Travel updates

Information on the recall of a limited number of Apple Retina 15 inch MacBook Pros, sold between September 2015 and February 2017, is available on the product-safety-recall-15-inch-macbook-pro.pdf  and on Apple Support. Affected devices must be carried in cabin baggage and switched off for the duration of the flight. Devices that have had their battery replaced by either Apple or an Authorised repairer, may be carried without restriction.

For travel from 1 October 2019, the New Zealand Government requires some visitors and transit passengers to have a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA).

• Apply for your NZeTA at least 72 hours prior to departure through the official mobile app or website.
• Visit immigration.govt.nz/nzeta to find out if one is required for your travel.

Weipa Airport will be closed for runway maintenance work between 28 August and 24 September 2019. During this period all flights will operate out of the nearby RAAF Base Scherger*. Customers will experience an extended total travel time which includes bus transfers in both directions between Weipa Airport Terminal and the RAAF Base Scherger.

Customers who are booked to travel to or from Weipa during the runway maintenance period will be contacted with an updated departure or arrival time.

During this period, the Qantas app may not accurately reflect the updated departure and arrival times of your booking. Customers are advised to arrive at check-in at Weipa Airport at least 30 minutes prior to the scheduled departure time displayed on their ticket or online booking.

Weipa to Cairns:

Customers are advised to arrive at check-in at Weipa Airport at least 30 minutes before the departure time reflected on their ticket. This departure time will include a bus transfer. 

All baggage, excluding small personal items, will need to be checked in at Weipa Airport Terminal.

Cairns to Weipa:

Customers flying from Cairns to Weipa will be transferred by bus from the RAAF Base to the Weipa Airport Terminal where they can collect their baggage and access public transport and taxi services.

Options are available for customers wishing to make changes to their bookings for travel during the runway maintenance period.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has announced changes to the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) processing timeframe for travellers to the United States.

Customers travelling to the United States must apply for an ESTA no later than 72 hours prior to flight departure. Applicants who apply less than 72 hours before travel risk not having an approved ESTA prior to departure and will be unable to travel on their scheduled booking to the USA.

Under the Visa Waiver Program, citizens of certain countries including Australia can travel to the United States for stays of 90 days or less without a visa, provided they meet eligibility requirements and obtain an ESTA prior to travel.

Previously, eligible travellers were able to obtain an ESTA any time prior to travel to the USA, however customers are advised that real-time approvals will no longer be available and they should apply as early as possible, ideally at the time of booking their trip.

ESTA applications will continue to be submitted via the official government website.