Predictions of when international flights may resume/bans lifted

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We took it for granted that we could be in sfo in hours if necessary.. now we just hope we are not needed…..
I think that is the major stress factor for many factors separated by distance. But even in Australia that's the case currently. Sad times.

On the other hand, when my grandmother died in very rural Victoria many years ago, I had no way to get to the funeral in time. I had a toddler, had no car that was safe to drive 8 hours to get there, would have had to have driven it all by myself and I knew it just couldn't be done safely with a toddler.
 
There are many family members separated just in this forum so you have lots of company. The only reassurance is that Vietnam has done amazingly well.

Thanks guys! Some positivity around does help all the doom and gloom predicting borders closed till 2023 etc.

Yes. Even though things are bad, atleast Vietnam is doing Ok and if Australia gets it under control, maybe a travel bubble in the near future. Heres hoping

Atleast she is not in the UK or US. Would never see her at this rate
 
Thanks guys! Some positivity around does help all the doom and gloom predicting borders closed till 2023 etc.

Yes. Even though things are bad, atleast Vietnam is doing Ok and if Australia gets it under control, maybe a travel bubble in the near future. Heres hoping

Atleast she is not in the UK or US. Would never see her at this rate

Oh don't worry nothing will be closed in 2023 even if there isn't a good vaccine, we will just be living alongside the virus as best we can.
 
May sound a bit harsh, but with the border closures issue being outside of our control, there’s nothing to be gained by getting more stressed-out over it.

At least the hyper-ventilating seems to have died down on AFF.
 
As state borders open up, will be interesting to see whether pressure goes back on Fed govt re international borders.

Well it was a 'gate keeper' decision that state borders be open (or at least a cluster of them) for international bubbles to open up to those states - so probably NSW/VIC/QLD eventually.

So yes we will see and yes finally the states seem to be moving towards working together as one country slowly but surely which is great news.
 
As state borders open up, will be interesting to see whether pressure goes back on Fed govt re international borders.
I think we may see some places open eventually but others like the US and UK for example are possible a year or more away.
When I chatted to one of my UK Uncles yesterday he said they ran a piece on the news predicting that If measures weren’t Implemented soon that within a month they could see 50,000 cases per day and a month after that 2000 deaths per day potentially
 
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I doubt that the Australian borders will open to foreign travel whilst there are any internal borders closed.

Its worse than just that.

If they have totally failed to organise the states to accept Aussie citizens to come home who have been trying for up to three months, what incentive is there to open the floods gates to allow 10,000's to leave to join the queue at the other end to try and come home?
 
Its worse than just that.

If they have totally failed to organise the states to accept Aussie citizens to come home who have been trying for up to three months, what incentive is there to open the floods gates to allow 10,000's to leave to join the queue at the other end to try and come home?

It depends on how you view it I guess. If Australia allows people from x country to enter without quarantine, it could allow Australia to offload the quarantine responsibility for stranded Australian citizens as they could quarantine at x country before returning to Australia and bypass the incoming passenger cap.
 
It depends on how you view it I guess. If Australia allows people from x country to enter without quarantine, it could allow Australia to offload the quarantine responsibility for stranded Australian citizens as they could quarantine at x country before returning to Australia and bypass the incoming passenger cap.

But its the states that are applying quarantine rules into the states, regardless of the feds. You then have the situation of an inbound (if they could get a flight) to apply to both the feds and the state of approval for permission to land without quaro.

IMHO, don't see that happening anywhere except NSW (and potentially VIC when current issues resolved) and those 2 states will not be willing to cover off the costs on behalf of the states who are acting like they don't belong to the commonwealth any longer.
 
But its the states that are applying quarantine rules into the states, regardless of the feds. You then have the situation of an inbound (if they could get a flight) to apply to both the feds and the state of approval for permission to land without quaro.

IMHO, don't see that happening anywhere except NSW (and potentially VIC when current issues resolved) and those 2 states will not be willing to cover off the costs on behalf of the states who are acting like they don't belong to the commonwealth any longer.

True, it would have to be a joint effort between the feds and the states. In theory it is a win-win: the states don't have to lift the incoming passenger caps and the feds can enjoy the increased economic benefit from allowing people from selected countries to enter Australia without quarantine, but I don't see it happening until there's more pressure from the public over the incoming travel cap.
 
If it wasn't so tragic an overall situation it would be funny.

The tally of Australians wanting to come home and officially registered to come home immediately is now 26,000, +2,000 from last week with 4,000 graded as vulnerable by DFAT.

Non registered estimates are about 100,000 Australians wanting to come home

Something has to be done.

----

Pets arrive home from London before Aussie family stranded


An Australian family stranded in London have expressed frustration their pet dog and cat have already arrived in Sydney while they are still stuck overseas.

The Fotheringhams have been in the UK for the past two and a half years and were in the process of moving back to Australia.

The family of four have had flights cancelled five times, but their pets were able to travel separately as cargo and arrived in Australia last month.

"It would be hilarious if it wasn't tragic," Craig Fotheringham told 7.30.

Frankie, a miniature dachshund, and Stella, a ragdoll cat, made it to Sydney airport safely and are now being cared for by relatives.

But the Fotheringhams' case highlights the predicament facing 26,000 Australians the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has said still want to come home.

Many have faced round after round of flight cancellations.

"Tickets to nowhere. It's thousands and thousands of dollars," Mr Fotheringham said.

Australians stranded overseas face two big problems: National Cabinet's strict limits on international arrivals into Australia in line with hotel quarantine capacity, and the commercial realities faced by airlines which are struggling to remain viable in a global pandemic.

Travellers have told 7.30 they believe they have been regularly bumped from economy in favour of business class passengers.

 
If it wasn't so tragic an overall situation it would be funny.

The tally of Australians wanting to come home and officially registered to come home immediately is now 26,000, +2,000 from last week with 4,000 graded as vulnerable by DFAT.

Non registered estimates are about 100,000 Australians wanting to come home

Something has to be done.

----

Pets arrive home from London before Aussie family stranded


An Australian family stranded in London have expressed frustration their pet dog and cat have already arrived in Sydney while they are still stuck overseas.

The Fotheringhams have been in the UK for the past two and a half years and were in the process of moving back to Australia.

The family of four have had flights cancelled five times, but their pets were able to travel separately as cargo and arrived in Australia last month.

"It would be hilarious if it wasn't tragic," Craig Fotheringham told 7.30.

Frankie, a miniature dachshund, and Stella, a ragdoll cat, made it to Sydney airport safely and are now being cared for by relatives.

But the Fotheringhams' case highlights the predicament facing 26,000 Australians the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has said still want to come home.

Many have faced round after round of flight cancellations.

"Tickets to nowhere. It's thousands and thousands of dollars," Mr Fotheringham said.

Australians stranded overseas face two big problems: National Cabinet's strict limits on international arrivals into Australia in line with hotel quarantine capacity, and the commercial realities faced by airlines which are struggling to remain viable in a global pandemic.

Travellers have told 7.30 they believe they have been regularly bumped from economy in favour of business class passengers.


Sadly as with many areas of our society there remains a class system. Celebrities, the privileged, and the rich and the rest. Applies in the courts, fed arrival approvals, QLD border and quaro approvals and now seat availability on commercial airliners.
 
If it wasn't so tragic an overall situation it would be funny.

The tally of Australians wanting to come home and officially registered to come home immediately is now 26,000, +2,000 from last week with 4,000 graded as vulnerable by DFAT.

Non registered estimates are about 100,000 Australians wanting to come home

Something has to be done.

----

Pets arrive home from London before Aussie family stranded


An Australian family stranded in London have expressed frustration their pet dog and cat have already arrived in Sydney while they are still stuck overseas.

The Fotheringhams have been in the UK for the past two and a half years and were in the process of moving back to Australia.

The family of four have had flights cancelled five times, but their pets were able to travel separately as cargo and arrived in Australia last month.

"It would be hilarious if it wasn't tragic," Craig Fotheringham told 7.30.

Frankie, a miniature dachshund, and Stella, a ragdoll cat, made it to Sydney airport safely and are now being cared for by relatives.

But the Fotheringhams' case highlights the predicament facing 26,000 Australians the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has said still want to come home.

Many have faced round after round of flight cancellations.

"Tickets to nowhere. It's thousands and thousands of dollars," Mr Fotheringham said.

Australians stranded overseas face two big problems: National Cabinet's strict limits on international arrivals into Australia in line with hotel quarantine capacity, and the commercial realities faced by airlines which are struggling to remain viable in a global pandemic.

Travellers have told 7.30 they believe they have been regularly bumped from economy in favour of business class passengers.

There is a big difference between those that need to be home and those that want to come home. We should absolutely be giving priority to those that need to be home and surely there is someway of rating them as “urgent, priority, low priority etc for the time being
 
There is a big difference between those that need to be home and those that want to come home. We should absolutely be giving priority to those that need to be home and surely there is someway of rating them as “urgent, priority, low priority etc for the time being
Is there or should there be a difference and who decides when a passport carrying citizen wishes to return legally to their home country.

Maybe the whole quaro thing needs to be reconsidered with tested negative citizens returning to their homes with a bracelet and a twice a day random visit from an ADF person.

[Not arguing that we may not end up with such a system. But as an Irishman allegedly once said, If I was going there I wouldn't leave from here]
 
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Is there or should there be a difference and who decides when a passport carrying citizen wishes to return legally to their home country.

[Not arguing that we may not end up with such a system. But as an Irishman allegedly once said, If I was going there I wouldn't leave from here]
It’s a worthy debate and FWIW my mothers family are Brits and I’ve had this argument with a couple of them recently. I definitely think there are some people that should go to the front of the queue and the government needs to assist in making that happen. Those with less priority will eventually get back here it just might take longer
 
But its the states that are applying quarantine rules into the states, regardless of the feds. You then have the situation of an inbound (if they could get a flight) to apply to both the feds and the state of approval for permission to land without quaro.

IMHO, don't see that happening anywhere except NSW (and potentially VIC when current issues resolved) and those 2 states will not be willing to cover off the costs on behalf of the states who are acting like they don't belong to the commonwealth any longer.
But surely there would be no extra cost for this scenario as the quarantine has already been done The States that allowed this would be helping their States economy because even people transiting would likely be spending some money on arrival.It would also be a boost in morale for their citizens.
When it comes to entering Australia surely that is the area of Federal government jurisdiction.Don't know how they could impose their own quarantine on international arrivals.And even if they did I doubt that they would be able to keep the confidence and support of their own residents for very long.

I think the suggestion by glasszon is a good idea and the authorities are likely looking at this as it does fit the travel bubble solution but could go a little further as with the travel bubble you obviously have to let in citizens of those countries that are in the bubble.But there are places I wouldn't mind spending quarantine in like Bangkok where you have a choice of quarantine hotels.Pay more for some luxury.
 
Its worse than just that.

If they have totally failed to organise the states to accept Aussie citizens to come home who have been trying for up to three months, what incentive is there to open the floods gates to allow 10,000's to leave to join the queue at the other end to try and come home?
The instant they allow non Australian students to enter (SA plan) they must open the borders up better for Australians or this granny will organise some kind of anarchy. Which in Vic would likely get me arrested in my jammies.
 

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