Covid travel: What expat Australians need to do to get on a flight
As Qantas resumes international flights from the US, experts have revealed what Aussie expats will have to do before flying home.
As many Australians still overseas can finally envisage putting their feet back on home soil, we take a look at the processes homecoming travellers will have to go through to board a plane.
David Thomas, Qantas’ Vice President of Sales for the Americas, spoke to a group of US-based Australian expats via Zoom as part of an event put on by the American Australian Association, answering the most pressing questions for travel in – and out – of Australia.
WHEN DOES QANTAS RESUME INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS?
Qantas resumes international flights on Saturday, October 30. There will be three-four flights a week from Los Angeles to Sydney, but the amount of departing flights could still vary. Qantas will also be restarting flights to Melbourne from Los Angeles on December 18th. Flights from Vancouver and Honolulu will also resume on December 18th as well. The Vancouver flights will now operate year-round which Qantas says will give the airline more options into Canada from Australia. Qantas’ San Francisco service is slated to return in mid-February 2022 as will flights from Dallas-Fort Worth.
ARE THE FLIGHTS AVAILABLE TO BOOK?
Yes. All these flights are on sale now. Qantas has also put in place a Fly-Flex policy to make things easier on travellers. That means there is no cost to change the date or time of your flight.
“Because when you’re dealing with vaccinations, testing and other requirements, sometimes you’ll have to make these changes and sometimes at the last minute so this fly flex policy allows you to change your flight last minute with no penalties,” Mr Thomas said.
ARE FARES STILL EXPENSIVE?
Prices during the pandemic by the few carriers that were flying were astronomical because of passenger caps. Now those caps are gone so Qantas can operate full flights. The fare structure is similar to what Qantas had in place pre-pandemic. The fees and taxes haven’t changed so it will be more of a normalised fare structure and be more affordable for Australians trying to get home.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU GET TO THE AIRPORT?
Qantas is working with the IATA (International Air Transport Association) who have developed the travel pass that Qantas and other carriers will use.
It will be a more consistent electronic verification program for testing and for proof of vaccination. Qantas should have the app should be up and running by mid- to late-November. Passengers will be able to securely upload their vaccination and testing information to it, which will be shown to airline staff, border officials, or health officials as needed.
the app is not ready for Qantas’ initial flights. Passengers will have to bring travel and health documentation with them in person and the airline’s check-in staff will have to verify it manually so that will take a bit longer. Qantas recommends getting to the airport early if you are booked on those initial flights.
WHO CAN GET ON THE FLIGHTS?
Qantas’ flights are only open to Australian citizens, residents, immediate family members and their parents. That’s in line with Australian government requirements. The airline says it hopes very soon to have it opened up to everybody including Canadians and Americans, which will change dynamics of demand and what flights Qantas will operate.
WHAT VACCINES ARE RECOGNISED FOR TRAVEL INTO AUSTRALIA?
If you’ve been vaccinated in the US or Canada, you will have most likely received vaccines recognised by Australia so there is no issue entering. AstraZeneca is recognised by the US so that is not an issue when you return to the US.
People who do not need to be vaccinated are children 11 years and under or you can try to get an exemption from the Australian government. To do that you need to go to smarttraveller.gov.au and there’s a link to apply for that exemption. If you don’t get the exemption and you are unvaccinated, you will not be able to board the flight.
For info on Australian border, smarttraveller.gov.au is your best resource.
Covid TESTING
Testing is required on both ends, within 72 hours of your flight. And you have to have a negative Covid test, which must be from an approved PCR testing site.
Mr Thomas says that seven days before your flight, you’ll get information from Qantas in both email and text message that will give you information and links on what documentation you need to have and where to get it prepared so some of those testing sites would be and other information to help you prepare for boarding the flight. Then three days before departure you’ll get a similar text or email but this time it will be a reminder that you have to go out and get your Covid test immediately. One day before departure you’ll get more messages on how you can check in and verifying you have all the correct information needed.
DO I HAVE TO WEAR A MASK ONBOARD?
Yes. Qantas will provide a wellness kit on-board that includes a mask, hand sanitiser wipes. It is mandated by all carriers that masks be worn in flight unless you are eating or drinking.
IS IT SAFE TO BREATHE AEROPLANE AIR?
Qantas operates with hospital grade filters. They circulate the air and it takes 99 per cent particles out of the air including viruses and we recycle the air every five minutes so the air is safe and clean.
CAN I TRAVEL ONTO OTHER STATES ASIDE FROM VIC AND NSW?
It depends on the state, says Mr Thomas. There are different border control set ups for each Australian state and each state has different requirements so if you do want to travel to other states beyond Victoria and NSW, you need to check what the state guidelines are, which change regularly. Qantas says they won’t be able to sell tickets to other states unless border restrictions are lifted.
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