Article: Have Australians Stopped Flying to the USA? Here’s What the Data Says…

[SYD]

Excuse my ignorance but what is an MPC?

Mobile Passport Control. Its an app that streamlines / fast-track entry to the USA for eligible ESTA (Visa Waiver) visitors

https://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/mobile-passport-control

Thread 'USA Entry - CBP Mobile Passport control app [MPC]'

Jan 23, 2024

Has anyone on AFF been using the CBP MPC app for entry into the USA?

More details about this app here: Mobile Passport Control (MPC)

The wording is a bit vague as it suggests "The MPC mobile app, is available to U.S. citizens, U.S. lawful permanent residents, Canadian B1/B2 citizen visitors and returning Visa Waiver Program travelers with approved ESTA"

But the information is listed as being for US Citizens.

• SeatBackForward
• visas & immigration
• Replies: 137
• Forum: Passports, Visas, Immigration & Customs

Last two visits to the US this year, SYD+1 and I were the only ones heading to the empty MPC passport control lines. Everyone else was queuing up....

If the ESTA applications switch to app only, I expect MPC will eventually become mandatory and thus lose the nice hack...

 

[RSD]

Mobile Passport Control. Its an app that streamlines / fast-track entry to the USA for eligible ESTA (Visa Waiver) visitors

https://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/mobile-passport-control

Last two visits to the US this year, SYD+1 and I were the only ones heading to the empty MPC passport control lines. Everyone else was queuing up....

If the ESTA applications switch to app only, I expect MPC will eventually become mandatory and thus lose the nice hack...

Cheers - great tip!

 

[serfty]

Cheers - great tip!

For more on MPC, see here ...

Thread 'USA Entry - CBP Mobile Passport control app [MPC]'

Jan 23, 2024

Has anyone on AFF been using the CBP MPC app for entry into the USA?

More details about this app here: Mobile Passport Control (MPC)

The wording is a bit vague as it suggests "The MPC mobile app, is available to U.S. citizens, U.S. lawful permanent residents, Canadian B1/B2 citizen visitors and returning Visa Waiver Program travelers with approved ESTA"

But the information is listed as being for US Citizens.

• SeatBackForward
• visas & immigration
• Replies: 137
• Forum: Passports, Visas, Immigration & Customs

 

[Cruiser Elite]

 

[lovestotravel]

https://www.executivetraveller.com/news/delta-melbourne-lax-flights

 

[Quickstatus]

I would be happy if DL did a SYD-SLC non stop and UA SYD-DEN non stop.

 

[levelnine]

The new post on this thread prompted me to have a look at the latest figures.

Australians travelling to the US in January 2026 was down 11.6% compared to January 2025.

We've had a lot of months with double digit drops now.

 

[AuSammy]

The new post on this thread prompted me to have a look at the latest figures.

Australians travelling to the US in January 2026 was down 11.6% compared to January 2025.

We've had a lot of months with double digit drops now.

And as I posted in chit chat, can't turn on YouTube without being bombarded by come to USA adverts

 

[jrfsp]

https://www.executivetraveller.com/news/delta-melbourne-lax-flights

Be interesting to see what fares are like for transpacific - so much capacity being added seems bit crazy.

Will be a bloodbath if the ESTA changes go ahead.

‘Real economic consequences’: US warned over ESTA changes

Research by the World Travel and Tourism Council reveals that the US risks losing 157,000 jobs and up to 4.7 million international tourists.

www.euronews.com

 

[dajop]

Last two visits to the US this year, SYD+1 and I were the only ones heading to the empty MPC passport control lines. Everyone else was queuing up....

If the queues aren't long MPC is useless of course. Did MPC for arrival at JFK a couple of weeks ago, area was relatively empty and there were probably only 10 or so people in the normal queue. We followed MPC instructions, which involved walking a bit further to a specific lane. Where we were promptly sent to the normal queue, by then had 30 people in it. Kicking myself as such a rookie mistake.

And then we got stuck in the mini queue in front of that one agent who was questioning everything, and took us 20 minutes to get through despite only 3 people ahead of us (adjacent agent was processing 4 pax for every 1 of ours - and when someone tried changing lane they were barked at to stay in the assigned lane, which is odd as we just got to pick which of the two lanes we went to, anyway. I've been there enough to know that the land of the free is a place where people love barking orders at others - whether it is supermarket crowd control, airports or elsewhere).

First time I've been questioned entering the US other than "what is the purpose of your visit". She was friendly enough. Wanted to know where we were staying, wanted to see departure flight confirmation (never had to show that before), wanted to know why I'd visited US so many times (4 times in current passport, which is now 6 years old ), asked how much cash we had (my partner said about six or seven or hundred dollars - and she aggressively replied "well what is it - 6 or 7 hundred?" , went through all the declaration stuff we'd put on the MPC form/ Took about 5 minutes for us to get through. Meanwhile a two families of 4 went through the adjacent agent who only asked a simple question. Edit: also wanted to know why we were flying from Singapore.

 

[Quickstatus]

So, Qantas is reducing capacity to the US for the peak travel Northern Winter Oct 2026-Mar 2027

SYD-LAX (QF11/12) A380 from daily to 6/week
MEL-LAX (QF93/94) goes from 5xB787 and 2xA380 to daily 787

But expands SYD-SIN (QF81/82, QF1/2) A380 service from 9/week to 13/week, then 14/week from Feb27. This includes the usual daily A380 to LHR

For 3 weeks in August 2026 the airline is swopping the SYD-DFW QF7/8 from daily A380 to 4 days A380 and 3 days B787

 

[Aeryn]

So, Qantas is reducing capacity to the US for the peak travel Northern Winter Oct 2026-Mar 2027

SYD-LAX (QF11/12) A380 from daily to 6/week
MEL-LAX (QF93/94) goes from 5xB787 and 2xA380 to daily 787

But also adding SYD-LAS flights so had to find a plane from somewhere. Reducing SYD-LAX may force some to take the less desireable SYD-LAS.

Also im not sure winter is peak season for Aussies in US most usually aim for July holidays.

But if ME conflict continues (noting last night Iran claimed to have enough ammo to keep fighting for 6 months), then good on QF for capitalising on extra demand (or those who have lost trust/confidence is flying via ME) by adding more SIN and LHR capacity.

 

[Quickstatus]

Reducing SYD-LAX may force some to take the less desireable SYD-LAS.

Possibly there is some adjustment to make LAS look better.
Qf is not adding extra LHR capacity - QF1/2 remains daily A380