Travelling to Australia During COVID-19 (Discussion)

[Flying mermaid]

But no TP, so just as well she said no!

I have a friend who is a seasoned traveller trying to get back in (via any port) and not having much luck. That's paid J.

I have to admit I don’t think status credits even crossed her mind at that point . Is he trying from Europe or USA? I have heard USA to Aus is easier?

 

[Flashback]

I have to admit I don’t think status credits even crossed her mind at that point . Is he trying from Europe or USA? I have heard USA to Aus is easier?

Neither!

 

[dajop]

For anyone wanting to return to Australia, who is allowed into Greece, Scoot are now flying out of Athens with fares through to PER and MEL for around $1800-$2100 one way economy or $2400-$2600 in Y+ (Scoot Biz).

 

[AFF Editor]

Brilliant! Thank you

Part two of the interview is now available

Podcast Episode #63: Travelling from Australia During COVID-19 (Part Two)

Listen now! This episode was released on 26 June, 2021.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[louie-m]

Part two of the interview is now available

Podcast Episode #63: Travelling from Australia During COVID-19 (Part Two)

Listen now! This episode was released on 26 June, 2021.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

Looking forward to that. Need a permit....

 

[gourevib]

Part two of the interview is now available

Podcast Episode #63: Travelling from Australia During COVID-19 (Part Two)

Listen now! This episode was released on 26 June, 2021.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

That was hotly awaited. Thank you! Unfortunately, the exemption system is still as clear as mud. The over-3-months exemption category was supposed to be easier (presumably allowing the backlog of Australians stuck overseas to clear while limiting the number of applicants), but it is completely unclear what they consider a compelling reason, and as Alan says, decisions are still pretty random. It appears the only way is to try and see. Will do once I get the second shot.

 

[jakeseven7]

You should interview someone who has actually done it that would be interesting

 

[snabbu]

The last couple of repatriation flights offered via DFAT ex US have been approx $AUD2000.00 PP

Passengers will need to pay for their seats prior to taking the flights. The cost for flights from Los Angeles will start at an estimated $2030 AUD per person (economy class, adult ticket), including taxes and administration fees, subject to final costings by Qantas. Ticket prices are based on commercial rates, as agreed with Qantas. Some Business and Premium economy class seats are available on these flights should you prefer, with a different pricing structure, but please note DFAT cannot guarantee availability of these seats.

 

[gourevib]

The last couple of repatriation flights offered via DFAT ex US have been approx $AUD2000.00 PP

I still don’t understand why send repatriation flights to the US when it is reportedly easy to get seats on daily commercial flights LAX-SYD for a similar price? Or not?

 

[snabbu]

My understanding is you are very likely to be bumped if you purchase the cheapest commercial ticket on carriers actually flying to Australia. Full fare Y tickets are approx $4,000.

The repatriation flights I would imagine are almost guarenteed to depart on said date so if you have a ticket you will fly, at half the price.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

My understanding is you are very likely to be bumped if you purchase the cheapest commercial ticket on carriers actually flying to Australia. Full fare Y tickets are approx $4,000.

The repatriation flights I would imagine are almost guarenteed to depart on said date so if you have a ticket you will fly, at half the price.

Bumped only if there is a change in caps or other government restrictions though? If everything remains stable, there should be no reason for an automatic bumping, which would be against all sorts of contract and consumer laws. (I have had friends book - and fly - on the cheapest economy fares being offered. But that was outside any government actions to further limit arrivals.)

 

[gourevib]

My understanding is you are very likely to be bumped if you purchase the cheapest commercial ticket on carriers actually flying to Australia. Full fare Y tickets are approx $4,000.

The repatriation flights I would imagine are almost guarenteed to depart on said date so if you have a ticket you will fly, at half the pric

To my understanding, this applies to flights from the Europe and the Middle East, and airlines like Qatar and Emirates, who regularly book more seats than they are allowed to carry. Not flights from the US on US carriers.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

To my understanding, this applies to flights from the Europe and the Middle East, and airlines like Qatar and Emirates, who regularly book more seats than they are allowed to carry. Not flights from the US on US carriers.

It would be interesting to find out... I haven't heard about this happening outside of new government restrictions. Plus flights out of Europe would be covered by EC261 or the UK equivalent.

 

[Flying mermaid]

It would be interesting to find out... I haven't heard about this happening outside of new government restrictions. Plus flights out of Europe would be covered by EC261 or the UK equivalent.

I think it happened a lot mid last year when the ME carriers would bump economy passengers if a more lucrative J passenger came along. There were stories about being being asked to upgrade to J or being bumped. After quite a lot of bad press they seem to have stopped the practise. Qatar last year put a hold on taking new economy bookings while they cleared their backlog. Most people to whom it was happening would have no idea of EC261. I know when Dr FM was trying to get back at the end of last year/beginning of this, we gave up even thinking of things like that - it was a case of pay whatever and accept whatever just to get back.

 

[louie-m]

It would be interesting to find out... I haven't heard about this happening outside of new government restrictions. Plus flights out of Europe would be covered by EC261 or the UK equivalent.

My cousin, who was originally supposed to be flying LHR - SYD on Qatar this coming Wednesday, was bumped off her flight on Thursday. Next available flight in mid September. She's now rebooked herself on Singapore for tomorrow, fingers crossed.

I have asked earlier in this very thread about EC261 but no-one seems to know anything about how it works in these situations. I get the impression that the airlines are simply ignoring it.

The whole purpose of this thread is how to avoid being bumped. In principle it shouldn't be happening but it is still widespread.

 

[Mattg]

I have asked earlier in this very thread about EC261 but no-one seems to know anything about how it works in these situations. I get the impression that the airlines are simply ignoring it.

I'm not aware of any airline offering this for travel to Australia. EC261 has clauses relating to events outside the airline's control, and I suspect the airlines would argue that constantly-changing government travel caps are outside their control.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I'm not aware of any airline offering this for travel to Australia. EC261 has clauses relating to events outside the airline's control, and I suspect the airlines would argue that constantly-changing government travel caps are outside their control.

EC261 and the UK equivalent are very much alive and applicable! There are certain situations where covid has been deemed an ‘extraordinary’ circumstance, and the government cutting the cap or suspending flights might come under that.

But outside such changes, the presumption should be that it applies. Unfortunately there’s not a lot of chat on the operation of EC261 to Australia, given the very small market ex Europe to here. Anyone affected by a bumping, without any immediate relation to a government restriction, should probably ask the airline for an explanation.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

My cousin, who was originally supposed to be flying LHR - SYD on Qatar this coming Wednesday, was bumped off her flight on Thursday. Next available flight in mid September. She's now rebooked herself on Singapore for tomorrow, fingers crossed.

I have asked earlier in this very thread about EC261 but no-one seems to know anything about how it works in these situations. I get the impression that the airlines are simply ignoring it.

The whole purpose of this thread is how to avoid being bumped. In principle it shouldn't be happening but it is still widespread.

Just out of interest was the flight itself cancelled? Some airlines with multiple daily flights are only running a portion of them. Cancellation of the other flights, due to covid, may bring that outside 261.

 

[dajop]

My cousin, who was originally supposed to be flying LHR - SYD on Qatar this coming Wednesday, was bumped off her flight on Thursday. Next available flight in mid September. She's now rebooked herself on Singapore for tomorrow, fingers crossed.

I have asked earlier in this very thread about EC261 but no-one seems to know anything about how it works in these situations. I get the impression that the airlines are simply ignoring it.

The whole purpose of this thread is how to avoid being bumped. In principle it shouldn't be happening but it is still widespread.

I think SQ tend to be less inclined to bump pax than others.

Heck when we travelled back last December my partner couldn’t even get himself bumped from the flight until we were at the airport a couple of hours before the flight. (i.e they wouldn’t allow his fully paid cash business class ticket that his company paid for, to take the place of his economy saver award ticket booked months earlier - although they managed to do so finally at the airport..)

 

[louie-m]

Just out of interest was the flight itself cancelled? Some airlines with multiple daily flights are only running a portion of them. Cancellation of the other flights, due to covid, may bring that outside 261.

Not that I know of, but I'm not 100% sure. She's not really sure what happened given she had an email from them the day before preparing her for the flight and then the next day the booking had disappeared from MMB. Couldn't get a straight answer.