Predictions of when international flights may resume/bans lifted

Hey mate,

How sure are you on this? i had a call with QF that said the opposite but they didnt seem all that certain of themselves.
With a 5 1/2 hour layover I can't see what would stop them checking you through from MEL to SYD.

What was "the opposite" they said? Problem with QF call centres, especially the South Africa one, is you can ring three times amnd get three answers. And I take it you are flying MEL-SYD on QF then onward to UK on EK?

Cheers skip
 
With a 5 1/2 hour layover I can't see what would stop them checking you through from MEL to SYD.

What was "the opposite" they said? Problem with QF call centres, especially the South Africa one, is you can ring three times amnd get three answers. And I take it you are flying MEL-SYD on QF then onward to UK on EK?

Cheers skip
heya mate,

CBR - MEL
MEL - DXB
DXB - MAN

Call centre advised i would not get checked in to CBR - MEL unless all my documentation for trip was complete and in my possession
 
For the the PCR pre-test before leaving the UK if you are a dual citizen.....

We are flying next weekend (transit via singapore), we have to exit on our Australian passport and hence get the PCR test required for singapore transit linked to our Australian passport.

We were planning to enter with our UK passports and get the Day 2 PCR linked to our UK passport details when we fill out the UK passenger locator forms. Does anyone know if it will be an issue to do this now. ie should we enter the UK on our Australian passport so our pre-departure PCR test is linked to these details? Alternatively would you need 2x pre departure PCR tests, one for each passport? Hope this makes sense.
I have linked my 2 day test to my British passport and will link the UK departure one to my Aus passport. Seems ok to me 🤞
 
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Of course, you check in as far as your doco permits, check in at MEL when you have all the right doco.

5 1/2 hours sounds fine, get tested, 90 mins, cuppa, obtain printed result, should be right around when checkin for EK opens.

My "1 hour" test arrived in about 45 minutes. Registering and paying in advance will save you 10 minutes.

Cheers skip
Mrs FB and I had "results within 1 hour" antigen tests on Friday. Mine came in 20 minutes, hers came in a little over 1.5 hours. There was 2 minutes difference in our sample taken time. Beware.
How is the UK thing going to work for people having to transit in the eastern states from Adelaide then say through Doha? So flight length of 30 hours but have to allow 24 hours to get result before departing first flight? No time in Doha or eastern states to get rapid one!
The test needs to be done 2 calendar days before, so you have more than 24 hours.
For the the PCR pre-test before leaving the UK if you are a dual citizen.....

We are flying next weekend (transit via singapore), we have to exit on our Australian passport and hence get the PCR test required for singapore transit linked to our Australian passport.

We were planning to enter with our UK passports and get the Day 2 PCR linked to our UK passport details when we fill out the UK passenger locator forms. Does anyone know if it will be an issue to do this now. ie should we enter the UK on our Australian passport so our pre-departure PCR test is linked to these details? Alternatively would you need 2x pre departure PCR tests, one for each passport? Hope this makes sense.
The day 2 PCR doesn't get 'linked' to your passport as such, its more so just a link to say that you are the person that did have that test as your passport gets checked when you do it. Of course if you use a mail test it's less important anyway. Surely when you enter Australia, if you had your pre-departure PCR test (for Aus?? It's not clear, sorry) on a different passport you could just show that if requested, or your concern the airline won't let you board if it doesn't match the one you're using to exit the country? Are you planning to use the Day 2 PCR as your pre-departure test for Aus?
 
Mrs FB and I had "results within 1 hour" antigen tests on Friday. Mine came in 20 minutes, hers came in a little over 1.5 hours. There was 2 minutes difference in our sample taken time. Beware.

The test needs to be done 2 calendar days before, so you have more than 24 hours.

The day 2 PCR doesn't get 'linked' to your passport as such, its more so just a link to say that you are the person that did have that test as your passport gets checked when you do it. Of course if you use a mail test it's less important anyway. Surely when you enter Australia, if you had your pre-departure PCR test (for Aus?? It's not clear, sorry) on a different passport you could just show that if requested, or your concern the airline won't let you board if it doesn't match the one you're using to exit the country? Are you planning to use the Day 2 PCR as your pre-departure test for Aus?
So if leaving Doha Thursday bound for UK the test needs to be done Tuesday SA time. Starting flight in Adelaide departs at about 6pm Weds for Melb. Spending about 3 weeks in UK. The risk is not getting the result back by Weds night. They don't guarantee it for the $150 test but will get it back by midnight same day for the $300. Not me, but son and DIL and grandson who hasn't seen her parents in The Wirral for two years. She's getting extremely stressed so I've been charged for doing all the research.
 
So if leaving Doha Thursday bound for UK the test needs to be done Tuesday SA time. Starting flight in Adelaide departs at about 6pm Weds for Melb. Spending about 3 weeks in UK. The risk is not getting the result back by Weds night. They don't guarantee it for the $150 test but will get it back by midnight same day for the $300. Not me, but son and DIL and grandson who hasn't seen her parents in The Wirral for two years. She's getting extremely stressed so I've been charged for doing all the research.
Wow, are rapid tests really costing $150 and taking more than a few hours for results? Madness.
 
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Mrs FB and I had "results within 1 hour" antigen tests on Friday. Mine came in 20 minutes, hers came in a little over 1.5 hours. There was 2 minutes difference in our sample taken time. Beware.

The test needs to be done 2 calendar days before, so you have more than 24 hours.

The day 2 PCR doesn't get 'linked' to your passport as such, its more so just a link to say that you are the person that did have that test as your passport gets checked when you do it. Of course if you use a mail test it's less important anyway. Surely when you enter Australia, if you had your pre-departure PCR test (for Aus?? It's not clear, sorry) on a different passport you could just show that if requested, or your concern the airline won't let you board if it doesn't match the one you're using to exit the country? Are you planning to use the Day 2 PCR as your pre-departure test for Aus?
On the current passenger locator form page which links to your 2 day per booking (can't fill out until 2 days prior). It says you need:

  • your passport details or the travel document you’ll use when you arrive at the UK border – you must use the same travel document for both arrival and departure

I am just concerned that if my pre-departure PCR test which I have booked in with my Australian passport details doesn't match my UK passport it may be a case of not having the right details at check in - less concerned when we arrive in UK as it can be easily explained to the border agent.
 
On the current passenger locator form page which links to your 2 day per booking (can't fill out until 2 days prior). It says you need:

  • your passport details or the travel document you’ll use when you arrive at the UK border – you must use the same travel document for both arrival and departure

I am just concerned that if my pre-departure PCR test which I have booked in with my Australian passport details doesn't match my UK passport it may be a case of not having the right details at check in - less concerned when we arrive in UK as it can be easily explained to the border agent.
The e-gates do not link the 2 together, as much as they may try to make you think that. You have no worries at all.
 
I read the gov.uk advice is that if you can test in the 2 days before your flight into UK. They don't mention hours on the official adviceScreenshot_20211205-173955_Drive.jpgScreenshot_20211205-174006_Drive.jpg
I.e if your last flight is on a Wednesday you can test on an Australian Monday
The 'where possible' in the long journey section suggests some wriggle-room but I wouldn't rely on it (or the overall advice changing at short notice for that matter)
 
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I read the gov.uk advice is that if you can test in the 2 days before your flight into UK. They don't mention hours on the official adviceView attachment 266443View attachment 266444
I.e if your last flight is on a Wednesday you can test on an Australian Monday
The 'where possible' in the long journey section suggests some wriggle-room but I wouldn't rely on it (or the overall advice changing at short notice for that matter)
That's what the guidance says; but I'd be waiting to see exactly what's written in the SI, likely to be updated on Monday if last week's prompt update is anything to go by.
 
On the current passenger locator form page which links to your 2 day per booking (can't fill out until 2 days prior). It says you need:

  • your passport details or the travel document you’ll use when you arrive at the UK border – you must use the same travel document for both arrival and departure

I am just concerned that if my pre-departure PCR test which I have booked in with my Australian passport details doesn't match my UK passport it may be a case of not having the right details at check in - less concerned when we arrive in UK as it can be easily explained to the border agent.
As another dual citizen I had the same initial reaction to that wording in the PLF instructions but on reflection I don’t interpret it as a problem for us. You will be using your UK not AU passport to leave UK: you will show it at check-in though there is usually no outbound UKBF passport check. The AU passport (and the pre-dep PCR test result linked to it) is the credential for entry to Australia and thus outside the scope of the UK PLF. Large numbers of dual citizens are passing through the UK border every day and I’ve seen no reports of problems arising from people’s test bookings and results being linked to different passports for arrival and departure. As @Flashback has commented already, you (we) have nothing to worry about.
 
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Call centre advised i would not get checked in to CBR - MEL unless all my documentation for trip was complete and in my possession
Hmmm. As you're doing the international sectors on EK you could check with their call centre. IME when you checkin with onward sectors to another carrier the checkin agents are hypersensitive particularly since COVID in case the checkin carrier gets it wrong and the onward carrier refuses boarding. It's the international carrier's call that really counts. Often the onwards carrier checks the doco and reissues their own boarding pass even if you have one already for the onward sectors.


cheers skip
 
For the the PCR pre-test before leaving the UK if you are a dual citizen.....

We are flying next weekend (transit via singapore), we have to exit on our Australian passport and hence get the PCR test required for singapore transit linked to our Australian passport.

We were planning to enter with our UK passports and get the Day 2 PCR linked to our UK passport details when we fill out the UK passenger locator forms. Does anyone know if it will be an issue to do this now. ie should we enter the UK on our Australian passport so our pre-departure PCR test is linked to these details? Alternatively would you need 2x pre departure PCR tests, one for each passport? Hope this makes sense.
Having just done the trip to the UK, just stick to your AU passport. There is no benefit of using the UK one as E-gates in the UK accept an AU passport. It just adds another layer for complexity and risk to the trip. Print everything out including the receipt for the UK Day 2 tests, lost count of how many times I had to provide these.
 
Having just done the trip to the UK, just stick to your AU passport. There is no benefit of using the UK one as E-gates in the UK accept an AU passport. It just adds another layer for complexity and risk to the trip. Print everything out including the receipt for the UK Day 2 tests, lost count of how many times I had to provide these.
It may work to use your AU passport to enter the UK while also holding a UK passport but UKBF doesn’t like it. I did this once by mistake and was pulled up by the immigration officer who could see on the system that I was a dual national. It’s really not that hard to manage two or more nationalities/passports, just needs a bit more care in the age of Covid.

Another consideration is that by using an AU passport you are receiving visa-free entry to the UK with some conditions attached and there may be hassle to sort it out with UKBF if you later need to stray outside those conditions (length of stay etc). It certainly won’t work in reverse – trying to enter Australia on a foreign passport while also an AU citizen – which may be an offence and it would certainly be a nonsense to apply for an AU entry visa while holding an AU passport.

That is good advice, though, about printing everything out: I've made up a folder with docs in individual clear sheet protectors for my forthcoming international trip. Low tech but it will work.
 
It may work to use your AU passport to enter the UK while also holding a UK passport but UKBF doesn’t like it. I did this once by mistake and was pulled up by the immigration officer who could see on the system that I was a dual national. It’s really not that hard to manage two or more nationalities/passports, just needs a bit more care in the age of Covid.

Thats interesting, how do they know who has dual nationality?
 
Just a quick update on those coming to VIC from overseas via NSW. We got contacted after day 3 via phone from NSW health. Just self report on vaccination status, postcode of isolation and if day 1 test was done. No check from VIC health and no awareness of being interstate until that phone call. Very loose check other than a SMS on day 1 from NSW health saying they are monitoring compliance and that there are fines.
 
Just a quick update on those coming to VIC from overseas via NSW. We got contacted after day 3 via phone from NSW health. Just self report on vaccination status, postcode of isolation and if day 1 test was done. No check from VIC health and no awareness of being interstate until that phone call. Very loose check other than a SMS on day 1 from NSW health saying they are monitoring compliance and that there are fines.
Based on that report it is arguably less intrusive to enter VIC via NSW. Compare your experience thus far to that of andye
 
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