Travelling to Australia During COVID-19 (Discussion)

[Ric]

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.

Check with a friend who works for AC at YYZ. Flight number with 4 digits are not normal flight so hence >95% cargo flight using 787-9

 

[jakeseven7]

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.

AC has been flying that route for months, but cargo only.

 

[Revenge]

Check with a friend who works for AC at YYZ. Flight number with 4 digits are not normal flight so hence >95% cargo flight using 787-9

Thanks @Ric that's helpful. I've since found out that the flight number is AC7306 so yes it does seem to be cargo only.

AC has been flying that route for months, but cargo only.

@jakeseven7 No the dog was originally booked on AC7302/AC3704 which has been flying for months but is SYD-AKL-YVR some days and SYD-AKL-YYZ some days, though very rarely direct SYD-YVR. AC7306 seems to normally be only YVR-YYZ so I was interested in whether the extension to SYD might be a passenger service but of course it will be cargo only.

 

[davidj]

What are the chances of QFA operating Asia > Oz flights as planned late in December? I'm keen to book for Jan 22 but don't want to waste time on a slot that will never eventuate. I'd then rather commit to SIA or THA.

 

[Revenge]

What are the chances of QFA operating Asia > Oz flights as planned late in December? I'm keen to book for Jan 22 but don't want to waste time on a slot that will never eventuate. I'd then rather commit to SIA or THA.

I think the chances are very low. Quarantine caps still likely to be in place. If you pay for a QF ticket you will likely end up with a cancelled flight and waiting months for a refund. I would bet on SQ.

 

[PineappleSkip]

What are the chances of QFA operating Asia > Oz flights as planned late in December?

I'd estimate 1. Buckleys, or 2. none. Announcement today of a hotel quarantine facility to open in Jandakot WA in March 2022.

cheers skip

 

[mviy]

Really need to see a firm commitment from the states to home quarantine. If they wish to stick with hotel quarantine they'll need many more in hotels than can go in the dedicated quarantine facilities or to expand the dedicated quarantine facilities to a much higher capacity.

 

[jakeseven7]

Really need to see a firm commitment from the states to home quarantine. If they wish to stick with hotel quarantine they'll need many more in hotels than can go in the dedicated quarantine facilities or to expand the dedicated quarantine facilities to a much higher capacity.

NSW could do it now What would a couple more leaks per month really mean anyway.

 

[davidj]

I would bet on SQ.

What about other carriers? DLH are suggesting flights via Japan to reach oz.

My likely options are (what is likely the safest?):

- DLH, connect via Japan onto ANA. Connect onto THA at BKK also an option
- AFR/KLM, connect via Singapore/BKK/Japan onto QFA (as mentioned this is high risk as QFA may never operate). If QFA cancel would AFR rebook me on SIA, pending available seats/slots?
- UAE all the way via ME (would like to avoid the ME if possible). QTR and ETD also options.
- SIA all the way via SIN. This is the most expensive option at the moment

Looking at ex. EU but the second sector to oz is obviously the most concerning.

 

[dajop]

NSW could do it now What would a couple more leaks per month really mean anyway.

Or at the very minimum release people after Day 2 testing. 10 cases from travellers in last week. 0.3% of all the new cases in NSW for the week. Day 2 testing would probably reduce that to 0.1% The proverbial in the ocean.

 

[davidj]

Today THA seems to have closed ticket slots to oz until 1 April 22.
I'm also seeing lower UAE economy capacity until the second half of Jan.

 

[map]

When I looked at SQ a week ago I couldn’t find economy availability from London to BNE until February 2022. Business availability 17 Nov 2021.

 

[Borneo Nomad]

The Travelling to Australia During COVID-19 guide is available at the following link:

Travelling to Australia During COVID-19 (Guide)

Check back periodically for expanded information and updates. Last Updated: 15 JUL 2021 Please note that this guide is no longer being updated. AFF on Air Podcasts Podcast #54: How to Fly to Australia Without Getting "Bumped"...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

This thread is available for members who wish to discuss the content in the guide, have questions about content in the guide or anything related to travelling to Australia during the pandemic.!

Thanks @madrooster for putting together this very useful guide!

I have a question and hope you or anyone else in this community be able to assist.

I plan to move back to Brisbane from Kuching. Hope to travel between September and November 2021. Is it possible to get a flight within those dates?

Many thanks in advance!

 

[Flashback]

My colleagues flight (expensive one way paid business class fare on Qatar) that was due to leave in just over a week has now been cancelled. So even an expensive ticket in J doesn't always guarantee entry.

 

[manarh]

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

Post automatically merged: Aug 16, 2021

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

Details would be welcome, especially if it includes advice on how mere mortals (no status, on a "budget" though that's obviously still 4 figures these days) can reasonably maximize odds of getting on a flight.

I'm helping my nephew and his fiance who are both junior doctors coming to work in a hospital near Sydney with the hospital sorting the quarantine. They have one-way flights on SQ (economy, no status) in November booked but the hospital wants them sooner if at all possible.

Scoot shows one or two seats (SIN-SYD) on a few days in Sept and transit from London in Singapore seems allowed (especially if LHR-SIN is on SQ). How risky do people think that would be? If Scoot would bump them at least 24 hours in advance it wouldn't be too bad as they wouldn't have left London but I worry about them landing in Singapore then having to buy a return to the UK if Scoot don't take them.

Do people think arriving in Singapore on SQ is markedly better than arriving on BA? The BA next day return price is pretty much the same as a one-way (vs SQ which is more than double) so that would at least give them a way back if Scoot ends up a dud.

Manar

 

[madrooster]

I'm helping my nephew and his fiance who are both junior doctors coming to work in a hospital near Sydney with the hospital sorting the quarantine. They have one-way flights on SQ (economy, no status) in November booked but the hospital wants them sooner if at all possible.

The hospital should apply for them to come in above the arrivals cap. NSW has a process for this.

 

[manarh]

The hospital should apply for them to come in above the arrivals cap. NSW has a process for this.

Yep, the bit we're struggling with is getting them a flight.

 

[drron]

The hospital should apply for them to come in above the arrivals cap. NSW has a process for this.

This is what a couple of Tassie hospitals have done during the pandemic.And I know it works as 1 was a physician for the Mersey hospital.He was able to come earlier so my contract was shortened by 2 weeks.Also know a couple of registrars who got here the same way.

 

[manarh]

This is what a couple of Tassie hospitals have done during the pandemic.And I know it works as 1 was a physician for the Mersey hospital.He was able to come earlier so my contract was shortened by 2 weeks.Also know a couple of registrars who got here the same way.

Does that feed into making it easier to get flights or at least to not get bumped once you do get flights? If so, how?

 

[Pushka]

Yep, the bit we're struggling with is getting them a flight.

You see @madrooster responding? Have a 'conversation' with him through AFF and he may be able to help.