mahasamatman

I don't think we'll ever see that again.

WineCountryUA

The concept of fixed saver / standard awards not longer exists, no published award chart -- UA, other airlines, hotels, ... are going to dynamically priced awards. Roughly tracking cash prices with reward miles / points having a more consistent value in terms of the cash value.
"Dynamic Award Pricing" by UA; questions, experiences, .... (No Award Chart Nov 2019)
This is not 100% but is the general trend in rewards bookings nowadays

So given the discussion in this thread about travel restrictions and high cash prices, one would expect high reward mileage reward ticket. PVG is seeing the same effect. Places with less restrictive travel, hence lower cash prices, will have lower reward mileage requirements. When travel / demand to Australia returns to "normal", the mileage reward requirements will likely drop -- the question is when that "normal" returns?

docbert

Umm.. have you actually checked recently (say, within the past few days)?

Mwenenzi

When do you want to travel?

Australia has *not* recently re-opened its borders.
From 01 Nov AU will open to vaccinated AU citizens, AU permanent residents, eligible family and limited others.
I would expect the restrictions on others to apply for 2021 calendar year.

Main AU thread-->Australia’s response to Covid-19 [general border control thread]

seanp7

I can get home for Christmas right now for 40K/80K one way (Econ/Biz).

docbert

Christmas. Or any other day for the next ~330 days. Economy (40K most days, ~43K on a few) is available every day. Business (80K) is available 2-3 days a week. Economy has been this way for the past few days. Business appears to have only been added late yesterday or today.

rosesplus

Gone, I can see zero Biz award saver for Dec or Jan

seanp7

It's still there... SFO-SYD on Dec 21, 80K. Use View Calendar. This thread is impacting things a little (unlike before), but it's there.

Aussienarelle

I was able to book SAN-SYD in Polaris for 50K miles on December 23. Needed to cancel as had to be back for NYE but the seats are there.

docbert

Polaris? For 50K? Are you sure? I never seen <80K on flights to Australia, and I'm certainly not seeing anything at the moment - cheapest SAN-SYD is 200K on that day, but other days are 80K.

Aussienarelle

Sorry, my bad. You are correct it was 80K. I also booked a domestic 50K in business for Thanksgiving - muddled the bookings. Kept the domestic and cancelled the Aussie trip.

It was 80K as just checked my MP account.

grapegrower

Just to clarify…..Australians flying to the USA on United will need to be fully vaccinated and have a negative PCR test within 72 hours of departure ie. we will be flying with fully vaccinated, theoretically non infectious passengers to the USA.
When making domestic connections in the USA will we be flying with unvaccinated passengers? Do all domestic pax need a negative PCR test to board?
Thanks.

WineCountryUA

Yes
No


Exception is travel to Hawaii (by other USA residents) requires one or the other or quarantine on arrival

docbert

Technically for flights to the US it's 3 days beforehand, although the difference is minimal.
eg, if your flight is at 11am on the 5th, you need a test from any time on the 2nd or later. (If it was 72 hours, you'd need a test taken at 11am or later on the 2nd).

With the current rules, it's basically quarantine only - the others (mostly) aren't an option.

Hawaii currently requires vaccination IN THE US, which obviously most Australians won't have (with the exception of a small number of us that live in the US). It also requires testing by an approved testing provider, and there are none of those in Australia, and they have stated they aren't adding any more. Which leaves quarantine as the only viable option.

Of course, the rules will potentially change...

WineCountryUA

My response was for travel in the US by US residents -- thought the OP was asking about rules for other travels, not themselves for domestic US travel. Have clarified the original post.

Rules for international travelers to Hawaii are the same but as you point out going directly to Hawaii has complications. But don't believe that was the OP's question