[Targeted] Free, Non-Stop Flights for Aussies Fleeing Lebanon, from Cyprus to Sydney @ Qantas

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[Targeted] Free, Non-Stop Flights for Aussies Fleeing Lebanon, from Cyprus to Sydney @ Qantas
Go to Deal
beatthatflight on 04/10/2024 - 20:46 qantasnewsroom.com.au (359 clicks)
Last edited 04/10/2024 - 22:02

In a break from my regular travel deal posting, hopefully this'll help someone who needs to get out of Lebanon fast.

Qantas will operate two non-stop flights between Cyprus and Sydney, to help Australians in Lebanon get home on behalf of the Australian Government.

The flights will be operated using a Qantas Boeing 787 and will be able to carry up to 440 Australians back home.

The first service is expected to depart Larnaca in Cyprus on Monday evening (local time), arriving in Sydney on Tuesday.

The second direct Dreamliner service is expected to depart on Wednesday.

The national carrier will operate these assisted-departure flights free of charge for the Australian Government, with no cost to those travelling on the flight. The airline is working to obtain the necessary approvals.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is coordinating registration for Australians wanting to return home.

Qantas has called for pilots and cabin crew to nominate their interest in operating the flights. This is expected to be oversubscribed as it was with the special assistance flights from Tel Aviv in October 2023, when 900 cabin crew expressed their interest for 70 positions.

These assisted-departure flights will impact some customers booked to travel on our international network, and customers are being contacted directly with alternative travel arrangements. We’re working to minimise the impact as much as possible and appreciate their understanding.

ADVICE FROM THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT

Australians who want to leave Lebanon via Cyprus should register at DFAT’s Crisis Portal. If you have already registered with DFAT you do not need to register again.

For urgent consular assistance, Australians should continue to call the Australian Government’s 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 (from overseas) or 1300 555 135 (from within Australia).

Travel Cyprus Lebanon Qantas Refugee

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Comments

  • Wiadro on 04/10/2024 - 20:47
    +9

    can you choose business class?

    • beatthatflight on 04/10/2024 - 20:50
      +41

      I mean you're getting downvotes, but there are non-economy seats onboard, so somebody gets them. Hopefully dedicated for the elderly/unwell.

    • AircraftFreight on 04/10/2024 - 20:54

      Yesnt, im assuming Australian Government and Diplomatic Staff will have first dibs on these seats (per their Commonwealth Travel Agreement) as well as the tech and engineering crews which will accompany the aircraft. Or otherwise outright blocked for weight restrictions which are applying to this flight home.

      I am assuming its on a priority needs basis, those who are disabled, elderly ect will have dibs on Business and Premium Economy seating.

      • Harold Halfprice on 04/10/2024 - 23:04

        Or otherwise outright blocked for weight restrictions which are applying to this flight home

        Why would you block premium seating for weight restrictions?

        People don't weigh more if they sit in a premium seat vs economy

        • AircraftFreight on 04/10/2024 - 23:05

          Could be an attempt at being fair in regards to who gets premium seating. No one gets it. (Except for the obvious catagories)

  • AircraftFreight on 04/10/2024 - 20:53
    +92

    They are not free, its our pockets that pay for them ;)

    (For those you are assuming that QF is paying out of pocket, dont worry they will be happy to write down these losses for this Financial Year)

    • chrism238 on 04/10/2024 - 20:57
      +40

      Welcome to living in a caring society.

        • hypie on 04/10/2024 - 23:00
          +2

          Maybe because they are Australians? I don't think you understand this new concept of travel.

          • Assburg on 04/10/2024 - 23:03
            +4

            @hypie: They were told over 6 months to leave because there was absolutely no doubt in anyone's mind this conflict would spill into Lebanon. These flights should not only be paid for by those who were too arrogant to ignore the direction, but the government should reap a significant profit for organising it all in spite of that earlier direction.

            Wonder how many people with wounds from a pager exploding in their pocket that we'll be flying back in business…

            • Sammypls on 04/10/2024 - 23:29
              -2

              @Assburg: This type of thinking actually astounds me.

              Why should my tax money for for people who are stranded when they are travelling in remote areas? Why shoiuld my tax maney pay for public schools when i don't have children? These people travelled putting there life at risks, so there might be a reason they're there. You should be helped when your life's at risk even if you are an idiot.

              Question other useless things the government spends money on.

          • Farticus on 04/10/2024 - 23:22

            @hypie: Then what are they doing in Lebanon? Living over there on an Australian pension or centrelink?

            • Rick Sanchez on 05/10/2024 - 00:10

              @Farticus: What about a dial citizen that contributed to Australia their whole life and now went back to visit family or retire there? No they must be dole bludgers and terrorists.
              Try and open your mind up a bit mate

    • nightelves on 04/10/2024 - 20:57

      Think of it as a charitable donation.

    • BuzzBuzzBuzz on 04/10/2024 - 21:28
      +8

      (For those you are assuming that QF is paying out of pocket, dont worry they will be happy to write down these losses for this Financial Year)

      That still means they paid for them. A "write down" doesn't mean you get the money back.

      I don't know why you're choosing to be smart about something that's objectively a good thing.

      • Jaduqimon on 04/10/2024 - 21:30
        -1

        wont be write down. it will be marketing expense.

        • VerticallyIntegrated on 04/10/2024 - 21:53
          +11

          “You don’t even know what a write off is”

          “No I don’t. But they do. And they’re the ones writing it off”

    • Roe Jogan on 04/10/2024 - 21:59
      +5

      yeh but our pockets (tax dollars) also pay for USA and allies (israel) wars so..

    • The Araldited Wallet on 04/10/2024 - 22:00
      +3

      Alblow (via John and Jenny Taxpayer) - will definitely have underwritten this …
      He and Qonnas go way back. There’ll be an arrangement by which they get paid, and paid very handsomely.

      Regardless: it’s a little galling that despite well advertised travel warnings and prolific news coverage, “Australians” have willingly left the safety many of them - or their relatives - sought as refugees in order to enter a war zone, and are now expecting to have their return journey arranged and financed by someone else. It’s the same as these clowns who march on Australian soil protesting the death of the leader of a terrorist organisation. As a nation we should demand more and deserve better from our citizens.

      We are the softest of soft touches, and this is no bargain.

      • gakko on 04/10/2024 - 22:14
        +1

        I don't mind flying idiots back. I do agree they are idiots for being there when conflict has been heating up for a while now. The people waving hesbolah flags in our streets should be locked up.

        • rooster7777 on 04/10/2024 - 23:02
          +7

          israeli flags are ok? just not any of the neighbours? Or is the israeli government a beacon of morality and goodness in the desert?

          • MassEffect on 04/10/2024 - 23:16
            +7

            @rooster7777: Careful there, mate. Might get labelled an antisemite.

          • sentinel on 04/10/2024 - 23:52
            +1

            @rooster7777: @rooster7777 If you believe that Hezbollah is not a terrorist organisation you should petition the government to get it unlisted as one before flying their flag.

      • MassEffect on 04/10/2024 - 23:13
        +4

        Why did you put Australians in quotes? What are you trying to imply?

      • Roddi on 04/10/2024 - 23:39

        Do you have a problem with paying the medical costs of "Australians" who keep drink driving or smoking despite decades of advertised health warnings?

        • The Araldited Wallet on 04/10/2024 - 23:41

          Haha… wow!

          That’s too loose to be even called a tangent.

          • juki on 05/10/2024 - 00:04
            +1

            @The Araldited Wallet: would drug/ meth users fit then? it would free up some space in psych wards and reduce a bit of the abuse. There are many valid reasons why people may have been in lebanon, given the long list of recent disasters, and immigration in australia, seeing relatives might be one. i just wanted to try make the other guys "tangent" stick even though its off topic

      • ThePasserby on 05/10/2024 - 00:06

        John and Jenny loses orders of magnitude in terms of taxes and polices that favours uncle Sam's wars compared to the amount used to clean up the mess left behind. Somehow pious forces do a very good job keeping John and Jenny worried about the clean up rather than what is spent to beat the drum of wars.
        Wake up Aussies and "Aussies", lets join forces.

    • mrossco on 04/10/2024 - 22:07
      +2

      The Australian Government has chartered the flights. Qantas is most definitely getting paid (probably more than usual since it's the taxpayer credit card picking up the bill). However, the people using the service are not paying.

      Just good PR for Qantas. Can't blame them, though. They aren't a charity or the saints they try to make out to be. It's all about the dollars.

    • Ruddaga on 04/10/2024 - 23:13
      +1

      heaven help us that we'd be paying to help get innocent people back home.

      Unless you're a racist bigot then I could see why this would bother you…

      • The Araldited Wallet on 04/10/2024 - 23:32
        +1

        Not home…

        Home is where they are. It can be reasonably argued it is essentially why they are there.

        Now, it’s easy to throw nasty slurs around when you don’t have a substantial point. It’s also dumb, and lazy. And contemptible.

        But yeah, thanks for your input.

        • Rick Sanchez on 05/10/2024 - 00:16

          You heard of dual citizenship?
          You're a bigot. And a dumbass.

  • pharcyde on 04/10/2024 - 20:58
    +21

    What about Australians fleeing Victoria?

    • AircraftFreight on 04/10/2024 - 20:58
      +36

      4 years too late of a comment…

    • xyron on 04/10/2024 - 20:59
      +10

      Don't let your arse hit the door on the way out.

      • pharcyde on 04/10/2024 - 21:04
        -7

        Dancels stay mad lmao

        • mlburnian on 04/10/2024 - 21:58
          +1

          Don’t worry Jacinta picked up where he left off

    • HamBoi69 on 04/10/2024 - 21:07
      +2

      JV ahh comment

    • CJ31 on 04/10/2024 - 21:24
      +14

      Lebanon refuses to take them

    • juki on 05/10/2024 - 00:05

      i read something today saying that that is not longer true and quite the opposite (the journalist didnt explain why so dont ask)

  • serpserpserp on 04/10/2024 - 20:58
    -1

    Will this flight include meals?

  • ThirtySixNights on 04/10/2024 - 20:58
    -8

    I wouldn't count on the government granting visas to any of their family who aren't citizens. They didn't do very many for Gazans..

    • The Milk Man on 04/10/2024 - 21:26
      +9

      womp womp
      turns out starting wars isn't a green card? ☠️

      • rooster7777 on 04/10/2024 - 23:05
        -2

        You'd be really popular in the early 1940s with all the occupied european countries! Or do you think gazans seeking liberation is a bit different than the french, poles, czechs etc of WW2? Or should the arabs give up if they have suffered occupation for more than say… 2 generations?

        • The Milk Man on 04/10/2024 - 23:10
          +2

          the delusion to say Arabs are oppressed

          the only one oppressing Arabs are other Arabs and other Muslims.
          All of the Arab wars start within home
          no Arab democracy survives because Arab citizens cannot suffer to tolerate one another when their opinions are different.

          Lebanon? Stolen and now Gone to fanatic Arabs.
          Syria? gone.
          Iraq? gone.
          Morroco? gone.
          Yemen? gone.
          Iran? gone.
          Egypt? was gone for a moment, minding it's own normal business now.

          Why do you have so many failed nations? why is the world list of failed economies filled with collapsed Arab countries that do nothing but butcher one another in an endless disagreement war that nobody seems to be able to settle?

          • rooster7777 on 04/10/2024 - 23:14
            +10

            @The Milk Man: So israel hasn't and isn't carrying out any oppressive acts against palestinians?
            No use trying to talk logic with you then.

            • The Milk Man on 04/10/2024 - 23:19

              @rooster7777: For you to say that a country that was populated by its origin natives, that tried to coexist with its neighbours, failed due to their aggression and then fought back and kept them out is oppression is delusion my man.

              Do your history. do your research.

              Would you tolerate your house being vandalised every other week? or would you expect the govnermnet to confine those vandals to a space far from you?

              Why should my family sacrifice their lives for your feel good make believe stories?

              why can't you just be normal and want to exist peacefully?
              it's never about peace, it's always about your way or the highway. a mindset of bullying terrorists that insist on contouring the world to their way of living.

          • atali on 05/10/2024 - 00:06
            +1

            @The Milk Man: just to be fair Iran is not an Arab country although there’s lots of Iranians with Arab ethnicity

            • The Milk Man on 05/10/2024 - 00:08

              @atali: true, just couldn't think of a better word to describe their influence and reach within the arab and gulf countries -
              while they themselves are separate to the arabs, they're deep and infiltrated within those arab nations:(

    • mr_asstight on 04/10/2024 - 21:38

      Send them to Mars

      • The Milk Man on 04/10/2024 - 21:41
        -1

        think of all the holy marsian land they can make up millenias of history on!

        • itsmoe on 04/10/2024 - 21:50

          They let the Ukrainians in, thousands of them. What difference is this? 11000 of them 🤔

          • The Milk Man on 04/10/2024 - 21:51
            +3

            @itsmoe: Ukrainians didn't start a war, Ukrainians are with the intent of coexisting with the West, supporting trade and dialogue, peaceful neighbours with like minded prospect.
            Couldn't say the same about the people who took over a Christian country, turned it into a militia led fanatic terror hub.

            • Daabido on 04/10/2024 - 22:24
              -4

              @The Milk Man: It's almost like everyone has forgotten all about systemic Ukrainian corruption and killing of gay people before the war.

              Never mind, wave your little flags.

              • The Milk Man on 04/10/2024 - 22:27

                @Daabido: ohhhh
                so it's wrong if Ukrainians does it but so tolerable if Lebanese, if Iranian, Gazan or Palestinians do it, right? 🤤

                double standards are so beautiful when you choose your blissful ignorance.

                Ukraine is a country that for decades just tried to thrive under the threats of a terrible neighbour.
                Sounds familiar?

              • The Araldited Wallet on 04/10/2024 - 23:13

                @Daabido: Now tell us what you know about how Russia’s proud human rights record.

                Or Lebanon’s. Or Iran’s. Or Germany’s.

                That’s the trouble with arguing about geopolitics.

            • itsmoe on 04/10/2024 - 23:10

              @The Milk Man: They didn't? Lol
              Lebanon is still majority Christians. No one took over anything. Also Ukraine is known to be one the most corrupt countries if not the most in the world. Lol

              • The Milk Man on 04/10/2024 - 23:14

                @itsmoe: Ignorant. Do be in the delusion that Lebanon is Christian.
                Lebanon is a kidnappee of the fanatic Islam branches.

                The CIA World Factbook estimates (2020) the following, though this data does not include Lebanon's sizable Syrian and Palestinian refugee populations: Muslim 67.8% (Sunni, Shia and smaller percentages of Alawites and Ismailis), Christian 32.4%

                Research Center, the demographic landscape of Lebanon reveals a Christian population estimated at 43.4%, with Muslims constituting the majority at 57.6%

                The country has not conducted an official census of its population since 1932. However, Statistics Lebanon, an independent polling and research firm, estimates that 69.3 percent of the citizen population is Muslim (31.2 percent Sunni, 32 percent Shia, and 6.1 percent Alawites and Ismailis combined). Statistics Lebanon further estimates 30.7 percent of the population is Christian.

            • rooster7777 on 04/10/2024 - 23:11

              @The Milk Man: You've written a few weird things, but now you've lost it!
              I agree with what you wrote about ukraine…. BUT..
              Are you suggesting palestinians took over the christian country of israel or something?
              Or are you suggesting that the conflict in lebanon has nothing to do with israel and its various occupations?
              Or are you suggesting that lebanon has been a christian country for the last 5,000 years?

              • The Milk Man on 04/10/2024 - 23:15

                @rooster7777: I did not write what you said I wrote my man.

                I am talking about Arabs in Lebanon, not Palestinians?

                Palestinians make hardly 3-4 million people on this globe. not my pick with them.

                • rooster7777 on 04/10/2024 - 23:54

                  @The Milk Man: If you care to reread slowly…. you'll notice I didn't say you wrote any particular thing…. I was asking what you meant. That's what "are you suggesting" followed by a question mark means.

                  Thanks for the chuckle… misunderstanding my questions followed by a question mark… by writing the statement "I am talking about Arabs in Lebanon, not Palestinians?" Were you asking yourself if that was what you meant… or hit the question mark by accident?

                  I'm lost at what the point is you were trying to make in the post.

                  • The Milk Man on 04/10/2024 - 23:58

                    @rooster7777: You're portraying hatred.
                    You not technically saying hatred does not resolve you of inciting it and fueling a negative conservation towards people's way of lives you've chosen to be the reason of your dismay, despite the fact Zionism is the belief in a Jewish state for the Jewish people in its home land

                    despite Jewish people being of varied opinions and origins, you keep classifying them as a whole entity who is crude

                    despite synagogues act as the equivalent of mosques and churches, but you've never commented about how imams in Gaza and the West Bank preach to murder their neighbours? :)

                    Why won't you though?
                    why won't you acknowledge your ugly ideology for what it is?
                    bloodthirsty for the sake of bloodthirst.

                    never coexistence with any person.
                    never care for your neighbours.

      • cheaponos on 04/10/2024 - 22:02
        +1

        Just don’t send them to Springfield in Ippy. We know what happens in places named Springfield.

  • Levathian on 04/10/2024 - 20:59
    +32

    Cheap easyjet flight from London to Cyprus then jump on this.. what a bargain.

  • Donmega123 on 04/10/2024 - 21:01
    -3

    Lebanese are pretty tough and patriotic they may stay and fight

    • HamBoi69 on 04/10/2024 - 21:04
      +4

      Just like their flatbreads

    • universe on 04/10/2024 - 21:07
      +40

      Nah they'll fly back and riot protest here instead

      • HangryCakeStore on 04/10/2024 - 21:13
        +2

        Hopefully they don’t risk the safety of innocent tourists and families in the city this long weekend!

        • mrossco on 04/10/2024 - 22:35

          Terrorist cleansings, I think you'll find, which are targeted exclusivley at Hamas and Hezbollah. Carry on!

          Being Palestinian or Lebanese has nothing to do with, other than they pander to terrorists.

  • suzta on 04/10/2024 - 21:03
    +4

    This is good because just hours ago on Ten news they said Aussies had to leave at their own cost and that flights were about $23k per person. I thought that was terrible - only the rich could flee.

    • dyziplen on 04/10/2024 - 21:16
      +20

      To be fair the war can be seen from a mile away. This is not a surprise in any shape or form.

      https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-08-01/australians-in-lebano…

      This was August 1st.

      https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/officials-sound-alar…

      This was October 2023.

      I also remembered an article but can't find it now, it went along the lines of them having gone through so many wars and what not, a new one is of little concern.

    • gromit on 04/10/2024 - 21:49
      +3

      Warnings to leave Lebanon immediately have been ongoing for weeks with extra warnings that costa and flight availability would be bad for people that waited.

    • DingoBlue on 04/10/2024 - 22:31
      +2

      That’s probably what the government is paying for these flights. It irritates me that Qantas are trying to make it sound like they’re making it free.

    • DingoBlue on 04/10/2024 - 22:34

      I just priced it at $4000 if you can wait five days. You’d be paying stupid money in that sort of timeframe anyway.

  • BarrytheBargain on 04/10/2024 - 21:03
    -1

    I don't think the people will want to leave, I hear they are having a blast

  • foreverphoenix on 04/10/2024 - 21:04

    Anyone fancy a one way flight to Cyprus?

  • xoape on 04/10/2024 - 21:06
    +18

    Targetted

    • mantra on 04/10/2024 - 21:44
      +1

      i thought the same, although can we fly to Lebanon at the moment?

      paying for a trip there, getting free trip back, honestly sounds like the oxbargain way, lol

  • Pennywiser on 04/10/2024 - 21:06
    +1

    Respect

  • Wilson Wallace on 04/10/2024 - 21:08
    +10

    God Bless my country Australia, I always kiss the ground I walk on today. for my mother country Lebanon, you’ll always have my heart and will always wish for peace for you and the people.

  • lordra on 04/10/2024 - 21:10
    +21

    I heard the government has been calling for Aussies to get out for months now. So when people ask what the government is doing, their defence is, "we told you to leave ages ago, but you didn't." (shrug)

    Who knows?

    • DogGunn on 04/10/2024 - 21:12
      +1

      Does it really matter? The situation has clearly got worse now.

      It's not as if people wait for these flights to come about.

      • JudoChop on 04/10/2024 - 21:18
        +26

        I think it does matter that people ignored our governments plea that they come back to Australia but now expect the government to arrange their passage to Australia.

        • illumination on 04/10/2024 - 21:20

          expect the government to arrange their passage to Australia.

          How did you come the conclusion that it was expected though?

          • JudoChop on 04/10/2024 - 21:29
            +8

            @illumination: Well they refused to heed the warnings to get out of Lebanon for many weeks. Now they want to leave Lebanon.

        • DogGunn on 04/10/2024 - 22:03
          +4

          I get the sentiment, I do. But some have likely been there for quite a while.

          I think it would be fair enough for the government to require payment from someone who only arrived in Lebanon in the last month and are then taking this evacuation flight.

    • BarrytheBargain on 04/10/2024 - 21:17
      +5

      Sounds right, anyone who didn't get out earlier should sort their own way home and not have to rely on free flights.

      • xtremehell on 04/10/2024 - 22:19

        Average yearly incomes there are something like $4k. Flights out alone were apparently $1k each or more.

        Western govts like Canada at this time were suggesting these people take out loans to pay for it. Many of these non-chartered commercial flights out were cancelled anyway (10 years since MH-17 and all).

        While these western govts are of course part of the collation that is providing Israel with the incredibly expensive bombs they are dropping on Beirut, making their own citizens unsafe. While also spending on protecting non-citizen Israelis (the US fired 12*SM-3 interceptors at up to 27mil each on Monday), not to mention Ukraine.

        But yeah, providing their own citizens a flight out is a bridge too far when it comes to the priorities, spending limits, and organizing skills of advanced western govts.

        • The Araldited Wallet on 04/10/2024 - 23:03
          +1

          They presumably didn’t have trouble finding the money to fly there. And, as a citizen of another country you intend to return to, surely the cost of the return journey would be factored into travel arrangements prior to travelling to their homeland…

          Or is that a bridge too far?

            • The Araldited Wallet on 04/10/2024 - 23:44

              @xtremehell: That’s the trouble with these kinds of conversations.

              After a while they stop being about what someone says, and becomes about what the other person suspects they believe.

              Give it a rest, champion.

    • CJ31 on 04/10/2024 - 21:28
      +2

      Just Ozbargainers waiting for free air fares.

  • clubhonda on 04/10/2024 - 21:14
    +15

    There's been plenty of government warning for those in Lebanon to get out. I have very little sympathy for those who makes the decision to stay and then expects the government to bail or rescue them. If the situation worsens, it's on them. Same as those who ignore bush fire warnings to evacuate and choose to stay - you wanna stay, why should others risk their lives to try and save you for being an idiot?

  • foreverphoenix on 04/10/2024 - 21:15
    +6

    On a serious note that’s not a deal… it’s not a product for consumption

    • The Milk Man on 04/10/2024 - 21:29

      I mean… limited time offer is technically a deal 🥴

    • spaceflight on 04/10/2024 - 21:31

      On a serious note that’s not a deal…

      Why isn't it?

      it’s not a product for consumption

      So the people in Lebanon shouldn't accept the offer?

      • Trishool on 04/10/2024 - 22:36
        +3

        I doubt they're checking ozbargain while in Lebanon to hear about 'deals' like this.

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