Etihad to give full refunds for cancelled flights bought in Australia

[Mattg]

The ACCC put out a press release this morning saying that Etihad had agreed to give full refunds to all passengers that bought tickets in Australia whose flights were cancelled due to COVID-19. This includes passengers that have already accepted travel credits.

Etihad offers refunds for all cancelled flights purchased in Australia

The ACCC has welcomed Etihad’s recent decision to offer refunds to all consumers who purchased Etihad tickets in Australia which were then cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

www.accc.gov.au

 

[Travelbugz9]

I’ve contacted Etihad multiple times to request a refund as they cancelled our flight and on the last call I drew their attention to this press release. Their response was that even though we bought our tickets whilst sitting in Australia on their Etihad website, and used an Australian credit card, the fact that the flight we purchased was not leaving from Australia, coupled with the fact that we paid in American dollars (as the conversion rates are awful), means they will not process our refund.

 

[Mattg]

I’ve contacted Etihad multiple times to request a refund as they cancelled our flight and on the last call I drew their attention to this press release. Their response was that even though we bought our tickets whilst sitting in Australia on their Etihad website, and used an Australian credit card, the fact that the flight we purchased was not leaving from Australia, coupled with the fact that we paid in American dollars (as the conversion rates are awful), means they will not process our refund.

Etihad may be technically correct, but which country did your flight originate from/do they claim the ticket was purchased in? If it was in the USA, Canada or European Union, local laws there may also require Etihad to refund you.

 

[Travelbugz9]

Etihad may be technically correct, but which country did your flight originate from/do they claim the ticket was purchased in? If it was in the USA, Canada or European Union, local laws there may also require Etihad to refund you.

We are flying from Manila to Rome return. Doing the Australia to Manila leg with another carrier. Tickets purchased direct from Etihad (.com) website whilst in Australia. Isn't that the whole point of the press release - that Etihad are required to give full refund for cancelled flights bought in Australia following the ACCC intervention - regardless of where the flight originates from - following complaints they were refusing refunds on the basis the flight wasn't leaving from Australia?

 

[Zeggo]

The ACCC put out a press release this morning saying that Etihad had agreed to give full refunds to all passengers that bought tickets in Australia whose flights were cancelled due to COVID-19. This includes passengers that have already accepted travel credits.

Etihad offers refunds for all cancelled flights purchased in Australia

The ACCC has welcomed Etihad’s recent decision to offer refunds to all consumers who purchased Etihad tickets in Australia which were then cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

www.accc.gov.au

The ACCC press release is interesting but I can't help feeling they will continue to be viewed as a toothless tiger and we travellers who have had flights cancelled due to COVID19 will continue to be left lout of pocket. We booked Etihad thru BargainFlights and after covid cancellations by Etihad we have only had hollow promises.
The ACCC release gave some hope but the news doesn't seem to have reached Etihad or travel agents.
Has anyone actually received a refund???

 

[Notyourbag]

The ACCC press release is interesting but I can't help feeling they will continue to be viewed as a toothless tiger and we travellers who have had flights cancelled due to COVID19 will continue to be left lout of pocket. We booked Etihad thru BargainFlights and after covid cancellations by Etihad we have only had hollow promises.
The ACCC release gave some hope but the news doesn't seem to have reached Etihad or travel agents.
Has anyone actually received a refund???

I have. Booked the error Azerbaijan flights in November 2019 which were cancelled via Etihad due to Covid. Received a full refund from FlightCentre on Friday.

 

[stm1sydney]

I had success with this. Booked through Expedia but seat selection fees direct with Etihad. Etihad flights SYD/LHRvv March 2020, rescheduled to June 2020 then one sector cancelled. Expedia refunded the fares promptly after bring to their attention the updated Etihad commercial policy. It took a couple of phone calls to Etihad to get them to refund the seat selection fees, but they did so in full a couple of week ago.