Have you had to change/cancel travel due to COVID-19 (involuntarily or voluntarily)?

[robtemt]

I thought I would start a thread as a resource for AFFers who have changed or cancelled travel plans directly or indirectly due to 2019 n-CoV.

• Did the airline/cruise company cancelling or change your flight/cruise? Or, did you proactively or reactively cancel or change it on your own (and why?).
• Did they notify you directly, or did you discover it on your own?
• What was your original plan, and what was the revised plan?
• What was your experience like?
• Did you go through any travel insurance claim process, and how was that part of it?

For the record, part of my role at work is to monitor medical related issues, filter out mis/disinformation, and brief other staff using only verified facts from trusted sources, so I am not one to buy into sensationalism or hysteria. BUT, I am also an advocate of forward planning and monitoring situations that could affect travel plans.

Post automatically merged: Feb 10, 2020

To start it off…. We have begun voluntarily changing (or making back up plans for) our upcoming holiday SYD-(+/- SIN)-LAX-SJO-LAX-HNL-LNY-HNL-SYD

We are booked to the USA via SIN on SQ in a few weeks (F Saver Reward Booking). A few things caused us to start making contingency plans on getting to the USA including:

• Reading posts from Buttermilk Chicken regarding her RTW flight being disrupted between HKK and CEB
• Member Pushka raising a good point if Singapore will be next.
• Monitoring the World Health Organisations surveillance on n-CoV (as part of my responsibilities at work). Singapore confirmed infections were 28 on 5 Feb, 40 on 8 Feb, and 43 on 9 Feb. Several of these cases were human-to-human contact, with no recent travel to China.
• Bloomberg’s article this morning HERE, which discussed the spread of the virus from a conference attendee in Singapore, via a resort in France, to people in France, Spain, and the UK.

We contacted SQ, to discuss the options of alternative carriers, to which there were no available flights. The agent was very friendly, and said she understood the desire to rebook and avoid an Asia transit, but she said until official bans are in place, there were no options, but “we will offer options if Singapore becomes affected by travel bans”.

We began searching other options. We contacted VFF, who found one seat on DL SYD-LAX in W, and one seat on VA in J SYD-BNE-LAX. No other business or premium reward seats (except any seat) were available +/- 1 day of our desired travel (with pre-booked hotels, cars, and other flights to South America, and Hawaii). We will keep looking for another J seat on same day, and hopefully two on the same flight to free up closer to the date.

We have left our SQ bookings as is for now, and will cancel either that booking of the DL/VA booking closer to the date as thing develop.

Overall Experience:

• Wait times on the phone are obviously a bit longer, but I’ve not been on hold longer than 15 minutes with either VA or SQ.
• Staff at both SQ and VA call centres have been friendly, empathetic, and helpful in searching, but have no/limited availability and flexibility in voluntary changes so far.

 

[vetrade]

Can you claim on TI if it's covered if they go bust?

A quick search indicates most TI policies don't cover airline or TA insolvencies. Ours certainly doesn't.

 

[Flashback]

A quick search indicates most TI policies don't cover airline or TA insolvencies. Ours certainly doesn't.

That's what credit card charge backs are for.

Post automatically merged: Mar 25, 2020

We were supposed to be flying out this Friday.

I've tried to not think about all the trips I had over the next few weeks, just makes me feel depressed for what really is no reason; what's happened has happened and time to move on and count down the days till we're back on the road again!

 

[Flashback]

Just received another lot of cancellation e-mails from BA. I guess each day they're processing in waves. Now I just need to wait until 72 hours prior to the original departure date to sort out the rebooking/refunds. Refunds I have to avoid on some of them as the underlying vouchers and miles used expired the day after I booked them, so the question is when to move them to......

 

[OATEK]

Just received another lot of cancellation e-mails from BA. I guess each day they're processing in waves. Now I just need to wait until 72 hours prior to the original departure date to sort out the rebooking/refunds. Refunds I have to avoid on some of them as the underlying vouchers and miles used expired the day after I booked them, so the question is when to move them to......

Still waiting for my BA refund, 10 days after I cancelled. MMB shows one flight, a return LHR-HKG on 21/4 that I rebooked three or four weeks ago when I switched from HKG-LHR-HKG to SYD-LHR-SYD?!

 

[Flashback]

Still waiting for my BA refund, 10 days after I cancelled. MMB shows one flight, a return LHR-HKG on 21/4 that I rebooked three or four weeks ago when I switched from HKG-LHR-HKG to SYD-LHR-SYD?!

Did you do the refund via the phone? If so, processing times are varying at the moment depending on complexity. Also, cash or voucher?

I used the JavaScript workaround trick to get a refund on one of my bookings as they were trying to push the voucher route. Not received yet, but it was a cash booking with Avios that was reduced using Avios. Reports are using the workaround refund for simple bookings are crediting back (to AMEX anyway) fairly promptly.

 

[Pushka]

Anyone know how long Qatar takes to refund?

 

[Flashback]

Anyone know how long Qatar takes to refund?

Rep on FT is quoting 30 days at the moment to process vouchers, so imagine refunds are not much different. I have the benefit of being ex-EU and the regulations require 7 days. On day 8, charge back for me.

 

[OATEK]

Did you do the refund via the phone? If so, processing times are varying at the moment depending on complexity. Also, cash or voucher?

I used the JavaScript workaround trick to get a refund on one of my bookings as they were trying to push the voucher route. Not received yet, but it was a cash booking with Avios that was reduced using Avios. Reports are using the workaround refund for simple bookings are crediting back (to AMEX anyway) fairly promptly.

Cancelled by phone for a refund, told 7-10 days.

 

[Port Power]

Rep on FT is quoting 30 days at the moment to process vouchers, so imagine refunds are not much different. I have the benefit of being ex-EU and the regulations require 7 days. On day 8, charge back for me.

That information from QR regarding cancellation for a refund doesn’t mention there is a fee. QR want US$415! My tour group wants to rebook for next May, so will probably take the voucher +10% offer.

 

[Port Power]

I still have not received a credit voucher from Qantas for the cancelled return trip (departure was March 23) despite the booking disappearing. Customer Service finally sent me what is supposedly that information in plain script, but showed the flights at around $300 less than I paid. Obviously during one of the changes the new route cost less, but I did not receive a refund. Do I just wait until the dust settles and telephone? Similarly, points from cancelled May domestic flights have not been refunded afrwe more than a week. It is really annoying but I feel confident it will be sorted eventually.

 

[Flashback]

Cancelled by phone for a refund, told 7-10 days.

May be worth following this thread: How long for refunds to be processed - Page 5 - FlyerTalk Forums

That information from QR regarding cancellation for a refund doesn’t mention there is a fee. QR want US$415! My tour group wants to rebook for next May, so will probably take the voucher +10% offer.

That sounds like processed with the cancellation initiated on your end. Unless QR cancelled your original flights (schedule change doesn't count), you're up for the normal cancellation fees as per the fare conditions.

 

[Flashback]

Now this is how you do it...... well done ANA!

Increasing flight flexibility

Because travel plans have been disrupted globally, ANA has waived fees for rescheduling flights, enacting dynamic waivers that allow passengers to make changes free of charge. If passengers decide to cancel altogether, the tickets can be voided at no cost for a complete refund. ANA understands that there is a great deal of uncertainty at the moment and wants to do all it can to support our passengers.

 

[Flashback]

Rep on FT is quoting 30 days at the moment to process vouchers, so imagine refunds are not much different. I have the benefit of being ex-EU and the regulations require 7 days. On day 8, charge back for me.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1242467354610712576

On Twitter (message 2/4) they're saying 30 days for refund, vouchers instantaneous. That would rely on you being able to get through though, which I've not been able to do for love nor money

 

[Port Power]

[QUOTE"]
That sounds like processed with the cancellation initiated on your end. Unless QR cancelled your original flights (schedule change doesn't count), you're up for the normal cancellation fees as per the fare conditions.
[/QUOTE]
Hmmm....QR cancelled the flights. I will remind the TA. Thank you.

 

[Flashback]

Hmmm....QR cancelled the flights. I will remind the TA. Thank you.

You have the added bonus of a TA to deal with? Good luck with that....

 

[Port Power]

Hmmm....QR cancelled the flights. I will remind the TA. Thank you.

You have the added bonus of a TA to deal with? Good luck with that....
[/QUOTE]
The TA is also the company that arranges and runs the tours, so they really are good to deal with. They will still be around next year to travel with again.

 

[Flashback]

It's good to see that although this year will be quiet, Hilton had extended status for another year.

 

[Cossie]

It's good to see that although this year will be quiet, Hilton had extended status for another year.

I'm hoping Accor do the same.

 

[blackcat20]

I've been told LE are working with the suppliers to secure dates into next year. I'm hoping thats the case as our Hawaii package was a fabulous deal.

Now I'm starting to worry about our Christmas trip, who knows if things will be better by then.

I still have not received a credit voucher from Qantas for the cancelled return trip (departure was March 23) despite the booking disappearing. Customer Service finally sent me what is supposedly that information in plain script, but showed the flights at around $300 less than I paid. Obviously during one of the changes the new route cost less, but I did not receive a refund. Do I just wait until the dust settles and telephone? Similarly, points from cancelled May domestic flights have not been refunded afrwe more than a week. It is really annoying but I feel confident it will be sorted eventually.

It took a few days to get an email for flights I cancelled last week. I'd say there is a big backlog.

 

[Pushka]

I cancelled flights last week on Qantas, one for refund and one for voucher. I'd put in a point request when I booked and days after I'd cancelled, that was approved. I cant access flights anymore although I can see them as existing bookings. And of course the points for upgrade have been deducted. The flights are still a week away so will call up next week. After a stiff drink or five!