Predictions of when international flights may resume/bans lifted

[cjd600]

I don't think leisure travel to the US is going to be an exemption. They're talking things like the Trans Tasman bubble.

Surely taking the wife to the outlets classifies as somewhat of an "import industry"

 

[Gremlin]

I'm not concerned by that. I'm aware of the risk. I'm prepared to accept that risk and want to travel.

If you don't mind me asking, what is your travel insurance situation? The US would be the last place I'd want to go if I could be hospitalised and NOT be covered for it by travel insurance.

 

[CityRail]

Interestingly, Singapore have just announced that citizens and permanent residents arriving back into Singapore who had spent the previous 14 days in a select group of countries* can serve out their 14 day “stay at home notice” (SHN) at their own homes instead of at a dedicated facility (hotel). All returnees will also be tested, at their own expense, towards the end of the 14 day SHN period.
* these include Australia, Brunei, Hong Kong, Japan, Macau, China, NZ, Taiwan, South Korea and Vietnam.

I wonder whether the countries listed in Singapore's Ministry of Health website would indicate that these are the list of countries they would like to form travel bubble with?

 

[drron]

With the way things are going we have already decided to cancel our next 3 OS trips.
October was Spain,TA cruise and the USA.
Christmas in Thailand.
March cruise from Singapore to Athens.
We are waiting hoping they cancel the first 2.March cruise cancelled and put off for 12 months.

First likely OS trip now November 2021.

 

[CityRail]

theaustralian.com.au/nation/coronavirus-green-lane-plan-to-isolate-travellers-in-transtasman-bubble/news-story/6093f7518e2e350c941da25a604158db

There are some details from the Australian about how Trans-Tasman Travel Bubble will happen:

1. Refund passengers when they are unwell
2. Longer boarding times to prevent crowding at plane platforms
3. Green lanes to separate Trans-Tasman passengers from other international passengers
4. Sydney to Auckland is the first route due to begin in August
5. Followed by the success of the Trans-Tasman bubble, business travellers from other Asia-Pacific countries with low rates of COVID-19 could be allowed in without having to quarantine.

Hopefully by late September/October, before the labour day school holidays, countries with low rates of transmission rate will be allowed back into Australia without quarantine.

 

[CityRail]

'Travel bubbles' planned for Pacific and Asian neighbours, but not America

With discussions around international 'travel bubbles', CEO of Tourism and Transport Forum Australia Margy Osmond explains how it could all work for Aussie travellers.

7news.com.au

Some more updates from 7News.

I am glad that Hong Kong and Singapore is in the list of 'safe' countries, and I hope that after the success of Sydney - Auckland arrangements, I can look forward for a possibly to go back to Hong Kong in late September/ October.

 

[Gremlin]

'Travel bubbles' planned for Pacific and Asian neighbours, but not America

With discussions around international 'travel bubbles', CEO of Tourism and Transport Forum Australia Margy Osmond explains how it could all work for Aussie travellers.

7news.com.au

Some more updates from 7News.

I am glad that Hong Kong and Singapore is in the list of 'safe' countries, and I hope that after the success of Sydney - Auckland arrangements, I can look forward for a possibly to go back to Hong Kong in late September/ October.

Did you read the article? This line doesn't suggest you're looking at Hong Kong in late Sept/Oct...

But effectively, we are not looking at having inbound international travellers - who are of course the big spenders - until well into next year

...and this is from the CEO of Tourism and Transport Forum Australia. It's not a Government view, it's a vested interest. In fact, it doesn't seem to include much in the way of new info - basically a bubble with NZ and once we see how that goes, then we might extend further.

 

[Pushka]

With the way things are going we have already decided to cancel our next 3 OS trips.
October was Spain,TA cruise and the USA.
Christmas in Thailand.
March cruise from Singapore to Athens.
We are waiting hoping they cancel the first 2.March cruise cancelled and put off for 12 months.

First likely OS trip now November 2021.

I heard a notable Adelaide TA who has been bleeding profusely from Covid, state just now that he thinks there may be a possibility of cruises around Christmas time in Australia.

 

[JohnM]

With the way things are going we have already decided to cancel our next 3 OS trips.
October was Spain,TA cruise and the USA.
Christmas in Thailand.
March cruise from Singapore to Athens.
We are waiting hoping they cancel the first 2.March cruise cancelled and put off for 12 months.

First likely OS trip now November 2021.

I think you will be shown to be right about this having a much longer term effect on international travel than peeps may think or hope.

I'm feeling quite pessimistic about being able to do much in 2021.

At the moment in WA, until Marko comes to his senses, we're stuck. Since taking delivery of a new vehicle in late April, I've averaged close to 1K clicks/week. That's set to continue when I head to Exmouth and Coral Bay next week for a couple of weeks before the school holiday zoo starts on 3 July.

It's all good, but I have been just about everywhere in WA, so this is pretty much all rinse/repeat stuff.

At this rate, I'll need to save up for a replacement vehicle in 2022...

 

[Seat0B]

I'm still planning to fly to the US in 48 days time and spend 3 months there. Qantas hasn't cancelled my flights. Marriott hasn't cancelled my rooms. And I haven't cancelled my car booking with Hertz. So international flights must be resuming soon!

Channeling the optimism of @CityRail are you @Dr Ralph ?

 

[CityRail]

Foreign travel ‘some distance off’: Birmingham

Trade and Tourism Minister Simon Birmingham says it is “more likely” Australians won’t travel overseas until next year, and international passengers from countries other than New Zealand will also not be allowed in.

In the shorter term, Senator Birmingham said Australia would open up to international students and other visitors who tend to stay here for a longer period of time, such as business travellers prepared to undergo two-weeks of quarantine.



Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Simon Birmingham delivers his address to the National Press Club on Wednesday.

“Those who might not only be international students but be here for longer term work purposes or longer term business and investment purposes, logically you can extend those sort of same safeguards to them and their state,” Senator Birmingham told the National Press Club.

“In terms of other countries and how we look at shorter-term visitation, that becomes much more challenging once you move beyond New Zealand but not impossible.

“I hope that we can look eventually at some of those countries who have similar successes in suppressing the spread of COVID to Australia and New Zealand, and in working through that with those countries, find safe pathways to deal with essential business travel that helps to contribute to jobs across our economies.

“But I do, sadly, think that in terms of open tourist-related travel in or out of Australia, that remains quite some distance off, just because of the practicalities of the volumes that are involved and the need for us to first and foremost keep putting health first.”

Asked if the international border would reopen next year rather than than this year, Senator Birmingham said: “Honestly, I think that is more likely the case.”

Oh no! I am sure the business sector, the HE sector as well as Australian migrants would not be happy about this as that means we are stuck in this country for another year.

I sincerely hope the development of vaccine would defeat Birmingham's word today and that we can open the border to more countries faster than the current progress.

 

[Seat0B]

Oh no! I am sure the business sector, the HE sector as well as Australian migrants would not be happy about this as that means we are stuck in this country for another year.

I sincerely hope the development of vaccine would defeat Birmingham's word today and that we can open the border to more countries faster than the current progress.

I know you want to get to HK for family and to vote @CityRail. I want to get to the UAE to see my son, or for him and hi British girlfriend who also lives in the UAE to come here. You are not alone .

But I don’t think we are on the politicians’ radar right now as they still have much more to deal with before taking these risks. We will all just have to be patient. I’d even be happy just to get to QLD to see bereaved family member or to NT to meet a new baby.

 

[JB expat]

What odds would you give for Qantas cancelling a flight departing MEL for LAX on 1 October? The reason for my asking is here:

Qantas international flight in departing 1 Oct

I don't want to go but I also have a strong preference for a cash refund over a credit and my understanding is that if Qantas cancels the flight before I do (like a game of chicken - but for cash), I have a right to a refund. Please correct me if this is not true.

 

[milehighclub]

What odds would you give for Qantas cancelling a flight departing MEL for LAX on 1 October? The reason for my asking is here:

Almost guaranteed.

"Today we’ve updated our published international flying schedule and extended our cancellations for international flights in the booking systems through to late October."

 

[JB expat]

Almost guaranteed.

"Today we’ve updated our published international flying schedule and extended our cancellations for international flights in the booking systems through to late October."

OHHH - where is that from? Thank you!

 

[Dr Ralph]

It's not clear from what I can see:

NoCookies | The Australian

www.google.com

Ive not seen any definitive source offered. Still a glimmer of hope!

Well that hope I had was very short lived!

Email from Qantas this afternoon cancelling all of my international flights for August, September and October!

 

[JB expat]

My Oct international booking has disappeared from my profile. It was there 3 hours ago. No email but I booked through Amex to use my annual voucher that comes with the cc.
Question- is Qantas obligated to provide a cash refund (as in, not a credit) when they are the ones who cancel? I realise they may not offer this initially, but my question is - are they obligated to do so if the passenger requests when Q has cancelled. For USA airlines - this is required and airlines have been brought to task for not (or conveniently, your cc will agree to push through a charge back).

 

[mrsterryn]

Well that hope I had was very short lived!

Email from Qantas this afternoon cancelling all of my international flights for August, September and October!

Thank you for that. Upon reading this I had husband check his flights. They have been cancelled. Was kinda expected but was still holding out a glimmer of hope.
No email notifying. As it is cancelled it will be a cash refund ?

 

[drron]

So it appears we must have known something.24 hours after deciding to cancel our 2020 OS trips the Government decides we can't go anyway.Now just hoping Silversea will give us the 125% future cruise credit so we can do a similiar cruise at the end of 2021.
Sadly going to miss our JAL F awards hnd-LHR and NH F awards LAX-NRT.

 

[JB expat]

No email notifying. As it is cancelled it will be a cash refund ?

same - no email
same question re: refund