COVID-19: ALL FLIGHTS between Australia and USA cancelled (from end of March)

HS-TQE

Established Member
Joined
Apr 5, 2018
Posts
2,052
Qantas
Gold
Virgin
Gold
With the exception of a handful of QF charters in April from LAX to SYD to evacuate stranded Australians back home.
To think there was 5 airlines separately (or 3 Joint-Venture groups: UA, QF/AA and VA/DL).

 
Normally,
HA HNL-SYD, HNL-BNE
VA BNE-LAX, MEL-LAX, SYD-LAX
QF BNE-LAX, BNE-SFO, MEL-LAX, MEL-SFO, SYD-LAX, SYD-SFO, SYD-DFW, SYD-HNL, LAX-JFK
AA LAX-SYD
DL LAX-SYD
UA SFO-SYD, LAX-SYD, SFO-MEL, IAH-SYD
JQ MEL-HNL
 
We should stop all flights now...how many cases of coronovirus in recent days have come from the US? LA, San Fran, Chicago, NY and many more US cities are currently in complete lockdown. I hope I'm completely wrong, but I fear the death rate in US will surpass that of Italy and China. The US health system is unfortunately a basket case and only the well off will get good health care. :(
 
We should stop all flights now...how many cases of coronovirus in recent days have come from the US?

Not sure that is the answer to anyone's problem, since at the moment only citizens and residents and immediate family are allowed in to Australia. Leaving our people in the US and subject to the US health system without the benefit of US health insurers is almost certainly going to result in the death of Australians and their families left to the "pay up front or die" US healthcare system.
 
I will probably be shot down for this but i think all arrivals (sea or air) should be going straight to the mining village near Darwin or Christmas Island for 14 days. You just have to look at the number of infections in passengers from the US, UK and cruise ships in the last week to know they are significantly increasing the risk of an explosion in cases across the breath of the nation.
 
I will probably be shot down for this but i think all arrivals (sea or air) should be going straight to the mining village near Darwin or Christmas Island for 14 days.

Good luck. The NT doesn't want any of the unwashed southerners anywhere near their current near-sanctuary. Your policy would have me (as a current 14 day isolatee) sent off to Christmas Island which would be fine with me, room and board paid by the taxpayer of course, but would suck for those who then had to encounter me (as I've only encountered airport personnel since my return) and would not fix the fact that you have people flaunting the strict rules which have been set for maintaining limited interpersonal contact with no penalty such as at Bondi this week, and yet I'm up for $20K in fines if I walk out of my house, which I am not going to do.

So I'm not sure we're the boogeyman here but by all means I would be happy to not have to work from home for the next 2 weeks and get paid for doing nada if you want to send me to some hotel in Christmas Island.
 
Good luck. The NT doesn't want any of the unwashed southerners anywhere near their current near-sanctuary. Your policy would have me (as a current 14 day isolatee) sent off to Christmas Island which would be fine with me, room and board paid by the taxpayer of course, but would suck for those who then had to encounter me (as I've only encountered airport personnel since my return) and would not fix the fact that you have people flaunting the strict rules which have been set for maintaining limited interpersonal contact with no penalty such as at Bondi this week, and yet I'm up for $20K in fines if I walk out of my house, which I am not going to do.

So I'm not sure we're the boogeyman here but by all means I would be happy to not have to work from home for the next 2 weeks and get paid for doing nada if you want to send me to some hotel in Christmas Island.

I sincerely thank you and other AFFers who are following the expected protocols and wish you well that you do not succumb to the virus during your lock-down.

However there is clear evidence that a very high number are not complying and out partying or flouting the self-isolation request and a disturbing number of recent arrivals are actually infected. (I did say I expected to be shot down ;) )
 
However there is clear evidence that a very high number are not complying and out partying or flouting the self-isolation request and a disturbing number of recent arrivals are actually infected.

I agree that there's a disturbing number of infections for returnees especially from the US (as is my case, and the reason I'm isolating myself) - just look at the high profile cases like Dutton, Tom Hanks and so on.

The part where we diverge on this is the idea that you need to ship people off to an island to enforce this. What you really need to do is give people a way to prove they are following the rules, and you'll have all the data you need. The GPS tracking system used in Singapore and South Korea for example. Everyone's saying we need to align better with their approach yet they didn't ship people off to an island to achieve low infection rates.

I'd be pleased to be able to show that I've kept to the program if there was a way to do so, however I can assure you, if you ship me off to Christmas Island you'll get markedly less co-operation at a much higher cost.
 
Im Sure someone would be able to tell us all how we can “find the location” info for any digital phone .....
 
.... is almost certainly going to result in the death of Australians and their families left to the "pay up front or die" US healthcare system.
there isnt any such thing as "pay up front or die" healthcare in USA. By law no hospital can refuse a patient nor are they permitted to ask "do you have insurance".
Those that cant pay their hospital bills simply go bankrupt.
 
there isnt any such thing as "pay up front or die" healthcare in USA. By law no hospital can refuse a patient nor are they permitted to ask "do you have insurance".
Those that cant pay their hospital bills simply go bankrupt.

If the US system is overrun like in some other countries, I fully expect certain people will be prioritised. Even in Wuhan the Yuan spoke loudly.
 
The Frequent Flyer Concierge team takes the hard work out of finding reward seat availability. Using their expert knowledge and specialised tools, they'll help you book a great trip that maximises the value for your points.

AFF Supporters can remove this and all advertisements

there isnt any such thing as "pay up front or die" healthcare in USA


Approximately three-quarters of health care and hospital systems ask for payment at the time services are provided, a practice known as "point-of-service collections," estimated Richard Gundling, a senior vice president at the Healthcare Financial Management Association, an industry group.


Medical costs are high. A visit to a doctor for a minor issue can cost 100s of dollars, not including tests or medication costs.

You may need to show proof of insurance or your ability to pay before receiving treatment. If you don't have proof, you'll usually be asked to pay up-front.



Despite these statutes and penalties, hospitals have continued turning patients away. From 1996 to 2000, the watchdog organization Public Citizen confirmed violations from 527 hospitals in 46 states, as well as the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico [10]. Of the 527 hospitals, 117 had violated the act more than once, and for-profit hospitals were significantly more likely to do so [10].



"If you are uninsured and you present at a hospital in the US for treatment, you are usually required to make a pre-payment, secured by a credit card, and each day you stay in hospital you will be under constant pressure to keep your account up to date," Ms Mullins said.

I understand the technical theory that they cannot refuse emergecy treatment at a public hospital in the US based on a lack of insurance, but given all we know about the system, I think you'd be very brave to make the assertion you do at this point in time, with unprecedented strain on the system there. The likelihood of any hospital on the US prioritising an uninsured foreigner over a local in the current climate, and the difficulty of said hospital recouping any of the costs from you (unless they don't let you leave the country, or you end up trapped by some legal process) would make it very dicey at present. You'd likely just die quietly out the back alley of the hospital.



 
United is reinstating one daily SYD-SFO service during April and May. (Y fares aren't all that expensive either - I'm seeing $878 return for April.)

Presumably there will be a lot of cargo on board.

 
So how many flights into and out of Australia have so far been cancelled? Is this information easily accessible?
 
United is reinstating one daily SYD-SFO service during April and May. (Y fares aren't all that expensive either - I'm seeing $878 return for April.)

Presumably there will be a lot of cargo on board.

For Australians living in the US with family in Australia, and Americans living in Australia with family in the US, it is a huge relief to see that at least one carrier will still be flying a North America/Australia route.
 
i've noticed flights to the US through July for ANA & Qatar. I'm currently in the process of relocating to the US, my initial flights with Qantas have been cancelled/credited. Are there any restrictions for Australians flying into the US via middle east or Japan?
 
i've noticed flights to the US through July for ANA & Qatar. I'm currently in the process of relocating to the US, my initial flights with Qantas have been cancelled/credited. Are there any restrictions for Australians flying into the US via middle east or Japan?

I don't believe the U.S. is restricting arrivals from Japan or the Middle East for now. It seems the the entry restrictions currently apply to anyone that's been to Europe, China, Iran or Brazil in the past 14 days. But this is of course subject to change at any time.

Here is an excerpt of what Timatic currently says:
- Below listed passengers are allowed to enter the USA, even
if they transited or have been in Austria, Belgium, Brazil,
China (People's Rep.), Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland,
France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Iran, Ireland
(Rep.), Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg,
Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia,
Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland or the United Kingdom
(excluding overseas territories outside of Europe), in the
past 14 days:
a. nationals of the USA;
b. permanent residents of the USA;
c. the spouse of a national of the USA;
d. the spouse of a permanent resident of the US;
e. the parent/legal guardian of an unmarried and younger
than 21 years national or permanent resident of the USA;
f. the unmarried and younger than 21 years brother or sister
of a national or permanent resident of the USA, who is
unmarried and younger than 21 years;
g. the child/foster child/ward of a national or permanent
resident of the USA;
h. passengers with an IR-4 or IH-4 visa;
i. passengers with a C-1, D, or C-1/D visa;
j. passengers with an A-1, A-2, C-2, C-3, E-1 as an employee
of TECRO or TECO or the employee's immediate family members,
G-1, G-2, G-3, G-4, NATO-1 through NATO-4, or NATO-6 visa;
k. members of the U.S. Armed Forces, spouses, and children
of members of the U.S. Armed Forces;
l. passengers with evidence of traveling at the invitation
of the USA government for a purpose related to the
containment/mitigation of the Coronavirus (COVID-19);
m. passengers with documents issued by the U.S. Department
of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, or
U.S. Department of State indicating that the passenger is
exempt from the restriction.
- Passengers who have been in one of below listed countries in
the past 14 days but are exempt from the restriction to
enter the USA, must arrive at one of the following airports:
Atlanta (ATL), Boston (BOS), Chicago (ORD), Dallas, (DFW),
Detroit (DTW), Ft. Lauderdale (FLL), Honolulu (HNL), Housten
(IAH), Los Angeles (LAX), Miami (MIA), New York (JFK or
EWR), San Francisco (SFO), Seattle (SEA) and Washington
(IAD).
-- Austria, Belgium, Brazil, China (People's Rep.), Czechia,
Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary,
Iceland, Ireland (Rep.), Iran, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland,
Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland or
the United Kingdom (excluding overseas territories outside
of Europe).
- Passengers who have been in Austria, Belgium, Brazil, China
(People's Rep.), Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France,
Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Iran, Ireland (Rep.),
Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta,
Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia,
Spain, Sweden, Switzerland or United Kingdom (excluding
overseas territories outside of Europe) in the past 14 days
but are exempt from the restriction to enter the USA, must
self-quarantine for 14 days once they reach their final
destination.
- Passengers traveling to Puerto Rico will be quarantined for
14 days.
- Passengers traveling to Puerto Rico must present a completed
Puerto Rico Department of Health form upon arrival.

I believe United is also keeping its daily SYD-SFO flight for the time being, if you need a direct flight.
 
I don't believe the U.S. is restricting arrivals from Japan or the Middle East for now. It seems the the entry restrictions currently apply to anyone that's been to Europe, China, Iran or Brazil in the past 14 days. But this is of course subject to change at any time.

Here is an excerpt of what Timatic currently says:


I believe United is also keeping its daily SYD-SFO flight for the time being, if you need a direct flight.
thanks, that was really helpful. The other part i don't quite understand is whether or not the ANA flights will actually go ahead, its clear that qatar are still flying but it doesnt look like ANA are, so i assume there is potential these will be pushed out (just as the original Qantas flights were)?
 
i've noticed flights to the US through July for ANA & Qatar. I'm currently in the process of relocating to the US, my initial flights with Qantas have been cancelled/credited. Are there any restrictions for Australians flying into the US via middle east or Japan?
ANA is currently scheduling SYD-HND 3 weekly (mon, thu, sat). They have a number of flights to North America planned for June, but most are from NRT, and since they won't let you into Japan to connect to NRT, you'd be stuck with the only operating North American HND flight, which is to Vancouver (mon, wed, fri) and the US/Canada border is closed.
They are operating from NRT to LAX (daily), SFO (3 weekly), JFK (weekly), ORD (daily) and MEX (5 weekly).
 
Does anyone know which qatar flights in/out of australia are q-suites. In particular interested in ex Perth. I couldnt find any flights from Australia that have q-suites (based on the qatar website?) however a read an article that all a350-1000 are q-suites. is this true?
thanks!
 
Back
Top