Desperate advice - Adelaide or Sydney?

Hi all,

We (family with two kids) are one of thousands citizens (returning to Victoria after 8 years in Europe) stranded overseas. Please avoid negative comments like "why didn't you come home earlier" in your response, just get your thoughts on our main concern: Considering the caps, should we book a flight to Adelaide OR Sydney in early November? We already booked economy tickets in June with Qatar, and had to change destination to Adelaide since Victoria closed Melbourne airport. But now it has become evident that they "cancel" these tickets often 12 hours before departure and fill the plane with business class instead. Right or wrong is another discussion, but we are now considering booking business class on another flight. Won't be cheap, but may increase our chance to get back from 0% to ?%. So anyone with "inside information" on how common it is to get their business class ticket cancelled on flights from Doha to Adelaide or Sydney? Currently NSW accepts far more "international travellers" (returning citizens...) than SA. But I guess there is far more pressure on flights to Sydney? Thanks.

My first reaction would be Adelaide.

However, from what I can see Sydney has an arrivals cap of 350 per day, however Adelaide has a lower cap of 500 per week.

Wondering if a premium economy fare exists into Australia at the moment as a way of jumping the queue? Maybe Singapore airlines?

Originally Posted by olliek57

My first reaction would be Adelaide.

However, from what I can see Sydney has an arrivals cap of 350 per day, however Adelaide has a lower cap of 500 per week.

Wondering if a premium economy fare exists into Australia at the moment as a way of jumping the queue? Maybe Singapore airlines?

Agree with Adelaide - think the pressure / demand is more than 10 times for Sydney. We will keep our booked flight (Economy) and make another booking in Business class at a later date. This will also result in that we have to pay for quarantine, but it seem to be the only way getting back. Insane, and the added costs are more than most aussies overseas are able to afford.

So much can change between now and November. Highly unlikely any answer is going to be correct by then.

I would agree with both replies above. Intuitively I would imagine Adelaide, but anyone who predicts what may happen next week, let alone in a few months is very brave. Best of luck. Hope you get back safely whatever route you take.

Adelaide has the Pullman as one of the hotels - possible to be allocated large room and some have balconies

Choose Sydney you will have a better chance of getting home to Australia

Whichever destination offers the cheapest business class tickets!