Heg, you and others ought to be able to receive a full refund if you choose.
The airlines get away with a lot in this circumstance, far more than the likes of Myer, David Jones, Harvey Norman and so on ever could in their similar situations.
It would really grate with me if I was in your situation that the airline (VA) is earning interest on your fare while refusing to convey you.
If you are a member of Facebook (not everyone wants to be!), perhaps you might publicly complain. Alternatively, ring a travel journalist in your state.
The ACCC is another route that you could consider. VA (and JQ) are saving a lot of money by not flying, but not providing you with what you want (a trip to DPS.) To suggest that you can instead book with VA to HWT is hardly equitable given that this may see you incurring further unexpected costs, and if you have family already in Bali - what's the point of you going to Thailand or elsewhere?
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