Travelling to Australia During COVID-19 (Discussion)

[madrooster]

Thanks for clarifying that madrooster.
Just read a blog today which said the US (Biden) is considering lifting travel restrictions (inbound) from the UK and EU around mid-May. So, if this does happen, then we can fly from UK to US onto AU - opening up another route.

Yes it does. It's not overly viable financially though at almost 5000 AUD for a one way in Y.

 

[Ric]

It's unlikely to run. PR are slow to file their cancellations. They haven't operated passenger services to Sydney for months and there's no signs that they will start either.

A very big shout out for @madrooster !! Thank you so much for your help and efforts!
As predicted by @madrooster PR cancelled their April 1st flight Mnl > Syd on Mar 9. But @madrooster had already had me booked on SQ Mnl > Sin > Syd for today. Am at Changi now at transit hold area waiting for Sin > Syd leg.

 

[jakeseven7]

Any idea of which airlines will schedule passenger carrying flights into MEL when it reopens shortly?

 

[mviy]

Any idea of which airlines will schedule passenger carrying flights into MEL when it reopens shortly?

Probably some of the airlines carrying passengers from MEL at the moment (if there are any). Presumably madrooster would remember which airlines were carrying passengers before the latest time they stopped taking passengers Into MEL.

 

[madrooster]

Probably some of the airlines carrying passengers from MEL at the moment (if there are any). Presumably madrooster would remember which airlines were carrying passengers before the latest time they stopped taking passengers Into MEL.

QR, EK, EY, CZ, CI, SQ, TR, GA

CX probably won't be back for a little while with their HK crew quarantine issues.

 

[Pushka]

QR, EK, EY, CZ, CI, SQ, TR, GA

CX probably won't be back for a little while with their HK crew quarantine issues.

May I ask if I was flying from Adelaide to UK and wanted to return to Adelaide (maybe Sydney is a safer bet) the safest (what does that even mean) way to do this? I'm thinking QR back to Adelaide but the way to UK seems problematic. I don't want to do the hotel quarantine thing in UK and am not a UK citizen. In July.

 

[madrooster]

May I ask if I was flying from Adelaide to UK and wanted to return to Adelaide (maybe Sydney is a safer bet) the safest (what does that even mean) way to do this? I'm thinking QR back to Adelaide but the way to UK seems problematic. I don't want to do the hotel quarantine thing and am not a UK citizen. In July.

Straight out of/into ADL - SQ is your only viable choice.

If you are happy to go via another port then there's other alternatives. You would want to structure your return ticket appropriately to ensure that you have a low chance of being bumped on your return.

 

[Pushka]

Straight out of/into ADL - SQ is your only viable choice.

If you are happy to go via another port then there's other alternatives. You would want to structure your return ticket appropriately to ensure that you have a low chance of being bumped on your return.

I'll be in touch . A few things to sort first, like, permission! Don't really mind about exit so much as long as it's good with UK but will need collective minds for return.

 

[Flashback]

May I ask if I was flying from Adelaide to UK and wanted to return to Adelaide (maybe Sydney is a safer bet) the safest (what does that even mean) way to do this? I'm thinking QR back to Adelaide but the way to UK seems problematic. I don't want to do the hotel quarantine thing in UK and am not a UK citizen. In July.

July this year? Guess it depends what the red list looks like, high chance of HQ on arrival here going via the Middle East.

 

[mviy]

July this year would seem a bit soon to me unless you're visiting a dying relative overseas (who has no family with them) or some other crisis. I can't see the government relaxing the rules then when the vaccine rollout still has a long way to go.

I would like to travel June/July this year to the UK and come home but I think there's probably zero chance I'll have even had the first dose of the vaccine by then.

I think a lot depends on the vaccine rollout progress. If the rollout slips into next year then international travel rules may not relax until next year.

 

[Pushka]

July this year would seem a bit soon to me unless you're visiting a dying relative overseas (who has no family with them) or some other crisis. I can't see the government relaxing the rules then when the vaccine rollout still has a long way to go.

I would like to travel June/July this year to the UK and come home but I think there's probably zero chance I'll have even had the first dose of the vaccine by then.

I think a lot depends on the vaccine rollout progress. If the rollout slips into next year then international travel rules may not relax until next year.

We may have to go for work purposes. Still negotiating with overseas colleagues. Timing for this product is season dependent.

 

[jakeseven7]

QR, EK, EY, CZ, CI, SQ, TR, GA

CX probably won't be back for a little while with their HK crew quarantine issues.

United are still flying freight into MEL, I wonder if they will start picking up passengers too

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

We may have to go for work purposes. Still negotiating with overseas colleagues. Timing for this product is season dependent.

Lucky you. I thought you might be going for the 3 month rule (or whatever the rule has been administratively extended to)

 

[Flashback]

Lucky you. I thought you might be going for the 3 month rule (or whatever the rule has been administratively extended to)

No, the UKs summer is happening over the next 3 days

 

[Pushka]

Lucky you. I thought you might be going for the 3 month rule (or whatever the rule has been administratively extended to)

We don’t have permission yet. Time will tell. Don’t like our chances. We don’t play tennis or sing!

 

[dajop]

United are still flying freight into MEL, I wonder if they will start picking up passengers too

IIRC, they were during the last suspension too and did not start carrying pax when flights resumed.

 

[madrooster]

United are still flying freight into MEL, I wonder if they will start picking up passengers too

They haven't for ages. I suspect no on that one.

 

[jakeseven7]

They haven't for ages. I suspect no on that one.

Spoke to a contact at United HQ, they are reviewing passenger potential in May. So a 'not for now' for MEL.

 

[jonesja]

Hi Alan - Loved the podcast - thank you. Do you have any suggestions of how to reduce the very long wait time trying to speak to Qantas Customer service? I am in the UK trying to change my flight return date (Emirates codeshare from LHR via Dubai to Sydney 20 April). Is there a quieter time of day to call - (the site says 24 hour service but when I rang at 7am UK time there was already an hour's wait. I'm calling the number given for Qantas UK customer services. There is an option for Qantas to 'call me back' but as this is only to an Australian phone number, I can't use that option (my Aus mobile is in wifi/no calls mode to avoid hugs charges during the time I'm here - 3 months so far - so using a cheap UK mobile). My second try today at 8.30am took so long without speaking to anyone that my 'top up' PAYG credit expired....this doesn't bode well. Any suggestions for how to get around this, please? Thanks, Janice

 

[PineappleSkip]

Welcome to AFF, jonesja.

I'd keep an eye on the Oz news about hotspots and border closures and dial when it dies down, if you can wait. The huge wait times ATM likely relate to cancellations into/out of Brisbane following the lockdown and border closures just before Easter.

Cheers skip