if so whether it is cargo only or whether it might also be an option for passengers to get to Canada? If it were a passenger service that would be better way to get to Canada than going with UA/DL via LAX/SFO.

 

[awmac1]

I am heading to Canada next month and I'm also shipping my dog. My dog was booked on a flight SYD-AKL-YVR on AC but the animal shipping company just contacted us saying that AC are starting a new nonstop service SYD-YVR from 1 September. I was wondering if anyone knew of this and if so whether it is cargo only or whether it might also be an option for passengers to get to Canada? If it were a passenger service that would be better way to get to Canada than going with UA/DL via LAX/SFO.

Wrong thread maybe? More chance of opinions on a different one perhaps?

 

[Flashback]

Hi @madrooster
I think I need your help! My friend is currently in London working and needs to get home as early as possible after the 1st November 2021. But from last week to this week any flights I saw available are pretty much gone and tickets rising. He needs a business class fare to somewhat guarantee his return home as he has a small child here in Australia. What is his best bet at this stage? He had planned to dip into Dubai but if he goes to Dubai he cant get back to London without 2 week quarantine I believe?

Any guidance would be so appreciated and possibly may need to retain your services.
Thanks

If your friend was double jabbed in the UK then he doesn't have to quarantine if coming back from the UAE as they're on the amber list now.