Pack your bags baby… you’re cleared for take-off. The Federal Government has lifted restrictions on fully vaccinated citizens travelling overseas from November 1. It’s been a long eighteen-months and airlines are now poised to lure back customers with promotions galore. Just 1.1 million passengers flew in or out of the country this year compared to 42 million in 2019. Airlines are playing catchup and travellers will be the immediate beneficiaries.
The seven countries so far been given the green for travel without the need to quarantine are:
WHAT TO PACK?
Your vaccination certificate will be as important as your passport. You won’t be able to fly without either. That is for certain. What is not so clear is the different vaccination, testing and quarantine rules. They are different for each country. That is something you’ll have to find out individually. A good travel agent should be able to help.
AIRLINE REQUIREMENTS
Airlines will require vaccinations certificates for all flyers and some carriers are trailing vaccinations passports. Australia is the first country in the world to issue a proof of vaccination using visible digital seal (VDS) technology. QANTAS is advising travellers to check in 4 hours ahead of their departure and that masks will be mandatory for the entire flight, other than when eating or drinking.
AM I FULLY VACCINATED?
Travellers will be considered “fully vaccinated” if they have received a full course of a vaccine approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration. They are Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson.
COMING HOME
Travellers will be faced with a patchwork of rules upon return. NSW, Victoria and the ACT have scrapped quarantine for all but the other states have different requirements. Tasmania will welcome vaccinated visitors from interstate and overseas from December 15.
HOT DEALS
Jetstar has launched a five-day 2022 International Sale which has return details to Thailand, Fiji, Bali, Singapore, Vietnam, Japan and New Zealand. The best deal is Perth to Denpasar one way for $99. The fares start from $169 on the east coast.
Virgin has also launched a Yay for Holidays sale slashing domestic fares.
QANTAS is offering Half Off flights sale to destinations around the country.
Photo by Leio McLaren on Unsplash