Australia closed to foreigners until 2021

[mngmt mole]

This can't be good news...

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/india-reports-record-jump-covid-19-deaths-china-struggles-textbook-second-wave-live

[Flex88]

This can't be good news...

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/india-reports-record-jump-covid-19-deaths-china-struggles-textbook-second-wave-live

Add to this that Beijing is cancelling flights (70% for now) because of only "137" new cases in a week ;) ....

https://globalnews.ca/news/7074929/coronavirus-beijing-flights-cancelled/

Sure, sure, travel will return to normal soon..

[BuzzBox]

Australian borders likely to stay closed until next year, Tourism Minister says (https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-06-17/borders-likely-closed-until-next-year-coronavirus-restrictions/12365978)

[Bankstown Boy]

Sadly, the borders are not entirely closed

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/university-of-canberra-and-australian-national-university-fly-in-300-foreign-students/news-story/85bed35cbd47d8c1327ba9a159b0c1de

I do not understand, nor accept, that Australian citizens cannot fly in or out of our own country but our universities can fly in students from overseas?

[mngmt mole]

You're Australian...surely you can figure out the answer to that ...the rest of us already have :}.

[ozbiggles]

Australian citizens can fly into the country. There has NEVER been any restriction on that.
The overseas students bring in income and keep the universities working. The students will have to do 14 days quarantine.
Let go of your racism and make some room for some common sense and perhaps a few seconds of research.

[JMock]

You're Australian...surely you can figure out the answer to that ...the rest of us already have :}.nasty, mole

Australian citizens are free to enter the country whenever and as there is already in place a 14 day quarantine protocol, the students will be dealt with in the same fashion as returning Aussies.

What is more relevant is the fact that the students chosen are in their final stages of research projects which are vital to the continued acceptance of the said universities as international centres of research excellence.

and what ozbiggles said

[mngmt mole]

Oh good grief ! If you can't see the intended humour in my comment then I really can't help you much. It is a good thing if you can laugh at yourself once in a while. Believe, me...as a Brit I have plenty of opportunity to do that in my own case. Chill.

[michigan j]

Australian citizens are free

Might be about $2500 AUD per person. That's going to be quite a deterrent

[Mill Worker]

1. This is good news. The virus can't swim here so the fewer people arriving the better.
2. The taxpayer is still funding 14 days in quarantine. This is ridiculous. If you have a legitimate reason to enter the country you should fully fund it. There was ample time to come back prior to these restrictions being put in place.
3. Australia has largely escaped this problem because of border restrictions.

[michigan j]

1. This is good news.
Mind expanding on how this is good news for CX and other airlines?

[Joker89]

But why are Australians banned from leaving? So they can’t come back for more quarantine, if you willing to pay for your own quarantine why should you be prevented from leaving the place. Covidiots

[TriJetFlying]

Australian citizens can fly into the country. There has NEVER been any restriction on that.
The overseas students bring in income and keep the universities working. The students will have to do 14 days quarantine.
Let go of your racism and make some room for some common sense and perhaps a few seconds of research.

ozbiggles, let me guess. You’re offended!

[Fluke]

No Booze on flights in Australia (domestic/international), to help lessen contact with cabin crew. why would you want to fly !

[ozbiggles]

The only thing that really offends me is when people have a lack of common dog.

Or to quote a hero of mine, “There are only two things that offend me, intolerance and the Dutch”.

[michigan j]

No Booze on flights in Australia !
Oh god, does this apply to passengers as well?

[Mill Worker]

Mind expanding on how this is good news for CX and other airlines?

I don't think the 25 million or so that haven't caught the disease in Australia really care. They are happy to keep it out or at least do all that can be done to keep it out.

[SOPS]

I will be happy if they keep the borders closed for another 2 years.. as long as it keeps it out. I have seen enough of what happens when this thing starts to spread.

[C152Heavy]

If Cathay survives, I think it's time to dump all Asia and Oceania and focus on Europe, North America and start flying to Africa (everywhere) and South America.

I know it sounds stupid as CX is in the middle of Asia, but Qatar and Emirates make most of their revenue with pax transiting to and from anywhere except middle East. Asia and Oceania were hit first by the virus but will open last, how ironic.

Meanwhile, in Europe, flights restarted, borders opened, back in business. If you still think Asia is the new world's economic centre, think again and don't count on those gutless leaders to make the first move.

[Climb150]

1. This is good news. The virus can't swim here so the fewer people arriving the better.
2. The taxpayer is still funding 14 days in quarantine. This is ridiculous. If you have a legitimate reason to enter the country you should fully fund it. There was ample time to come back prior to these restrictions being put in place.
3. Australia has largely escaped this problem because of border restrictions.

As for point 2, Some Australians are still stuck overseas with many countries not allowing any travel. Many people are being made redundant in the ME from the big 3.

How could they have just "dropped everything" at the start and come home?

[AQIS Boigu]

This is **** news for us trying to stay employed.

What a Nanny State - can’t believe you need an exit permit in 2020.

If Aussies wanna travel then let them.

”but the Prime Minister said...”

[Mill Worker]

As for point 2, Some Australians are still stuck overseas with many countries not allowing any travel. Many people are being made redundant in the ME from the big 3.

How could they have just "dropped everything" at the start and come home?

Sure, some are in those sort of unfortunate situations but hundreds are/were just ignorant, either way why should the public fund this? This is typical of the world we live in now that nobody wants to be responsible for themselves, particularly if it costs them...
If you are a citizen you can get back in but you should be responsible for the cost not everybody else. Fortunately this is about to change.

[michigan j]

If you are a citizen you can get back in but you should be responsible for the cost not everybody else. Fortunately this is about to change.

Aussies pay but international students get in for free...
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/jun/17/up-to-350-international-students-to-return-to-australia-under-pilot-scheme-coronavirus

Please explain?

[mr did]

Oh god, does this apply to passengers as well?

That's funny

[Australia2]

Well said 150,

Mill Worker - you are a muppet and out of touch with the industry and the plight of all concerned. Lots of people are doing it hard.

You need to get out more.

Go away; I don’t think I’m the lone voice here.

[Mill Worker]

Sorry A2, I think you will find just about the entire population (outside the aviation and education sectors perhaps) is very comfortable with the current international border restrictions (not so the domestic restrictions). My comments are not about the aviation industry they are about the well being of the wider community. If you would wish a UK style outbreak upon Australia well that is your opinion and you are entitled to it. I know many people from many airlines that are out of work and may never work again which is very unfortunate for them but it is preferable to the potential alternative. There are hundreds of thousands of business making sacrifices at the moment for the greater good and they don't want that work unwound.

It is better to read posts in context rather than from a rather selfish perspective.

[cynphil]

I think you will find that the foreign student 14 day hotel quarantine is being funded jointly by the Universities and the ACT government...not the federal!

In reference to the domestic border restrictions....support for the Queensland premier’s tough stance on keeping the border closed is running close to 70% even though the media is saying to open. Australian borders closed is also supported by the vast majority of the population except if you are in the travel and tourism business...so I can’t see this changing for quite some time except for the bubble with NZ...

[controlledrest]

No Booze on flights in Australia (domestic/international), to help lessen contact with cabin crew. why would you want to fly !

Just leave me the bottle.

[BuzzBox]

In reference to the domestic border restrictions....support for the Queensland premier’s tough stance on keeping the border closed is running close to 70% even though the media is saying to open...

Ditto for Western Australia. Border restrictions are regarded as WA's primary defence against COVID-19 and the WA Government has said the domestic border will not re-open until there is no community transmission in the other states (ie Victoria). There is overwhelming public support in WA for that position. The virus has effectively been eradicated in WA and, apart from the travel restrictions, life is rapidly getting back to normal.

[ozbiggles]

WA will crack quickly once they start missing out on domestic tourism and international student money. The only thing holding it back now is Victoria is just creating enough bad press to give him something to hold onto his PR but the dollars will trump it soon.

[BuzzBox]

I doubt that. For a start, the policy on international student arrivals is controlled by the Federal Government and seems likely to go ahead with the existing 14-day quarantine requirement. Further, WA Government data shows that interstate visitors only contribute about 16% of the total value added to the WA economy by tourism. The vast majority (over 50%) of that total value comes from within WA. Under the current restrictions, some of the value that might have been added by interstate tourism is likely to be recouped by locals spending more money in WA.

The WA Premier's approval rating is running at about 89%, the highest of any leader in the country. His handling of the epidemic has the backing of around 90-95% of the WA public. I doubt that he will cave in to pressure from the other States or the Commonwealth any time soon.

[ozbiggles]

Well researched but you must have missed the part where the PM said if you can’t go from Sydney to Perth then you can’t go from Singapore to Perth. Or if your state is not open to Australia then you won’t be getting any international students. I’m not sure how many international students go to uni in WA but the answer will be some and you can bet those University’s will be in the WA premiers ear. But I agree entirely that the premiers are driven by their approval ratings, not COVID rates.

edit - I do now, 2017 figures, 50,000 international students, $1.9 billion dollars.

[AQIS Boigu]

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-06-19/mark-mcgowan-under-growing-wa-border-pressure-analysis/12371472

BuzzBox,

Looks like WA might open very soon

[BuzzBox]

Well researched but you must have missed the part where the PM said if you can’t go from Sydney to Perth then you can’t go from Singapore to Perth..

I did see that comment, but I think it's just political posturing to put pressure on the states to open their domestic borders. In terms of biosecurity, there's zero logic in the PM denying international students the right to enter Perth if he's going to allow them to enter Sydney or Canberra.

[ozbiggles]

One of the best political quotes ever ‘Never stand between a premier and a bucket of money’. With the worst unemployment figures and the other states opening up to tourism and international students it won’t be long. The court case could go a number of ways too. It might have been in the closed States favour a few weeks ago but the number now opens weakens the health argument to keep WA shut but I don’t think the case will be up before the border is open. End of July I reckon all based on the politics, makes him look like he held out longer but not to long to affect the opinion poles, announced by this Sunday.
As for the international borders outside the Tasman, mid 2021 the earliest with no 14 day quarantine and that is only if some form of control is gained over COVID.

[rmcdonal]

Sure, some are in those sort of unfortunate situations but hundreds are/were just ignorant, either way why should the public fund this? This is typical of the world we live in now that nobody wants to be responsible for themselves, particularly if it costs them...
If you are a citizen you can get back in but you should be responsible for the cost not everybody else. Fortunately this is about to change.
Quarantine is there to protect the Australian public, not those returning to Australia, so why should the travellers pay for your safety? Prisoners don't pay for their jail.

[BuzzBox]

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-06-19/mark-mcgowan-under-growing-wa-border-pressure-analysis/12371472

BuzzBox,

Looks like WA might open very soon

...and yet the State Government insisted yesterday the unemployment data won't affect its decision on when to re-open the border. See the WA Treasurer's remarks from about 2:00 in yesterday's interview:
facebook dot com/abcperth/videos/654588441793228/

The Government is certainly under pressure, but remember the unemployment data lags the current state of the employment market by about a month. For example, the May unemployment data released yesterday only reflects the market to mid-May, before the Government began easing restrictions, and was expected to be dire. The June figures, released mid-July, should show the effect of easing the restrictions. In any case, I doubt the unemployment data will sway the Government's decision making in the short term; the decision to re-open the border (or not) will be based on the health outcomes in the other states over the next few weeks.

[InSoMnIaC]

Quarantine is there to protect the Australian public, not those returning to Australia, so why should the travellers pay for your safety? Prisoners don't pay for their jail.


pure Gold. :D

[ozbiggles]

You can’t fight logic like that...

[Duck Pilot]

They will just watch......

[Fly747]

Mind expanding on how this is good news for CX and other airlines?
For us the Australian restrictions are a fairly minor problem compared to HK’s own 14 day quarantine. That is set to continue until Sept 18 at least for HK residents and don’t forget that the ban on entry of non-residents is currently indefinite.

[exfocx]

Australian citizens can fly into the country. There has NEVER been any restriction on that.
The overseas students bring in income and keep the universities working. The students will have to do 14 days quarantine.
Let go of your racism and make some room for some common sense and perhaps a few seconds of research.

Yes, and should do the same.

We don't have an education industry, we have a path to PR Visa industry, take that away and see how many students come here for our world class education. The universities have prostituted themselves on foreign students to the point they'd have difficulty surviving without them, VCs on 1.5m salaries while the lecturers and tutors are being starved. Quarantine paid for by the tax payer, this is the new (not so quite new) Australian economy; Ticket clipping with the profits privatised and losses socialised.

Now RE industry needs them, though up until CV19 we were told that Chinese buyers didn't have any impact on house prices or rents, now they're telling us property is dead without them; let it die!

[exfocx]

WA will crack quickly once they start missing out on domestic tourism and international student money. The only thing holding it back now is Victoria is just creating enough bad press to give him something to hold onto his PR but the dollars will trump it soon.

Like you said to the fellow before. Research!

WA has a very low number of foreign students.

Edit: Btw, I think it's highly likely WA would have more people leaving the state than coming in.

[nomorecatering]

In 5 years we will look back at this fiasco and wonder how did world get this so wrong. Our leaders have systemically over-reacted and cocked it up. They have ruined a thousand times more lives than this virus could ever. But nary a whisper about fixing things that kill hundreds of thousands of people year in, year out. Obesity, diabetes, smoking, alcohol, drugs, HIV/AIDS. If closing down the worlds economy is the reaction to a sniffle (which Coronavirus really is), imagine if Ebola got out.

In Australia we have 3 people in ICU for the whole of Australia. This has been a farce from day one. Already, Influenza has killed 4x the amount of people but it doesn't even rate a mention, let alone a lockdown.

The world has lost its collective mind.

[ozbiggles]

I did
2017 50,000 International students.
1.9 Billion dollars.
Source WA Gov website
Sounds like more than ‘Not many’ to me.

More people leaving than coming in...you might suppose a few of them would book through WA travel agents, buy a bag and some nice new clothes to travel from a WA shop, catch a WA taxi, park a car at the WA airport, buy meals at the WA airport, a book at the newsagent there, be checked in by a lovely WA employee of their airline as the WA bag handler drop kicks their bag, whilst the WA engineer checks their aircraft after being refuelled by the WA refueller just before being cleared for takeoff by the WA based tower controller...Or none of this so the premier can keep his ratings high as employment soars.

[exfocx]

I did
2017 50,000 International students.
1.9 Billion dollars.
Source WA Gov website
Sounds like more than ‘Not many’ to me.

More people leaving than coming in...you might suppose a few of them would book through WA travel agents, buy a bag and some nice new clothes to travel from a WA shop, catch a WA taxi, park a car at the WA airport, buy meals at the WA airport, a book at the newsagent there, be checked in by a lovely WA employee of their airline as the WA bag handler drop kicks their bag, whilst the WA engineer checks their aircraft after being refuelled by the WA refueller just before being cleared for takeoff by the WA based tower controller...Or none of this so the premier can keep his ratings high as employment soars.

Not according to https://www.australianuniversities.com.au/directory/student-numbers/

37,000 and that includes 1,700 at non uni higher ed.

Your only interest is your own.

[exfocx]

In 5 years we will look back at this fiasco and wonder how did world get this so wrong. Our leaders have systemically over-reacted and cocked it up. They have ruined a thousand times more lives than this virus could ever. But nary a whisper about fixing things that kill hundreds of thousands of people year in, year out. Obesity, diabetes, smoking, alcohol, drugs, HIV/AIDS. If closing down the worlds economy is the reaction to a sniffle (which Coronavirus really is), imagine if Ebola got out.

In Australia we have 3 people in ICU for the whole of Australia. This has been a farce from day one. Already, Influenza has killed 4x the amount of people but it doesn't even rate a mention, let alone a lockdown.

The world has lost its collective mind.

I suggest you run this: https://public.flourish.studio/visualisation/2562261/

[ozbiggles]

Ex, when we assume...you know the rest. What interest do I have in this?

If you don’t agree with the figures I have you best take it up with the WA Gov because they are from their website.

[exfocx]

Ex, when we assume...you know the rest. What interest do I have in this?

If you don’t agree with the figures I have you best take it up with the WA Gov because they are from their website.

No, this numbers include non-uni students such as tafe and those in public schools. If you believe the inflated numbers on earnings, go for it.

[ozbiggles]

So you will believe the WA government that the borders should stay shut against the Federal governments advice but you won’t believe the WA governments figure on how much all the international students contribute to the economy?

[BuzzBox]

If you don’t agree with the figures I have you best take it up with the WA Gov because they are from their website.

The figures you quoted are out of date. WA suffered a large drop in international students in 2018 after the State Government asked the Commonwealth to remove WA from the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme. That move saw WA's intake of international students drop from 11 per cent of the total market share to just 5 per cent. In June 2019, WA had only about 39,000 international students.

The State Government reversed its position on the RSMS late last year, but the epidemic has put paid to any recovery in numbers.

[ozbiggles]

Buzz, that’s not fair introducing well researched up to date facts into a debate on Pprune!!!!!

Still 39,000 students would add to the economy but there is a lot of work to be done and that is only a small part. I agree with keeping the international borders shut for a long time yet. Initially the state borders too but the pendulum needs to swing back to getting the country working again and we have the resources to deal with any implications from that IMHO. The shutting the borders now is all about premiers and their ratings not the medical advice they are getting.

[jmmoric]

1. This is good news. The virus can't swim here so the fewer people arriving the better.

Sure about that?

https://www.intrafish.com/coronavirus/live-updates-salmon-market-shaken-as-headlines-link-the-fish-to-covid-19-in-china/2-1-746616

[MENELAUS]

Ah the irony of China wanting to investigate Norwegian fish plants to find the origin of this latest outbreak :rolleyes:


Agreed scandalous. That well known home of low hygiene and ethical standards, Scandinavia.

[BuzzBox]

The shutting the borders now is all about premiers and their ratings not the medical advice they are getting.

Even the 'experts' can't agree. WA's Chief Health Officer believes the state border should remain closed until community spread is eliminated in the other states:
Statement from WA Chief Health Officer: COVID-19 restrictions in Western Australia (https://ww2.health.wa.gov.au/en/Media-releases/2020/Statement-from-WA-Chief-Health-Officer-COVID19-restrictions-in-Western-Australia)
Should Australian states ditch coronavirus border restrictions? Even medical experts can't agree on that (https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-23/coronavirus-how-is-there-different-health-advice-border-closures/12276062)

That advice was given a month ago and since then there's been no indication he has changed his position. Nevertheless, the WA Government is under a lot of pressure to make an announcement to provide clarity for affected businesses:
WA in 'advanced stages' of discussions to reopen border as Minister admits the community wants clarity (https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-06-17/wa-government-in-advanced-discussions-to-reopen-border/12365262)

[ericsson16]

1. This is good news. The virus can't swim here so the fewer people arriving the better.
2. The taxpayer is still funding 14 days in quarantine. This is ridiculous. If you have a legitimate reason to enter the country you should fully fund it. There was ample time to come back prior to these restrictions being put in place.
3. Australia has largely escaped this problem because of border restrictions.
"The virus can't swim here so the fewer people arriving the better." Maybe the Lurgy will swim over in a A multi-purpose vessel (MPV) Freemantle.Always amazes me that people think that aviation is the only way to carry the dreaded Lurgy.

[cxorcist]

Quarantine is there to protect the Australian public, not those returning to Australia, so why should the travellers pay for your safety? Prisoners don't pay for their jail.
Prisoners most definitely SHOULD pay for their own jail with their labour. They are an expensive burden on society, in jail, in courts, in the public.

[main_dog]

ExfocCX, that running table is misleading, leaving out the fourteen or so main reasons people die every year. This table for 2017 is indicative:


https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/2000x1504/72afbb99_614b_4f2b_9183_87d98d922d68_7ff0daa15cb88b82d23cc99 0f317b5981df30089.png

[currawong]

ExfocCX, that running table is misleading, leaving out the fourteen or so main reasons people die every year. This table for 2017 is indicative:


https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/2000x1504/72afbb99_614b_4f2b_9183_87d98d922d68_7ff0daa15cb88b82d23cc99 0f317b5981df30089.png

Perhaps not. The running table only covers the six months till June. Your table covers a whole year. In another six months there will be data for a useful comparison.

I found it interesting to see at what point Covid 19 passed regular influenza if nothing else.

[b747heavy]

Arriving is no issue, other than the 14 days iso. Based on the Dept. of Home Affairs, as a Citizen 'ordinarily resident in a country other than Australia', I'm not required to request an exemption to leave.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/900x404/exemptions_db3cf5445bc403e73dab6d11ab96ef48e8c6b2d6.png
Anyone have an experience in leaving Oz in the past couple of months as a passenger?

Cheers.

[JMock]

Heavy, suggest you join the FB HK quarantine support group...
everything you need to know is there.

[bekolblockage]

Arriving is no issue, other than the 14 days iso. Based on the Dept. of Home Affairs, as a Citizen 'ordinarily resident in a country other than Australia', I'm not required to request an exemption to leave.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/900x404/exemptions_db3cf5445bc403e73dab6d11ab96ef48e8c6b2d6.png
Anyone have an experience in leaving Oz in the past couple of months as a passenger?

Cheers.

I have the same understanding as you.
Returning to HKG from SYD next Monday. Assume by showing HK PID at Checkin that there should be no issues. Let you know how it goes.

[JMock]

I have the same understanding as you.
Returning to HKG from SYD next Monday. Assume by showing HK PID at Checkin that there should be no issues. Let you know how it goes.
Travel from Sydney to HK on CX100 on 24 April

1. Documents and departure approval check at doors of airport. Can only enter through the first set of doors. Check in desk G for Cathay. Can drop off easily as not many people there.
2. Border force check of passports and approval to leave. Need double sign off from border force police. Takes about 20 mins.
3. Temp check. Check in very slow even at business counter. Check all passports and HK ID cards. Have to call Canberra for live approval before they will take your bags.
4. Lounge closed so you get a $30 voucher to spend but only shops open are before immigrations. Voucher only works at hero sushi and tobys estate.
5. Go through immigration and security. Cathay flight is gate 8. No shops open but vending machines work.
6. It was a new plane and we were in economy. Had 2 rows of 3 each so one adult and one child in each row in the middle. Everyone quite spaced out. Food isnt great so take some.
7. Get 2 large quarantine forms per person and a health declaration form Per person. Fill them out on the plane so they are ready to go. Flight was normal service.

Arrival in HK - airport process
1. We landed in HK about 9:20pm. Got off plane fast but one child had wet themselves and we all needed the loo.
2. There is only one loo before you get to the queues so go there as otherwise it’s a 3 hour wait until you get your bags. Try and get off fast and to the front of the queue. We got behind from the loo stop and having to sort out kids who are exhausted by this point and just want to sleep. You are standing all the time in the queues.
3. Temp check and then you get in the queue. At least two initial paperwork checks. Then the wrist band and then the mob number check. Next station is the app check and register. Download the stay at home app. Receive brown envelopes.
4. We did the online health declaration and had the QR code ready but actually they just checked all the paper forms and seem to want to process these.
5. If you can manage with less hand luggage then do it as you don’t have a trolley and have to keep picking it up and moving it. If you can get your buggy at the gate then do it as then one child can sleep. We should have done that.
6. Last station before immigration is a full paperwork double check, quarantine order and stamping. The wait for that is long and process is cumbersome.
7. Took about 3 hours to get to baggage carousel. All luggage off and waiting next to it. Put it in trolleys and wheel out. ATMs are working if you need cash.
8. You are sent around to the left end of the terminal and put in a lift to ground where there is a coach waiting. Can only really fit one family in a lift at the time. People help with luggage.

Asia world Expo
1. Get on the coach around midnight and taken to Asia world expo. Short drive. Get off and take luggage on trolleys to luggage area. Receive pink luggage tag.
2. Get back on another coach and be driven around the corner to the testing centre. Off coach. Temp check and get in queue with papers. Long wait as only 3 processing stations. Get to paperwork station. All papers are checked and receive testing bag. Watch the video for how to do the test whilst in the queue. Put your yellow number card on the lanyard provided and remember it. (They didn’t tell us that)
3. Sent from hall 1 to hall 2 to do the test. Spit into the test tube, seal it, keep it upright and put it into bag 1 and then bag 2. Hard to get the kids to spit so give them a drink of water beforehand.
4. Hand samples in and then walk back to the first luggage hall. Provide numbers on yellow badge, explain you are a family and need a family room. They give you a form for the hotel hand the form in at the collection desk. Sit in the hall on a designated seat and wait. This is the worst bit as it’s so late and you are tired. We got there about 1am and didn’t get called up until about 4am. Get as many seats as you can and put the kids to sleep across the seats and do the same if poss.
5. They then call your numbers on the yellow tag and you go to the processing desk. More paper work and you get given a room number at the hotel.
6. Collect your luggage trolley and then outside to get on a coach. Coach takes you to the hotel. This was around 4am for us. We all slept on the bus.

Quarantine hotel

1. Arrival at regal hotel. You have to get all your bags off yourself. We had loads of luggage as we had been in Aus for 3 months. You then get a room key pack in lobby area. Can get the lifts up but you have to wait as lots of people.
2. One adult take as much luggage as you can and take the kids up to the room. Other adult go back and forth to get all the luggage up.
3. Ask for bottled water. We didn’t get any. There is a bath, shower and towels. We all went straight to bed and slept in as didn’t get into bed until 5am. They leave breakfast outside your door.
4. Room is grim. Double frosted window so you can’t see out and minimal natural light. Room is a bit dirty. You get a kettle and a tv which has cable. We took coffee and cafeteries and plastic cups and cutlery so we had muesli and kids had weetnix for bfast. I had packed long life milk, poppers, bread rolls and water so we were okay.
5. They leave breakfast tray outside your door. You get no information or contact when in the room. Room phone rang at 2:30pm saying we were all negative and could go. Be ready to go as they ring batches of people at the same time and you can’t get out quickly. We waited 30 mins for a lift. Don’t split up as they need to process you on the ground floor together. Better to all go down together and one adult tries to do another trip with the luggage. We lost youngest child as he got into the lift and whilst Husband was getting the bags to put in the lift someone pressed the close button on the doors and he was gone. It was chaotic getting out.
6. Fill out the new forms you received for hotel and new quarantine order in advance. They will take these and original quarantine forms and check them all with ids passports. Go to the booth and see the dr who will make the quarantine order. Then you can go. Took about an hour from the phone call cos you can’t get a lift down.
7. You can get a taxi outside or car to pick you up.
8. Get home and activate the bands and app. We were home by 4pm.
9. They rang me following morning to check on us.

[MENELAUS]

What a complete goatf@ck ! The world indeed has lost its collective mind.

[knackered IV]

Bloody Hell!!
Speaking of which, it sounds like you've been there and back, JM. I thought the SYD departure was bad enough but the arrival in HKG....?? What has it all come to? And where to from here?
Great read though.

[bekolblockage]

Travel from Sydney to HK on CX100 on 24 April

1. Documents and departure approval check at doors of airport. Can only enter through the first set of doors. Check in desk G for Cathay. Can drop off easily as not many people there.
2. Border force check of passports and approval to leave. Need double sign off from border force police. Takes about 20 mins.
3. Temp check. Check in very slow even at business counter. Check all passports and HK ID cards. Have to call Canberra for live approval before they will take your bags.
4. Lounge closed so you get a $30 voucher to spend but only shops open are before immigrations. Voucher only works at hero sushi and tobys estate.
5. Go through immigration and security. Cathay flight is gate 8. No shops open but vending machines work.
6. It was a new plane and we were in economy. Had 2 rows of 3 each so one adult and one child in each row in the middle. Everyone quite spaced out. Food isnt great so take some.
7. Get 2 large quarantine forms per person and a health declaration form Per person. Fill them out on the plane so they are ready to go. Flight was normal service.

Arrival in HK - airport process
1. We landed in HK about 9:20pm. Got off plane fast but one child had wet themselves and we all needed the loo.
2. There is only one loo before you get to the queues so go there as otherwise it’s a 3 hour wait until you get your bags. Try and get off fast and to the front of the queue. We got behind from the loo stop and having to sort out kids who are exhausted by this point and just want to sleep. You are standing all the time in the queues.
3. Temp check and then you get in the queue. At least two initial paperwork checks. Then the wrist band and then the mob number check. Next station is the app check and register. Download the stay at home app. Receive brown envelopes.
4. We did the online health declaration and had the QR code ready but actually they just checked all the paper forms and seem to want to process these.
5. If you can manage with less hand luggage then do it as you don’t have a trolley and have to keep picking it up and moving it. If you can get your buggy at the gate then do it as then one child can sleep. We should have done that.
6. Last station before immigration is a full paperwork double check, quarantine order and stamping. The wait for that is long and process is cumbersome.
7. Took about 3 hours to get to baggage carousel. All luggage off and waiting next to it. Put it in trolleys and wheel out. ATMs are working if you need cash.
8. You are sent around to the left end of the terminal and put in a lift to ground where there is a coach waiting. Can only really fit one family in a lift at the time. People help with luggage.

Asia world Expo
1. Get on the coach around midnight and taken to Asia world expo. Short drive. Get off and take luggage on trolleys to luggage area. Receive pink luggage tag.
2. Get back on another coach and be driven around the corner to the testing centre. Off coach. Temp check and get in queue with papers. Long wait as only 3 processing stations. Get to paperwork station. All papers are checked and receive testing bag. Watch the video for how to do the test whilst in the queue. Put your yellow number card on the lanyard provided and remember it. (They didn’t tell us that)
3. Sent from hall 1 to hall 2 to do the test. Spit into the test tube, seal it, keep it upright and put it into bag 1 and then bag 2. Hard to get the kids to spit so give them a drink of water beforehand.
4. Hand samples in and then walk back to the first luggage hall. Provide numbers on yellow badge, explain you are a family and need a family room. They give you a form for the hotel hand the form in at the collection desk. Sit in the hall on a designated seat and wait. This is the worst bit as it’s so late and you are tired. We got there about 1am and didn’t get called up until about 4am. Get as many seats as you can and put the kids to sleep across the seats and do the same if poss.
5. They then call your numbers on the yellow tag and you go to the processing desk. More paper work and you get given a room number at the hotel.
6. Collect your luggage trolley and then outside to get on a coach. Coach takes you to the hotel. This was around 4am for us. We all slept on the bus.

Quarantine hotel

1. Arrival at regal hotel. You have to get all your bags off yourself. We had loads of luggage as we had been in Aus for 3 months. You then get a room key pack in lobby area. Can get the lifts up but you have to wait as lots of people.
2. One adult take as much luggage as you can and take the kids up to the room. Other adult go back and forth to get all the luggage up.
3. Ask for bottled water. We didn’t get any. There is a bath, shower and towels. We all went straight to bed and slept in as didn’t get into bed until 5am. They leave breakfast outside your door.
4. Room is grim. Double frosted window so you can’t see out and minimal natural light. Room is a bit dirty. You get a kettle and a tv which has cable. We took coffee and cafeteries and plastic cups and cutlery so we had muesli and kids had weetnix for bfast. I had packed long life milk, poppers, bread rolls and water so we were okay.
5. They leave breakfast tray outside your door. You get no information or contact when in the room. Room phone rang at 2:30pm saying we were all negative and could go. Be ready to go as they ring batches of people at the same time and you can’t get out quickly. We waited 30 mins for a lift. Don’t split up as they need to process you on the ground floor together. Better to all go down together and one adult tries to do another trip with the luggage. We lost youngest child as he got into the lift and whilst Husband was getting the bags to put in the lift someone pressed the close button on the doors and he was gone. It was chaotic getting out.
6. Fill out the new forms you received for hotel and new quarantine order in advance. They will take these and original quarantine forms and check them all with ids passports. Go to the booth and see the dr who will make the quarantine order. Then you can go. Took about an hour from the phone call cos you can’t get a lift down.
7. You can get a taxi outside or car to pick you up.
8. Get home and activate the bands and app. We were home by 4pm.
9. They rang me following morning to check on us.

JMock
Assuming you are normal residents of HK, what ‘approvals’ and documents did you require?? I just called CX and they said as long as you have Permanent ID Card and Passport at Checkin, no other docs required.
How accurate is that?
Thanks in advance

[Farman Biplane]

Employer ID will be helpful as well to prove you are returning aircrew (assuming you are) which is one of the exemptions that Border Force have on their clearance.

[JMock]

JMock
Assuming you are normal residents of HK, what ‘approvals’ and documents did you require?? I just called CX and they said as long as you have Permanent ID Card and Passport at Checkin, no other docs required.
How accurate is that?
Thanks in advance

yes, that’s fine

its just a tedious process
even if you complete the pre approval they still ring someone

edited to add, don’t forget to get the pre approval

[BubbaJ]

What JMock said, the upside to all that craziness is by the time you actually get home it's almost end of day 2.

The check out of the hotel is almost as painful as the airport arrival. Bring your patience and welcome back to hectic Hong Kong.

[bekolblockage]

yes, that’s fine

its just a tedious process
even if you complete the pre approval they still ring someone

edited to add, don’t forget to get the pre approval

Have made numerous calls to the various offices involved...
Still unclear what you mean by “pre-approval”.
Home Affairs confirmed no exemption required as resident for 20+ years.
CX say Passport and HK PID required at Checkin, that is all. So what other “pre-approval” is required??

[bekolblockage]

Employer ID will be helpful as well to prove you are returning aircrew (assuming you are) which is one of the exemptions that Border Force have on their clearance.

Not returning crew.
ATC.
Absolved from exemption requirement due to HK residency is my understanding.
Catch is that this involves a domestic QF connection from BNE initially.
Are the QF checkin staff going to ‘get it’?
In the past, no big deal- show us your ID card. Now? I’m not convinced the whole thing won’t be a goatf@ck - to use previous posters term.

[JMock]

Have made numerous calls to the various offices involved...
Still unclear what you mean by “pre-approval”.
Home Affairs confirmed no exemption required as resident for 20+ years.
CX say Passport and HK PID required at Checkin, that is all. So what other “pre-approval” is required??


https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-support/departmental-forms/online-forms/covid19-enquiry-form

you know how Oz loves bureaucracy
Ive been away since 1969

[mothy1583]

I was booked MEL-SYD-HKG, talked to a Borderforce officer when at the airport a few days prior (due to an abortive attempt to get to HK via Auckland) and he called the higher-ups to confirm that I could leave. The data he came back with had to do with how long, and how many times I had been in Oz since 2018. More of a double check regarding "ordinarily resident" in another country, so they aren't just assuming your PR HKID is valid.

When I flew the domestic sector to SYD, the MEL check-in staff asked to see my HKID but probably only because I asked if they could check the bags straight through to HKG. They couldn't check the bags through so had to hump them around the airport to International. At SYD, the Borderforce people were friendly and helpful and it only took a few minutes to get the clearance (gave them Passport, HKID and Crew ID) and got the impression that they checked my time in Oz on their computer. The officer in charge mentioned that I qualified on 2 fronts - PR in HK and Aircrew. The passport has a "hold" status put on it and when you check in the ground staff have to call through to get that lifted before issuing a boarding pass. Mostly painless.

[Joker89]

Sounds like Eastern Europe in 1952

[AQIS Boigu]

Sounds like Eastern Europe in 1952

let’s bring back 1989 then 😨

[bekolblockage]

I was booked MEL-SYD-HKG, talked to a Borderforce officer when at the airport a few days prior (due to an abortive attempt to get to HK via Auckland) and he called the higher-ups to confirm that I could leave. The data he came back with had to do with how long, and how many times I had been in Oz since 2018. More of a double check regarding "ordinarily resident" in another country, so they aren't just assuming your PR HKID is valid.

When I flew the domestic sector to SYD, the MEL check-in staff asked to see my HKID but probably only because I asked if they could check the bags straight through to HKG. They couldn't check the bags through so had to hump them around the airport to International. At SYD, the Borderforce people were friendly and helpful and it only took a few minutes to get the clearance (gave them Passport, HKID and Crew ID) and got the impression that they checked my time in Oz on their computer. The officer in charge mentioned that I qualified on 2 fronts - PR in HK and Aircrew. The passport has a "hold" status put on it and when you check in the ground staff have to call through to get that lifted before issuing a boarding pass. Mostly painless.

Thanks for the advice Mothy. Just as you described.
Cruising past Lightning Ridge now on 100.
Almost fell foul of the ‘residential status’ requirement due to regular trips back to Oz getting my total day count up.
Forewarned was forearmed so had required docs at hand.
Had me worried for a bit.

[Australopithecus]

Sounds like Eastern Europe in 1952

What? The Eastern Europe without a pandemic? Well, except for Victoria, which could use a few weeks of Stasi action.