Two-way Trans-Tasman Bubble starting 19 April 2021

[Matt_01]

@henrus I do not hold NZ citizenship or have a current place of residence in NZ so it is not really relevant. I just took exception to the what was written in the amendment. As mentioned I do not have a legal background so have most likely misinterpreted what was written. The only reason I thought of this scenario was last year as AU states were slamming their borders shut, during that period I did have a place in SA (primary residence) and another in VIC that I used to rent as I worked there had done so for a number of years.

 

[glasszon]

This is fine because AU will never know. However, the only people who can return to NZ are citizens or residents. So unless you hold NZ citizenship or are a resident then you can't enter NZ MIQ.

Australian's who have been living in NZ for 6 months in the past 12 months are considered NZ residents for the purposes of entering NZ MIQ.

Australia and New Zealand immigration can access each other's database, that's why Australian permanent residents can travel to NZ using only their electronic visa, so I am not sure that Australia won't know that you went to a third country even if you were to quarantine in NZ before you go back to Australia.

For all intent and purposes though this is mostly moot, only people who can test this theory are dual AU/NZ citizens or Australians with New Zealand PR. Most kiwis live in Australia on 444 visa which is exempt from the travel ban.

 

[Matt_01]

that's why Australian permanent residents can travel to NZ using only their electronic visa,

A bit OT, is this new? Prior to Covid I was aware that NZ introduced a electronic visa system in 2019? However au citizens traveling on an AU passport are exempt. I was also of the understanding that there was some talk (rumor) that AU citizens and NZ citizens could potentially travel across the ditch without a passport. I was not sure how that was going to work or what ID would have been required. Last time I was in NZ was early Mar 20 and I was still using my passport. Are you suggesting that if we travel to NZ AU citizens do not need a passport, only asking as my daughters passport has expired and I will not be renewing it until we know she will need it.

 

[glasszon]

A bit OT, is this new? Prior to Covid I was aware that NZ introduced a electronic visa system in 2019? However au citizens traveling on an AU passport are exempt. I was also of the understanding that there was some talk (rumor) that AU citizens and NZ citizens could potentially travel across the ditch without a passport. I was not sure how that was going to work or what ID would have been required. Last time I was in NZ was early Mar 20 and I was still using my passport. Are you suggesting that if we travel to NZ AU citizens do not need a passport, only asking as my daughters passport has expired and I will not be renewing it until we know she will need it.

Edit: Apologies about the confusion, I was referring to the fact that Australian PR can enter NZ without the physical visa attached to the passport (before the introduction of NZeTA) as NZ immigration officers can access the Australia VEVO system, not that they can travel without a passport.

 

[Cappuccino99]

Ok so I live in Aus on a 444 scv and hold NZ and British passports.
Who wants to fund an experimental trip for me to get from MEL>AKL>LHR and back, legally without hassle? Happy to write a TR ;-)

 

[milehighclub]

MEL>AKL>LHR and back, legally without hassle? Happy to write a TR ;-)

You could do that trip easily provided you can find either a seat back into Australia or a spot in MIQ in NZ (both of which will charge you). You can’t be legally stopped from leaving Australia when you are on a 444.

 

[Berlin]

How is everyone else's experience with the different "declaration" forms? I find it astonishing how the Kiwi for is SOOOOO super easy compared to the nonsense one has to go through to get into Australia.

Just completed the NSW one which is unnecessarily complicated. And in my case, it felt like it is in the totally wrong order- first the flight details for the flight I take domestically to leave NSW, then the flight I take later leaving Australia and only then the incoming flight tomorrow and the passport number at the very end. Odd.

The (federal) Australian system I found the worst because it forces you to create an account and select super dooper complicated passwords which I am sure half of the users will forget by the time they randomly want to travel to Australia AGAIN. Plus the page just looks so awful, I was just waiting for my mouse pointer to change into a little mini-ScoMo

So again, and I don't say this easily as an Aussie who has been stuck in NZ for much longer than he had intended to: Big Kiwi win, if you ask me!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

You could do that trip easily provided you can find either a seat back into Australia or a spot in MIQ in NZ (both of which will charge you). You can’t be legally stopped from leaving Australia when you are on a 444.

I guess the main issue with a seat back into Australia is the stat dec - and presumably penalties - that you have breached the Biosecurity Act rules to 'not travel' unless you have been granted an exemption

 

[Berlin]

Funny how quickly the old cr@# comes back: My excitement about crossing the Tasman this afternoon has just received a big hit as Qantas decided to bump us from an A330 to a coughpy little 737. As a result my partner and me aren't even seated together anymore- and that on fully self-funded business class fares

Not the start back into my trans-Tasman travel life I had hoped for...

 

[henrus]

My excitement about crossing the Tasman this afternoon has just received a big hit as Qantas decided to bump us from an A330 to a coughpy little 737.

I assume you're on QF146?

It may not be possible but if you're open to flying 3 hours later you could ask to be put on QF148 leaving at 6:05pm instead? QF might even be happy because it seems business may have been oversold on QF146.

 

[Berlin]

I assume you're on QF146?

It may not be possible but if you're open to flying 3 hours later you could ask to be put on QF148 leaving at 6:05pm instead?

Thanks- on the phone as we speak trying to get this sorted. J seems to be wide open still on the QF148.

 

[Berlin]

Hi guys- great news, I managed to change us both to the QF148. We're going on a holiday so the two hours later arrival aren't such a big deal for us. Spoke to a lovely Qantas agent called Emely who was the kind of person you are hoping for when calling: Well spoken, competent, polite and sorted it all for us, even some seats next to each other in 1E and 1F.

Very happy and grateful for the great service

 

[Berlin]

I thought I give a little update as there aren’t too many trip reports out there yet: Just arrived at the airport, terminal pretty empty but not entirely dead (several AirNZ flights are checking in as well as our QF one and a long queue for EK as well).
Security a breeze and you can literally feel happiness everywhere- by staff that they’re back in their jobs and by travellers that it’s time to be back in the air.

Only one of the two Duty Frees at AKL open but some pretty good specials so buying two nice bottles of Scotch. Very odd selection of stores open otherwise- a random make up shop, some Sushi place but most others closed up. Super nice welcome at the Air NZ lounge. All very quaint apart from the usual screaming babies- sitting at the window with nice views on the tarmac. Food unfortunately absolutely dismal as it always is past 2pm here- some leftover dried in lentil curry that has been sitting there for hours and no refill in sight. Couple of finger sandwiches, two horrid salad choices (Kumara or Beetroot- only Kale could be worse) and entirely useless mini muffins that somehow always have to be there but won’t remotely feed anyone with an appetite.

Drinks pretty decent (bar proper champagne of course)- it surprises me how they sustain a bar with proper coughtail mixers but can’t throw out some pasta with sauce at least. Very happy regardless and super happy to be back!

 

[Berlin]

Just arrived in Australia- finally!

Our flight started with technical issues which had our aircraft sitting idle just after the pull truck got us from the gate which is an odd location to stand around for half an hour. Not sure what exactly happened but the half hour delay unfortunately wasn’t recovered en route. It might have been connected somehow to the fact that upon boarding, there wasn’t any electricity besides the emergency lighting so no aircon (for which the pilot had apologised), no IFE and not even the seat controls working. As a result of the latter, I was made to change to a different seat for takeoff so here went the chance to hold hands for the special moment which we both found rather sad.

About half an hour past take off (so a bit more than an hour after push back and the initial welcome champagne- yep, proper French champagne), the electricity finally went on and the seatbelts were switched off. It took another 20 minutes or so until a crew member handed out some tiny water bottles and yet another 15 or so minute until they appeared with a trolley. Disappointingly, the meal service was- well, Domestic: No menu cards, choice of two mains served together with a Lindt ball and a tiny packaged cherry tart. I will post pictures over in the Qantas J meal thread.

Both dishes were at least tasty but I later asked for a Bloody Mary and was laughed at by one of the rather clueless crew members:“Haha, not on these flights Sir!” I wondered what she meant by “these flights” but hey, they had plenty of champers left. Seems like if Qantas announces that you get proper Champagne from now on, they mean you get champagne. Full stop.

 

[henrus]

clueless crew members

Curious were they Jetconnect or QF Australian? Noting that QF had quite a few Jetconnect A330 cabin crew who'd mainly operate stuff to/from China (something to do with overtime and contracts apparently).

 

[Berlin]

Curious were they Jetconnect or QF Australian? Noting that QF had quite a few Jetconnect A330 cabin crew who'd mainly operate stuff to/from China (something to do with overtime and contracts apparently).

No- Qantas mainline as far as I could tell. The two main ladies in the J cabin were really good but they had a couple of younger ones who were mostly working in the back and those were absolutely shocking.

In fairness, we were told that this was the “first week back” for most of them so maybe it was just a matter of getting back into the routine.

Also- quite interesting/disappointing: There were only 57 passengers on board but J was almost full. So it must have been deserted in the back!

 

[themanfromoz]

How is everyone else's experience with the different "declaration" forms? I find it astonishing how the Kiwi for is SOOOOO super easy compared to the nonsense one has to go through to get into Australia.

Just completed the NSW one which is unnecessarily complicated. And in my case, it felt like it is in the totally wrong order- first the flight details for the flight I take domestically to leave NSW, then the flight I take later leaving Australia and only then the incoming flight tomorrow and the passport number at the very end. Odd.

The (federal) Australian system I found the worst because it forces you to create an account and select super dooper complicated passwords which I am sure half of the users will forget by the time they randomly want to travel to Australia AGAIN. Plus the page just looks so awful, I was just waiting for my mouse pointer to change into a little mini-ScoMo

So again, and I don't say this easily as an Aussie who has been stuck in NZ for much longer than he had intended to: Big Kiwi win, if you ask me!

Totally agree. I completed the NZ one a couple of days ago and did both the Federal and Victorian ones earlier today. Both very complicated. The Vic one (and only transiting AKL-MEL-SYD for 2.5 hours) was frustratingly long and non-sensical.

 

[themanfromoz]

While talking about AKL-MEL-SYD, and it's been a few years since I did any international travel, what is the current situation with bringing duty free alcohol back into Australia?
Doing AKL-SYD is easily checked as you can do the standard limits.
But when searching online (including Border Force website) there is conflicting information about transiting - e.g, AKL-MEL-SYD (MEL-SYD only 2.5 hours apart).
1. - 2 litre limits of spirits are OK, but
2. - The 100ml limits may be imposed
:S

 

[henrus]

what is the current situation with bringing d

Shops are open.

Limit into Australia is 2.25 L , this can be combined if traveling with immediate family.

100ml limit only applies on international flights. Buying at the store at the airport of departure is fine given the stores are post security.

 

[Beano]

Is this duty free being bought in AKL? Is the MEL-SYD leg part of the international flight? Any carry-on limit if domestic?