International travel exemptions

7 replies

Nich

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 07 Jun 2021

Total posts 12

Hi All,

Would appreciate hearing from people who have recently travelled from Aus under international travel exemptions for short term. I'm looking at compassionate grounds... from Sydney to London via Singapore... and back.

Has anyone done it this for a few weeks? There seem to be flights available... but do the return flights stick? Are there any other hurdles (apart form the quarantine requirements) to be aware of?

Thanks!

Travellz

Member since 26 Mar 2020

Total posts 55

I have heard the best luck getting permission approved to leave the country is to advise you will be away in excess for over 3 months and but you will need a compelling reason to go along with it.

Another option is to fly to Auckland and stay a night or two in New Zealand then fly onwards to London via Singapore.

DO NOT book your onward ticket from New Zealand to London until you have arrived in New Zealand (this so that in the unlikely event you get searched or investigated you will not have ticket booked departing beyond New Zealand).

Once in New Zealand then book with Singapore Airlines from Auckland to London via Singapore.

Just don't post it on social media and you will be fine - the authorities won't detect you.


Some people will call this out as controversial or even criminal - but I call it out as a side consequence of a overly harsh outward ban with no end in sight on people desperate to see their family or loved ones (where some are dying and may never get to see them ever again).

Every other OECD country (including New Zealand who has an even tougher stance on Covid than us may I add - lets their citizens exit the country).

Last edited by Travellz at Jun 19, 07.48 AM.
Last edited by Travellz at Jun 19, 07.49 AM.
Last editedby Travellz at Jun 19, 2021, 07:49 AM.

rwSydney

British Airways - Executive Club

Member since 23 Mar 2018

Total posts 48

This is all well and good but what happens when you try to reenter Australia after “escaping” via NZ? Would you not get slapped with a hefty fine?

russell

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 04 Nov 2011

Total posts 232

Originally Posted by tripleplatinum2

Originally Posted by Travellz

I have heard the best luck getting permission approved to leave the country is to advise you will be away in excess for over 3 months and but you will need a compelling reason to go along with it.

Another option is to fly to Auckland and stay a night or two in New Zealand then fly onwards to London via Singapore.

DO NOT book your onward ticket from New Zealand to London until you have arrived in New Zealand (this so that in the unlikely event you get searched or investigated you will not have ticket booked departing beyond New Zealand).

Once in New Zealand then book with Singapore Airlines from Auckland to London via Singapore.

Just don't post it on social media and you will be fine - the authorities won't detect you.


Some people will call this out as controversial or even criminal - but I call it out as a side consequence of a overly harsh outward ban with no end in sight on people desperate to see their family or loved ones (where some are dying and may never get to see them ever again).

Every other OECD country (including New Zealand who has an even tougher stance on Covid than us may I add - lets their citizens exit the country).

Last edited by Travellz at Jun 19, 07.48 AM.
Last edited by Travellz at Jun 19, 07.49 AM.
Last editedby Travellz at Jun 19, 2021, 07:49 AM.
Wow, just wow. This pandemic really has revealed the selfishness of so many people.

How is this selfish exactly?

Travellz

Member since 26 Mar 2020

Total posts 55

Originally Posted by tripleplatinum2

Originally Posted by Travellz

I have heard the best luck getting permission approved to leave the country is to advise you will be away in excess for over 3 months and but you will need a compelling reason to go along with it.

Another option is to fly to Auckland and stay a night or two in New Zealand then fly onwards to London via Singapore.

DO NOT book your onward ticket from New Zealand to London until you have arrived in New Zealand (this so that in the unlikely event you get searched or investigated you will not have ticket booked departing beyond New Zealand).

Once in New Zealand then book with Singapore Airlines from Auckland to London via Singapore.

Just don't post it on social media and you will be fine - the authorities won't detect you.


Some people will call this out as controversial or even criminal - but I call it out as a side consequence of a overly harsh outward ban with no end in sight on people desperate to see their family or loved ones (where some are dying and may never get to see them ever again).

Every other OECD country (including New Zealand who has an even tougher stance on Covid than us may I add - lets their citizens exit the country).

Last edited by Travellz at Jun 19, 07.48 AM.
Last edited by Travellz at Jun 19, 07.49 AM.
Last editedby Travellz at Jun 19, 2021, 07:49 AM.
Wow, just wow. This pandemic really has revealed the selfishness of so many people.


I don't see how this is selfish - Nich has stated he has compassionate reasons to travel overseas and its been over 1.5 years of waiting for some people with no end in sight.

With Nich traveling overseas can you please tell me how does this would "personally impact" you - remember he would have to quaratine for 14 days on his return at "his expense", the risk is at "his peril" and the entire cost of travel would be on "him".

I don't see how that is even remotely selfish - what would be selfish is someone like yourself wanting to somehow prevent a person wanting to see a loved one under dire circumstances.

Last edited by Travellz at Jun 23, 04.35 PM.
Last editedby Travellz at Jun 23, 2021, 04:35 PM.

Richard W

Singapore Airlines - KrisFlyer

Member since 12 Apr 2017

Total posts 88

Originally Posted by tripleplatinum2

Originally Posted by Travellz

I have heard the best luck getting permission approved to leave the country is to advise you will be away in excess for over 3 months and but you will need a compelling reason to go along with it.

Another option is to fly to Auckland and stay a night or two in New Zealand then fly onwards to London via Singapore.

DO NOT book your onward ticket from New Zealand to London until you have arrived in New Zealand (this so that in the unlikely event you get searched or investigated you will not have ticket booked departing beyond New Zealand).

Once in New Zealand then book with Singapore Airlines from Auckland to London via Singapore.

Just don't post it on social media and you will be fine - the authorities won't detect you.


Some people will call this out as controversial or even criminal - but I call it out as a side consequence of a overly harsh outward ban with no end in sight on people desperate to see their family or loved ones (where some are dying and may never get to see them ever again).

Every other OECD country (including New Zealand who has an even tougher stance on Covid than us may I add - lets their citizens exit the country).

Last edited by Travellz at Jun 19, 07.48 AM.
Last edited by Travellz at Jun 19, 07.49 AM.
Last editedby Travellz at Jun 19, 2021, 07:49 AM.
Wow, just wow. This pandemic really has revealed the selfishness of so many people.

Not at all. Just normal human activity.

Richard W

Singapore Airlines - KrisFlyer

Member since 12 Apr 2017

Total posts 88

Originally Posted by rwSydney

This is all well and good but what happens when you try to reenter Australia after “escaping” via NZ? Would you not get slapped with a hefty fine?

Governments are in no way capable of matching travel routes together! They have no idea and do not want to waste time trying to put systems in place to catch people.

Richard W

Singapore Airlines - KrisFlyer

Member since 12 Apr 2017

Total posts 88

Originally Posted by Nich

Hi All,

Would appreciate hearing from people who have recently travelled from Aus under international travel exemptions for short term. I'm looking at compassionate grounds... from Sydney to London via Singapore... and back.

Has anyone done it this for a few weeks? There seem to be flights available... but do the return flights stick? Are there any other hurdles (apart form the quarantine requirements) to be aware of?

Thanks!

Find a reason to be out of the country for 3 months or try NZ.

Flights back are much less in volume than before obviously and will in nearly all cases only be available if purchasing a business class ticket. $5k is a standard price from Singapore, not too bad if on your own, a bit pricy if a family of 4.

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