What's it like to fly during the COVID-19 lockdown?

[Mattg]

Obviously most of us are staying at home at the moment - and rightly so. But some people still have to travel, and there are still limited flights operating.

For anyone that still has to fly right now, what's it like?

Most of the airport lounges are closed, and I can imagine that airports (and flights) are quite empty at the moment. Both Qantas and Virgin have made changes to their in-flight service, including reduced catering, and Qantas is not currently offering in-flight entertainment.

How many people were on your flight and how were the airline/airport employees coping? Did you notice anything else that's different/unusual?

 

[drron]

Eerie.Flew on Monday.VA BNE-MEL.2 J pax,30 of us in Y.Empty BNE terminal.

MEL-Surf,Dive and Ski open.Why?
Hungry Jacks open in the QF terminal.
Flew MEL-LST on the Dash 8.Headed for the usual gate-all locked down.Flight went from Gate 4.Gate 6 also for Dash 8 flights.14 on flight.

Arriving in LST had to stay seated.Local Police Inspector got on and asked for essential travellers to get off first.4 of us.The rest onto a bus to be taken to hotel.

 

[AIRwin]

Will my partner be able to join me to pick up a friend from his accommodation and drop him off at the airport for his repatriation flight in a few days?

 

[neljelpoo]

Hi all,

I figured lots of people are interested in the processes for those arriving at domestic airports during covid-19 restrictions.

Here's a short one from me! My partner is a HCW from Queensland and prior to landing everyone got a questionnaire (see attachments!). On arrival, the Queensland Police met them at the gate and separated QLD residents from non-residents. Those with QLD residents presented their questionnaire, a QLD drivers licence and was let through. Not sure what the specifics were for non-residents. This was approximately 2 weeks ago.

Now that VA have restart flying again (64 flights a week) and Qantas have increased their capacity (164 from 105), and most of us are stuck at home (hopefully working still!), I assumed many will be interested to read about the experiences of those still flying interstate during these unprecedented times.

I'm sure lots from AFF are still flying around for work (or other essential) purposes! What are your experiences?

 

[drross]

Son in law is FIFO BNE to Mt Isa. Has been a weekly qantas flight on a Tuesday with the plane 2/3 full so that pax in A, C, D and F with B and E vacant. Police at entry and exit asking why they were flying - no questionairre. Now Qantas will be flying wed and fri return so he has had his roster changed and gets an extra day off this swing!!

Post automatically merged: Apr 24, 2020

Son in law is FIFO BNE to Mt Isa. Has been a weekly qantas flight on a Tuesday with the plane 2/3 full so that pax in A, C, D and F with B and E vacant. Police at entry and exit asking why they were flying - no questionairre. Now Qantas will be flying wed and fri return so he has had his roster changed and gets an extra day off this swing!!

 

[hmmm]

I recently flew From Melbourne to Adelaide return on Jetstar (the only airline flying) and got this questionnaire:



Jetstar is also giving out a bottle of water AND a muffin or banana bread. I initially thought they found some generosity in their cold heart but then realised these must have been pre purchased and have an expired date so they might as well give them away rather than pay to dispose of them.

 

[Joel Wills]

I've done a few flights BNE>CNS, TSV>BNE, BNE>CNS, CNS>BNE all virgin. The worst part has been the checkin and security queues at BNE.

 

[Human]

I’ve just boarded VA863 MEL-SYD. Very full flight. Almost every middle seat is taken. The good news is that I was able to choose EconomyX for free even though I’m only Velocity Gold.

The cabin crew leader apologised for the full flight and said that they “can’t reasonably refuse” to fly anyone home in these circumstances. Also announced that this was the cabin crew’s first flight for weeks and that they were “very happy”.

 

[DC3]

.... MEL-Surf,Dive and Ski open.Why? ....

Maybe there is nothing stopping them from being open, just that you are not permitted to enter.

Sounds like the bloke who was fined (later withdrawn) for going to a car wash, but the car wash owner was in the clear.

Edit: Any exemption to buy “clothing” in Victoria? Maybe not.

 

[Mattg]

Not much happening at CBR this morning!

 

[p--and--t]

Not much happening at CBR this morning!

View attachment 217065
View attachment 217066

Everything looks sparky new, tidy and clean (yes I do know just because it looks clean, it doesn't mean it is clean of nasties)

 

[drross]

Is there ever??

Not much happening at CBR this morning!

View attachment 217065
View attachment 217066

 

[BjJames]

Here's the catering on QF571 - SYD-PER on 21 April:

Post automatically merged: May 11, 2020

and on QF642 PER-SYD on 23 April:

 

[harvyk]

Everything looks sparky new, tidy and clean (yes I do know just because it looks clean, it doesn't mean it is clean of nasties)

Considering CBR airport (the current terminal) is nearly 10 years old they have looked after it exceptionally well.

 

[Astro]

I posted this over here for those interested: Virgin Australia Business Class [Catering during COVID-19?]

I haven't flown business for a few weeks now so can't comment on the catering. From sitting behind the purple divider it does seem they are only doing a snack out of a basket. Reminds me of Delta Domestic F in the USA.

I did take some pics of my travels for those wondering what it's like flying in Y at the moment. Very strange is what it is. However, no delays so far, no lines, no stress really.

Heading to Melbourne from Sydney:

View attachment 217800

View attachment 217801

View attachment 217802

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Melbourne to Sydney:

View attachment 217805



View attachment 217806

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View attachment 217808


The staff are treating it very much as business as usual - which is nice considering the circumstances. There are hardly any flights, as everyone knows, so security is a breeze - a few people that don't know how to behave and think that if they push through a crowd security they'll get to their destination before you...

No paperwork between NSW and Victoria. There were defense personnel along with many AFP in Sydney. Melbourne was much quieter.

They are serving wine on the afternoon leg. I think the smaller bottles are new. They used to serve out of 750's. On the morning flight down it was just a snack and water.

One other thing that was surprising was there wasn't many wearing masks. I thought it would be everyone - for instance the Apple Store in Donny Melbourne has a mask policy. I would have thought there would be more.

I notice availability is starting to become slim on Virgin so expect more and more are going back to work in other states. I have been lucky and haven't been needing to fly and I've kind of enjoyed being in the one spot for a few weeks.

 

[eastwest101]

I posted this over here for those interested: Virgin Australia Business Class [Catering during COVID-19?]

Just if people are interested - flew on VA in Y recently and for flights within QLD - say BNE-CNS or BNE-TSV there are no inquisitions at the airport about why you are flying, I haven't flown interstate yet so can't speak for what happens flying between NSW, QLD, VIC and/or other states or indeed intra-state within some of the larger states.

Is this the right thread to start to post real world experiences of interstate travel and how any travel restrictions are actually being enforced? Because there is a lot of misinformation, and poorly written information that does not cover many eventualities of interstate and intra-state travel by air and transiting in airports that aren't very logical, but are the only option due to the decreased number of flights now that we have devolved into 7 little tin-pot state dictatorships instead of a commonwealth.

Security is pretty much the same but just more spaced out queues to get in. VA seem to be blocking middle seats (B and E in B738 services) but loads pretty solid due to a lack of capacity. They are going to have to tell QF and VA to add some more capacity soon, as the lack of capacity is going to work against social distancing and the lack of frequency is going to start to effect essential workers moving around. Airports are pretty empty and shops mostly closed, for some reason its too difficult for the few shops that are open to get a newspaper in stock so definitely byo entertainment on-board, although VA wi-fi IFE was operational on most flights I have taken. Its interesting that VA staff have actively tried to continue priority boarding for eligible pax but then board from back to front and don't use the rear air stairs even though that would improve social distancing, I haven't flown QF domestic yet but am willing to bet that they have dropped their bundle when it comes to implementing premium boarding.

 

[neljelpoo]

Just if people are interested - flew on VA in Y recently and for flights within QLD - say BNE-CNS or BNE-TSV there are no inquisitions at the airport about why you are flying, I haven't flown interstate yet so can't speak for what happens flying between NSW, QLD, VIC and/or other states or indeed intra-state within some of the larger states.

Is this the right thread to start to post real world experiences of interstate travel and how any travel restrictions are actually being enforced? Because there is a lot of misinformation, and poorly written information that does not cover many eventualities of interstate and intra-state travel by air and transiting in airports that aren't very logical, but are the only option due to the decreased number of flights now that we have devolved into 7 little tin-pot state dictatorships instead of a commonwealth.

Security is pretty much the same but just more spaced out queues to get in. VA seem to be blocking middle seats (B and E in B738 services) but loads pretty solid due to a lack of capacity. They are going to have to tell QF and VA to add some more capacity soon, as the lack of capacity is going to work against social distancing and the lack of frequency is going to start to effect essential workers moving around. Airports are pretty empty and shops mostly closed, for some reason its too difficult for the few shops that are open to get a newspaper in stock so definitely byo entertainment on-board, although VA wi-fi IFE was operational on most flights I have taken. Its interesting that VA staff have actively tried to continue priority boarding for eligible pax but then board from back to front and don't use the rear air stairs even though that would improve social distancing, I haven't flown QF domestic yet but am willing to bet that they have dropped their bundle when it comes to implementing premium boarding.

I guess it makes sense that they are not enquiring about flights within Queensland. Did you see many police around at gates for interstate flights? Or were they maybe standing around the pre-security area? Having flown almost every week last year and the beginning of this year, it’s interesting how things have changed so drastically!

 

[Biggles63]

Over the last 48 hours I have travelled PER-MEL-SYD-BNE-MKY

Perth International terminal was quite empty, we were met at the gate by Border Force who read a notice stating that everyone was going to be placed on a bus for mandatory 14 day quarantine at a hotel unless exempt. Then a temperature check and verbal questioning by medical staff. After clearing Customs there were 2 streams, 1 for people travelling interstate with screening by Border Force, and another for people wishing to enter WA with screening by Police

Perth Domestic was quite empty as well, one security point doing screening but no delay. There were only 2 flights on the departure board, one to MEL and one to a mine site.

Travelled to MEL in Y on a QF A332. Social distancing cross ways, but had someone sitting in the row in front and the row behind. Refreshments was a bottle of water and packet of pretzels. 2 colleagues were travelling in D, and had the same refreshments, though one of them told the cabin crew it was his first time in Business, so they gave him a hot crew meal.

No checks on arrival in MEL but the airport was very quiet as expected. Once again only 2 flights on the departure board. The next leg to SYD was on the same plane with the same refreshments, but this time my other colleague got the hot meal. Great service they said.

No checks on arrival at SYD.

The next morning was a SYD departure, on a VA 738 in Y. Only 1 screening point was in operation so the queue took about 10-12 minutes to process. Social distancing on the plane was by keeping the middle seat in each row empty. We got a bottle of water and a trail mix packet for a snack.

Arrival into BNE we were processed at the gate by ADF/QPol as SYD is a declared Covid-19 hotspot and we had a questionnaire to complete. It took about 20 minutes to process all passengers. My wife met me at the airport, she said it took about 15 minutes to get through security, but there were no questions about whether she was travelling, where she was going, or reasons for travel.

Once again the terminal was very quiet. The flight to MKY was the same social distancing and water/snack. No checks on arrival.

I paid a bit of attention to my tray table and seat/armrest on each leg and in my opinion they were a lot cleaner than normal, all flights announced they were doing extra cleaning and specifically mentioned tray tables and toilets. Moving around the aircraft was discouraged. No wifi or on board entertainment/magazines/newspapers as previously announced.

All the crew seemed really happy to be flying!

Biggles

 

[drross]

Daughter flew back from Melbourne to brizvegas yesterday - only 4 departures and 4 arrivals on the boards at Tullamarine and only 2 gates being used by her estimate..most people ‘crowded’ around those 2 gates - she choose to distance herself. BNE - ADF - has to self isolate as coming from the COVID hotspot of Werribee! Lovely to have her home. She’s self isolating upstairs though she was allowed to travel home with us (150kms) in the same car - slightly weird.

 

[eastwest101]

I guess it makes sense that they are not enquiring about flights within Queensland. Did you see many police around at gates for interstate flights? Or were they maybe standing around the pre-security area? Having flown almost every week last year and the beginning of this year, it’s interesting how things have changed so drastically!

In answer to your question - when I arrived in BNE at the VA end of the terminal there were only arrivals from other parts of BNE happening, so its possible that interstate flights were being processed at the common user terminal part of BNE, which I didn't see. No more police than usual at security or after security screening - but as Biggles63 has posted more detailed experiences in interstate travel, and the procedures around that, I would be relying on their experience more than mine, if anyone was considering travelling interstate.