Richardc77

I can tell you from first hand experience that did not happen today, the first day since the Singapore transit decision. Tune in tomorrow for an update on day 2...

LTN Phobia

It does not seem to be happening yet, but I'm sure both BA and the UK government are scrambling to work something out, given the number of people stranded in Australia and New Zealand (it appears to be 1,000s).

There were people earlier in the thread saying that they were surprised an alternative hadn't been worked out already, but they seem to be forgetting that liaising with foreign government entities, especially when public health measures are involved, can be quite time consuming.

It might take a bit longer to sort out but I suspect something will be worked out. There are apparently a lot of people caught up in Singapore transit ban, so there is an incentive to work something out, or requests for consular assistance will go through the roof from people who have run out funds.

Since most alternatives that you can book independently are very expensive and rapidly diminishing, the only available option may be to wait for a while and hope that BA, in cooperation with the British government, will work something out.

Alternatively, you could try and get on QF 1 (SYD-(DRW)-LHR) or QF 9 (PER-LHR) but last I looked at them, only full fare business class seats remained on either of the services, and the availability was disappearing already (you'll probably need to telephone Qantas to arrange for it, as booking online wasn't working out at all due to disappearing availability). There have been reports of MH flights via KUL available, so that might also be worth a look. That is, if you are in a hurry to get your in-laws back, and can afford to do so (QF flights are well over AUD 10,000 per person in business class, one way, and that is, if you can get them). If not, you might just want to wait.

We should also remember that most likely there are Australia/NZ citizens stuck in the UK and other parts of Europe, so UK/Australia/NZ might even try to negotiate something together. I am guessing something will be worked out in the end, whether it's going via elsewhere (for example, at a guess, something like refuel/crew change in KUL, for instance, or exemption from Singapore government for just refuel/crew change but no passenger drop-off or pick-up and all passengers staying on board).

Richardc77 who is active in this thread was supposed to fly SYD-LHR on BA 16 today but it didn't happen (only those who were allowed to transit or enter Singapore were allowed on, by the looks of it), and he'll be providing updates. You can keep an eye on this thread for developments.

Jon Baker

Thanks for the feedback - really helpful (and a crying shame).

ISTFlyer

QF9 is also operating. However, flights are generally fully booked. If you're able to pay a full-fare ticket for them, call QF and ask to be waitlisted. This is less risk-free.

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Today's BA15 would continue to SYD according to the official website of Changi Airport.

Sanjenni

Just spoke to daughter on the phone and told her about the flight being off loaded and only a few SIN px taken. She's asked me to contact BA to see what is happening as she is working. I can't through at all. Being told they are so busy they can't put me on hold and to try again later! Told her I don't think she should get on the Adelaide leg unless we know for sure the Sydney is definitely leaving. I've logged on to her booking and it is still showing as okay. This is so frustrating.

She is desperate to get back, she has a job lined up in the NHS and is needed. Can anyone advise me where to go next? I know the BBC has picked up the story but are government paying attention. I feel so helpless.

Sam Bee

As a member of the travel industry I've simultaneously watched travel forums full of Tour Ops sharing tidbits of info about how to get stranded Oz/NZ clients home running alongside this thread (except we're taking dozens of clients rather than 1 fairly flexible chap) - so anyone that thought you've posted useful info that was ignored, don't worry, I might have shared last seat availability you provided which has helped someone else.

Consensus there, liked here, also with BA insiders, was that BA was going to be able to run from Sydney. Now what?

Appreciate that possibly DRW-LHR may not be possible direct, but SYD-DRW-ATH-LHR or similar may be the way forward? Yes, it might take a day to re-arrange crewing, but there are far too many people stranded in Australia now for the govt to ignore. I've 2 friends stuck in WLG due back on Emirates. They've accepted they ain't going anywhere..

13901

Guys, as a way of measuring situations like-for-like, how many days did it take for the Government to organise relief flights to Peru or Morocco?

florens

I can't speak for the UK government, but it took the Swiss government about 5 days.

The difficulty for Peru is that tourists might be trapped in Cusco and therefore governments need to charter a domestic flight from Cusco to Lima as well.

LHR/MEL/Europe FF

Appreciate all the hard work your daughter is doing in the medical field but... she needs to stop and think about #1 - herself. And getting home.

She can leave work at any time she wants to. No one can be forced to stay in a work contract in Australia - she can walk out the door this minute if she wants to. Taking the time to find an alternative flight and way of getting home should be the top of her list... not worrying about a work. Every hour she leaves this is making it harder to get home. A couple of days ago there were flights on Thai Airways from MEL to the UK. Even today there were flights on Cathay Pacific with a transit in Hong Kong - before the transit restrictions came into effect. And those one way prices were reasonable at £700 given the circumstances. Those options have now gone

Mwenenzi

We all appreciate your concern

All that can be done is see if BA15 arrives into SYD tomorrow morning (Wednesday 25 March) 06:45 from SIN.
And then see what happens late afternoon when BA16 when its due to leave at 16:30.
Richardc77 will no doubt give an update
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/BAW15
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/BAW16

Options are less every day

For reference it is now SYD time 19:48 Tuesday 24 March

Jon Baker

Already spoke with QF this morning, QF9 stops this Thursday (26th March) and is fully booked until then.

BrianDromey

In Richardc77's case he has been denied boarding by BA, it is therefore up to BA to provide a routing home and accommodation in the interim. It will take a few days for BA to organise alternative transport options, re-routing or getting crew to an intermediate point to operate the flight. Would DXB be an option, for example? If its just for SYD-LON passengers they wont need exotic freedoms, its just a technical fuel-stop and crew change. Admittedly BA have had a little prior notice that this would happen and the re-routing of QF flights to avoid SIN should have been a signal that BA weren't going to get a dispensation.

Its also worth remembering that published aircraft ranges take account of a normal commercial payload, unless there is still strong cargo demand for OZ-UK, we can assume this will be a fairly light payload and the range might be significantly longer.

LTN Phobia

He was not. Denied boarding was due to not meeting the government entry/transit requirement (i.e. Singapore government transit ban), so it is not deemed to be denied boarding by BA. It was not BA's choice.

Tobias-UK

This is not denied boarding in the EC261 sense. Boarding was denied because the passenger was not eligible to travel through the connecting airport.

BrianDromey

Oh! Everyday is a school day. I hadn't realised that particular case was different. Thanks for taking the time to clear that up.