Why does Qantas still have these flights on their website?

[JennyMG]

Are they kidding? Scouring to find alternate routes home from Rome (If I even bother going...) as my MU flight was already changed to QR Rome>Doha>Bkk (but now Thai won't take entrants from Rome), so not ACTUALLY going to change yet,just being proactive and looking....
Seriously.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Well - the flights are still going. And you can book a seat. You may have to self-quarantine on arrival back in Australia. It probably wouldn't be my first preference. But folk are coming in from Shanghai without any symptoms.

 

[JennyMG]

But folk are coming in from Shanghai without any symptoms.

Yet. I think it's irresponsible, just IMHO. Wait 10 days. I guess they need to bring Aus citizens home who want to come home.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Yet. I think it's irresponsible, just IMHO. Wait 10 days. I guess they need to bring Aus citizens home who want to come home.

it's an issue that doesn't seem to have much attention - transiting airports in higher risk countries. While there's plenty of advice against travel to China, there's not much guidance about a transit. And not just there, but any other port where Covid19 could be present. How safe is Singapore to transit? But folk don't seem too worried?

 

[JennyMG]

The issue seems to revolve around exposure. I suppose I agree cities must be transited. If that's what's happening with the flights from Shanghai etc. You can come from Rome, Bangkok, with little restriction. (Medical check - which is ridiculous since it takes 14 days to eventuate.) Self Quarantine? Pthhh. Worse, you can come from India or Indonesia....where it's pretty damn obvious that nothing is being reported accurately. Seems like there's not much of a clue. I get it. It's a history making, ocean going, fur lined, red letter occurrence. It'll be in History text books for ever more, along with Bubonic Plague, Spanish Flu and the like.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

The issue seems to revolve around exposure. I suppose I agree cities must be transited. If that's what's happening with the flights from Shanghai etc. You can come from Rome, Bangkok, with little restriction. (Medical check - which is ridiculous since it takes 14 days to eventuate.) Self Quarantine? Pthhh. Worse, you can come from India or Indonesia....where it's pretty damn obvious that nothing is being reported accurately. Seems like there's not much of a clue. I get it. It's a history making, ocean going, fur lined, red letter occurrence. It'll be in History text books for ever more, along with Bubonic Plague, Spanish Flu and the like.

Perhaps. But a lot might be to do with the media. The statistics... in 2019 Australia had 217000 cases of the flu and 430 deaths: Doctors scramble to find out why this flu season may be the worst in decades In the USA, the CDC states 34000 deaths from the flu in 2018-19: Estimated Influenza Illnesses, Medical visits, Hospitalizations, and Deaths in the United States — 2018–2019 influenza season | CDC

Is this going to surpass that? Let's hope not. But we don't seem as keen on the flu as we are on Covid.

 

[Mattg]

Yet. I think it's irresponsible, just IMHO. Wait 10 days. I guess they need to bring Aus citizens home who want to come home.

They are available seats on flights that are currently scheduled. Nobody is forcing you to book them.

FWIW, the date you're trying to travel from Italy to Australia is the busiest date for that route in the entire year. IMHO it's a miracle that any award seats are being offered at all just ~4 months out.

 

[ramboflyer]

Domestically there are paid flights shown on Jetstar, Google Flights and HBA airport website for tomorrow (25/3) for MEL - HBA but Flight Centre saying nothing at all that day.

My brother and his wife are in Perth for funeral of close relative having left well before this all escalated. They are trying to book through Flight Centre. Every Virgin flight they have been booked on has been cancelled. First was a direct flight and then via MEL. At the moment they can get from Perth to Melbourne.

I wonder if the websites are simply not updated given what is happening or are Flight Centre wrong? Surely they would be flexible enough to change from Virgin to another airline?

 

[dajop]

I wonder if the websites are simply not updated given what is happening or are Flight Centre wrong? Surely they would be flexible enough to change from Virgin to another airline?

Is there a compelling reason why they are trying to book with Flight Centre? In times like this I'd be booking directly with the airline they intend to travel on. Cut out the middle party.

 

[DC3]

Is there a compelling reason why they are trying to book with Flight Centre? In times like this I'd be booking directly with the airline they intend to travel on. Cut out the middle party.

Interesting question. Is there some special advantage in booking through FC?

Anyway, I read where FC is closing 100 outlets. Probably won’t help with answering the phones.

 

[ramboflyer]

Is there a compelling reason why they are trying to book with Flight Centre? In times like this I'd be booking directly with the airline they intend to travel on. Cut out the middle party.

They are near Mandurah and a Flight Centre is 5 minutes away so they can go in person. The problem is they are not confident enough to book directly online. If things cant be sorted I will offer to do the bookings for them. I suppose booking through a travel agent could be an advantage if things go pear shaped as in not trying to contact the airline because of the long waiting times.

 

[DC3]

.... I suppose booking through a travel agent could be an advantage if things go pear shaped as in not trying to contact the airline because of the long waiting times.

Using a T/A can be a good idea, especially for complex itineraries. However, the way that things are moving, I would not be too optimistic about FC picking up the phone when you really need them. Are you able to phone this particular FC office whenever you need to talk to them (24/7?). If they meet your/relatives needs then okay. Just mentioning it because sometimes FC, and others, may be hard to contact after hours. Also, the airline and your relatives will need to communicate through the T/A. This can be an issue when there are cancelled/changed flights. I just like to retain some sort of control in the booking process. Not really trying to scare you off the idea.

 

[ramboflyer]

This can be an issue when there are cancelled/changed flights. I just like to retain some sort of control in the booking process. Not really trying to scare you off the idea.

I like the control as well. It's a bit harder though when its not you and yours. Personally I've never used a TA for bookings.

 

[drron]

Well - the flights are still going. And you can book a seat. You may have to self-quarantine on arrival back in Australia. It probably wouldn't be my first preference. But folk are coming in from Shanghai without any symptoms.

And Taobao in China is selling fake Covid free certificates for less than a dollar.

 

[DC3]

And Taobao in China is selling fake Covid free certificates for less than a dollar.

Would they print one in english, if I asked nicely.

 

[drron]

Would they print one in english, if I asked nicely.

All the pictures show only in Chinese.might have to pay a little more for an English version.

 

[jabin.leveon]

View attachment 208330
Are they kidding? Scouring to find alternate routes home from Rome (If I even bother going...) as my MU flight was already changed to QR Rome>Doha>Bkk (but now Nox Vidmate VLC Thai won't take entrants from Rome), so not ACTUALLY going to change yet,just being proactive and looking....

Seriously.

My brother and his wife are in Perth for funeral of close relative having left well before this all escalated. They are trying to book through Flight Centre. Every Virgin flight they have been booked on has been cancelled. First was a direct flight and then via MEL. At the moment they can get from Perth to Melbourne.