Do I need a test if have Qantas COVID-19 past positive medical clearance?

MrsE

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Nov 12, 2021
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Hi,
We are on holiday in Hawaii and when we did our preflight PCR test we found out we had covid. That was 2 weeks ago and we have since received COVID-19 past positive medical clearance from Qantas for our flight home on Monday. We went to do our preflight testing today but was told by the doctor and nurses at the doctors surgery that completed our medical clearance forms, that we don’t need to be tested again. They said that they’ve had lots of Australian families fly home on qantas and that none of them needed to be retested. I was impressed that the doctors saved us the $750 USD (there’s 5 of us) by telling us we don’t need to be tested, but I’d like to know if anyone has actually done this?
Thank you for your help.
 
Hi,
We are on holiday in Hawaii and when we did our preflight PCR test we found out we had covid. That was 2 weeks ago and we have since received COVID-19 past positive medical clearance from Qantas for our flight home on Monday. We went to do our preflight testing today but was told by the doctor and nurses at the doctors surgery that completed our medical clearance forms, that we don’t need to be tested again. They said that they’ve had lots of Australian families fly home on qantas and that none of them needed to be retested. I was impressed that the doctors saved us the $750 USD (there’s 5 of us) by telling us we don’t need to be tested, but I’d like to know if anyone has actually done this?
Thank you for your help.
I don't think this is correct. The Australian government requires that you get a PCR test within 72 hours before departure, or alternatively (from today) you can get a rapid antigen test within 24 hours of departure.

If the pre-flight test is positive, then you also need to provide a medical certificate stating that it's been over 14 days since your first positive PCR test and that you've now recovered. Qantas also currently requires you to complete their own medical clearance form. It sounds like you already have these.

But the medical clearance is only valid in conjunction with a positive COVID test taken within the required time frame before the flight.

See here for more:


The Qantas requirement will likely change next week:

 
Thanks for your responses. I thought I should update in case anyone needs this info. You do not need another PCR or Rapid Antigen Test if you have tested positive within 30 days. We found this info here on PAGE 8 of the Australian Health website https://www.health.gov.au/sites/def...-asked-questions-international-travellers.pdf

We flew home on Tuesday with Qantas with no issues. We presented our medical clearance forms and they only asked for our original test results from when we were diagnosed with covid. Just thought I’d share this info as it could save people some money. We are a family of 5 so it saved us a lot.

Thanks.
 
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You are fortunate you got out when you did.

I’m on my way to HNL now from SFO and will fly back to SYD on Friday. I’ve just seen this is the second last QF flight as the route is suspended after the Saturday service.

I had my PCR test in SFO yesterday and will get the results back tomorrow. If it’s positive I’m in a world of hurt! I doubt Qantas would let me change to a HA flight so will probably be a complex situation (I had an open jaw SYD-LAX//HNL-SYD ticket). Fortunately I have travel insurance so shouldn’t be out of pocket too much.

That said I’m sure everything will be fine and I’ll test negative. I have no symptoms and had a booster before I left Australia.
 
You are fortunate you got out when you did.

I’m on my way to HNL now from SFO and will fly back to SYD on Friday. I’ve just seen this is the second last QF flight as the route is suspended after the Saturday service.

I had my PCR test in SFO yesterday and will get the results back tomorrow. If it’s positive I’m in a world of hurt! I doubt Qantas would let me change to a HA flight so will probably be a complex situation (I had an open jaw SYD-LAX//HNL-SYD ticket). Fortunately I have travel insurance so shouldn’t be out of pocket too much.

That said I’m sure everything will be fine and I’ll test negative. I have no symptoms and had a booster before I left Australia.
So lucky especially as we used points to come home as the fare difference between our original Hawaiian Airlines flight home and current price was ridiculous.

Wishing you the best of luck with your results and an easy trip back.
 
I doubt Qantas would let me change to a HA flight so will probably be a complex situation

Fingers crossed you get a negative test.

Might be worth checking if there are Fiji Airways options to get home from HNL, when looking at going to HNL at xmas the reward options I was offered were via Nadi on FJ. Worst case would QF fly you back to LAX on AA and then home on QF?
 
Fingers crossed you get a negative test.

Might be worth checking if there are Fiji Airways options to get home from HNL, when looking at going to HNL at xmas the reward options I was offered were via Nadi on FJ. Worst case would QF fly you back to LAX on AA and then home on QF?

Is it wrong a part of me is hoping to test positive to extend my holiday? Worse places in the world to be stuck than Hawaii - and I made sure I got a travel insurance policy that would cover me well if I had to delay my return.

I reckon Qantas will only let me change to what they can codeshare on and I’d have to pay the difference. Easiest would be to get myself to LAX and they’d change my ticket to SYD-LAX return but I’d have to pay the difference (probably an extra 1K). Would be cheaper to just buy a new ticket on HA.

Either way my travel insurance will cover it so not too concerned. I don’t particularly want to fly back to the mainland - would prefer to come back via Japan if I can’t go direct.
 
Is it wrong a part of me is hoping to test positive to extend my holiday? Worse places in the world to be stuck than Hawaii - and I made sure I got a travel insurance policy that would cover me well if I had to delay my return.

I reckon Qantas will only let me change to what they can codeshare on and I’d have to pay the difference. Easiest would be to get myself to LAX and they’d change my ticket to SYD-LAX return but I’d have to pay the difference (probably an extra 1K). Would be cheaper to just buy a new ticket on HA.

Either way my travel insurance will cover it so not too concerned. I don’t particularly want to fly back to the mainland - would prefer to come back via Japan if I can’t go direct.
Not that you needed it, but just thought I would mention that QF is indeed moving its passengers onto HA flights. Obviously Qantas is paying at a reduced rate, but it will still be costing them a lot of money!
 
Not that you needed it, but just thought I would mention that QF is indeed moving its passengers onto HA flights. Obviously Qantas is paying at a reduced rate, but it will still be costing them a lot of money!

I was aware of that, but that is when QF cancels the flight and moves you to HA.

I'm not sure that would have worked if the pax wanted to reschedule to a flight that had already been cancelled.
 
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