Oz Fest 17 Brisbane, Australia. USA Memorial Day Wknd May 22-24, 2020 [Postponed]
Sep 6, 2020, 9:55 am
#151
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: SEA/YVR/BLI
Programs: UA "Lifetime" Gold, AS MVPG100K, OW Emerald, HH Lifetime Diamond, IC Plat, Marriott Gold, Hertz Gold
Posts: 9,490
264 days to Oz Fest 17 BNE 2021
No-one has any idea what Covid-19 will be and what travel to/from and in Australia will be in May 2021.
Australia (& NZ) will have very tight border controls while Covid-19 is a risk.
Any one making bookings would be best to have 100% refundable or extremely minimal cash penalty for cancellation.
No-one has any idea what Covid-19 will be and what travel to/from and in Australia will be in May 2021.
Australia (& NZ) will have very tight border controls while Covid-19 is a risk.
Any one making bookings would be best to have 100% refundable or extremely minimal cash penalty for cancellation.
Despite attending the past 13 consecutive Oz Fests, this would be our first time ever on QF over the water. Maybe that's a good omen.
Sep 6, 2020, 1:39 pm
#152
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Austin, TX - AUS
Programs: AA Platinum, Hilton, Hyatt, IHG, Marriott
Posts: 1,625
I found a J award for AUS-LAX-BNE departing on May 26, 2021. QF 787 on LAX-BNE. Considering the scarcity of Qantas J awards on USA-Australia flights, I hope that is a sign of things to come 
Sep 6, 2020, 2:26 pm
#153
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,022
Coincidentally, Kathy has been monitoring available flights through our AS account and just this morning snagged two award seats on QF SFO-BNE outbound May 25 2021.
Despite attending the past 13 consecutive Oz Fests, this would be our first time ever on QF over the water. Maybe that's a good omen.
Despite attending the past 13 consecutive Oz Fests, this would be our first time ever on QF over the water. Maybe that's a good omen.
- 03 Sep2020 [news.com.au]----> Qantas CEO Alan Joyce reveals plan that could restart international travel
- 20 Aug 2020 [ExecTrav (AU)]----> Qantas doesn't see USA flights resuming until the end of 2021
- 25 Jun 2020 [ExecTrav (AU)]----> Qantas will suspend almost all overseas flights until middle of 2021
Sep 10, 2020, 5:11 pm
#154
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 1,849
Further to Mwenenzi's notes: Qantas has pulled most international flights from its schedule and the GDS from late September 2020 through to late March 2021 (basically, duration of IATA 'northern winter' period) so they can't be booked, although they're yet to officially be marked as cancelled; flights past late March 2021 remain open for booking at the moment but I would be very surprised if many of these did not get the same treatment, eg at one stage be shuttered from new bookings although current bookings held, and then at a later date be cancelled entirely.
Sep 10, 2020, 7:47 pm
#155
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Benicia CA
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold 75K, AA 3.8MM, UA 1.1MM, enjoying the retired life
Posts: 31,849
Qantas just loaded two business class award seats BNE-SFO for Sunday, May 30, for anyone interested. I'm flying home the following day.
Sep 12, 2020, 10:50 am
#156
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: SEA/YVR/BLI
Programs: UA "Lifetime" Gold, AS MVPG100K, OW Emerald, HH Lifetime Diamond, IC Plat, Marriott Gold, Hertz Gold
Posts: 9,490
Keeping Mwenenzi's comments in mind, we'll now wait to see the actual situation in May 2021.
Sep 13, 2020, 8:38 am
#157
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Canada
Programs: Star Alliance G*, Marriott Bonvoy Titanium,
Posts: 3,585
Qantas ?
Qantas now says it won't restart int'l flights until July 2021:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...19%20pandemic.
What does Qantas know that we don't?
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...19%20pandemic.
What does Qantas know that we don't?
Oct 6, 2020, 11:01 am
#160
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Sunny SYDNEY!
Programs: UA Million Miler. (1.9M) Virgin Platinum. HH Diamond + SPG Gold
Posts: 32,330
Qantas now says it won't restart int'l flights until July 2021:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...19%20pandemic.
What does Qantas know that we don't?
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...19%20pandemic.
What does Qantas know that we don't?
Yes a strange world - who would want to be running an airline right now!
Fingers crossed by May it is all cleared up.
Emailed Monitor a couple days back and heard nothing back - maybe Bob's email has changed - hope all is well there?
Glen
Oct 6, 2020, 11:32 am
#161
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Anchorage, AK
Programs: Lifetime AS 1MM & MVPG, AS MVPG100K, AA, DL, HH-G
Posts: 8,259
I spent a few days with Monitor, Franny & BDNYC in South Dakota last month. They are all doing well. We have all tested negative twice since then. BDNYC is spending his time (mostly) in upstate New York. Monitor & Franny are at their place in Florida, self quarantining, especially now since the governor has opened up the state completely.
Oct 6, 2020, 12:58 pm
#162
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: New Zealand (most of the time)
Programs: Air NZ Elite *G, Honors Gold, IHG Platinum Elite
Posts: 6,118
I'd optimistically like to think free travel between all of Australia and NZ with no quarantine will be a reality by early 2021.
Oct 6, 2020, 7:11 pm
#163
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Sunny SYDNEY!
Programs: UA Million Miler. (1.9M) Virgin Platinum. HH Diamond + SPG Gold
Posts: 32,330
I spent a few days with Monitor, Franny & BDNYC in South Dakota last month. They are all doing well. We have all tested negative twice since then. BDNYC is spending his time (mostly) in upstate New York. Monitor & Franny are at their place in Florida, self quarantining, especially now since the governor has opened up the state completely.
Excellent news Bob - many thanks.
Do they still have those 100s of countdown road billboard signs to WallDrug along the highway in South Dakota? Talk about targeted marketing.
Glen
Oct 6, 2020, 8:37 pm
#164
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Anchorage, AK
Programs: Lifetime AS 1MM & MVPG, AS MVPG100K, AA, DL, HH-G
Posts: 8,259
The image in the foreground is a model of the finished monument. BDNYC spotted the image in the background.
puny by comparison and it is only 10% done.
Oct 7, 2020, 12:35 am
#165
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Sunny SYDNEY!
Programs: UA Million Miler. (1.9M) Virgin Platinum. HH Diamond + SPG Gold
Posts: 32,330
Yes that is one heck of a monument that Crazy Horse one carved out of a mountain ..... and all done with private money too I recall them saying. Very impressive vision by that family. 
Maybe when OzFest runs out of cities here, a DakotaFest might make sense.
Anyway, lets hope by May things settle down. Right now we cannot fly to Queensland unless you self-quarantine, yet I read UA has started up direct SFO-Shanghai flights -- strange world.
Glen
Maybe when OzFest runs out of cities here, a DakotaFest might make sense.
Anyway, lets hope by May things settle down. Right now we cannot fly to Queensland unless you self-quarantine, yet I read UA has started up direct SFO-Shanghai flights -- strange world.
Glen