Do airlines need to ensure flights comply with QUARANTINE rules?

[ozstamps]

Do the airlines not need to refuse ticketing to pax who clearly should not be flying home in a few days, if that arrival state has 14 days Quarantine laws?

Virgin keep offering me time changes to accept for a fight this weekend. Same days, just different flights. They have emailed me the below 3 times to accept and each time I reply we cannot legally take the return flights, and do not wish to quarantine for 14 days!

I keep telling them surely they cannot legally fly me, and to please re-book at for a later month, but they do not want to know.

Ten emails on it so far and no-one in there appears capable of re-booking even though seats at same $ level exist, for future dates.

Surely this is a loophole in the COVIT laws? If someone arrives in ADL and states they will self-isolate for 2 weeks, and then gets on the return flight in 3 days - who checks?

On around trip PNR like this someone will see it (maybe), but what if just 2 one ways were booked - as we know cost is the same that way.

- - - - -

As all in there know, NSW residents CANNOT fly to ADL for a 3 day turnaround unless they self-isolate there for 2 weeks –

South Australia (SA) Australians may enter South Australia without quarantining if they have only been in WA, NT, TAS and/or QLD in the past 14 days. Arrivals from NSW or ACT must self-isolate for 14 days on arrival unless they are deemed essential travellers. Only essential travellers are permitted to enter if they have been in Victoria in the past 14 days (even SA residents cannot enter from Victoria at the moment).

We CANNOT legally fly to ADL this week due to COVID - Virgin knows that – you cannot legally board us surely?

- - - - - -

 

[woodborer]

You can still apply for an exemption to enter the state. Like getting a Visa, the onus is on you.

 

[ozstamps]

How can a non urgent family visit be regarded as "essential travel" which the Government website states is the only exception?

- - - -

South Australia (SA) Australians may enter South Australia without quarantining if they have only been in WA, NT, TAS and/or QLD in the past 14 days. Arrivals from NSW or ACT must self-isolate for 14 days on arrival unless they are deemed essential travellers. Only essential travellers are permitted to enter if they have been in Victoria in the past 14 days (even SA residents cannot enter from Victoria at the moment).



This is from the SA Government website -

Testing of arrivals
If you enter South Australia as a non-essential traveller from the ACT, NSW, you will be required to take a COVID-19 test:

• on your first day in SA (the day you arrive)
• again, on your twelfth day in SA.

This applies to anyone who has arrived in SA on or after Wednesday, 8 July. It is mandatory for anyone 16 years or over, and strongly recommended for children under 16.

Compliance

If you are directed by a health professional or law enforcement agency to quarantine for 14 days, you must do so.

A $1,000 on-the-spot fine can be issued to anyone breaching self-quarantine requirements.

SA Health and SA Police are working together to monitor people who should be in quarantine and fines may be issued to people who breach these directives.

 

[p--and--t]

I wouldn't have thought (domestically at least) you can hold a company accountable for a customer's decision making.

 

[Mattg]

There are plenty of examples of this with airlines that are currently selling international itineraries into Australia. E.g. you could (until recently, anyway) book a QR ticket DOH-SYD-BNE... except you wouldn't be allowed to take the connecting SYD-BNE flight as you have to quarantine in SYD for 2 weeks first (and may not even be able to enter QLD after that anyway if not a resident there).

 

[Happy Dude]

Keep the airlines out if it. This is where the states need to work together. IMO there needs to be "border control" at the entrance to the airport, not at the destination. If you cannot demonstrate that you will, or have complied with (for your return trip), all the rules - then you do not get to check in. If simple procedures like this had been put in place, ACTerritorians would be able to travel to QLD without being lumped in with the COVID-riddled and/or truth-dodging NSW/VIC pax.

 

[Citoyen]

I'm not sure if leaving the jurisdiction is a breach of their 14 day laws - and in reality - you're gone. Fly to ADL - isolate see no-one, do- nothing- leave 3 days later

 

[Happy Dude]

I'm not sure if leaving the jurisdiction is a breach of their 14 day laws - and in reality - you're gone. Fly to ADL - isolate see no-one, do- nothing- leave 3 days later

That doesn't sound like much of an itinerary. Even for Adelaide. *runs for cover*

 

[flyingfan]

No I don't think it's the airline's responsibility, just like they're not responsible for checking your bags for drugs or carmakers aren't responsible for speeding or even evading the borders. There might be exemptions for some who can stay for that period.

The governments are stretched agreeing on a message and enforcing it at times, let alone coordinating across the country...

 

[antycbr]

No I don't think it's the airline's responsibility, just like they're not responsible for checking your bags for drugs or carmakers aren't responsible for speeding or even evading the borders. There might be exemptions for some who can stay for that period.

The governments are stretched agreeing on a message and enforcing it at times, let alone coordinating across the country...

Plus the airlines are not going to go out of their way to enforce quarantine when state border closures are destroying their business. They have enough on their plate.

 

[dajop]

Keep the airlines out if it. This is where the states need to work together. IMO there needs to be "border control" at the entrance to the airport.

I guess it then comes a problem of jurisdiction. Do federal or Victorian police have jurisdiction to prevent someone entering the airport at MEL to take a flight to SYD or BNE, that are coded in NSW or Queensland legislation/regulations? However, Queensland, can if they want make laws to penalise airlines for carrying passengers not authorised to enter Queensland - and they can actually enforce the laws on the airline if it operates to or within the state.

That's why airlines I assume are used to enforce immigration rules - Australia's Border Force has no jurisdiction in China, to stop someone boarding a plane, however it can penalise an airline if it allows someone who doesn't have permission to enter Australia to board that plane and travel to Australia.

 

[Happy Dude]

Do federal or Victorian police have jurisdiction to prevent someone entering the airport at MEL to take a flight to SYD or BNE, that are coded in NSW or Queensland legislation/regulations?

I would think that if someone is at the ADL airport when they should be in isolation, as per @ozstamps scenario, then yes - the SA or Fed police have jurisdiction. At that point, the fact that the pax is breaking SA quarantine is more pressing than the pax's freedoms in other states. It's a bit like the front foot no-ball check in an LBW DRS. Fail that and the rest of the situation is moot.