Has anyone been impacted by the Coronavirus? Will travel insurance cover the costs if we wanted to cancel? Especially if the flights are with points.

[whole-lotta-moxie]

When are your flights?

It is in May so I'm not too worried about it, more curious about how everyone here was dealing with all of it

 

[I love to travel]

It is in May so I'm not too worried about it, more curious about how everyone here was dealing with all of it

If you haven't booked your accommodation yet, you might even get some bargains.

 

[Pushka]

Potentially - but not sure on which basis the claim would fit under?

Yes, I’m rethinking this a bit more and it isn’t cut and dry, as you have suggested.

 

[SYD]

QF and other airlines are waiving cancellation fees (both paid and points bookings) through to the end of Feb (date may vary). The date could roll on depending on how things go.

I have flights/accommodation all prepaid for April. So currently in limbo....

 

[stoney]

Unless your flight is in the near future I wouldn't panic yet. So far does not seem to have rapidly spread within China so whist that status is maintained it is contained. I think this is being a little overhyped compared to how quickly SARS spread in 2002/3.

I have thought about this too and have come to the conclusion to use the precautionary principle i.e. to look at an alternative. The reasoning here is to do it sooner than later to have a better chance of getting award j seats. BUT, but, It gets complicated. As the hotel was booked with Hotels.com i need to get assurance that a refund is available for Beijing, i need to have QF agree to the changes in the OWA flights ( not going over the 35K miles) etc. Did not need this as my plans and accomodation were all organised.

 

[JSavill]

it fascinates me that people wait until just before their trip to book travel insurance - either get an annual policy then you are covered for all eventualities or book it when you book the trip - no insurance will cover you for these incidents if you take it out after the fact

 

[theblank]

it fascinates me that people wait until just before their trip to book travel insurance - either get an annual policy then you are covered for all eventualities or book it when you book the trip - no insurance will cover you for these incidents if you take it out after the fact

if flights (or prepaid accomadation) are refundable then it doesnt matter when the insurance is taken out, because there wont be anything to claim on insurance.

Of course the savvy traveller is very aware of this, and if the trip was possibly in doubt for any reason he would only buy the Travel insurance close to departure.

 

[CMA222]

QF and other airlines are waiving cancellation fees (both paid and points bookings) through to the end of Feb (date may vary). The date could roll on depending on how things go.

Where did you locate the information about QF? Has QF published any confirmation of waiving cancellation fees as I cannot find anything on the website ? Many Chinese and other airlines (like CX) that fly in the Asia region have made public statements or published the cancellation conditions. They also appear to specifically refer to "mainland China" which presumably excludes HKG.

Comprehensive List Of China Travel Waivers Currently In Place (Applicable Dates Vary)

Check for available travel waivers to China and Hong Kong.

loyaltylobby.com

Special ticketing guidelines for passengers travelling to/from Mainland China

www.cathaypacific.com

 

[takenbyaliens]

I have a touring group coming to China in April and so have obviously talking to travel insurance company. At the moment they are saying that only if the govt says “ you cannot go” will they look at refunds. However there are a whole list of airlines doing waivers and SQ is one of them. What will happen however is that the various hotels I have booked may not return deposits and this will impact. We have decided that even though the groups deposit with us is ‘non refundable’, we will claw back as much as possible for them and return deposits. WHO in HK expecting issue to peak in April and May.

Post automatically merged: Jan 29, 2020

Loyalty Lobby had full list of airlines offering waivers. QF not on list

 

[flyinpod]

A friend in the UK advises me that BA are refunding people who have trips booked, they have issued a do not travel i think. Not sure if 100% correct said she heard it on the news. Qantas too according to this?
Factbox: As virus spreads, hotels, airlines offer refunds, stores close

 

[SYD]

Where did you locate the information about QF? Has QF published any confirmation of waiving cancellation fees as I cannot find anything on the website ? Many Chinese and other airlines (like CX) that fly in the Asia region have made public statements or published the cancellation conditions. They also appear to specifically refer to "mainland China" which presumably excludes HKG.

Comprehensive List Of China Travel Waivers Currently In Place (Applicable Dates Vary)

Check for available travel waivers to China and Hong Kong.

loyaltylobby.com

Special ticketing guidelines for passengers travelling to/from Mainland China

www.cathaypacific.com

Spoke to QF (nothing published...)

 

[flyinpod]

Reuters shows this a few days ago???
Factbox: As virus spreads, hotels, airlines offer refunds, stores close

 

[jmillard]

Spoke to QF (nothing published...)

Commercial Policy for Qantas Passengers Travelling to and from China

Commercial Policy for Qantas Passengers Travelling to and from China

www.qantas.com

 

[SYD]

Commercial Policy for Qantas Passengers Travelling to and from China

Commercial Policy for Qantas Passengers Travelling to and from China

www.qantas.com

Cool. Thanks. We were told this morning it wasn’t published but we’ll keep following that link!

 

[CMA222]

Commercial Policy for Qantas Passengers Travelling to and from China

Commercial Policy for Qantas Passengers Travelling to and from China

www.qantas.com

Thanks that is useful clarification. So it appears that China means "mainland" China and that does not include HKG . Travellers to HKG take their chances. If someone has booked directly they must ask QF to get the policy !!

 

[SYD]

Thanks that is useful clarification. So it appears that China means "mainland" China and that does not include HKG . Travellers to HKG take their chances. If someone has booked directly they must ask QF to get the policy !!

Funny you should mention that - our direct flights to PEK were rerouted via HKG after QF pulled out as of April. I wouldn’t be surprised if the withdrawal comes further left!

 

[takenbyaliens]

In my case I was originally booked on QF 107/108 but that of course has been cancelled and they moved me to 97/98 ex bne plus KA return to PEK. I would think in this situation I would be covered... just as long as the move the date a little further out to March 7!! We wait now. My group now waiting on position of travel insurance.......

 

[clod]

I have bottom dollar flights to SIN in mid Feb paid for with CC that has insurance. Not sure about if I will travel now but I'm pretty sure the CC mob will deny a claim if I don't go.

 

[SYD]

In my case I was originally booked on QF 107/108 but that of course has been cancelled and they moved me to 97/98 ex bne plus KA return to PEK. I would think in this situation I would be covered... just as long as the move the date a little further out to March 7!! We wait now. My group now waiting on position of travel insurance.......

In the time it took me to fly CBR-SYD, QF have now pushed the period out to 31 March. Alas, we‘re still in limbo with first outbound flight first week of April.

 

[Caversham04]

If you don’t already have TI then it’s highly unlikely that you could purchase it now and use it in the event you need to cancel due to Corona Virus.

Agreed - I've got a 48-hour stopover in Hong Kong coming up in mid February and spoke to my travel insurer today to clarify the situation. They advised that the tickets and insurance must BOTH have been purchased prior to any epidemic or natural disaster PLUS there must be a "Don't Travel" advisory from your government, so no deal at the moment as Smart Traveller currently has China as "Reconsider your need to travel" and HK specifically is "Exercise high degree of caution".

Having said all of the above, I've found an alternative flight (also on miles) that goes direct Aus - USA rather than via HK and will change plans anyway as I can't afford much disruption etc. because it's a larger overall trip. I can live with the minor loss of points (refund costs) and will suck up the cost for two nights in the hotel if they won't refund anything. In the event that the alert-level increases, I'll see if the insurance will pay out