Hi Team, hoping to get some guidance about the potential for compensation due to a cancellation on an international Qantas rewards fare.
In January 2023, we were fortunate enough to get 2 business class Qantas rewards fares at relative short notice from Sydney to Paris via Shanghai with China Eastern. Our Sydney-Shanghai flight was to arrive at 8.20pm on 9 April 2023 and our Shanghai-Paris flight was to depart at 12.10am on 10 April 2023 (~4hr layover).
On 8 March 2023, China Eastern cancelled the Shanghai-Paris flight (MU553) due to its 'covid policy'. After fighting Qantas and China Eastern call centres for 16 days, we were put on Shanghai-Rome flight (MU787) to depart on 11 April 2023 (2 night layover). As a result, we had to incur accommodation expenses in Shanghai, forfeited flights from Paris-Milan (we were due to fly to Milan on the same day and stay with family), and pay for accommodation in Rome for a total of about AU$1500.
We were unsuccessful with a claim though AMEX CC (via Chubb insurance) as it wasn't a 'covered event'. Qantas has consistently palmed us off to China Eastern (which seem like the usual play).
China Eastern lay blame at Qantas. They say that due to covid, their final flight schedules were planned monthly and published on their website. They suggest that during the relevant period they only flew Shanghai-Paris every Saturday (i.e. 8 April) and that Qantas incorrectly permitted customers to book the Monday flight (i.e. 10 April). It seems implausible to me that Qantas would make such a mistake (maybe I'm being too generous to Qantas).
After 4 months of corresponding with the above parties last year I got the coughs, but I've now got some fire back.
Has anyone had any experience with an issue like this?
In January 2023, we were fortunate enough to get 2 business class Qantas rewards fares at relative short notice from Sydney to Paris via Shanghai with China Eastern. Our Sydney-Shanghai flight was to arrive at 8.20pm on 9 April 2023 and our Shanghai-Paris flight was to depart at 12.10am on 10 April 2023 (~4hr layover).
On 8 March 2023, China Eastern cancelled the Shanghai-Paris flight (MU553) due to its 'covid policy'. After fighting Qantas and China Eastern call centres for 16 days, we were put on Shanghai-Rome flight (MU787) to depart on 11 April 2023 (2 night layover). As a result, we had to incur accommodation expenses in Shanghai, forfeited flights from Paris-Milan (we were due to fly to Milan on the same day and stay with family), and pay for accommodation in Rome for a total of about AU$1500.
We were unsuccessful with a claim though AMEX CC (via Chubb insurance) as it wasn't a 'covered event'. Qantas has consistently palmed us off to China Eastern (which seem like the usual play).
China Eastern lay blame at Qantas. They say that due to covid, their final flight schedules were planned monthly and published on their website. They suggest that during the relevant period they only flew Shanghai-Paris every Saturday (i.e. 8 April) and that Qantas incorrectly permitted customers to book the Monday flight (i.e. 10 April). It seems implausible to me that Qantas would make such a mistake (maybe I'm being too generous to Qantas).
After 4 months of corresponding with the above parties last year I got the coughs, but I've now got some fire back.
Has anyone had any experience with an issue like this?
