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If you’re wondering what overseas travel 
and Australia’s hotel quarantine program are like, here’s what happened on our trip home from Canada 
to Australia 
(a thread)
and Australia’s hotel quarantine program are like, here’s what happened on our trip home from Canada to Australia (a thread)
Our first flight with @WestJet (YVR to YYC) was near full, which was surprising. Calgary airport was also quite busy. WestJet issued all boarding passes before this flight (inc. Delta) and oddly, we weren’t asked for our negative COVID test results (which we paid $300pp for) 
Our second flight with @WestJet (YVR to YYC) was quite the opposite though, very quiet with lots of empty 
seats. Obviously not a popular route right now.
seats. Obviously not a popular route right now.
It was nothing compared to our 14hr @Delta flight (LAX to SYD) though, which was REALLY empty due to Aus Govt international arrival caps. DL41 can usually carry around 260 people, but according to a cabin crew member, it had..
Cabin Crew: 9
Economy: 15
First / Business: 4
Cabin Crew: 9
Economy: 15
First / Business: 4
Once we landed in Sydney, and following a brief announcement on board about quarantine requirements, our flight gathered in the hallway to wait for our crew to be escorted off.
Once our crew joins us we all lined up for a temperature check and one on one discussion with health officials and/or police about how the hotel quarantine program works. Basically two weeks stuck in the room with security stationed on each floor and two #COVID tests req’d.
Once we go through usual customs checks (no photos allowed) it’s then a matter of reaching the exit and a bus. Military load the bags, which, when you have six overweight bags, is pretty helpful 
We’re driven to @novoteldh and get a talk from police and hotel staff. Sadly, windows can’t open in rooms here, thus no fresh air for two weeks. One lady seems horrified she can’t smoke 
in the room and there’s no options aside nicotine patches. Good way to quit I guess? 
in the room and there’s no options aside nicotine patches. Good way to quit I guess?
Police are in charge of check-in, I quipped that the academy probably didn’t train them for this. Got a few laughs, no doubt the 1,000th time they’ve heard some variation of that joke. They were pretty quick and helpful, have definitely dealt with worse check-in staff! 
Military then escort us up to a room with our luggage. Despite probably not loving this as their task, they were all very helpful and upbeat. Told me some people had tried to tip them, but they weren’t allowed to accept
So here’s the room in all it’s glory, we’ll be stuck in here for two weeks. The photos make it seem dark, but it’s actually not too bad.
Good view
Bright and nice fittings
Helpful hotel staff
Windows don’t open
No microwave or cooking facilities
Good view Bright and nice fittings Helpful hotel staff Windows don’t open No microwave or cooking facilities
So that’s where we’re up to. Feel free to ask any questions. I’ll tweet out some further updates as this saga continues. I’ve got plenty of free time now
