Two-way Trans-Tasman Bubble starting 19 April 2021

[Lynda2475]

Seems to be trying to force minimum 15 day trips, which is too long to justify for business travel or a non first time tourist visit. Need to fix it to say Aus or Nz in last 14 days, or will kill off so much potential travel.

 

[henrus]

Seems to be trying to force minimum 15 dwy trips, which is toklong to justify for business travel or a non first time tourist visit. Need to fix it to say Aus or Nz in last 14 days, or will kill off so much potential travel.

No, it's a mistake with the form. AU Department of health says it can be 14 days in either country but the form just needs to be updated to reflect that.

 

[Lynda2475]

, it's a mistake with the form

So clearly no proper UAT done or insufficient use cases pathetic really. Not hard to check form against published health directives.

 

[burmans]

The form was outsourced to a 3rd party, expect they will be scrambling to fix it tomorrow.

 

[jase05]

EK has SYD-CHC loaded from Nov 2nd. Hopefully they bring that forward a couple a weeks as I’ve managed to squeeze a couple of weeks off work in October

 

[henrus]

EK has SYD-CHC loaded from Nov 2nd. Hopefully they bring that forward a couple a weeks as I’ve managed to squeeze a couple of weeks off work in October

My money is on a zero chance that will actually operate. EK operating the 412/413 service DXB-SYD-CHC-SYD-DXB will be dependent on both Australia and New Zealand having completely open borders as that service will not operate as a green zone flight.

Anyone who is silly enough to book EK on the SYD-CHC or CHC-SYD routes will likely be rebooked on a Qantas-operated flight.

 

[jase05]

My money is on a zero chance that will actually operate. EK operating the 412/413 service DXB-SYD-CHC-SYD-DXB will be dependent on both Australia and New Zealand having completely open borders as that service will not operate as a green zone flight.

Anyone who is silly enough to book EK on the SYD-CHC or CHC-SYD routes will likely be rebooked on a Qantas-operated flight.

But we can live in hope
We will leave it as late as possible to book and hope for a miracle, worst case scenario is we are stuck with QF

 

[henrus]

Well, it looks like the first flight of the two-way travel bubble will touch down in Auckland soon.

VH-XZB operated as QF6015 from SYD-AKL this evening. Expert flyer shows 12/12 in Business and 18 occupied seats in Economy. NZ media are calling the flight "mysterious" but it seems to be nothing more than QF flying staff/the plane over to operate the first AKL-OOL flight QF166 tomorrow morning.

Officially, JQ201 will be the first with passengers landing in Auckland at 11:20am tomorrow morning.

 

[jakeseven7]

Well, it looks like the first flight of the two-way travel bubble will touch down in Auckland soon.

VH-XZB operated as QF6015 from SYD-AKL this evening. Expert flyer shows 12/12 in Business and 18 occupied seats in Economy. NZ media are calling the flight "mysterious" but it seems to be nothing more than QF flying staff/the plane over to operate the first AKL-OOL flight QF166 tomorrow morning.

Officially, JQ201 will be the first with passengers landing in Auckland at 11:20am tomorrow morning.

Water canons I wonder it’s a bit of a milestone!

 

[henrus]

Finally in the last hour or so they've updated the Australian arrival form:

 

[burmans]

As we suspected would happen!

 

[Berlin]

Now who will bring us the first trip report I wonder... I am super eager to hear: How's the airport experience, how's the lounge experience, how is the service on board etc. Mostly keen to hear about Business class and Qantas but I'd also read an AirNZ report with great interest

 

[Kiwi_Flyer]

QF is using NZ lounges ex NZ. Lots of happy travellers and staff. The mood reminds me somewhat of flying just before Christmas.

Apart from a few special sweets (eg lamingtons), catering in lounge is same as normal for NZ.

 

[Berlin]

QF is using NZ lounges ex NZ. Lots of happy travellers and staff. The mood reminds me somewhat of flying just before Christmas.

Apart from a few special sweets (eg lamingtons), catering in lounge is same as normal for NZ.

Which is not too shabby until they unexplainably take all the hot food away mid afternoon (at least in AKL they do) and you're left with a Domestic Qantas club like choice of cold sandwiches, some sweets and a couple of salads.

 

[Kiwi_Flyer]

Plenty of hot food right now.

 

[Rugby]

Finally in the last hour or so they've updated the Australian arrival form:

View attachment 245365

Admin done & approved

 

[Matt_01]

EK has SYD-CHC loaded from Nov 2nd. Hopefully they bring that forward a couple a weeks as I’ve managed to squeeze a couple of weeks off work in October

I doubt that will happen, I had taken a punt on EK CHC-SYD back in Dec 20 for flights in Oct 21 (school holidays), EK cancelled the flights in mid Mar 21.

 

[themanfromoz]

Does anyone know if lounge invitations will be valid for either SYD F or AKL lounges?
I have several (just accidentally came across these) as part of the Points Club benefits.

 

[henrus]

Does anyone know if lounge invitations will be valid for either SYD F or AKL lounges?

Sometime next month. QF has said it will take them a bit of time to re-add these lounges to the complimentary invitations portal. My guess is it's actually them figuring out how much capacity they have first.

Edit: Should have paid more attention to the first post. Apparently the invitations in BNE, SYD and MEL are coming soon.

I don't think invitations will be able to be used in AKL, CHC, WLG or ZQN as technically these now contract lounges and you could never use invitations as contract lounges (like the Mania lounge in CHC or ZQN).

 

[themanfromoz]

Sometime next month. QF has said it will take them a bit of time to re-add these lounges to the complimentary invitations portal. My guess is it's actually them figuring out how much capacity they have first.

Edit: Should have paid more attention to the first post. Apparently the invitations in BNE, SYD and MEL are coming soon.

I don't think invitations will be able to be used in AKL, CHC, WLG or ZQN as technically these now contract lounges and you could never use invitations as contract lounges (like the Mania lounge in CHC or ZQN).

Thanks. Contacted QF via their contact form (got a return phone call within 5 days last week for a previous enquiry) and will report any responses.
Interestingly I can add an invitation to my MEL-SYD leg (AKL-MEL-SYD) which is weird as that is in J anyway :S