FOL

The process on Perth airport (roughly, maybe weong order od things):

Everyone from 1 flight gets in line, gets a new mask, sanitise hands. They measure temperature and ask you some health questions.

Then passport check as usual.

Get your baggage.

Interview with police and/or show your G2G pass (I think this is WA specific).

Baggage check.

Get assigned a seat until everyone in your flight is on a seat. Then in groups you walk (with your baggage on a trolley) to the bus. Chuck your baggage in there and have a seat. When everyone is in the bus, the next group will walk to the next bus. i hated this part. Because I was in the first bus, had to wait for 45 minutes somehow before the second bus was filled. It was 36 degrees outside and I was sitting in the sun. No aircon could cool me down enough.

When all buses are ready, it's escorted to the hotel by police. At the hotel you get off the bbu, walk into the hotel. Check in and you walk to your room. Which is your home for the next 2 weeks.

You get C19 tested within 48 hours and on day 12. Nurse calls you a few times a week. Food is put in a bag in front of your room and you can leave the bag with waste when you are done. You cam have groceries delivered (coles.com.au or whoolworths.com.au).

Exactly 2 weeks after landing (if you land at 2.32pm you can leave at 2.32pm) you can go.

On 12/12/2020 at 12:31, Marisawright said:

Oh no, definitely not.  I was happy in inner-city Sydney apart from the weather.  I'm in Melbourne now and haven't been to a beach once since I've been here - I don't miss it.  This year has been a washout, but next year I'll be back to my usual week's routine. That means at least one tea dance, some kind of dance class, the U3A Writers' Group and Walking Group, maybe a play/musical/concert.   Plus a walk to a nice café for breakfast most mornings.  If I go out in the evening it's to a dinner dance or dancing to a band, not the pub.

And you can't do that in Perth (or more specificaly the Kinross area) you reckon??

Edit: we've looked at buying a property in Kinross. Ended up buying in Beldon. We now live in Wanneroo (south), so close to oceannreef road basically.

We like it here, it has everything we need closeby. Wife works in Joondalup, I work at home and can drive outside of peak traffic to clients. Scarborough beach for a surf at 20 min away in the weekend. Pinjarra motorcycle area at 20 min away, plenty of restaurants within 20 minutes radius. Things to do with the kids, a great little estate we live in with a fabulous street where we have a street get together every couple of weeks. We walk our daughter to daycare, the playground, etc. But other than that we take the car. 

Ah one subtle addition. That was only on my trip from Europe to Perth.

From Perth to Europe 3 weeks earlier, I could freely roam around. Alrhough a lot was closed.

The aussie government's intention is to bring australians home before christmas. I reckon that will relief some of the pressure after christmas. Combine that eith your intention to book business class and I reckon you're set. Never 100% guarantee. But quite safe I reckon. I flew back a week and a half ago. Economy class got cancelled in 2 days. Business class went through without hassle.

On 30/10/2020 at 07:13, vickyplum said:

I would absolutely choose Singapore, given the choice. Breaks up the flight legs more evenly, much much nicer airport (visit the Jewel if you end up going that way and have time to spare!) and various other reasons, including the recent 'searches' of women who were pulled off a departing flight.

You can't visit anything due to covid19. You are directed to a designated area where you have to stay.

On 06/11/2020 at 08:32, palaceboy1 said:

We have two daughters and families living in the Northern Suburbs so will be living their initially. Things have been very stressful for the last year getting the visa and arranging the move alongside COVID ,  it has been a welcome relief getting our body clocks on Perth time and a lot of rest . Luckily we have always got on well after working together for 30 years . 
So one more sleep and we are out , good luck for Tuesday

Awesome man, enjoy time with your family and welcome to Perth.

Wow, interesting start of your new life in a hotel hah. It will get better mate. Two more days and then you can work on starting to build your new life.  You've got an airbnb lined up?

The food is so, so. Not too bad though imho. Which hotel are you in? I'm in Novotel Murray street. I can leave on Tuesday.

I reckon quarantine was quite easy for me. Had to catch up with work and what better place to do it than being locked up in a room getting food delivered

I am in quarantine as we speak as well. Quite impressed with the good process they have in place. Took me a bit less time to het to the hotel, 3 hours or so.

@palaceboy1, you have just migrated to here? That is an interesting first experience. Good luck as a new resident when you get out.

I am scheduled to fly next monday business class Amsterdam to Perth with singapore airlines. Around 6k, so heaps cheaper than first class.

Other than that I have no advice, just hoping I can get back to my family who are in Perth

We ping ponged. I was in a bad place both in AU and my home country. Went back to AU after a year and settled since then. I think it helped to go back and live there for a year, but then again, the main problem was that I was not doing well mentally.

Even if you could, going for a holiday wouldn't help you. You have to live there for at least a while to experience if that is it for you. During a holiday everything is better.

13 hours ago, Nemesis said:

A lot of hotels are unwilling to take quarantine passengers. It can mean they are unable to also take "normal" people in, as well as having to adhere to all the State government rules. 

It is an assumption, but they may make more from quarantine passengers than from the super low booking rate they have from tourists.

15 hours ago, ramot said:

I appreciate I bought airlines into the thread, but the reality is that only a total of 4,000 travellers are allowed in Australia weekly, divided between the states, and I think it has been extended by 3 months? So at the moment it’s pointless trying to work out where passengers could be seated, It’s the government restricting the numbers.

Yeah, that's even worse. I have received an exemption to fly out because of compassionate reasons. At the same time that darn government causes that I can't go back. Either I won't see my dying mum anymore or I miss the birth of my child and leave my wife all alone while we already have a toddler running around. Well done Aussie government, well thought out.

On 31/08/2020 at 09:00, ramot said:

So how many do you suggest you would feel safe serving and being enclosed with on a long haul 12 hour flight, ? Also Remember it’s individual states that are restricting the numbers, 

One person per row or geck even one row empty between, unless family, then they can sit in the same row. Would make a huge difference already.

On 31/08/2020 at 11:09, MacGyver said:

The restrictions aren't linked to social distancing on flights, it is due to limitations on the number of passengers allowed to enter different states in Australia each week (set by the Aus government). Those number limitations were due to concerns that the quarantine facilities were struggling to cope with larger numbers of people arriving, which could lead to breaches/reduced safety. I'm sure the airlines would fly full planes if the Aus government allowed it.

There are a lot of hotels almost empty, a lot of people without jobs and a lot of people who would like to come home and accept quarantine. Sounds like 1+1+1 to me?

On 29/08/2020 at 09:30, ramot said:

Perhaps spare a thought for the ground staff, worried about processing hundreds of passengers and the cabin crew, last thing they would feel safe with would be a full a/craft, Then everyone crowding in the departure lounge. Your flight wouldn’t be the only departure.

Its an awful time for everyone, some passengers still want to fly, and all the airline staff that have lost their jobs all over the world would still like to be working. If you were desperately trying to keep your airline going or any other business, you would want maximum income.

I do understand having lived overseas away from parents, and the pain of their deaths, when unable to get back in time, and that was pre covid restrictions.

All that staff you talk about rather has work than no work. So be mindful of them and let people fly. On top of that, there are stories or economy class only having 1 person sitting there in the entire section!

The numbers can be bumped up much more while still plenty of room for social distancing and safe handling imho.

21 hours ago, MacGyver said:

I had also read that most flights were already fully booked until at least November given the limitations on numbers (not including those people being bumped off flights and having to rebook). It sounds like the OP has some personal matters to attend to in the UK which is unfortunate, but in their shoes (with a pregnant partner due in December) I'd be extremely cautious about leaving Australia for any reason unless willing to accept difficulty in returning for several months. They might just make it back for December but it sounds very risky.

That was me not the topic starter (unless we are in the same situation). If it is about seeing a close family member possibly alive for the last time, you have to go imho.

There is quite a bit of noise at political level regarding this subject, so hopefully they do aomething about the caps. It's stupid really. Hotels can make money as a quarantine hotel and people can go back home. Win-win and low risk if done properly.

On 28/08/2020 at 06:36, Marisawright said:

I can appreciate that, but we've had so many reports of compassionate exemptions being refused.  Perhaps they are relaxing their attitude a bit now?  

Good luck with getting back.  I'd say you will need to book business class to have any certainty. 

I haven't heard or exemptions being denied for direct family members who are terminally ill. 

4 minutes ago, Marisawright said:

Gosh you were lucky to get an exemption.   Yes I can't see how you wouldn't need a G2G pass. Everyone needs one to get through the border.

Thanks Marisa, thought the exemption would have been sufficient.

Unfortunately it depends what you call "lucky", it's on compassionate grounds. 

Hopefully I can get back... reading these nightmares everyone's having to get back while my (pregnant) wife and 2yo daughter are at home...

Do you need a g2g pass when you got a travel exemption to leave Audtralia? I have an exemption and fly out beginning of october to come back 3 weeks later (if...). Need to be back before end of the year due to pregnant wife.

It is quite a limited budget to buy a property for $350k. That usually attracts people from different socio-economic groups you may not identify with. Both Rockingham and Mandurah don't have a great reputation, but as some commented. Some areas may be better than others.

Did you check the immigration site? They have a pretty good visa eligibility wizard.

Which area/city are you looking at? Commute IS bad in major metro areas (especially Mel/Syd). I would be realistic about that. I mean, would you really want to travel 2 hours a day? Doesn't mean you have to live in the CBD either, just find the right balance. Close to the beach is more expensive. There are 3 major variables that impact price (roughly), proximity to the CBD, proximity to the beach, land size. But does it really matter you have to drive 15 minutes to the beach instead of 5? You have to get in the car anyway. Unless it's a matter of walking distance vs taking the car.

On 26/05/2020 at 18:24, Lavers said:

The only thing im cautious about is booking my Airbnb as the cancellation policy is shite. It says that you can cancel 2 days before your due and get a refund, the dodgy bit is that you lose the 1st 30days plus the service fee but im only booking  for 5 weeks so I basically lose it all.

Arem't there heeeaps od airbnbs and rentals vacant now? No tourism at all. You already have 2 weeks quaraintine acxommodation. I would book an airbnb then as you know the exact date you get out.

Can someone deliver things? Ie; I would be okayish if I can setup my desktop computer there, so I basically have my home office.

Your life will be hell if you will have kids and you are still struggling. Don't do it, your future kids deserve better. 

Not saying you shouldn't have kids. You should if you want to. But life is tough when you have kids and if you already have a rough and unstable situation, you will make your life, that of your partner and of your kid(s) unpleasant.

Facetime, facebook messenger, whatsapp, skype, they are all fine and all free. Just make sure your internet connection is stable and fast.