Australia, New Zealand & the South Pacific - swine flu delays?

has anyone had any experience with any problems entering syd because of the swine flu? Are they cking pax like they are doing in nrt,hkg and sin? A lot of us are doing MR's for the double eqm's and the turns in Mel are real tight, just curious

Thanks:):)

Plans are in place for "fortress Australia" to take advantage of the countries isolation and ability to tightly control entering pax. If they get activated -- and they have not yet -- then yes, you will not make a MR turn around. Transit pax would also be health checked, not just O/D pax. The quarantine in NZ of their swine flu victims seems to be working well at the moment, which has helped. But wasn't a plane diverted in the US due to a false swine flu alarm on-board? I'd be more concerned about your UA captain deciding to land in Nadi than in the SYD airport delays.

As someone who traveled to both HKG and YYZ during the 2003 SARS crisis, I can assure you that MRs will be no fun if something happens. Worst case, if you are found to be infected, you are facing USD 300K bill for medical deportation back to USA -- better buy some travel insurance for the next few months!!!!! Unless of course you have that kind of money in the bank (or are willing to file for bankruptcy after a MR). And yes, $300,000 is the actual current cost of a medical evacuation charter SYD-LAX (supply and demand at work, though it is expensive at the best of times).

Flew SYD-AKL-SYD last Thur/Fri. I presume NZ is considered high risk for this.

On the return flight there was an extra announcement on the plane at the direction of the Oz Govt re if you feel ill let them know and what to do if you feel ill later, plus a thermal camera to walk past on arrival. Time impact was nil.

In fact I would say there was more concern at AKL than SYD (a number of staff wearing masks etc).

I'm unaware of any swine flu diversions in the US. Several flights arriving into the US from Mexico have arrived with an ill passenger. They were held at the gate and not allowed to disembark until a doctor cleared the flight.

The US does not have thermal cameras or other automated screening. They are relying on agents observing arriving passengers as well as questioning. Not sure if this is better or worse than using automated techniques.