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Travel FAQs

  1. Division Protocols and Procedures
  2. Who books my travel?
  3. Do I need a Visa for:
  4. I do not have an Australian passport, what do I need to do?
  5. I am scheduled to teach offshore for one of the BUE programs, what do I need to do to get my flights and accommodation booked?
  6. Do I have to pay for my accommodation overseas?
  7. How do I get from the airport to the hotel?
  8. Do I get a choice in Hotel?
  9. Do I get to choose which airline I fly?
  10. Can I get Qantas Frequent Flyer Points and do I get to keep them for personal use?
  11. Can I take friends or family members with me?
  12. What happens if I do not spend all of my allowance?
  13. Can I use my allowance to pay for food and incidental expenses for family or friends that are with me overseas?
  14. How will I get my Airline tickets?

Who books my travel?

All Division of Business International travel (except PEP travel) is booked with UniSA preferred suppliers by TSS Travel in line with Division and University Policy.

Contact TSSTravel@unisa.edu.au or by telephone:

Teaching related travel:
Offshore Travel Coordinator (OTC)
Karen Brindle
Email: tsstravel@unisa.edu.au
Telephone: +61 8 830 20927
Mobile (emergency only) 0438 822087		 Conference, research and consultancy travel
Resource Officer (RO)
Sharyn Lampshire
Email: tsstravel@unisa.edu.au
Telephone: +61 8 83020705
Mobile (emergency only) 0417 881954

Teaching: If you have been scheduled to teach offshore, your travel will be booked for you automatically by TSS, in line with your program’s timetable from the BUE Database.

Conference, seminar, research and consultancy (other): Bookings will be made upon request.

Tickets will not be issued until TSS has received coded and authorised / approved FS87, Exceptions to Business Travel Form (if applicable), a copy of your Overseas Business Form submission confirmation page and confirmation from the Travel agent that all monies relating to personal travel and FBT have been paid.

Do I need a Visa for Hong Kong?

If you are travelling on an Australian passport you do not require a visa to enter Hong Kong. If you are not travelling on an Australian passport please contact the OTC or RO ASAP as you may require a visa.

Do I need a Visa for Singapore?

If you are travelling on an Australian passport you do not require a visa to enter Singapore. If you are not travelling on an Australian passport please contact the OTC or RO ASAP as you may require a visa.

Do I need a Visa for Thailand?

If you are travelling on an Australian passport you do not require a visa to enter Thailand. If you are not travelling on an Australian passport please contact the OTC or RO ASAP as you may require a visa.

Do I need a Visa for Taiwan?

If you are travelling on an Australian passport you do not require a visa to enter Taiwan. If you are not travelling on an Australian passport please contact the OTC or RO ASAP as you may require a visa.

Do I need a Visa for Malaysia?

If you are travelling on an Australian passport you do not require a visa to enter Malaysia. If you are not travelling on an Australian passport please contact the OTC or RO ASAP as you may require a visa.

Do I need a Visa for Switzerland?

If you are travelling on an Australian passport you do not require a visa to enter Switzerland. If you are not travelling on an Australian passport please contact the OTC or RO ASAP as you may require a visa.

Do I need a Visa for China?

If you are travelling on an Australian or British passport you do require a visa to enter China. Please contact the OTC or RO as soon as you find out that you need to go to China. You will need to allow two weeks to get a Chinese Visa. Please ensure that you have at least 6 months validity on your passport if you are applying for a Visa.

I do not have an Australian passport, what do I need to do?

Contact the OTC or RO as soon as possible as you may require a visa. Some Visas may take up to 6 weeks obtain.

I am scheduled to teach offshore for one of the BUE programs, what do I need to do to get my flights and accommodation booked?

You do not need to do anything. Your flight bookings will be emailed to you by the OTC and accommodation will be automatically arranged. Please email the OTC ASAP if you have any special requests.

Do I have to pay for my accommodation overseas?

No, your room and airport transfer costs are paid by the OTC. You will be responsible for all food and incidental expenses. Please note, in Singapore you will need to arrange own airport transfers and pay yourself.

How do I get from the airport to the hotel in?

Hong Kong

A shuttle bus will be automatically booked for you by the OTC through the hotel in Hong Kong. When arriving at the airport you will need to collect your tickets from the hotel counter. An airport map and timetable will be included in with your tickets. If you do not take the shuttle bus we do not get charged for it.

Taiwan

Return Volvo transfers will be booked and paid for you by the OTC. Please advise the OTC if you do not require transfers.

Kuala Lumpur

There are two options:

Train - The KLIA Ekspres train is a high-speed transit service between KL Sentral and KLIA that takes only 28 Minutes. KLIA Ekspres runs from 5.33am to 12.03am everyday and costs RM35 per single trip. If taking KLIA Ekspres to the airport you check in your luggage at KL Sentral and receive your boarding pass. You will need to check in at KL Sentral a minimum of two hours before your flight. Transit tickets can be purchased through vending machines and ticket counters at all stations.

Car - A hotel car will be booked and paid for by the OTC if requested.

Kuching

ITD will pick you up and drop you off if your arrival and departure flights are during business hours. If after hours then you will need to take a taxi.

Kota Kinabalu

ITD will pick you up and drop you off if your arrival and departure flights are during business hours. If after hours then you will need to take a taxi.

Penang

ITD will pick you up and drop you off if your arrival and departure flights are during business hours. If after hours then you will need to take a taxi.

Singapore

No transfers are pre-arranged in Singapore. You will need to take a taxi. A taxi from the airport to you hotel will cost approximately SGD20

Bangkok

A return hotel limousine will be booked and paid for you by the OTC. Please advise the OTC if you do not require transfers.

Burapha

A return hotel limousine will be booked and paid for you by the OTC. Please advise the OTC if you do not require transfers.

Zurich

The Hotel Allegra has a free hotel shuttle bus that runs from the airport to the Hotel Allegra between 5.15am and 11.30pm. The bus station is at Terminal 2 "Arrival".

China

Our partner in China will arrange for someone to pick up Unisa staff from the airport.

Do I get a choice in Hotel?

Generally No. The University has contracts with hotels near your offshore teaching venues. Staff from the University have inspected these hotels and they are to a certain standard and they offer all of the facilities that are required for Unisa staff to teach offshore. If you would like to stay at another hotel you will need to get approval from your Head of School. In some locations we have more than one hotel available for staff to choose from. The OTC will advise you if you get a choice in hotel. Please note that when offered a choice it is a preference only and you may not get to stay at the hotel you choose.

Do I get to choose which airline I fly?

Qantas is our preferred supplier and therefore will always be first choice. You are only able to fly another airline if it is cheaper or if the routing is better. For example, a direct flight into Adelaide.

Can I get Qantas Frequent Flyer Points and do I get to keep them for personal use?

Yes, you can accrue FFP. Please provide the OTC with your Frequent flyer number before you depart. These points have been accrued whilst working for the University so it is encouraged that you use them for a University trip. For example upgrading to Business Class.  Please advise the OTC or RO if it is your intention to upgrade using your FFP so they can ensure the economy ticket booked is able to accommodation the upgrade request - this does not guarantee an upgrade, upgrades are dependent on availability of seats allocated by the airlines for such action.  Any loss of points due to rescheduled trips will not be compensated by the University.

Can I take friends or family members with me?

Subject to approval, yes, you can take friends or family with you.  Please see University Guidelines and in particular to points 4.6 and 4.7.  Once you have the necessary approvals in place, you can then contact the travel agent and proceed with making the necessary arrangements for your family or friends.  TSS travel can assist in accommodation bookings if personal travellers are staying in the same hotel as the travelling staff member.  In most hotels there is an additional charge for a twin or double room. The OTC will make the accommodation booking but staff will be responsible for any additional charges.

What happens if I do not spend all of my allowance?

Any money that is left over will need to be returned to the University.

Can I use my allowance to pay for food and incidental expenses for family or friends that are with me overseas?

No. Your allowance is for your food and incidental expenses only. Your friends or family will need to pay for themselves. Please note that the University checks all receipts.

How will I get my Airline tickets?

 If being issued with paper tickets, the OTC or RO will email you when your tickets are ready to collect, else your e-tickets and other travel documentation will be emailed to you.  For those travelling on paper tickets, your travel pack will be available for collection from Level 1, 189 Hindley Street between 8.00am and 5.00pm. You will need to sign for them at the reception desk. If you are external to the University, the OTC or RO will arrange for the tickets to be posted or couriered to you.
 

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