Changing flights to Hong Kong - Coronavirus

[dylarr]

Hi everyone,

I have Qantas flights booked to fly to Hong Kong next month (March). Booked in May last year. Given the current Coronavirus situation, I do not want to travel to the region for at least a couple of more months so I can see how things play out.

However unlike other airlines (VA, CX, SQ, EK, AY to name a few) currently Qantas are not offering any rule waivers for Hong Kong flights. Only mainland China.

I called my travel agent (Amex) to see if I could change the date of my flights to later in the year or possibly reroute. They have been very helpful and understanding and they mentioned they have a lot of other customers in the same situation right now. Amex proactively offered to waive their fees but all the Qantas imposed penalties and charges would still apply. They also explained they've been submitting manual waiver requests through Agency Connect to try and get rule waivers for their customers but Qantas has been rejecting them.

My questions:

Has anyone had any experiences changing, rerouting or cancelling their Hong Kong flights booked through Qantas?
Did you book through an agent or did you deal with Qantas directly?
What was the outcome?

Thanks!

 

[offshore171]

I wonder if it’s worth trying the line that you have onward travel arrangements to the US and cannot enter HK for that reason?

 

[tomlee1986]

actually Qantas just cut down flights to HKG from MEL & BNE to the end of march. Appears no change from SYD

 

[defurax]

I wonder if it’s worth trying the line that you have onward travel arrangements to the US and cannot enter HK for that reason?

Hong Kong and Macau are excluded from the USA 14 days rule.

 

[Carrots]

Speaking with one of the travel insurers (corporate not leisure) we deal with this morning and their expectation is the DFAT Do Not Travel will soon (within days) be extended to include HK.

If that occurs then it's quite likely QF will change their tune? (although does imply logic should occur...!)

 

[dylarr]

I wonder if it’s worth trying the line that you have onward travel arrangements to the US and cannot enter HK for that reason?

Just checked this to see if it would be a feasible option (I actually do potentially have US bound travel coming up) however as offshore171 mentioned, Hong Kong isn't included.

actually Qantas just cut down flights to HKG from MEL & BNE to the end of march. Appears no change from SYD

Amex suggested holding off on any changes as things are changing daily and they are certainly correct. I am scheduled to fly out of MEL. Nothing has changed in MMB yet and I can see the flight is still bookable but will definitely keep an eye on this.

Speaking with one of the travel insurers (corporate not leisure) we deal with this morning and their expectation is the DFAT Do Not Travel will soon (within days) be extended to include HK.

If that occurs then it's quite likely QF will change their tune? (although does imply logic should occur...!)

This would be a massive development. I think I read somewhere in a statement that Qantas was considering the DFAT level when deciding on what policies to enact around waivers so you would hope they would show some leniency if this does happen.

 

[Isochronous]

Bring a suitcase full of masks and hand sanitisers, stand on the street and reap in the profits! =P

 

[Travels86]

I am in the same situation with Qantas. Flying to Hong Kong next month, but returning from Manila. Now I'm affected by immigration restrictions to enter Philippines. I'm currently awaiting a response from Qantas.

 

[jpp42]

Where are you seeing that Philippines is restricting travel via HK? As best I can tell they are only concerned about mainland China, same as everywhere else.

 

[defurax]

Where are you seeing that Philippines is restricting travel via HK? As best I can tell they are only concerned about mainland China, same as everywhere else.

Here you go: Temporary Suspension of Visa Issuance to Travelers from China and its Special Administrative Regions | Philippine Embassy of Canberra Australia

 

[dylarr]

I am in the same situation with Qantas. Flying to Hong Kong next month, but returning from Manila. Now I'm affected by immigration restrictions to enter Philippines. I'm currently awaiting a response from Qantas.

Curious as to the response you get from Qantas. Let us know when you get a reply.

 

[ButtermilkChicken]

I am in the same situation with Qantas. Flying to Hong Kong next month, but returning from Manila. Now I'm affected by immigration restrictions to enter Philippines. I'm currently awaiting a response from Qantas.

I suggest re routing ASAP. I had 3 routes via Hong Kong which would have rendered me unable to enter Philippines. This change camewithin 3 days of leaving.

I’ll be updating my experience so far on my post.

Also it might pay to know that philippines is currently considering a travel ban in and out of Singapore now too..

To the O.P - happy to discuss anything to help Get this over the line.

 

[Melburnian1]

Here you go: Temporary Suspension of Visa Issuance to Travelers from China and its Special Administrative Regions | Philippine Embassy of Canberra Australia

Although not mentioned there, for a small number of days Philippines also instituted travel restrictions to/from Taiwan (a different country) but following backlash from Taiwanese government and Filipino travellers it lifted that ban.

Speaking to one travel agent, they're rerouting anyone booked on QF or CX via HKG to MNL to PR (nonstops from BNE SYD MEL and soon PER to MNL.)

So with the changing nature of these travel restrictions, some routes can be "losers" and others - surprisingly - "winners" but overall, no airline would want this curtailing as it's dissuading businessmen and leisure travellers alike from booking.

 

[biba]

Although not mentioned there, for a small number of days Philippines also instituted travel restrictions to/from Taiwan (a different country) but following backlash from Taiwanese government and Filipino travellers it lifted that ban.

Speaking to one travel agent, they're rerouting anyone booked on QF or CX via HKG to MNL to PR (nonstops from BNE SYD MEL and soon PER to MNL.)

So with the changing nature of these travel restrictions, some routes can be "losers" and others - surprisingly - "winners" but overall, no airline would want this curtailing as it's dissuading businessmen and leisure travellers alike from booking.

A week ago I had flights booked HKG-MNL on CX and MNL-SYD on QF. CX rang to advise that I would not be allowed entry into Phiilipines and when I explained the situation, they rerouted me HKG-SYD at no extra cost. Called Qantas to cancel booking (flexible economy) and they refunded the fare. I even managed to score an upgrade to business on QF using my points, which they also refunded.

 

[JohnK]

actually Qantas just cut down flights to HKG from MEL & BNE to the end of march. Appears no change from SYD

I was also thinking of changing but not given the free option. There are 80 passengers on tonights QF117. Business class almost empty. Eerie.

I don't think it's just coronavirus. It was similar load in November.

 

[Travels86]

No luck for me. I had originally found/won my Hong Kong flight with the Airbnb/Qantas Secret Listing promotion back in May last year. Explained that I already have a flight from Manila booked back to Sydney. I asked for a change from SYD-HKG to SYD-MNL due to immigration restrictions between Hong Kong and Philippines but no luck. So I had to cancel the Business Class ticket and book a new ticket. I'm pretty devastated.

 

[get me outta here]

I have a HKG flight w' a domestic connection that's had a time change that I do not want to accept as I want to drop HKG. Do I need to phone them for the refund or can I do it on chat? Never cancelled a reward booking before.

 

[tomlee1986]

I have a HKG flight w' a domestic connection that's had a time change that I do not want to accept as I want to drop HKG. Do I need to phone them for the refund or can I do it on chat? Never cancelled a reward booking before.

Best to do this on phone to talk to a human and sort it out.. I think it is better than via live chat on a computer