Need transit clarification ASAP for NZ/SYD
Mar 22, 2020, 11:33 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Auckland, NZ/New York, NY/ATL
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Posts: 5,221
Need transit clarification ASAP for NZ/SYD
I apologize as I am scrambling to help a family of 4 with small children. Due to NZ going on lockdown, they booked WLG-SYD-LAX on the 25th all the way through in Business. US citizens LAST SEATs out. I need to know if they will be allowed to go through transit security at SYD or will be denied boarding as borders are closed? If they wont Ill tell them to get an Air BNB for a month. Ive been on hold with QF for 2 hours so far.
Please merge into another thread if more appropriate and im sorry if this irritated anyone!
Edit I found this but it expires 10 hours before this transit would occur:
Please merge into another thread if more appropriate and im sorry if this irritated anyone!
Edit I found this but it expires 10 hours before this transit would occur:
Temporary exception: Passengers departing from New Zealand with a confirmed onward ticket on the same calendar day to return home are allowed to transit through Australia. They must remain airside and must have not been in China (People's Rep.), Iran, Italy or Korea (Rep.) in the past 14 days. This is valid till 11:59 AEDST 24 March 2020.
Last edited by DLATL777; Mar 22, 2020 at 11:59 pm
Mar 23, 2020, 12:42 am
#2
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Portland OR Double Emerald (QF and AA), DL PM/MM, Starwood Plat
Posts: 19,589
Temporary exception with an expiration date specified means not allowed after that time. They will not be allowed to board at WLG. There are still some international flights operating from AKL to US, for example Air NZ to HOU (also to YVR but think you can't enter US from Canada now even for US citizens, not sure). EK would be your best bet, via DXB. In a few days options for travel will be even more limited. Lots of countries are now banning transit pax at their airports.
Mar 23, 2020, 12:48 am
#3
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Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Auckland, NZ/New York, NY/ATL
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Temporary exception with an expiration date specified means not allowed after that time. They will not be allowed to board at WLG. There are still some international flights operating from AKL to US, for example Air NZ to HOU (also to YVR but think you can't enter US from Canada now even for US citizens, not sure). EK would be your best bet, via DXB. In a few days options for travel will be even more limited. Lots of countries are now banning transit pax at their airports.
Mar 23, 2020, 1:55 am
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,018
Is AA still flying AKL-LAX?
EK have just announced all flights will stop for 2 weeks from 25 March
https://www.emirates.com/au/english/...-updates/#3515
About 10 hours ago EK stated would continue to fly to 13 countries, but NZ was not on the list. Australia was on the list.
https://www.emirates.com/au/english/...-updates/#3515
Last updated: 23 March 2020, 08:30 Dubai (GMT+4)As per the UAE government’s directive, Emirates will temporarily suspend all passenger services for two weeks starting from 25 March 2020. We are very sorry for any inconvenience caused to our customers and travellers. These measures are in place to contain the spread of COVID-19, and we hope to resume services as soon as feasible.
Mar 23, 2020, 2:21 am
#6
Join Date: May 1998
Location: australia
Posts: 5,762
According to ITA these are the only flights from AKL to USA with 4 seats available for purchase in economy:
Air New Zealand 7:35 pm
Mar 27 3:10 pm 13h 35m AKL to IAH
Air New Zealand 7:35 pm
Mar 29 3:15 pm 13h 40m AKL to IAH
Air New Zealand 10:15 pm
Mar 28 7:50 am 8h 35m AKL to HNL
If the family can split their travel 1 adult and 1 child per flight then there are also these flights in premium economy:
Air New Zealand 7:45 pm
Mar 28 12:00 pm 12h 15m AKL to SFO
Air New Zealand 10:45 pm
Mar 29 2:55 pm 12h 10m AKL to LAX
AA's last flight AKL-LAX is on the 29th but the only availability this week is on the 29th with only 3 seats selling with 1 in Business and 2 in Premium Economy
Air New Zealand 7:35 pm
Mar 27 3:10 pm 13h 35m AKL to IAH
Air New Zealand 7:35 pm
Mar 29 3:15 pm 13h 40m AKL to IAH
Air New Zealand 10:15 pm
Mar 28 7:50 am 8h 35m AKL to HNL
If the family can split their travel 1 adult and 1 child per flight then there are also these flights in premium economy:
Air New Zealand 7:45 pm
Mar 28 12:00 pm 12h 15m AKL to SFO
Air New Zealand 10:45 pm
Mar 29 2:55 pm 12h 10m AKL to LAX
AA's last flight AKL-LAX is on the 29th but the only availability this week is on the 29th with only 3 seats selling with 1 in Business and 2 in Premium Economy
Last edited by 3544quebec; Mar 23, 2020 at 2:29 am
Mar 23, 2020, 5:16 am
#7
Moderator: Asiana & Qantas Frequent Flyer
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: STR/SYD/SMF
Programs: QF Lifetime SG, LH HON, OZ Lifetime Diamond +, HH Diamond, Marriott Lifetime Platinum
Posts: 14,373
[mod hat] As this is not about QF specific I am moving this to the right forum. [/mod hat]
Mar 23, 2020, 6:07 am
#8
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: UA, AS
Posts: 2,393
According to ITA these are the only flights from AKL to USA with 4 seats available for purchase in economy:
Air New Zealand 7:35 pm
Mar 27 3:10 pm 13h 35m AKL to IAH
Air New Zealand 7:35 pm
Mar 29 3:15 pm 13h 40m AKL to IAH
Air New Zealand 10:15 pm
Mar 28 7:50 am 8h 35m AKL to HNL
If the family can split their travel 1 adult and 1 child per flight then there are also these flights in premium economy:
Air New Zealand 7:45 pm
Mar 28 12:00 pm 12h 15m AKL to SFO
Air New Zealand 10:45 pm
Mar 29 2:55 pm 12h 10m AKL to LAX
AA's last flight AKL-LAX is on the 29th but the only availability this week is on the 29th with only 3 seats selling with 1 in Business and 2 in Premium Economy
Air New Zealand 7:35 pm
Mar 27 3:10 pm 13h 35m AKL to IAH
Air New Zealand 7:35 pm
Mar 29 3:15 pm 13h 40m AKL to IAH
Air New Zealand 10:15 pm
Mar 28 7:50 am 8h 35m AKL to HNL
If the family can split their travel 1 adult and 1 child per flight then there are also these flights in premium economy:
Air New Zealand 7:45 pm
Mar 28 12:00 pm 12h 15m AKL to SFO
Air New Zealand 10:45 pm
Mar 29 2:55 pm 12h 10m AKL to LAX
AA's last flight AKL-LAX is on the 29th but the only availability this week is on the 29th with only 3 seats selling with 1 in Business and 2 in Premium Economy
AA has some higher priced award availability on 3/29 as well on their AKL-LAX.
Mar 23, 2020, 11:43 am
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Auckland, NZ/New York, NY/ATL
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Posts: 5,221
Thank you all.
Official policy is here-would not be allowed.
https://www.qantas.com/agencyconnect...australia.html
Official policy is here-would not be allowed.
https://www.qantas.com/agencyconnect...australia.html
Mar 23, 2020, 9:50 pm
#11
Join Date: May 2006
Location: GA
Programs: VA-PLT, QF-GLD, DL-GM, UA-ex1K, AA-exPLT, HH-DM, IHG-PLT, MR-GLD
Posts: 8,242
They are much better off flying AKL-LAX in any case. NZ cases are extremely low compared to Australia. There is real risk of contracting in SYD or with passengers leaving Australia compared to passengers leaving NZ.
Mar 23, 2020, 10:07 pm
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,018
Thank you all.
Official policy is here-would not be allowed.
https://www.qantas.com/agencyconnect...australia.html
Official policy is here-would not be allowed.
https://www.qantas.com/agencyconnect...australia.html
https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/int...1580226297.htm
<snip>
AUSTRALIA - published 23.03.2020
Temporary exception: Passengers departing from New Zealand with a confirmed onward ticket on the same calendar day to return home are allowed to transit through Australia. They must remain airside and must have not been in China (People's Rep.), Iran, Italy or Korea (Rep.) in the past 14 days. This is valid till 11:59 AEDST 24 March 2020.
<snip>
AUSTRALIA - published 23.03.2020
Temporary exception: Passengers departing from New Zealand with a confirmed onward ticket on the same calendar day to return home are allowed to transit through Australia. They must remain airside and must have not been in China (People's Rep.), Iran, Italy or Korea (Rep.) in the past 14 days. This is valid till 11:59 AEDST 24 March 2020.
<snip>
Thousands of stranded travellers left in limbo as airlines shut down
Dominic Harris15:53, Mar 24 2020
<snip>
As of noon on Tuesday there will be a further 48-hour extension of the window for international passengers leaving New Zealand to transit through Australian airports to other destinations, the High Commission told British travellers, saying it was contacting airlines to verify ongoing flight options.
<snip>
Dominic Harris15:53, Mar 24 2020
<snip>
As of noon on Tuesday there will be a further 48-hour extension of the window for international passengers leaving New Zealand to transit through Australian airports to other destinations, the High Commission told British travellers, saying it was contacting airlines to verify ongoing flight options.
<snip>
A fast changing situation
Edit
{1 hr ago} https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-52013572
<snip>
The situation is more alarming in New Zealand than Australia she says, because the nation is due to plunge into a rigorous lockdown.
On Tuesday, Australia announced it would extend its transit window for international passengers coming from New Zealand to 12:00 local time on 26 March.
<snip>
The situation is more alarming in New Zealand than Australia she says, because the nation is due to plunge into a rigorous lockdown.
On Tuesday, Australia announced it would extend its transit window for international passengers coming from New Zealand to 12:00 local time on 26 March.
<snip>
Last edited by Mwenenzi; Mar 24, 2020 at 2:31 am
Mar 24, 2020, 1:08 am
#13
Join Date: May 2006
Location: GA
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Posts: 8,242
Mar 24, 2020, 3:10 pm
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,018
NZ pax transiting Australia exemption looks to have been extended again, which should work for post 1 passengers. WLG-SYD QF162 and QF164 both flying today 25 March.
https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/int...1580226297.htm
But getting a flight out of Au will be hard for others.
QF & EK are stopping flying scheduled services soon.
BA16 SYD-SIN-LHR was not allowed to take through passengers yesterday (24 March). Only those with SIN as destination. NZ is very popular with UK backpacker/working holiday visa so may have caught some.
BA thread--- Stuck in Australia or NZ - What are the options? etc (combined thread)
https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/int...1580226297.htm
<snip>
AUSTRALIA - published 24.03.2020
Temporary exception: Passengers departing from New Zealand with a confirmed onward ticket on the same calendar day to return home are allowed to transit through Australia. They must remain airside and must have not been in China (People's Rep.), Iran, Italy or Korea (Rep.) in the past 14 days. This is valid till 12:00 AEDST 26 March 2020.
<snip>
AUSTRALIA - published 24.03.2020
Temporary exception: Passengers departing from New Zealand with a confirmed onward ticket on the same calendar day to return home are allowed to transit through Australia. They must remain airside and must have not been in China (People's Rep.), Iran, Italy or Korea (Rep.) in the past 14 days. This is valid till 12:00 AEDST 26 March 2020.
<snip>
QF & EK are stopping flying scheduled services soon.
BA16 SYD-SIN-LHR was not allowed to take through passengers yesterday (24 March). Only those with SIN as destination. NZ is very popular with UK backpacker/working holiday visa so may have caught some.
BA thread--- Stuck in Australia or NZ - What are the options? etc (combined thread)
Last edited by Mwenenzi; Mar 24, 2020 at 5:47 pm Reason: spelling
Apr 16, 2020, 2:10 am
#15
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: AKL
Posts: 446
I'm planning to transit in Sydney next week. My transit will be under 72 hours so as a NZ citizen transiting to NZ, should be ok according to this https://covid19.homeaffairs.gov.au/t...ng-australia#1
I'm just a bit unclear about what the procedure is on the ground in Sydney. Do I need to book a couple of nights in a hotel, or do I just do nothing and carted off to some facility decided by the government?
I'm just a bit unclear about what the procedure is on the ground in Sydney. Do I need to book a couple of nights in a hotel, or do I just do nothing and carted off to some facility decided by the government?