Since 25 March 2020, Australian citizens and permanent residents have been banned from leaving the country without a travel restriction exemption from the Department of Home Affairs. Australia’s outbound travel ban was first introduced in response to the unfolding COVID-19 pandemic, before Australia had a hotel quarantine system. It was designed to stop Australians going … Continued
The New Zealand government has suspended travel from all Australian states & territories to New Zealand for the next 8 weeks, in response to growing outbreaks of the Delta strain of COVID-19 in various parts of Australia including Sydney. From 11.59pm on 23 July 2021, Australians will no longer be able to travel to New … Continued
As the past week has shown, domestic travel restrictions within Australia can change very quickly. This makes it difficult to book flights with confidence. But to maintain cash flow, airlines need the public to keep booking! So, most airlines have introduced additional flexibility for domestic flight bookings. But can passengers expect a refund if they’re unable … Continued
There is no doubt that COVID-19 has caused enormous disruption to the aviation industry. Countless international routes in and out of Australia have been grounded, and many airlines have stopped flying to Australia altogether for the time being due to the highly restrictive inbound passenger caps. This now includes American Airlines, which just announced it … Continued
The Queensland government has increased the cost of hotel quarantine for passengers arriving in the state from overseas or from declared COVID-19 hotspots in Australia. From 1 July 2021, the cost of 14 days of quarantine for one adult in a Brisbane hotel rose from $2,800 to $3,220. The price for two adults sharing a … Continued
Last week, the Australian government halved the cap on the number of people allowed to return to Australia each week. For tens of thousands of Australians still stranded overseas, this will have disastrous consequences. Following the announcement last Friday, Facebook groups for Australians stranded overseas were flooded with posts by stressed Aussies who now face … Continued
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced a “four-phase plan” to reopen Australia’s domestic and international borders following last Friday’s National Cabinet meeting. Once enough Australians are vaccinated against COVID-19, the country would move from the current “Phase A” into Phase B. This would see vaccinated Australians exempt from domestic border restrictions & lockdowns, and make it … Continued
New Zealand will reinstate the trans-Tasman travel bubble with some Australian states at 11.59pm on 4 July 2021. But when flights from Australia to New Zealand restart, there will be new conditions including mandatory pre-flight COVID-19 testing. The announcement means that from next Monday, it will once again be possible to fly to New Zealand … Continued
The New Zealand government has paused quarantine-free travel from all Australian states until at least next Wednesday, amid concerns over new COVID-19 cases found in multiple parts of the country over recent days. The trans-Tasman travel bubble suspension came into effect almost immediately after it was announced on Saturday evening. The pause is currently due … Continued
Virgin Australia has joined Qantas – plus a growing number of other airlines & tourism businesses – promising prizes and other incentives to anyone who gets vaccinated against COVID-19. Last month, Qantas announced plans to offer generous prizes to Australians who can prove they have been immunised against COVID-19, which could include things like frequent … Continued
Since the Australian government closed the international border and limited the number of returning citizens and permanent residents allowed to fly into the country each week, many Australians have struggled to get home. But that’s not for a lack of trying! Many of the tens of thousands of Australians still stranded overseas have already bought multiple … Continued
Before the pandemic, many Australian Frequent Flyer members – as you would expect – flew very frequently. Some were commuting interstate on a weekly basis, while others had multiple overseas trips each year. In fact, quite a few AFF members flew enough to earn Qantas Platinum One status, which requires Qantas flyers to earn at … Continued
