Qantas international flights resuming: Passengers advised to arrive four hours before flight for new processes

When flight attendant Megan Walmsley takes off at 10.25 on Monday night aboard QF11 from Sydney to Los Angeles - her first such service for two years - she understandably expects to feel a sense of elation and relief. She won't be the only one. For passengers aboard the flight, a good many who will be heading to the US to reunite with loved ones, there will no doubt be a sense of catharsis after having completed new and onerous airport pre-boarding procedures and protocols. Qantas, which is set to resume international flights on November 1, has provided insights into what its fully-vaccinated passengers will face when flying and what it plans to do to help alleviate their stress. One thing is for sure. The days of cutting it fine will be well and truly over. Even though passengers are asked to check-in for flights online with Qantas via "revamped digital booking and pre-departure experience tailored to each customer's journey" on its website and app, they will also be required by the airline to arrive at the airport four hours before departure. That's roughly the equivalent of a flight between Sydney and Perth, should any of us be able to fly there. As expected, they will also be required to wear a mask from the moment they set foot in the terminal, as well as on the aircraft, removing it only for food service. They will also likely have to keep it on until they leave the terminal at their destination. Not since post-September 11, 2001, will flying overseas be such a complex and stressful process with passengers still having to deal with the full range of security procedures combined with added COVID-19 measures and paperwork.<br/>