I have been off this thread for some time as it was looking fairly simple - meaning, no need to make further predictions because international flights were resuming.
Early last week I finally booked a trip to the USA to see my family - late Feb departure. Added a whole bunch of separate internal flights to visit friends etc (and use a large American Air credit from the start of this debacle).
I don't know whether I am being naïve or acting like a stubborn 2 year old but I refuse to believe the government will revert to how things were. We were promised the ability to travel if we did the right thing (achieve the vaccine %%, get boosters, test before flying etc. etc.). If the government back peddles due to fear mongering or politics, I may march in the CBD (prob not, but you get my point). The only reason they should even consider going back to hotel quarantine or selective international border closures if there is actual data showing that the vaccines do not prevent severe COVID in a meaningful % of the population. The vaccine prevents hospitalizations, and is not a means to a COVID free society. If the vaccine does prove to be effective in preventing hospitalizations of Omicron infected individuals, nothing should change even if it does mean a spike in actual COVID cases.