Due to fly Melbourne to Perth June 12th. Chances of flying?

[RichardMEL]

Comments regarding cancels:

1. Prior to yesterday's official announcement there was still a (slim) chance that restrictions would be eased in Melbourne/Vic and QF were likely keeping options open until it was official - no real reason to go too early on a cancel.

2. As Hvr noted above - sometimes aircraft are required on station for onward schedules. Say that A330 MEL-PER may turn to BNE or SYD. In addition the crews need to position as well so sometimes yes flying an empty, or near empty, aircraft is needed for positioning purposes - as ridiculously wasteful as that may seem.

3. Flights through hubs, like MEL, will likely have connecting pax - and as we have seen some state border restrictions exclude connecting passengers, so say LST-MEL-OOL could still be valid (I just made this up as example) depending on loads, options to reroute and so on.

In this situation though it makes sense QF waited till a few days out because officially the lockdown was due to end midnight June 3 and was only extended yesteday (June 2) and hence the cancel. I would expect airlines have been busy cancelling flights over the next week now that the lockdown has been extended.

imo

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Data Point: Arrived back in MEL from CNS on VA last Sun at ~16:00 on full plane - plane was then due to dep to BNE at ~18:00 with 12 pax aboard - VIC may be closed but life goes on in other states

 

[Must...Fly!]

Still more local cases in VIC means technically the earliest that WA will open will be 14 days from today if no more between now and then - approx 18 June. Yawn. Cancelling flights is getting really quite exhausting.

 

[Aggi]

We were due to fly to Broome (via Perth) from Melbourne on May 28 but couldn’t go because of the border closure. the flight we were booked on was not cancelled and Qantas are only offering a flight credit rather than a refund. I have already booked other flights and are unlikely to be in a position to use this flight credit within the next 12 months and don’t want to lose $1500.
So my question is, has anyone been successful in getting a refund for flights they couldn’t travel on due to border closures, even if the flight itself wasn’t cancelled.

 

[henrus]

So my question is, has anyone been successful in getting a refund for flights they couldn’t travel on due to border closures, even if the flight itself wasn’t cancelled.

Given people are struggling to get refunds on flights that were actually canceled, I'd say your chances here are exactly zero.

Holding a Qantas (or Jetstar) credit is also quite annoying given the passengers booked using the credit are the only ones who can use it again. This differs from Virgin or Air New Zealand where you can use the credit for anyone.

 

[justinbrett]

We were due to fly to Broome (via Perth) from Melbourne on May 28 but couldn’t go because of the border closure. the flight we were booked on was not cancelled and Qantas are only offering a flight credit rather than a refund. I have already booked other flights and are unlikely to be in a position to use this flight credit within the next 12 months and don’t want to lose $1500.
So my question is, has anyone been successful in getting a refund for flights they couldn’t travel on due to border closures, even if the flight itself wasn’t cancelled.

Zero chance - but just remember you only have to book your flight(s) before the expiry date, you don't have to travel. So you could book in May 2022 for a flight in May 2023. Nothing stopping you changing that booking even later either.

 

[Rusty776]

This is a dilema I'm facing as well though due to fly Mel-Perth after seeing Auckland on July14th. I'm starting to think my best chance is try and reroute everything though Sydney now rather than try and wait for cancellations. As people have suggested the flight to Mel could very still run, I'd just be stuck there unable to go the Auckland or back to Perth in the situation. I've got 2 split bookings 2 adults 2 kids and some in Y and some in J all classic rewards.

 

[Melburnian1]

This is a dilema I'm facing as well though due to fly Mel-Perth after seeing Auckland on July14th. I'm starting to think my best chance is try and reroute everything though Sydney now rather than try and wait for cancellations. As people have suggested the flight to Mel could very still run, I'd just be stuck there unable to go the Auckland or back to Perth in the situation. I've got 2 split bookings 2 adults 2 kids and some in Y and some in J all classic rewards.

If you can, avoid Melbourne. The (absent) Premier, his acting sidekick and health officials love locking us up, so far better to go through sensible Sydney/NSW where life (with rare exceptions) just continues pretty much as normal.

 

[oz_mark]

This is a dilema I'm facing as well though due to fly Mel-Perth after seeing Auckland on July14th. I'm starting to think my best chance is try and reroute everything though Sydney now rather than try and wait for cancellations. As people have suggested the flight to Mel could very still run, I'd just be stuck there unable to go the Auckland or back to Perth in the situation. I've got 2 split bookings 2 adults 2 kids and some in Y and some in J all classic rewards.

While I'd probably try going through Sydney, keep in mind that's weeks away yet, and anything could still happen, even in Sydney!

 

[THR]

If you can, avoid Melbourne. The (absent) Premier, his acting sidekick and health officials love locking us up, so far better to go through sensible Sydney/NSW where life (with rare exceptions) just continues pretty much as normal.

We have been quite lucky in that regard. Many people would prefer a short lockdown if it prevented widespread community transmission.

 

[Must...Fly!]

I had resigned myself to a credit for a JQ flight on Sunday but thanks to this thread, been reminded me of the option to wait and see if the flight is cancelled. It hasn't run since the border went up, but they are waiting until late in the piece to cancel each day. Will be watching...

Got a text this afternoon that flight was cancelled. Website offered to find alternatives or "other options" which directed me to request a refund. Couldn't have got a credit if I tried. Apparently will take up to 7 business days - if its that little time I'll be thrilled. Compared to QF who will no doubt take months to refund taxes from FF flight I am about to cancel...

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Kept getting notifications of flight changes for a booking cancelled last week (due to depart 4 June).

Notification this morning from Qantas saying they have been trying to contact us... turns out that while the initial agent cancelled the flights - allegedly - they didn't request a refund or anything else... just left the booking 'there'. Updates and new flights kept getting added.

On-shore call centre this morning fixed it up in two seconds.