Family Emergency Travel – Stuck overseas for over 4 months, Alexandra mental health was at its lowest. She cried everyday for over a month wondering if she would be able to see her partner and get back to her job in Australia. After joining the Facebook Group for Australian Stuck Around the World, Alexandra contacted Nicolas Delacharlerie for support. Two weeks later, Alexandra secured a flight to Australia at the most competitive price at the time. Today, Alexandra has started her hotel quarantine and will soon be re-united with her partner.
Alexandra, can you tell us where are you at the moment and why?
At the moment, I am at the Marriott Hotel, in Sydney, I arrived yesterday in Australia so I am now in hotel quarantine following a Family Emergency.
What is your Family Emergency travel? What happened?
4 months ago, I went back to France due to a family emergency on a 1-way ticket. I did not need an exemption at the time due to my partner visa status. I then decided to come back to Australia, but I did not know how to return. I started looking for flights as soon as I arrived in Paris. I then found a Facebook group with people who had to leave Australia and returned. That’s how I came across recommendations for Nicolas.
How was life overseas?
Life was good in France because I had spent more than 2 years without seeing my family. People in Paris are living with the Covid-19 and are not scared like in Australia.
Why did you try to fly back to Australia? What challenges did you face trying to find a flight on your own?
I wanted to come back to Australia in September. I originally booked a flight on my own with Cathay-Pacific Airways which was cancelled 3 weeks before. I then contacted Nicolas in September at the end of September.
My biggest challenge was to find a flight and find a way to come back. Because I had my job and my partner in Australia. It was particularly hard to keep positive.
Did you try to contact other agencies?
I tried to contact another one. The company sent a link to a flight but the transit was too long, in total the total duration was 2 days instead of 1.
How did you find out about the Fly Me Home program? How much did you end up paying for your return flight per person?
I have noticed a comment on a Facebook Page “Australian Struck Overseas”. I then emailed Nicolas who replied and offered his help. For my returned flight, I paid 10,000 AUD. Nicolas found the flights 2 weeks ago, as a last minute flight. We were really lucky and got a very good price because it was really hard to find. I left on Monday the 11th of October from Paris to Singapore, I travelled alone. I then took a flight from Singapore to Sydney on Tuesday the 12th of October.
In a word, what do you think of Nicolas’ work?
Beautiful, he did a good job, well done, he is very human. He is always positive, you can tell he is a good person.
What is your advice to other OZs stuck overseas facing a Family Emergency travel?
First, don’t be blocked in a country where you have no help from the government or no job where the situation is worse than Australia.
I got lucky to just be blocked for only 4 months. Keep positive, we will always find a way to come back.
How excited are you to see your family?
Yes, I was because I did not see them for 2 years prior to this.
How was your mental health affected by being stranded overseas?
It was horrible, to be honest I was crying every day, even with Nicolas on the phone. He really understood me. Just the fact that so many travellers were stuck overseas and with the Hotel Quarantine in place, I felt very far away from my partner and my workplace. But we made it thanks to Nicolas so I cannot complain.
How was your flight and quarantine? How crowded was your flight?
My flight was a bit stressful, because we left very late from Paris, about 1h late. As we result in Singapore, I arrived 1 hour later than when I was supposed to leave on the second flight. The staff from Singapore Airline were very helpful and I managed to just make it. However, my luggage did not have time to be transferred.
Overall, the business flight was completely empty. For the price I paid, I did not really feel I was in business class since the flight was so empty anyway.
When you heard about the Australian government slashing the cap on arrival how did it make you feel?
I cried, I did not know how to make it back to Australia. I still can’t believe I managed to get back to Australia because I know I am really lucky. When I see all the posts on Facebook from people stuck in Africa, Pakistan and poor countries, I can tell how lucky I am.
I think Scott Morison said 30,000 lives were saved thanks to border closure. I think more people have died from suicide, than died from Covid.
The only thing for me that really matter is to open the country. Because one day we will have to live with the virus. When the government don’t do anything and dare saying you were not supposed to leave or stay overseas. I am sorry to say but you cannot do this to your citizens.
Did you ever feel left out by the Australian government for not organising repatriation flights after you faced a Family Emergency travel?
Of course, I called them every day for 1 month, and they could not even advise me.
What is your 2s message you would like to leave for Australians who need support overseas?
Stay positive and you will make it.
