Covid 19 coronavirus: Managed isolation allocation system explained

Travelers planning to return to New Zealand in the next six weeks might be out of luck, as administered isolation vouchers are now booked up to three days before Christmas.

The new system, introduced on October 5 and applied to flights since November 3, has been in high demand as Kiwis rush home for Christmas and the summer holidays.

On Monday, another 100 rooms were made available per day between December 13 and 23, but almost all had been sold out.

Only December 22, 23 and 25 will be available next month, while much of January and February will be open starting Wednesday.

The new system is designed to ensure that when people book their flights, there is space available for managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ) facilities.

However, it has surprised many Kiwis who plan to return for Christmas off guard, and also some travelers who booked their flights before it went live on October 5 and lost coupons.

A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment said the government would not reimburse flights where people lost coupons for their travel dates.

Due to Covid-19, flight data could be very changeable and most airfares were flexible, he said.

The airlines informed them of the confirmed flight times, which they then uploaded into the managed isolation allocation system.

“This will affect people who book when they cannot find their flight details in the managed isolation allocation system, because the flight has not been recorded or the time has been changed.

“We have been encouraging people to contact their airline to confirm their flights in these situations. We reported this on the MIAS website in October.”

There are 32 Managed Isolation and Quarantine (MIQ) facilities across the country, accommodating 6261 people at a time.

From October 5 to November 10, 38,483 passengers had used the voucher system.

Initially, the coupons could only be booked two months in advance, but MBIE has been adding slots later as it confirmed airline schedules.

Spaces are currently available between December 22 and February 28, and may be available more on other dates if people change their travel plans and cancel their voucher.

There was no queue if people missed their preferred date and needed to continually check for available spaces, the spokeswoman said.

On Monday, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern defended the system and urged anyone with an MIQ voucher who would not use it to inform officials so that space could be freed up.

He encouraged people abroad who might have been lost to keep checking.

The coupon system is explained here.

Q: What is it?

A: Travelers who have the legal right to enter New Zealand must also have a pre-booked voucher for 14 days of managed isolation or quarantine facilities prior to boarding their flight, unless exempt from the system (see MBIE website for get more information). This includes travelers returning from a quarantine-free entry to Australia. They must present their voucher at the airport in order to board their flight.

Q: How do I secure a spot?

A: Register an account with the Managed Isolation Allocation System, an online portal. Click here for more information. Enter the passenger details and select your expected arrival date before booking your flights. A 14-day stay in managed isolation, starting on this day, will take place for 48 hours while booking flights. The vouchers cover up to 12 people.

Q: What if I booked my flights months ago?

A: Log in to the assignment system portal and enter flight details into the system to confirm the managed isolation assignment. If the managed isolation facilities are already fully booked, MBIE’s advice is for travelers to change their flights. The Government will not provide refunds in these situations.

Q: What if my flight number is not listed?

A: Airlines inform MBIE of their confirmed flight times, which are then uploaded to the managed isolation allocation system. A flight may be operating with multiple flight numbers from different airlines. The flight number required to obtain a coupon is the last flight arriving in New Zealand. If the flight is not on the list, people should check the flight details with the airline.

Q: What happens if my flight is rescheduled or canceled?

A: The airlines will work with the Government to manage the rescheduling of the assignment with new flight details, while if the flight is canceled, travelers will need to find and reserve the next available assignment date in the system before booking a new flight.

Q: Does it cost anything?

A: There is no charge to obtain a voucher. However, individuals will be charged $ 3,100 per room, plus $ 950 for each additional adult and $ 475 per child, for their stay in managed isolation or quarantine, unless exempt.

Q: Can I choose where to isolate myself?

A: No. Passengers on the same flight are generally assigned to the same managed isolation facility, except for those assessed as being at higher risk for Covid-19, who will go into quarantine.