Just this morning they sprayed the plane.

[sammy]

I flew from Macau to Sydney last night on Viva Macau. Shortly before landing, this morning the FAs walked up and down the aisles spraying the plane (or should I say us).
I had to pinch myself to check I hadn't woken up in 1976, but sure enough, there were no mutton chop sideburns to be seen. They announced it was an Australian quarantine requirement.
Has there been a sudden development I don't know about, or are Viva Macau just a little on the loopy side?

 

[Mal]

Airlines can choose to either spray on arrival in Australia (and document the spraying for Quarantine), or have their planes fumigated on a set schedule that Quarantine agrees to.

Airlines like Qantas and Air New Zealand get fumigated. Other airlines that don't fly to Australia much (eg British Airways or Cathay Pacific) normally spray their planes on arrival.

If you really want the technical bits and pieces, read up on http://www.daff.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/111992/mqs-procedures.pdf

 

[samh004]

I can't remember the last time, if ever, that Cathay Pacific sprayed their planes on arrival in Australia, but I have been on planes that have done it in the past.

I suppose it does make a little sense coming from Macau.

 

[sammy]

They did another strange thing last night.
After going through the normal security machines before reaching airside, we purchased drinks to carry on (as its a no free anything airline).
At boarding, our flight (and only our flight - not the one boarding next door) were given a bag search. You guessed it, everyone's drinks were confiscated. They pointed to a big sign saying this was a requirement of the Australian Government.
There were many, many disgruntled passengers - and lots of extra cash for Viva Macau as we had to pay HK$20 (around A$4) per tiny 250ml bottle of water on the plane

 

[NM]

They did another strange thing last night.
After going through the normal security machines before reaching airside, we purchased drinks to carry on (as its a no free anything airline).
At boarding, our flight (and only our flight - not the one boarding next door) were given a bag search. You guessed it, everyone's drinks were confiscated. They pointed to a big sign saying this was a requirement of the Australian Government.
There were many, many disgruntled passengers - and lots of extra cash for Viva Macau as we had to pay HK$20 (around A$4) per tiny 250ml bottle of water on the plane

That is because the flight was heading to Australia. You can blame the Australian authorities for insisting on the manual bag search. This is required because Australia has some specific security screening requirements that many not be consistent with all air-side security at that airport. For example, no metal knives are permitted on flight to/from/within Australia, so if a an airside lounge or restaurant uses metal knives, it would be possible for a passenger to bring one on board. Would not be an issue for a flight to anywhere other than Australia. But as a result, all flights to Australia must undergo a gate screening process.

This also happens as HKG and I expect many other places that Australia has deemed do not have airside security that meets their specific requirements. Hence why the flight departing from the adjacent gate was not screened at boarding (they were not heading directly to Australia).

Of course there are some cynics that would suggest the extra screening imposed on Aussie-bound flights is a result of successful lobbying from Australian airport duty-free shopping operators who stand to gain financially from people not being able to purchase duty-free liquids at their departing overseas port and hence are more likely to purchase it upon arrival back into Australia.

 

[sammy]

NM you really know your stuff!
Just checked with my husband who flew out last night from Hong Kong (old work j return ticket) and he confirmed that he too was given a manual bag search.
However, the passengers in Hong Kong were allowed to keep their drinks,,,,,

 

[Grooba]

I can't remember the last time, if ever, that Cathay Pacific sprayed their planes on arrival in Australia, but I have been on planes that have done it in the past.

I suppose it does make a little sense coming from Macau.

I've come across planes being sprayed upon arrival back to Australia a few times in the last few years. 2 out of my last 4 trips SYD - PPT - SYD the plane has been sprayed upon arrival at SYD.

 

[mannej]

It is an Australian policy about the LAG's. I was searched boarding a QF flight heading back to PER from HKG. No dramas there. In KL the Duty Free delivers purchases into a seal locked bag that gets delivered once passengers have passed through the secondary screening point.

I have flown MH regularly and apart from a brief period in 2007 they haven't sprayed us. Doesn't really bother me either way. Other carriers have not sprayed, so I guess they do have a choice in the matter

 

[2muchplastic]

I've flown VS HKG-BNE 3 times this year, and each time they have sprayed just before landing.

QF on the same route never have.

 

[sandiefran]

Aerolineas Argentinas did this to us last month on our return from South America.

By the way, this is the worst airline we have ever flown with!

Broken seats, no overhead lights for some seats, all cabin staff refused to answer call buttons.

One woman asked for a glass of water to take a tablet and was told she would have to wait until the meal service.

The meals were also the worst we have ever come across - and that's saying something! I wouldn't feed them to any animal! No vegies, no protein, all carbs and mostly high fat and gluggy.

The "pasta" we were served for our dinner appeared to have been prepared two days earlier.

It was great to buy something from Hungry Jack's (or the equivalent) in Auckland on our return journey!

 

[mannej]

Sandiefran, nothing wrong with carbs. Protein eventually is converted to the same thing as carbs to be stored

 

[Flashback]

Sandiefran, nothing wrong with carbs. Protein eventually is converted to the same thing as carbs to be stored

Apart from if you're sitting down for long periods on the plane, then carbs are EVIL :evil:

 

[quackster]

I was on the same flight Macau - Sydney. I was very annoyed as they confiscated my EMPTY bottle of water. Last time I checked, plastic and liquids were two different things. Regarding the spraying, I can confirm i've seen it happen on other airlines to Australia including Virgin Atlantic from HK-Syd and Philippine Airlines from Manila-Syd so it was something I had expected to happen.

It was funny seeing ashtrays in the plane - and in the bathrooms! Now that reminded me of a completely different generation!

 

[sammy]

Well Quackster, I didn't get to see the loo. I managed to avoid it by drinking only one overpriced 250ml bottle of water in nine hours....

 

[quackster]

They had a water station at the back of the plane near the bathroom to refill water, but it didnt taste quite as good as the water from the rip-off bottle!

 

[anat0l]

...are Viva Macau just a little on the loopy side?

I guess you found the "loopy" bit in your drink - $4....hmmm.......

I've crossed the Tasman as well as coming back from Osaka (Kansai), but I have to admit never being gate checked (only the security check that was after passport control).

 

[JohnK]

Airlines can choose to either spray on arrival in Australia (and document the spraying for Quarantine), or have their planes fumigated on a set schedule that Quarantine agrees to.

Airlines like Qantas and Air New Zealand get fumigated. Other airlines that don't fly to Australia much (eg British Airways or Cathay Pacific) normally spray their planes on arrival.

I remember the announcement on Qantas almost all the time coming back into Australia that due to quarantine requirements we will be spraying the cabin. I don't think they sprayed it on anyone intentionally but they did ask if you were sensitive to cover your nose and mouth for a couple of minutes.

I did not even realise that Qantas does not spray the cabin anymore on arrival.

 

[JohnK]

At boarding, our flight (and only our flight - not the one boarding next door) were given a bag search. You guessed it, everyone's drinks were confiscated. They pointed to a big sign saying this was a requirement of the Australian Government.
There were many, many disgruntled passengers - and lots of extra cash for Viva Macau as we had to pay HK$20 (around A$4) per tiny 250ml bottle of water on the plane

I suspect the bag search is normal but there is no requirement about not being able to bring liquids into Australia. I think this is a ploy by Viva Macau to generate more income.

Well Quackster, I didn't get to see the loo. I managed to avoid it by drinking only one overpriced 250ml bottle of water in nine hours....

Which cannot be good for your health or chances of DVT. I remember reading somewhere to drink at least 100ml of fluids for every hour on a flight.

 

[quackster]

I remember reading somewhere to drink at least 100ml of fluids for every hour on a flight.

I managed to get away with drinking lots of water on the flight. I'm not sure if they will hand out polystyrene cups if you ask for them, but I asked for a cup of boiling water as I wasn't feeling well and they gave it to me for free - and then i just refilled it at the water station afterwards. Hopefully this helps someone!

 

[mysavings789]

I flew from Macau to Sydney last night on Viva Macau. Shortly before landing, this morning the FAs walked up and down the aisles spraying the plane (or should I say us).
I had to pinch myself to check I hadn't woken up in 1976, but sure enough, there were no mutton chop sideburns to be seen. They announced it was an Australian quarantine requirement.
Has there been a sudden development I don't know about, or are Viva Macau just a little on the loopy side?

Other countries doing the same thing, spraying inside the plane as quarantine measures. They even have thermal gadget to monitor the body temperature of each passenger. I hope these safety measures will really help.