Who Should Bear the Cost of Cancelling Brunei Flights?

[Renato1]

Interesting article, where a Lesbian couple feel Flight Centre should bear the full cost of their decision to cancel flights with Royal Brunei Airlines.
Fearful customers face hundreds in fees as their flee brutal regime’s airline

I can see where they are coming from, but I don't think it's really Flight Centre's fault or problem that the airline won't give the full refund.
Regards,
Renato

 

[Pushka]

It isn’t a Flight Centre problem. Flights are still going there. They aren’t responsible for a Government change. And if FC discussed someone’s sexual status before travel there would be a huge outcry.

 

[amaroo]

It’s a bit late for April fools day.....

 

[Renato1]

It’s a bit late for April fools day.....

You might be right.
According to this article,
"The new penal code imposes death by stoning for cough sex, heterosexual extra-marital sex and abortion. Lesbian sex can be punished by up to 100 lashes.

For the death penalty to be imposed, either four people have to witness the now-illegal act or a person has to confess."
https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/d...arried-couples-in-brunei-20190404-p51aqw.html

I guess if one really is going to have sex with one's wife in front of four witnesses, one had better have a marriage certificate handy.
Cheers,
Renato

P.S. But then again, I wonder if there could be a start of a new racket, where four people get together for the purpose of extortion by bearing false witness?

 

[offshore171]

P.S. But then again, I wonder if there could be a start of a new racket, where four people get together for the purpose of extortion by bearing false witness?

There's the problem, once you enshrine in law the ability to persecute an out group, then you absolutely expose that group to being deliberately targeted.

It's not inconceivable to think of a tinpot official wanting to make himself a bit of a local hero by prosecuting a couple of western gays. Wouldn't be hard to trump up some "eyewitness" accounts, and he'd get his "trophy".

On a lower scale, as you suggest, it also makes them a soft target for extortion or solicitation of bribes.

It's easy to say, "it's just a 4 hour transit in the airport", but what if the connecting aircraft goes tech, or there are weather delays etc, resulting in an involuntary 24 hour stay in town or longer. Totally exposed to the above scenarios. Really bad situaton.

Having said all that, it's not the fault of flight centre, and it's not reasonable for them to be on the hook for the airline's component of the fees. I imagine it's not a situation addressed in most travel insurance policies either?

Difficult one, but definitely not Flight Centre.

 

[jetpack]

resulting in an involuntary 24 hour stay in town

I don't understand either how they can expect anyone to last 24 hours without having sex in front of four people.

 

[Renato1]

There's the problem, once you enshrine in law the ability to persecute an out group, then you absolutely expose that group to being deliberately targeted.

It's not inconceivable to think of a tinpot official wanting to make himself a bit of a local hero by prosecuting a couple of western gays. Wouldn't be hard to trump up some "eyewitness" accounts, and he'd get his "trophy".

On a lower scale, as you suggest, it also makes them a soft target for extortion or solicitation of bribes.

It's easy to say, "it's just a 4 hour transit in the airport", but what if the connecting aircraft goes tech, or there are weather delays etc, resulting in an involuntary 24 hour stay in town or longer. Totally exposed to the above scenarios. Really bad situaton.

Having said all that, it's not the fault of flight centre, and it's not reasonable for them to be on the hook for the airline's component of the fees. I imagine it's not a situation addressed in most travel insurance policies either?

Difficult one, but definitely not Flight Centre.

Anyhow, this has prompted me to check out the Brunei tourist site.
Never thought of going there before.
Looks pretty good.
A good place for heterosexual married couples and chaste singles to visit.
Very, very chaste, that is - might need chaperones, just to be on the safe side.
Cheers,
Renato

 

[trooper]

Just as much danger for a hetero unmarried couple according to that announcement. "Hetero extra-marital sex" being the second offence listed for death by stoning. Looks like everyone should boycott the place, other than married hetero couples????....

 

[Renato1]

Just as much danger for a hetero unmarried couple according to that announcement. "Hetero extra-marital sex" being the second offence listed for death by stoning. Looks like everyone should boycott the place, other than married hetero couples????....

Sharia Law is pretty tough, but it does have some plusses.

According to what I've been reading violent crime is almost unknown in Brunei, which makes it sound like a pretty safe place akin to Dubai and Qatar - which is a reason my wife and I love going to such places (with a copy of our marriage certificate - even though no one has ever asked to see it). It's fun being a tourist without the constant feeling that one has a target on one's back from the local predators.

I still wonder what the strict Islamic countries do with tourists from countries like Italy and Spain, where wives don't take their husbands' surnames?
Are they all told to show up with marriage certificates?
Regards,
Renato

 

[dajop]

Can’t help but think a lesbian couple would actually be safer than an unmarried couple or gay male couple. If you look at experiences that are posted about Dubai - it’s unmarried (straight) couples that have to be most careful when booking a hotel room. If two guys or two women book a (twin bedded) hotel room - no one bats an eyelid, and is perfectly acceptable.

Furthermore, although the couple may be worried about being perceived as lesbians, in most places (and this works both ways) foreigners are seen as foreigners first and foremost, often when looking at other races/nationalities it’s difficult to pick up on sexuality.

 

[bPeteb]

As a gay man who is capable of opening my front door, and breathing, and taking responsibility for my own actions, I'm, as is my partner, aware enough to have known that Brunei has been a no for us since that little despot enacted sharia law a few years back. Just like we wouldn't go to Aceh, or Dubai, or Saudi Arabia, and sadly even Russia.

Do some research before you fly cheap. Flight Centre is responsible for nothing.

Either suck it up ladies or sit on plane, get off plane, go to hotel and sleep in your single beds, get back on plane, have fun in UK, repeat above on return. Not that I want to make assumptions but gay gals not drinking literally for days? From my fairly extensive experience I say what the?

 

[Forg]

I still wonder what the strict Islamic countries do with tourists from countries like Italy and Spain, where wives don't take their husbands' surnames?
Are they all told to show up with marriage certificates?

Hmmmm … it's interesting you say that, I don't know if it would have occurred to me that if I were to travel with my wife to one of these awful third-world places, we might experience trouble (with QF doing the Thing through Dubai and QR being OneWorld it was a possibility we might have stopped-off to have a look on the way to somewhere - I guess it's a bit less likely as QF & EK start to divide-up their stuff & head off in their own directions) … she didn't change her surname.
Although if I had to cancel or change travel plans as a result, I wouldn't be blaming the original ticket vendor.

 

[Pushka]

The bottom line is just behave as people who don’t need to abuse alcohol, drugs or sex in public and there will be no issues at all.

 

[Geegeela]

It's not only with whom you sleep.

Woman faces Dubai jail over horse insult

 

[Daver6]

They made the booking last month. The sharia law implementation has been on the cards for how many years there? Cancellation cost should be 100% on the pax here.

 

[JohnK]

If you can't avoid sex during a short transit or even 1-2 day forced transit for mechanical delays then you should seriously reconsider any travel outside of your home.

 

[Forg]

If you can't avoid sex during a short transit or even 1-2 day forced transit for mechanical delays then you should seriously reconsider any travel outside of your home.

It's a bit rough needing to have a separate hotel-room to your wife, just because you've got different surnames & some lovely local might think you're the "adulterer" that should die.

 

[whughes3]

On my only trip to Brunei some years ago, I was indeed sharing a hotel room with my lady friend who was at the time still legally married to someone else.I made some discreet inquiries ahead of time and was assured that it would not be a problem, and so it turned out. I'm not sure I would try this again today!
Another thing I recall about this trip was an outrageously "camp" guy (apparently a foreigner) working in a shopping mall, I couldn't help wondering how he managed to get along. Not very well these days I suspect...

 

[mrsterryn]

Husband and I don't have the same surname. Also i rarely wear my wedding ring (engagement or eternity rings either ) . Packed in my carry on is our marriage certificate.
Dont care which is my scheduled countries I take it just in case .
Also notwithstanding proving I am the closest relative
On topic .....unfortunately in this situation I do believe the passengers need to wear the cost.

 

[Pushka]

It's not only with whom you sleep.

Woman faces Dubai jail over horse insult

People who write such insulting stuff on FB where identities are known are asking for trouble.
I’m pretty sure the women could have shared a room and had twin beds made up.