Coronavirus (COVID-19) Respiratory illness - Effect on Travel

[calmelb]

Chased up my refund with Qantas (was 50% of booking LHR-MEL-LHR in J as I had flown one leg), she noticed it had been waiting since March and forced it through immediately. All up 20 minutes on the phone to sort out a 3 month refund!

 

[p--and--t]

Absolutely floored.

My non-refundable sale fare flights to/from Cairns (purchased last November) in the next 10 days have been cancelled by JQ.

Went onto Webchat a few moments ago and got a message saying we are very busy and expect long delays.

Precis :

Within 5 minutes, got a response with "I see your flights have been cancelled, would you like a (1) credit voucher or a (2) refund". I said 2 please. Instantly a message saying "your flights have been cancelled, a refund will be made to your visa for the full amount within 14 business days to the amount of ......, is there anything else i can help you with"




Very happy. No fuss, no bulldust, straightforward.

WOW wow wow

The money is in my account. Less than 24hours. I am amazed.

Edit: and a second refund come through to cover credit cards fees etc.

 

[p--and--t]

Second round of cuts at EK announced, with many more to come (projected 30,000 to go in all)

Anybody need an A380 pilot??

Emirates Goes Ahead With Further Staff Cuts: 600 Pilots & 700 Cabin Crew Terminated

Emirates Fires 1000+ Pilots and Cabin Crew.

loyaltylobby.com

 

[p--and--t]

Another pleasant surprise in my inbox this morning. I had booked a few nights non-refundable booking in coughet for some relaxation and massages. Obviously with border restrictions and the fact non-refundable, I had "abandoned" the booking in my mind, then the below turns up this morning. People like to throw excrement at QF, but I think this is pro-active above and beyond.

Hi p--and--t We are emailing you regarding your booking under ........ at ............. Resort on ........... Jul 2020. Please be informed that we have received an update from the property that are unable to accommodate your booking. We are currently offering a credit for the full amount paid on your booking ............. which will be valid for 3 years. Plus, you will earn bonus 1,000 Qantas Points if you take this offer. This voucher can be used at over 200,000 properties worldwide on the Qantas Hotels website. Please reply to this email to confirm acceptance of this offer and we will action accordingly. If you do not wish to take this offer, we can refund the money of the value of the booking back to the card used but you will not earn the bonus Qantas Points. If you need further assistance, feel free to contact us. Regards, Enzo Customer Service Consultant

 

[p--and--t]

How ironic, USA banned other countries, now the EU has banned USA (and Russia and Brazil)

EU Preparing A List Of Countries Allowed To Travel To The Bloc (United States, Brazil & Russia Excluded)

We should soon know what nationalities are allowed to travel to the EU from early July. The United States, Brazil, and Russia likely excluded.

loyaltylobby.com

 

[Franky]

How ironic, USA banned other countries, now the EU has banned USA (and Russia and Brazil)

EU Preparing A List Of Countries Allowed To Travel To The Bloc (United States, Brazil & Russia Excluded)

We should soon know what nationalities are allowed to travel to the EU from early July. The United States, Brazil, and Russia likely excluded.

loyaltylobby.com

Given the terrible rates of infection in most EU countries, it’s more hypocritical than ironic to me...

 

[PineappleSkip]

‘Terrible rates of infection’ is old news in the worst affected EU countries. Those high EU rates of infection were in March-April. EU has significantly reduced cases since then, with Sweden an outlier.

USA overall didn’t significantly reduce case numbers, and is unfortunately tracking right back up, and warranting an #EpicFail for control. Despite EU having a population significantly larger than US, it is currently logging ~5,000 cases daily, 1/7 of the US’s 35,000.


No brainer to keep US, a control basket case, out of any bubble.

 

[Franky]

Old news or not, I guess it is the story of lies, dammed lies, and statistics. One of the indices I use is the deaths per 1m population. The US is far from the worst. You stick to your story, and I’ll stick to mine.

 

[PineappleSkip]

Surely, and unfortunately the statistics, while relatively good for EU and US, are cough for much of the world. I constantly marvel at the nonsense numbers in PNG. As for stories, I suspect we’re part way through Act 1 of this play.

cheers skip

 

[p--and--t]

The new final "draft" list of countries allowed to travel to the EU - only 15.

Final Draft List Of Countries Allowed To Enter EU From July 2020

EU has slimmed down the draft list of 50 or so countries down to just 15 that are allowed to enter the block from July.

loyaltylobby.com

 

[Major]

We are currently in Airlie Beach which has a large backpacker population. When travel restrictions were being imposed there were a lot of backpackers who were unable or unwilling to catch flights home.

Apparently the locals "adopted" them for several months but they are now starting to return to the backpacker accommodation. They are working on local produce farms and in restaurants as things open up for school holidays.

A great local story

 

[p--and--t]

Departing Frankfurt Airport (FRA) or Munich (MUC) you can now get tested and "certified' (for covid that is)

Coronavirus PCR Tests Are Now Available At Frankfurt Airport With Pricing Starting at 59€ (+ 9€ Certification Fee)

You can now get tested for Covid-19 at Frankfurt Airport.

loyaltylobby.com

 

[lovetravellingoz]

We are currently in Airlie Beach which has a large backpacker population. When travel restrictions were being imposed there were a lot of backpackers who were unable or unwilling to catch flights home.

Apparently the locals "adopted" them for several months but they are now starting to return to the backpacker accommodation. They are working on local produce farms and in restaurants as things open up for school holidays.

A great local story

Over the decades I have been through Airlie Beach quite often as I love to sail. Throughout that time a lot of the casual staff in the local businesses were backpackers.

 

[p--and--t]

Canada extends ban on all foreign arrivals yet again. Also extends quarantine for citizens again. I find it quite strange that Canada<->US travel is not limited for Canadian citizens. (Politics I presume)

Canada Extends Border Ban By Another Month Through July 31, 2020

Canada extends its foreign visitor ban by a month until July 31, 2020.

loyaltylobby.com

 

[Astro]

Anyone traveling from VIC to NSW by air today? Looks like they are screening everyone leaving the aircraft in Sydney. Any first hand experiences?

 

[Pushka]

Anyone traveling from VIC to NSW by air today? Looks like they are screening everyone leaving the aircraft in Sydney. Any first hand experiences?

Yes they are. Reports on the Australian thread and in the media.

 

[p--and--t]

Despite Thailand creating a mini travel bubble and opening up its air space, seems there is very little appetite (and of course other countries restrictions)

Bulk Of Commercial Flights To Thailand Won’t Resume Until September 2020, First Wave Of 50,000 Foreigners About To Arrive This Week

When will Thailand resume flights and tourism again?

loyaltylobby.com

 

[p--and--t]

Travel will be a bit less glamorous for a while on QR

Qatar Airways Requires Economy Passengers Wear Both A Face Shield And Mask

Qatar Airways requires passengers to wear a face shield and a mask during the flight, boarding, and disembarkation.

loyaltylobby.com

 

[p--and--t]

500,000 people still in the refund queue...

Emirates Promises To Expedite Refunds

Emirates promises to clear more than half a million refund requests by August.

loyaltylobby.com

 

[p--and--t]

Ireland Releases Green List Countries From Where 14-Night Quarantine Not Required (UK Not Included)

Ireland has released a Green Lift of countries from which 14-day quarantine is not required.

loyaltylobby.com