Maussie Posted June 19, 2021 Share Posted June 19, 2021 Wondering if anyone has any insight on booking flights from the UK via airlines other than those that fly from the UK to Australia, namely Singapore, Qatar, Etihad and Emirates (https://uk.embassy.gov.au/lhlh/CAOTA.html) The prices are quite high for the above airlines and there are other routes on Skyscanner or Kayak via the US or Malaysia for example. Some posts here mention people getting bumped and when rebooking having to wait in transit for a lot longer than the initial booking. Instead of that I was thinking about booking something transiting via the US with United, Delta, AA (https://usa.embassy.gov.au/news/covid19-stay-informed) or transiting via KL, Malaysia (https://malaysia.highcommission.gov.au/klpr/covid19.html#transit_malaysia) The prices are a fair bit less than the carriers from the UK, with some journeys of under 30 hours which we're willing to do, and there's probably a similar chance of being bumped, but presumably as long as we start the journey in the UK, they can't bump us mid-travel and strand us in an airport like Tom Hanks in The Terminal? Am thinking through different scenarios to cover bases. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newjez Posted June 19, 2021 Share Posted June 19, 2021 3 hours ago, Maussie said: Wondering if anyone has any insight on booking flights from the UK via airlines other than those that fly from the UK to Australia, namely Singapore, Qatar, Etihad and Emirates (https://uk.embassy.gov.au/lhlh/CAOTA.html) The prices are quite high for the above airlines and there are other routes on Skyscanner or Kayak via the US or Malaysia for example. Some posts here mention people getting bumped and when rebooking having to wait in transit for a lot longer than the initial booking. Instead of that I was thinking about booking something transiting via the US with United, Delta, AA (https://usa.embassy.gov.au/news/covid19-stay-informed) or transiting via KL, Malaysia (https://malaysia.highcommission.gov.au/klpr/covid19.html#transit_malaysia) The prices are a fair bit less than the carriers from the UK, with some journeys of under 30 hours which we're willing to do, and there's probably a similar chance of being bumped, but presumably as long as we start the journey in the UK, they can't bump us mid-travel and strand us in an airport like Tom Hanks in The Terminal? Am thinking through different scenarios to cover bases. I have flown from Fiji to the UK via the USA. It's a long flight, and it wasn't very comfortable. Was some time ago though. The way I see it, the more connections, the more things can go wrong. Been via Malaysia, and that wasn't bad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nemesis Posted June 19, 2021 Share Posted June 19, 2021 3 hours ago, Maussie said: Wondering if anyone has any insight on booking flights from the UK via airlines other than those that fly from the UK to Australia, namely Singapore, Qatar, Etihad and Emirates (https://uk.embassy.gov.au/lhlh/CAOTA.html) The prices are quite high for the above airlines and there are other routes on Skyscanner or Kayak via the US or Malaysia for example. Some posts here mention people getting bumped and when rebooking having to wait in transit for a lot longer than the initial booking. Instead of that I was thinking about booking something transiting via the US with United, Delta, AA (https://usa.embassy.gov.au/news/covid19-stay-informed) or transiting via KL, Malaysia (https://malaysia.highcommission.gov.au/klpr/covid19.html#transit_malaysia) The prices are a fair bit less than the carriers from the UK, with some journeys of under 30 hours which we're willing to do, and there's probably a similar chance of being bumped, but presumably as long as we start the journey in the UK, they can't bump us mid-travel and strand us in an airport like Tom Hanks in The Terminal? Am thinking through different scenarios to cover bases. You can come by whatever route you like if you can find a) an airline still flying into Australia on that route, and b) an airline with seats available, as all the airlines are subject to the cap rules, and thus the chance of being bumped and having to rebook applies to whoever you fly with. If you are flying via the US though make sure you are ok to transit the US from the UK at present. I know they have some pretty strict entry rules atm for anyone from the UK, and I'm not sure if those also apply to transit passengers. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wanderer Returns Posted June 19, 2021 Share Posted June 19, 2021 9 hours ago, Maussie said: Wondering if anyone has any insight on booking flights from the UK via airlines other than those that fly from the UK to Australia, namely Singapore, Qatar, Etihad and Emirates (https://uk.embassy.gov.au/lhlh/CAOTA.html) The prices are quite high for the above airlines and there are other routes on Skyscanner or Kayak via the US or Malaysia for example. Some posts here mention people getting bumped and when rebooking having to wait in transit for a lot longer than the initial booking. Instead of that I was thinking about booking something transiting via the US with United, Delta, AA (https://usa.embassy.gov.au/news/covid19-stay-informed) or transiting via KL, Malaysia (https://malaysia.highcommission.gov.au/klpr/covid19.html#transit_malaysia) The prices are a fair bit less than the carriers from the UK, with some journeys of under 30 hours which we're willing to do, and there's probably a similar chance of being bumped, but presumably as long as we start the journey in the UK, they can't bump us mid-travel and strand us in an airport like Tom Hanks in The Terminal? Am thinking through different scenarios to cover bases. We've been through this personally. Whichever airline you are planning on using, check that they still have flights arriving at the Australian airport you wish to arrive in. If they don't, then don't book a ticket. It's that simple. If you plan to transit, then you'll need to check any restrictions imposed by that country on transiting passengers. Singapore, Qatar, Etihad and Emirates will carry you from the UK to Australia without any transiting issues, and given the uncertain times we're currently living in, the price difference is likely money well spent. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rtritudr Posted June 20, 2021 Share Posted June 20, 2021 13 hours ago, Maussie said: Instead of that I was thinking about booking something transiting via the US with United, Delta, AA (https://usa.embassy.gov.au/news/covid19-stay-informed) or transiting via KL, Malaysia (https://malaysia.highcommission.gov.au/klpr/covid19.html#transit_malaysia) Are you a US citizen or green card holder? If not then you are not allowed to enter the USA directly from the UK (or the EU) because of Donald Trump's Presidential Proclamation (https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/presidential-actions/proclamation-suspension-entry-immigrants-nonimmigrants-certain-additional-persons-pose-risk-transmitting-coronavirus/) which has been continued by Joe Biden (https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/25/proclamation-on-the-suspension-of-entry-as-immigrants-and-non-immigrants-of-certain-additional-persons-who-pose-a-risk-of-transmitting-coronavirus-disease/). As the US does not have exit customs, you must enter the USA in order to transit. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nemesis Posted June 20, 2021 Share Posted June 20, 2021 4 hours ago, rtritudr said: Are you a US citizen or green card holder? If not then you are not allowed to enter the USA directly from the UK (or the EU) because of Donald Trump's Presidential Proclamation (https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/presidential-actions/proclamation-suspension-entry-immigrants-nonimmigrants-certain-additional-persons-pose-risk-transmitting-coronavirus/) which has been continued by Joe Biden (https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/25/proclamation-on-the-suspension-of-entry-as-immigrants-and-non-immigrants-of-certain-additional-persons-who-pose-a-risk-of-transmitting-coronavirus-disease/). As the US does not have exit customs, you must enter the USA in order to transit. Thats what I suspected. I know pre-covid you needed an ESTA or visa even to just transit the US, so I had a feeling that it wouldn't be possible from the UK at present. Thanks for confirming it! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maussie Posted June 22, 2021 Author Share Posted June 22, 2021 Thanks all, very useful info. Completely forgot about the presidential proclamation effectively banning entry and didn't know about having to enter the US to transit. Managed to find flights with Singapore in a few weeks time and hoping not to get bumped, and not test positive pre-flight of course. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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