Singapore - Hong Kong travel bubble
Apr 21, 2021, 10:06 pm
#196
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 415
Here we go again: The HK-SG travel bubble is delayed again. This time it is Singapore that decides to call it off.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...e-announcement
Recently some new clusters emerged in Singapore, and yesterday, 10+ foreign workers were tested to be positive and hundreds of workers were put under quarantine.
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapo...to-be-moved-to
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...e-announcement
Recently some new clusters emerged in Singapore, and yesterday, 10+ foreign workers were tested to be positive and hundreds of workers were put under quarantine.
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapo...to-be-moved-to
Apr 25, 2021, 2:57 am
#197
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 415
https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/healt...cement-delayed
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...tart-on-may-26
It is expected that the new arrangements of HK-SG travel bubble will be announced on April 26, i.e. next Monday, and the travel bubble will start on May 26. The number of flights will be increased by June 26 if there aren’t further outbreaks.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...tart-on-may-26
It is expected that the new arrangements of HK-SG travel bubble will be announced on April 26, i.e. next Monday, and the travel bubble will start on May 26. The number of flights will be increased by June 26 if there aren’t further outbreaks.
Apr 25, 2021, 4:28 am
#198
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Hong Kong, France
Programs: FB , BA Gold
Posts: 15,555
What is worrying with such a travel bubble is what happens when it is suddenly suspended.
Take a HKer who flew to Singapore for work under the arrangement, with no quarantine on both sides. Then the bubble is suspended. Would that mean that he is forced to do 21-day hotel quarantine upon return to HK? Or wait in Singapore until the bubble is possibly reinstated?
Take a HKer who flew to Singapore for work under the arrangement, with no quarantine on both sides. Then the bubble is suspended. Would that mean that he is forced to do 21-day hotel quarantine upon return to HK? Or wait in Singapore until the bubble is possibly reinstated?
Apr 25, 2021, 4:55 am
#199
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 415
What is worrying with such a travel bubble is what happens when it is suddenly suspended.
Take a HKer who flew to Singapore for work under the arrangement, with no quarantine on both sides. Then the bubble is suspended. Would that mean that he is forced to do 21-day hotel quarantine upon return to HK? Or wait in Singapore until the bubble is possibly reinstated?
Take a HKer who flew to Singapore for work under the arrangement, with no quarantine on both sides. Then the bubble is suspended. Would that mean that he is forced to do 21-day hotel quarantine upon return to HK? Or wait in Singapore until the bubble is possibly reinstated?
“If the seven-day moving average of the daily number of unlinked local cases (excluding dormitory resident cases for Singapore) is more than five for either Singapore or Hong Kong, the ATB will be suspended in two days’ time (including the day on which the figure was announced) for two weeks.”
The data is transparent and you can read everything from the newspaper.
And don't forget that vaccinated passengers from Singapore will only have to undertake 7-day quarantine. If the situation is worse, it is 14-day quarantine, instead of 21-day quarantine.
Apr 25, 2021, 9:06 am
#201
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Hong Kong, France
Programs: FB , BA Gold
Posts: 15,555
Unlike the AU-NZ one, there is a transparent mechanism for suspension in HK-SG travel bubble.
“If the seven-day moving average of the daily number of unlinked local cases (excluding dormitory resident cases for Singapore) is more than five for either Singapore or Hong Kong, the ATB will be suspended in two days’ time (including the day on which the figure was announced) for two weeks.”
The data is transparent and you can read everything from the newspaper.
And don't forget that vaccinated passengers from Singapore will only have to undertake 7-day quarantine. If the situation is worse, it is 14-day quarantine, instead of 21-day quarantine.
“If the seven-day moving average of the daily number of unlinked local cases (excluding dormitory resident cases for Singapore) is more than five for either Singapore or Hong Kong, the ATB will be suspended in two days’ time (including the day on which the figure was announced) for two weeks.”
The data is transparent and you can read everything from the newspaper.
And don't forget that vaccinated passengers from Singapore will only have to undertake 7-day quarantine. If the situation is worse, it is 14-day quarantine, instead of 21-day quarantine.
I pray that the shortening plan is put in effect in a few days, as initially suggested.
Apr 25, 2021, 10:35 pm
#202
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: OneWorld Emerald (BA GGL), *A Silver (Miles & Less), Skyteam Pleb (KLM FlyingBlue), Mucci Platinum
Posts: 904
It's been announced now - as expected no quarantine HKG-SIN (just the wait at a hotel for the PCR test results). Also surprisingly no quarantine on the way back from SIN-HKG, though we'll need to wait at the airport for the PCR test results... I wonder how many hours that will take?
Apr 25, 2021, 11:50 pm
#205
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: HKG
Programs: Marriott Ambassador (Titanium Lifetime), BA Gold, Ex-Hertz 5* PC, Ex-HH Diamond, Ex-BD*G
Posts: 3,062
The general set-up seems to be about the same as last time just before the cancelled it and nasty little gotyas:
- Lots of tests (4 - One before boarding, one on arrival, one before departure, one on arrival?), the SG ones seem expensive too (SGD200?), or is it even 6 as they say "screened again at the airport" (some unreliable rapid test?)
- Waiting at the HK airport before you're allowed into the city / being stuck in your hotel in Singapore, probably on the night of arrival
- Use of tracing apps (minor inconvenience)
- My least favourite is the "5 unknown cases and we slam the door" which remains ridiculously low and brings a lot of risk considering how many cases you see spiking occasionally. I hope they put in place a "7 day quarantine if not on the bubble" to mitigate this risk, as 3 weeks would be terrible, considering the flights will likely be completely full and hence switching a few days earlier wouldn't work
- HK residents need to have had their second jab two weeks before, but perhaps not if travelling on another passport (?) or if they have a good reason not to, or are children (sounds like complex determination / loopholes)
Apr 26, 2021, 12:01 am
#206
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 2,279
The general set-up seems to be about the same as last time just before the cancelled it and nasty little gotyas:
- My least favourite is the "5 unknown cases and we slam the door" which remains ridiculously low and brings a lot of risk considering how many cases you see spiking occasionally. I hope they put in place a "7 day quarantine if not on the bubble" to mitigate this risk, as 3 weeks would be terrible, considering the flights will likely be completely full and hence switching a few days earlier wouldn't work
For pax returning to Sin, not much issue as SIN have allowed for 7 days SHN for Any one returning From HK at their place of resident.
For HK wise, might be an issue.
Unless they allow for special additional flights to be mounted just before suspension take into effect. (SQ actually have multiple cargo flight daily using 787/A350). So hopefully there can be sone provision for additional ATB to bring back pax before suspension. (Can easily just deploy some crews on these cargo flight ).
Last edited by sbs2716g; Apr 26, 2021 at 12:07 am
Apr 26, 2021, 2:45 am
#207
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: Cathay Lifetime Diamond
Posts: 690
I just booked a CX flight on the travel bubble announced today to Singapore ex HK. All paxs need to be fully vaccinated and have been in Hong Kong a minimum of 14 days. No quarantine at Singapore. Ticket fully refundable or changeable if the bubble is suspended.
Singapore stay up to 6 months allowed and vv. No need to be a resident of ether country.
Singapore stay up to 6 months allowed and vv. No need to be a resident of ether country.
Apr 26, 2021, 3:16 am
#208
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 415
It's been announced now - as expected no quarantine HKG-SIN (just the wait at a hotel for the PCR test results). Also surprisingly no quarantine on the way back from SIN-HKG, though we'll need to wait at the airport for the PCR test results... I wonder how many hours that will take?
Apr 26, 2021, 3:36 am
#209
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: HKG/HND/OOL
Programs: QF Emerald. SQ Gold.
Posts: 3,170
it reads
https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/compone...abChangeable=0
"However, residents aged under 16 or considered unsuitable for vaccination on medical grounds are exempt. Also exempt from the vaccination requirement are residents who have spent fewer than 90 days in the SAR prior to departure, as well as those using non-Hong Kong travel documents."
does it mean need to use hk passport?
https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/compone...abChangeable=0
"However, residents aged under 16 or considered unsuitable for vaccination on medical grounds are exempt. Also exempt from the vaccination requirement are residents who have spent fewer than 90 days in the SAR prior to departure, as well as those using non-Hong Kong travel documents."
does it mean need to use hk passport?
Apr 26, 2021, 3:42 am
#210
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: UK
Programs: BA EC
Posts: 524
it reads
https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/compone...abChangeable=0
"However, residents aged under 16 or considered unsuitable for vaccination on medical grounds are exempt. Also exempt from the vaccination requirement are residents who have spent fewer than 90 days in the SAR prior to departure, as well as those using non-Hong Kong travel documents."
does it mean need to use hk passport?
https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/compone...abChangeable=0
"However, residents aged under 16 or considered unsuitable for vaccination on medical grounds are exempt. Also exempt from the vaccination requirement are residents who have spent fewer than 90 days in the SAR prior to departure, as well as those using non-Hong Kong travel documents."
does it mean need to use hk passport?