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Should Airlines Rebook Sick Passengers for Free? is an article written by the AFF editorial team:
You can leave a comment or discuss this topic below.
You can leave a comment or discuss this topic below.
Isn't that what Travel Insurance is for?
As far as the Bali issues, many of them are locals who move there, then a couple of years down the track, the inadequacy of the medical system comes into play and they want to get back to Australia. Completely ignoring the fact that the reason why living there is so cheap is because they don't pay the taxes needed for a good public hopital system. But others are just asking for trouble.
The airline [Qantas] told us that customers who are feeling unwell or believe they may be infectious within a week before departure should contact Qantas to discuss their options.
That cough wouldn’t likely be distinguished ftom someone with eg chronic sinus issues who wouldn’t be infectious.The work I did meant I saw a lot of genuine cases of illness that wasn’t easily predictable. Fortunately in Australia the airlines are very good with their treatment of the compassionate cases.
It is better if your doctor is involved and speaks to the airlines medical staff. That usually ensures that there are no misunderstanding on either side.
On the other side are those cases where there is no immediate need for treatment such as coughs and colds it really is up to the individual to think of the other passengers and crew. If you have a cough or cold you really should take simple precautions such as wearing a mask.
Yes people should have travel insurance but the situation is that most people who have a cold etc will travel because they can’t get a credit or get rebooked easily. And that puts other folk at risk.
Not all colds are simple. I was involved in treating a woman who had flown from LHR to SYD and who had coughed through out the flights. She had TB. There ended up being 2 people who eventually tested positive for TB on the Australian sector and another on the sector out of LHR.
So it is not always a black and white issue.
Friends were due to travel ADL to SYD late 2023 and came down with Covid. They contacted Qantas, who then cancelled their flights, refunded for a travel credit (valid 12 month);cancellation cost $99 per person, per sector applied as per ticket conditions.All good in theory Qantas - If anybody is feeling sick within 24hrs of my flight, I doubt anyone at Qantas will even reply, much less deal with the problem with a sensible solution in that time. More than likely they'll get the scripted step-by-step process, and end up taking the flight anyhow.
How far ahead of the trip did they contact Qantas - and how long did that process take?Friends were due to travel ADL to SYD late 2023 and came down with Covid. They contacted Qantas, who then cancelled their flights, refunded for a travel credit (valid 12 month);cancellation cost $99 per person, per sector applied as per ticket conditions.
Very well written. I agree that more confidence that compassion will be shown (eg. with a medical certifiacte) might lead to more people who may be infectious with something, but not personally unable to travel, rescheduling until they are not infectious. @drron's example of someone infectious with TB is a good case in point.Should Airlines Rebook Sick Passengers for Free? is an article written by the AFF editorial team:
You can leave a comment or discuss this topic below.
My understanding is that they contacted QF within two days of travel; they probably haven't logged in to check the Flight credits as yet ?How far ahead of the trip did they contact Qantas - and how long did that process take?
So it seems there are occasions where changing bookings can. BE done for free…It is naive to think that everyone with a cough will be considerate and not travel to protect others even if airline provides for refund or free rebooking.
During Covid restrictions when Qantas was offering free rebooking if you had covid or symptoms, I was on many domestic flights where people with obvious respiratory illness were flying.
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