Dumped in Joburg

[equus]

This is where Travel Insurance with a higher limit is very useful. Can safely go your own way and book, then work out whether to hit up QF or the TI, knowing that if QF baulk, the TI will cover you,

Had a case of being called in London about midday about a delay for QF SIN-SYD that was going to be an overnighter (was flying BA LHR-SIN to connect, all on one ticket). No advice of what was going to be provided or not - and obviously being in the air, was not going to be receiving any notifications. Looked at the Amex TI provisions, and found a nice suite package, transfers to/from the airport and including a bottle of champagne for within the TI limit (there were 2 pax). Booked this for certainty, and when met by QF at the incoming, just told them the arrangements we had made.

Just claimed is against TI, and all was well - ended up as an unexpected stopover.

As an aside - before the trip had to decide whether or not to renew passport, as it had less than 6 months validity. Was fine for UK entry, but checked that it would not be Ok for SIN, and even though was not planning on needing to stop over in SIN, was very glad I decided to play safe and renew early. May have been able to get away with it in the circumstances, but happy to not have the worry.

 

[Quickstatus]

This is where Travel Insurance with a higher limit is very useful.

Some like QF TI have "unlimited additional accomodation and meal expenses"
though only for similar class of accomodation you booked for the travel. If you only booked Motel 6, thats the standard they will use.

 

[Flyerwin]

In that case it reinforces GoYourOwnWayᵀᴹ.

 

[dajop]

This is where Travel Insurance with a higher limit is very useful. Can safely go your own way and book, then work out whether to hit up QF or the TI, knowing that if QF baulk, the TI will cover you,

As always, buyer beware. Some policies explicitly exclude anything deemed “fault of the airline” (mechanical delays, crew shortage etc). But are good for weather, ATC delays, substation fires etc).

 

[equus]

Some like QF TI have "unlimited additional accommodation and meal expenses"​

The Amex platinum Travel Inconvenience cover is very good for these annoying sorts of delays (9 - 12 hours overnight).

1. Delayed, cancelled, overbooked or missed onward flight
If during Your Trip:

a. Your Scheduled Flight is delayed or cancelled by 4 hours or more; or​

b. You are denied boarding on Your Scheduled Flight due to over booking of the aircraft, and no alternative flight is made available to You within 4 hours of the scheduled departure time of such flight; or​

c. You missed Your onward connecting Scheduled Flight at the transfer point due to the late arrival of Your incoming connecting Scheduled Flight, and no alternative onward flight is made available to You within 4 hours of the actual arrival time of the incoming flight​

​

We will reimburse You for additional hotel accommodation (room only)​

and restaurant meals or refreshments up to the maximum relevant cover​

section limit inclusive of sub-limits as shown in the Schedule of Benefits​

So a four hour delay and the amount available kicks in - and the scheduled benefit is up to $700 - and if 2 covered persons travelling, $1,400 - which is much more flexible than the QF limit. For every 24 hours the delay occurs after the initial 4 hours they will cover an additional $500 per person - up to a maximum of $2,000 total for one person, or $4,000 for two.

There are no exclusions for fault of the airline, reason for the delay or anything - just need to be delayed. The only catch is that you have to charge everything you want reimbursed to the Amex card - which is why selecting a hotel package that includes transfers etc. makes life simpler.

 

[gaz0303]

The Amex platinum Travel Inconvenience cover is very good for these annoying sorts of delays (9 - 12 hours overnight).

To rub salt in, I have a personal Amex platinum but this was a work trip. Priority pass came in handy to guest a traveller into the Bidvest lounge, but the SA lounge in terminal B is the pick and makes exceptional coffee. The Bidvest lounge tried to enforce the max 2h pre flight rule, but the lounge angel gave compassionate entry

A positive about this type of complete service breakdown is that you actually end up talking to fellow passengers and swapping stories. All the better if you can laugh about it.

 

[DejaBrew]

A positive about this type of complete service breakdown is that you actually end up talking to fellow passengers and swapping stories. All the better if you can laugh about it.

Glad you're still able to see the lighter side of it

 

[equus]

A real bummer that the Amex insurance wouldn't be available for a work trip as it would not have been paid for on your card, However, begs the question of what sort of TI your employer has arranged to cover you for these situations?

 

[gaz0303]

A real bummer that the Amex insurance wouldn't be available for a work trip as it would not have been paid for on your card, However, begs the question of what sort of TI your employer has arranged to cover you for these situations?

Well covered for expenses incurred (most likely we just cover the cost and not worry about claiming) but I wasn’t going to try and claim a presidential suite. I called 4 hotels and showed up to 2 looking for rooms. As mentioned above, online tools after midnight aren’t much help. Being in JHB didn’t create much appetite for 10km+ drives to available hotels in the early morning hours, and needing to return at 7am for the connecting flight.

 

[DC3]

No-one’s ever too happy when these delays occur. Sure, it can be frustrating. However, I try not to get too fussed over things that I have no control over.

 

[AIRwin]

The return flight QF64 will be arriving in SYD just before the curfew

 

[DC3]

The return flight QF64 will be arriving in SYD just before the curfew

 

[ANstar]

No-one’s ever too happy when these delays occur. Sure, it can be frustrating. However, I try not to get too fussed over things that I have no control over.

Exactly... And i presume all this mess is caused by the LHR fire which is out of QFs control.

 

[CaptainCurtis]

Exactly... And i presume all this mess is caused by the LHR fire which is out of QFs control.

No, the delay was caused by a faulty air conditioning unit on an A380.

 

[AIRwin]

Exactly... And i presume all this mess is caused by the LHR fire which is out of QFs control.

That was also what I thought initially but it's in fact:

Post in thread 'Qantas Delays/Cancellations'

Monday at 5:42 PM

QF63 had a fault this morning with an aircon unit warning. Engineering spent an hour plus trying to locate/fix problem and everything looked good after a reset. Fault indicated again on 2nd taxi to runway and plane returned to the terminal. Just boarded for what looks like a 6pm departure. Crew is from a planned LA flight.

• gaz0303

• 

 

[eastwest101]

The return flight QF64 will be arriving in SYD just before the curfew

And on that QF64 there will undoubtedly be connecting passengers going elsewhere from SYD on Qantas who will have an unplanned stopover in SYD on that night thanks to the curfew, we may see where those pax end up in threads here in the next few days.

 

[jase05]

And on that QF64 there will undoubtedly be connecting passengers going elsewhere from SYD on Qantas who will have an unplanned stopover in SYD on that night thanks to the curfew, we may see where those pax end up in threads here in the next few days.

You would hope that passengers would already know all the details by time they boarded in JNB.

 

[AIRwin]

You would hope that passengers would already know all the details by time they boarded in JNB.

And there would have been even longer notice to arrange accommodation?

 

[Quickstatus]

You would hope that passengers would already know all the details by time they boarde

Something about the title of this thread rings a bell

 

[VPS]

It’s all very well to say that you can claim off travel insurance but often the excess can be $200-300