Qatar is unashamedly cancelling Economy tickets and prioritising customers in Business. If you're not in Business class, expect your ticket to be cancelled and be very pleasantly surprised if it isn't. Cancellations often happen within 24-48 hours of the flight.
Of course, things could change a lot before November and (hopefully) the entry quotas will be relaxed (currently each flight into Sydney is limited to, I think, 50 passengers). Obviously if that limit is increased and/or scrapped before November, your chances will improve.
My sister flew in on Qatar last month, in Business class. She was quarantined in The Intercontinental, in a large 5-star room with panoramic Harbour views. However there's also a chance you'll get quarantined in a dingy 3-star shoebox with no window. It's the luck of the draw and you won't know which hotel you're in until literally the bus pulls up out the front.
Having said all that, anything could change before you arrive in November!
I'm booked in economy on Singapore to fly mid November from London to Sydney with 7 hrs in Singapore. Is my flight likely to be cancelled too ie is Singapore currently cancelling economy seats to prioritise Business customers the same as Qatar or Etihad?
After being burnt badly by United on this issue, I feel the need to respond to this post.
Currently an expat in US and scheduled to return to Sydney 9th October. Economy ticket on UA booked months ago and everything seemed to be in order. 4 weeks prior to departure, I was informed that my flight has been "cancelled" and US customer service could not find me a suitable flight around that date range.
The only options presented to me were business class seats at $12K USD if I still wanted to fly out on the 9th. Or the next available economy class on 5th November. Timing was essential to me so I was forced to take the more expensive option.
I did call to beg, cry, complain, reason to have them waive the fare difference or even some sort of price reduction. But no luck on that.
Long story short, as most people here suggested, book business class to avoid the headache. Probably cheaper in the long run too.
Looking forward to returning home, although much more costly than I expected. Hopefully I get a decent quarantine hotel.
Hi Guest, join in the discussion on
Returning to Australia
lizbeth
lizbeth
Member since 10 Sep 2020
Total posts 4
Hi all,
I am wondering if you anyone could share their experiences about returning to Australia under the current CV19 restrictions.
I have a flight booked for mid November, but wondering how the entry quotas work.
Any information will be appreciated.
Thanks.
dm12
dm12
Member since 08 Feb 2018
Total posts 212
hope you're booked in Biz
Sibelius
Sibelius
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
Member since 06 Aug 2017
Total posts 181
Which country are you returning from? Which city are you flying into? Which airline are you flying?
lizbeth
lizbeth
Member since 10 Sep 2020
Total posts 4
Returning from Greece, via Doha with Qatar. Any thoughts?
lizbeth
lizbeth
Member since 10 Sep 2020
Total posts 4
Flying into Sydney.
Sibelius
Sibelius
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
Member since 06 Aug 2017
Total posts 181
Qatar is unashamedly cancelling Economy tickets and prioritising customers in Business. If you're not in Business class, expect your ticket to be cancelled and be very pleasantly surprised if it isn't. Cancellations often happen within 24-48 hours of the flight.
Of course, things could change a lot before November and (hopefully) the entry quotas will be relaxed (currently each flight into Sydney is limited to, I think, 50 passengers). Obviously if that limit is increased and/or scrapped before November, your chances will improve.
My sister flew in on Qatar last month, in Business class. She was quarantined in The Intercontinental, in a large 5-star room with panoramic Harbour views. However there's also a chance you'll get quarantined in a dingy 3-star shoebox with no window. It's the luck of the draw and you won't know which hotel you're in until literally the bus pulls up out the front.
Having said all that, anything could change before you arrive in November!
rozzie
rozzie
Member since 15 Sep 2020
Total posts 1
I'm booked in economy on Singapore to fly mid November from London to Sydney with 7 hrs in Singapore. Is my flight likely to be cancelled too ie is Singapore currently cancelling economy seats to prioritise Business customers the same as Qatar or Etihad?
lizbeth
lizbeth
Member since 10 Sep 2020
Total posts 4
Thanks for the information.
It looks grim.
Lottery odds!
JeffC
JeffC
Member since 16 Sep 2020
Total posts 1
After being burnt badly by United on this issue, I feel the need to respond to this post.
Currently an expat in US and scheduled to return to Sydney 9th October. Economy ticket on UA booked months ago and everything seemed to be in order. 4 weeks prior to departure, I was informed that my flight has been "cancelled" and US customer service could not find me a suitable flight around that date range.
The only options presented to me were business class seats at $12K USD if I still wanted to fly out on the 9th. Or the next available economy class on 5th November. Timing was essential to me so I was forced to take the more expensive option.
I did call to beg, cry, complain, reason to have them waive the fare difference or even some sort of price reduction. But no luck on that.
Long story short, as most people here suggested, book business class to avoid the headache. Probably cheaper in the long run too.
Looking forward to returning home, although much more costly than I expected. Hopefully I get a decent quarantine hotel.