Large change fee for sporting club affected by bus smash

[erkpod]

This weekend, the Adelaide Adrenaline team in the Australian Ice Hockey League were due to play games in Canberra & Sydney. On the way to the game today at Canberra, one of the team buses rolled after leaving the road. Several players & staff & the bus driver were taken to hospital for assessment.

As a result, both games have been postponed. The team was originally booked on the last flight to ADL on Sunday night ex SYD but under the circumstances want to come home earlier. Team officials have been given a figure of over $4k in change fees to get on a midday flight.

Even though we might be talking about a group of around 20, those change fees sound excessive.

 

[mannej]

Well it depends on what fare they are booked under and the conditions attached to it as to whether or not the change fees are excessive or not.

I am assuming that the big kicker here is the fare difference, not the change fee per se.

 

[erkpod]

Well it depends on what fare they are booked under and the conditions attached to it as to whether or not the change fees are excessive or not.

I am assuming that the big kicker here is the fare difference, not the change fee per se.

If it's change fees or price difference, they are still being asked for over $4k which is difficult in a league where players don't get paid to play.

 

[ketsuzei]

And the excess on their insurance is too high?

 

[erkpod]

And the excess on their insurance is too high?

Because of the circumstances, I don't know the full details of what they have & what they don't have. I also don't usually fly in the QF universe so I don't know what their policies are in this situation.

 

[mannej]

If it's change fees or price difference, they are still being asked for over $4k which is difficult in a league where players don't get paid to play.

Sorry, but that is a risk of large group travel. $4k is roughly $200 each, which is $77 change fee on a red e-deal plus roughly $120 fare difference.
Without the facts we are only speculating.

 

[Hvr]

Here's the newspaper report, looks like they were very lucky not to be injured.

The Canberra Brave's Australian Ice Hockey League game was cancelled after the Adelaide Adrenaline's team bus crashed on Saturday.

The bus rolled over between Goulburn and Eaglehawk about 4pm on Saturday.

Read more: Adelaide Adrenaline team bus crashes forcing Canberra ice hockey game to be cancelled
​

 

[erkpod]

Some good news.

The people who overnighted in the hospital last night for observation last night look like getting released this morning.

QF have reached out to my contact within the club this morning via Twitter & the team are now on an earlier flight including exit rows and free baggage.

If you've ever seen a game of ice hockey, you'll know how much gear they have to take with them.

If anything good has come out of this, it is the amount of support the team has had from the small but passionate local ice hockey community.

Hopefully the league will look at their travel policies in case this sort of thing happens again.

 

[erkpod]

Thank you also to Red Roo for the response & message. I had no expectations especially considering the timing.

This is a great example of why this is a valuable community to be a part of.

The team's next matches are against the Sydney Bears next weekend in Adelaide - hopefully all of the players will be fit & well. The Adrenaline are fighting for the semi finals so it will be good to see them back on the ice next weekend.

 

[Kangol]

Thank you also to Red Roo for the response & message. I had no expectations especially considering the timing.

Good to hear RR is selectively replying to messages, because I've sent a whole lot of (recent and not-so-recent) PMs that have been ignored.
Had some issues last year that were addressed but not so much any more... sigh

 

[erkpod]

The team arrived home yesterday afternoon. One of the players remains in hospital in Canberra with back injuries but should be released soon.

There was media coverage of the crash on Channel 7 in Adelaide on Saturday & Sunday. The things you need to do for media coverage as an ice hockey team an Australian national league.