Who is responsible for my non-refundable hotel if the only flight is cancelled by Qantas

[cougar_df]

thanks

I've had this experience before when a flight was cancelled and rescheduled to another date, and I had a non-refundable hotel booking to deal with. If your travel dates are flexible (like mine was), you could re-book your stay dates as someone had already suggested. Or see if the hotel will give you a stay credit for when you're able to go. In another case I was able to gift the hotel stay to my relatives who were able to take my place.
That was many years ago. After more than 30 years of regular international travel, I now never book a non-refundable anything no matter how good the offers may be.

 

[Beano]

I've had missed connections because of delayed flights and Qantas put us up in an airport hotel. I don't know what happened to my destination hotel booking as by the time the plane arrived at the first aiport it was too late to cancel. Even if it was refundable it still came with cancellation conditions. Probably the hotel was paid by the travel agent, but I did stay the night somewhere else so no great loss. Managed to arrive in time for meetings but did have to take a red-eye. Flight was WLG-MEL and eventually PER

 

[ingridm]

I had a similar situation where Finnair delayed my flight to Singapore by 24 hours, so I would have lost the money for my non refundable accommodation booking. I wrote an email to Citadines, which acknowledged the non refundable nature of the booking, but asked if they would consider changing my dates. I was asked to provide evidence of flight changes by Finnair. They then changed my accom dates which was not only much appreciated, but also makes me more likely to book with them in the future.

 

[Seat0B]

I had a similar situation where Finnair delayed my flight to Singapore by 24 hours, so I would have lost the money for my non refundable accommodation booking. I wrote an email to Citadines, which acknowledged the non refundable nature of the booking, but asked if they would consider changing my dates. I was asked to provide evidence of flight changes by Finnair. They then changed my accom dates which was not only much appreciated, but also makes me more likely to book with them in the future.

Welcome to posting on AFF @ingridm.

I agree it's always worth asking because sometimes travel providers surprise you by being understanding and reasonable, and when that happens it also makes me feel loyal to that hotel/chain, just as yous said. It's smart business practice if they can manage it.

 

[RooFlyer]

Welcome to posting on AFF @ingridm . Don't leave it so long next time

 

[UP4014]

At this point, may be worth considering that the OP is a 'newbie' on AFF and possibly to the various nuances of travel/hotel bookings. May be a bit intimidated by some of the answers given (and confused, given the contradictions and contested opinions).

I'd like to think I'm not a newbie but I'm intimidated and confused.

 

[Feka742]

Is there even such a thing? Adelaide to Cape Jervis, and then Penneshaw to Kingscote.

It's not a trip I'd be taking lightly...

Yes - Sealink runs buses to connect with ferries on both sides of the crossing. It's actually relatively straightforward to get from Kingscote to Adelaide this way as it's the same operator right through and everything is timed to connect. However there's most often only one bus between Adelaide and Cape Jervis - usually southbound in the morning and back up in the afternoon, so no flexibility in when to make the trip.

 

[JohnK]

Travel Insurance usually.
Airlines won't help. Airline is responsible to get you from A to B sometimes via Z. Nothing else that's extra like parking, hotels, phone calls.

Not having a go at you as I love your contributions but the above is simply not true.

The airline conditions of carriage are woeful

- We do not guarantee to get you to your destination for the time you booked but if you miss checkin cut-off you lose your flight

So if I book to fly to KGI on 29/Apr/23 and all flights on following days are full and the only flight on 29/Apr/23 is cancelled when is the airline obliged to get me to KGI? Just offer full refund and everything will be OK right?

I just had a really silly thought that is going to stress me until travel. Booked 3 award seats for family SYD-BKK on 25 December. All flights around those dates are full already or ridiculously priced. What if QF cancels that flight ~4 weeks from travel? I'm screwed right?

There's something in all of this business that does not make sense and it's not me.

 

[jpp42]

Booked 3 award seats for family SYD-BKK on 25 December. All flights around those dates are full already or ridiculously priced. What if QF cancels that flight ~4 weeks from travel? I'm screwed right?

On Qantas with no other airline involved? It's likely that you will be okay, as if Qantas cancels they will normally transfer you to another flight, however it could be a few days either side of the original one so you should try to be flexible with your dates (i.e. book flexible accommodation rates), as discussed in this thread. You might also get downgraded to economy if your booking is in business class, with no recourse other than a refund of the points difference.

If you book on a partner airline with Qantas points, things are much dicier and many people have been stuck where Qantas simply refunds the points and taxes and leaves you in the lurch. Four weeks in advance at least gives you some time to argue about it, the worst case has been when it happens on the day of travel, as with a few horror stories shared on here.

 

[Beano]

Booking a refundable hotel room is feasible but not with AirBnb.

 

[justinbrett]

Booking a refundable hotel room is feasible but not with AirBnb.

When NZ closed the border during covid I had a month around NZ planned with lots of hotels booked, some of which non-refundable (breaking my own rule I know...)

I ended up getting every single one fully refunded with not a cent lost - the mix included chain hotels, botique hotels, AirBnb and even the interislander.

I just asked them all individually and they all offered refunds. I believe a lot of the Gold Coast hotels did the same when QLD closed its borders.

 

[Beano]

When NZ closed the border during covid I had a month around NZ planned with lots of hotels booked, some of which non-refundable (breaking my own rule I know...)

I ended up getting every single one fully refunded with not a cent lost - the mix included chain hotels, botique hotels, AirBnb and even the interislander.

I just asked them all individually and they all offered refunds. I believe a lot of the Gold Coast hotels did the same when QLD closed its borders.

Lucky man! That was then. I have AIrbnb bookings in Europe in May and after two days totally non-refundable. Might just be that particular place.

 

[justinbrett]

Lucky man! That was then. I have AIrbnb bookings in Europe in May and after two days totally non-refundable. Might just be that particular place.

Or Kiwis are just nicer than Europeans....

 

[Beano]

Or Kiwis are just nicer than Europeans....

Off course we are.

 

[AIRwin]

Off course we are.

How about when you're on course?

 

[Beano]

How about when you're on course?

All right of course.

 

[jpp42]

Booking a refundable hotel room is feasible but not with AirBnb.

Airbnb has various cancellation policies available for accommodation providers to select from, from Flexible (free cancellation up to 24 hours before, like many hotels), to moderate, firm and strict (see Cancellation policies for your listing - Airbnb Help Centre ). And even then, Airbnb has policies that can override things. For example, in 2019 (admittedly things might have tightened up since then), I was unable to travel to France due to a train strike. Even though strikes in France are not exactly an unheard of practice, Airbnb refunded my accommodation in full despite it being the day before arrival on a firm policy.

 

[Beano]

Airbnb has various cancellation policies available for accommodation providers to select from, from Flexible (free cancellation up to 24 hours before, like many hotels), to moderate, firm and strict (see Cancellation policies for your listing - Airbnb Help Centre ). And even then, Airbnb has policies that can override things. For example, in 2019 (admittedly things might have tightened up since then), I was unable to travel to France due to a train strike. Even though strikes in France are not exactly an unheard of practice, Airbnb refunded my accommodation in full despite it being the day before arrival on a firm policy.

Thanks. hopefully it will not happen.

 

[dajop]

Airbnb has various cancellation policies available for accommodation providers to select from, from Flexible (free cancellation up to 24 hours before, like many hotels), to moderate, firm and strict (see Cancellation policies for your listing - Airbnb Help Centre ). And even then, Airbnb has policies that can override things. For example, in 2019 (admittedly things might have tightened up since then), I was unable to travel to France due to a train strike. Even though strikes in France are not exactly an unheard of practice, Airbnb refunded my accommodation in full despite it being the day before arrival on a firm policy.

And exceptions are always up to the individual host. On our Airbnb. we have a strict no refund policy once inside 2 weeks and 50% inside 4 weeks, but TBH that's more to discourage people from cancelling.

If people ask nicely , we'll usually let them have most or all of their money back. Last week we had a group book on Wednesday for that Friday, but they cancelled 6 hrs later (said they made a mistake), so refunded them in full. Another group cancelled day before arrival - they moved to a later date, but aswe'd spent money on the cleaner already setting the place up so we charged them a fee to recoup that, which they understood.

 

[Alucard19]

Qantas canceled my flight booking QF2142 29 Apr 2023 Adelaide to Kangaroo Island, after that there is no flight from Adelaide to Kangaroo Island on that day, Qantas offer full refund but I have booked a non refundable rate with Mercure Hotel Kangaroo Island.
This is the first time I have experienced this kind of thing can anyone tell me how can I get a non refundable hotel compensation.
I’ve tried to contact hotel they said No,
I’ve tried to claim travel insurance but have to pay access fee which is higher that hotel rate.
I’ve tried to contact Qantas via Messager but no useful response and have submitted a complaint form online still waiting for response now.
Thanks in advance for your help.

Unfortunately the travel regulations are not as strong as they are in other parts of the world. In the UK if you buy flights and accommodation together the travel agent would be responsible for refunding 100%. KI is booming these days and their refund policies refect that. I would approach them again with a view to placing your reservation into credit to be used at a later date. Good luck