Airline obligations - Service terminated.

[OzBoz]

Hi all,

I've booked, and paid for, 2 business class tickets BNE/LHR return, departing BNE Jun 29, and returning Sep 9. The return date is flexible due to the nature of our visit. We are visiting an elderly, and frail mother who is not expected to live much longer. After her passing, we will need to sell her house and settle her estate, which explains the variable return date. I've never had problems before, with this airline, in changing dates provided ample notice is given, BUT I have just become aware that this airline will terminate it's services to and from BNE on Oct 28.

My question is, if we find that we need to stay beyond Oct 28, what is my position regarding the return half of the trip?
Is it just a refund, or has the airline any obligation to assist with a seat on another carrier? I suspect the former, but I'm asking just in case it might be the latter.

Thanks for any input

Brian

 

[mannej]

OzBoz, I would imagine you are talking about Royal Brunei (BI). I guess your best options are to check what your travel insurance covers, and also to contact BI. I guess there would be a few people on here that may be able to answer your question more in depth, considering that some people may have been affected by QF's decision to pull out of SFO recently.

 

[markis10]

Travel Insurance very rarely covers failure to fly a route or withdrawl of a route by an airline.

 

[harvyk]

Depends on what the airline put in your conditions of carriage contract.

Given your original agreement was to fly on the 9th of september, the airline may be well within their rights to say that they offered the original service as booked, and then offer a refund \ credit for future use if you can't fly before the 28th of October.

Alternatively the airline may chose to fly you to an alternate destination (eg SYD or SIN) and put you onto a connecting flight with another carrier.
Or they may offer to use an alternate carrier altogether.
Of course you may have to fork out for any differences in airfare as that tends to be a standard clause in such things...

Best thing would be to call the airline and ask them directly...

 

[dajop]

Alternatively the airline may chose to fly you to an alternate destination (eg SYD or SIN) and put you onto a connecting flight with another carrier.

Seems this might be the best option, get them to rebook into MEL which is the last remaining port in Australia, and then OzBoz will be on the hook for a fare from MEL-BNE, but may be better than chancing it with the expense of booking business class on another carrier. Alternative is to get a refund and then rebook the whole ticket on another carrier.

 

[Misha]

Clearly sound advice from those on here. I would start by calling airline.

Sorry to hear of your mother's ill health. Best of luck with flights, and strength for the trip to see Mum.

 

[OzBoz]

Thanks for all your input.

Checking with the airline (BI) is problematic at the moment. The Brisbane office seems to be on permanent recorded message, which was where I first learned of the service termination, and the Melbourne office was snowed under with the volcanic ash problem, and were unable to help.

I'll let that ride until we're in London and check with BI there, probably get more sense out of them, and in the meantime, run this past my travel insurer.

What annoys me though, is that there is no mention of a service termination on BI's web site, In fact they still list flights Brunei to Brisbane up to the end of the year at least.

I've never had one instance of a problem with BI before, but in the last few days, I've formed the impression that they are on the skids, and about to go out of business completely. Just an impression.

Cheers
Brian

 

[NM]

If you have a confirmed ticket for a date beyond Oct 28, then the airline is responsible for either finding an alternate routing or carrier to get you to your destination, or refunding your fare. but if you have an open-dated ticket, you may not have that cover. This is one reason I never use open-dated tickets. I will always set a date on every sector and make a change later if I need. Open-dated tickets are risky and can leave you exposed if the airline ceases to operate the routing.

 

[dajop]

If you have a confirmed ticket for a date beyond Oct 28, then the airline is responsible for either finding an alternate routing or carrier to get you to your destination, or refunding your fare. but if you have an open-dated ticket, you may not have that cover.

The OP indicated they have a confirmed ticket for the return on Sep 9. I would assume the airline has no obligation other than getting the passengers back to Brisbane on (or around) the date the ticket is confirmed for. It is really bad luck if the move needs to be beyond Oct 28.

 

[extracta]

The OP indicated they have a confirmed ticket for the return on Sep 9. I would assume the airline has no obligation other than getting the passengers back to Brisbane on (or around) the date the ticket is confirmed for. It is really bad luck if the move needs to be beyond Oct 28.

I would agree with this comment, the ticket may be flexible but if there is no flight to change you into then the best you could get them to do is to fly you to Melbourne.

I would try and sort it out before you go. Your original ticket would be able to have the date changed back to BWN but you would then have to get to Brisbane from there.

 

[sinophile888]

I have also booked and paid in full for Business Class flights from PER -> BWN -> SIN and HKG -> BWN -> PER in January. My travel agent emailed yesterday afternoon to say that Royal Brunei was suspending its services from Perth, indefinitely, starting on 27th October. His suggestion was to wait until Royal Brunei announces how they plan to accommodate those already booked with them. There is a chance that Royal Brunei may arrange with another carrier to honour the flights. My TAs suggestion was Singapore Airlines but I have my doubts. That would be rather too good to be true. Otherwise a full refund naturally. Anyway, I paid with my AMEX card.