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.

[davistev]

Yes - but are there any travel insurance companies in Australia covering coronavirus medical costs? Especially since the WHO declaration

 

[sanne]

I have just researched that and the answer is NO.

And I have also discovered that my 3 travel insurances for trips this year have clauses that exclude coverage for cancellation or medical for pandemic. That is very worrying.

 

[Pushka]

Yes - but are there any travel insurance companies in Australia covering coronavirus medical costs? Especially since the WHO declaration

Not that i've seen. January 30/31st is the known date.

 

[rogerkambah]

Late last week I cancelled our QF award flights for Monday CBR-MEL (QF) and yesterday's MEL-HKG (QF) and HKG-BKK (EK). Got my points back except for 6k each.
Unfortunately the fees and taxes have been refunded to a cc I had just cancelled (Grrrrr).

Next problem is the return flights booked for 2 weeks time using an AA award - BKK-SIN (CX), SIN-MEL-CBR (QF). AA I understand want USD150pp to cancel so I am waiting while to see what happens.
Yesterday I received an email from CX saying they have cancelled CX619 BKK-SIN for 'operational and commercial reasons'.
No alternative offered as to how we might get to SIN. I mean a really creative re-route via HKG might have been offered - unless they have canned BKK-HKG or HKG-SIN as well.
They still have my SIN-MEL-CBR flights on the booking in their system, so they are aware I really needed to get to SIN.
I thought that CX would try harder to look after J px, especially at a time when they don't have many px.
AA still have the CX flight BKK-SIN on the booking in their system.

 

[JennyMG]

I was very lucky in that I have now cancelled an award flight for July using China Eastern (holy moly) Rome>Shang>Syd, got ALL my points back from Qantas, and all my fees. Delighted. Rebooked with a Qatar award flight so more than happy. I have people on this forum to thank for making me be more proactive than I was. A Qantas operator in Auckland helped. What a gem he was.

However, SINGAPORE airlines, (our flight to Europe 2 June) has narrowly escaped being cancelled, the Sing Air website has a list, and the last cancellation on it is the week before (28th may) we leave, (2nd June) and includes the flight number we're using. I notice they are cancelling ONE FLIGHT per week, for many flight numbers, ....the ones they cancelled of my flight number were a Thursday flight, and I'm travelling on a Tuesday. So I'm hoping that even if the cancellations continue into the week of the 2nd June, that it will be 4th June that is cancelled.
I'm much more chilled about flying to Singapore on SA, than I was about flying through Shanghai on CE.
Whether the hubbub will be over by then is anyone's guess, it's not the virus, it's the cancellations now that are a worry. ESPECIALLY if youhave used awards and have premium class seats.
If you're moved to a new aircraft there's no guarantee you would get the premium seats you had initially booked. Not to mention difficulties with prebooked accommodation. What a nightmare.

All I can say is, be proactive, and check airlines' websites for cancellations and amendments. I think I'll stick with this Sing Air flight, but SO happy I changed the China Eastern one, even though it was July.

 

[BettyB]

Unfortunately the fees and taxes have been refunded to a cc I had just cancelled (Grrrrr).

Happened with me recently as well.

Qantas refused to do anything other than transfer to my cancelled credit account.

I, proactively, contacted Citibank to tell them what was about to occur. They insisted that since the account had been closed for several months that any payment from Qantas would not occur and would bounce back to Qantas.

About 14 days later I got a bank cheque in the mail from Citibank for the refunded amount.

 

[Oubline]

I was very lucky in that I have now cancelled an award flight for July using China Eastern (holy moly) Rome>Shang>Syd, got ALL my points back from Qantas, and all my fees. Delighted. Rebooked with a Qatar award flight so more than happy. I have people on this forum to thank for making me be more proactive than I was. A Qantas operator in Auckland helped. What a gem he was.

However, SINGAPORE airlines, (our flight to Europe 2 June) has narrowly escaped being cancelled, the Sing Air website has a list, and the last cancellation on it is the week before (28th may) we leave, (2nd June) and includes the flight number we're using. I notice they are cancelling ONE FLIGHT per week, for many flight numbers, ....the ones they cancelled of my flight number were a Thursday flight, and I'm travelling on a Tuesday. So I'm hoping that even if the cancellations continue into the week of the 2nd June, that it will be 4th June that is cancelled.
I'm much more chilled about flying to Singapore on SA, than I was about flying through Shanghai on CE.
Whether the hubbub will be over by then is anyone's guess, it's not the virus, it's the cancellations now that are a worry. ESPECIALLY if youhave used awards and have premium class seats.
If you're moved to a new aircraft there's no guarantee you would get the premium seats you had initially booked. Not to mention difficulties with prebooked accommodation. What a nightmare.

All I can say is, be proactive, and check airlines' websites for cancellations and amendments. I think I'll stick with this Sing Air flight, but SO happy I changed the China Eastern one, even though it was July.

I’m glad it worked out and that you could find a way home

 

[rogerkambah]

I was very lucky in that I have now cancelled an award flight for July using China Eastern (holy moly) Rome>Shang>Syd, got ALL my points back from Qantas, and all my fees. Delighted. Rebooked with a Qatar award flight so more than happy. I have people on this forum to thank for making me be more proactive than I was. A Qantas operator in Auckland helped. What a gem he was.

Glad you got all your Ticket Charges back. When I called the cc company I found out that QF had only returned the charges for one px even though there were 2 travellers, and the cc fee, well that was just ignored.
I hung on the phone for 2x 1 hour sessions yesterday but due to being a NB no-one could find the time to talk to me.
Just wondering what time of day you spoke to your NZ CSO and if you had a long wait.

 

[Pushka]

Glad you got all your Ticket Charges back. When I called the cc company I found out that QF had only returned the charges for one px even though there were 2 travellers, and the cc fee, well that was just ignored.
I hung on the phone for 2x 1 hour sessions yesterday but due to being a NB no-one could find the time to talk to me.
Just wondering what time of day you spoke to your NZ CSO and if you had a long wait.

That is a common and known issue with Qantas refunds. Keep on at them. Maybe try the text function.

 

[JennyMG]

Glad you got all your Ticket Charges back. When I called the cc company I found out that QF had only returned the charges for one px even though there were 2 travellers, and the cc fee, well that was just ignored.
I hung on the phone for 2x 1 hour sessions yesterday but due to being a NB no-one could find the time to talk to me.
Just wondering what time of day you spoke to your NZ CSO and if you had a long wait.

I rang in the afternoon - about 3pm I think and I walked astound with my phone in speaker for about 1.5 hours I think. The first time it was 2.5 hours.
I’m also a bronze nobody.
it’s just they’re run off their feet with people like us and the calls would be long winded I imagine. I was on the phone for over an hour with my operator. I didn’t choose Auckland, that’s just who I got.
mine was an award flight but yes all the fees back x 2 , all the points x 2 and a much better deal.

 

[marksound]

Admittedly stupid on our part - but we have a trip to Japan this weekend for 2 weeks. Normally we book though amex plat and use their travel insurance but got these flights on points. Didn't really think about it until now and currently have no medical travel insurance for Japan. Not worried about flight cancellations as can cover the cost of rebooking but a little wary of not having medical insurance. Are any Australian providers covering coronavirus issues anyway?

 

[Pushka]

Admittedly stupid on our part - but we have a trip to Japan this weekend for 2 weeks. Normally we book though amex plat and use their travel insurance but got these flights on points. Didn't really think about it until now and currently have no medical travel insurance for Japan. Not worried about flight cancellations as can cover the cost of rebooking but a little wary of not having medical insurance. Are any Australian providers covering coronavirus issues anyway?

Not now. Insureandgo covers pandemics but for this one only for policies purchased pre Jan 30th. If you have no medical Insurance (and I never travel overseas without it) then you shouldnt go..just my two cents, but that applies to every OS trip not just this one. And even your credit card insurance isnt applicable here.

 

[marksound]

Has anyone had experience or thoughts on buying medical insurance once in Japan as I've read here on the Japan.Travel website?

''The following two companies offer insurance that foreign visitors can apply after arriving in Japan. Both insurances introduce medical facilities, interpret between you and the doctor, and have cashless medical services. You can apply for insurance on their websites. For details, please check the following pages.
Sompo Japan Nipponkoa Insurance Inc.
Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co., Ltd. ''

 

[muppet]

Admittedly stupid on our part - but we have a trip to Japan this weekend for 2 weeks. Normally we book though amex plat and use their travel insurance but got these flights on points. Didn't really think about it until now and currently have no medical travel insurance for Japan. Not worried about flight cancellations as can cover the cost of rebooking but a little wary of not having medical insurance. Are any Australian providers covering coronavirus issues anyway?

I don’t know your situation but in general points bookings count for Amex plat

 

[marksound]

We transferred Amex points to Qantas and got a reward flight. I'll get in touch with them and see.

 

[drron]

We have SQ suites awards booked to LHR and return in May.The SIN-LHR is not an affected day though the return date is.Fortunately not our flight cancelled.
Bigger problem-11 days driving in Japan in the beginning of May.But what the heck we were there ~ 2 months after Fukushima.
Then a couple of days in Bangkok.

Not cruising until October with an Athens to Venice trip on the Shadow.Nine days later booked on the inaugural TA crossing of the Moon.Will SS let us on the Moon if the Shadow has docked in Northen Italy.By then I would expect the paranoia to have settled.

 

[jaseb]

Hi all - have a trip to Europe booked for 6 weeks Aug-Oct - flights already booked into France and out of Germany - tentative destinations in between are Spain, Portugal, Greece & Italy. We are not in a hurry to book our intra trip transport/accomodation, we normally leave things pretty flexible.
However, I would like to take out an insurance policy sooner rather than later in case COVID-19 really heats up between now and then and we have to cancel any components of the trip.

Is there a particular insurer we should look at?

 

[Pushka]

Hi all - have a trip to Europe booked for 6 weeks Aug-Oct - flights already booked into France and out of Germany - tentative destinations in between are Spain, Portugal, Greece & Italy. We are not in a hurry to book our intra trip transport/accomodation, we normally leave things pretty flexible.
However, I would like to take out an insurance policy sooner rather than later in case COVID-19 really heats up between now and then and we have to cancel any components of the trip.

Is there a particular insurer we should look at?

You wont be covered for Corona Virus issues now with most if not all providers. This is from Insureandgo.

Latest Update on Global Coronavirus Pandemic: How It Affects You

lbl value description

www.insureandgo.com.au

If you bought your policy after 4:00pm AEST on 31st January 2020, you will not be covered for claims related to the Coronavirus (2019-nCoV). It would be expected the policy was entered into with awareness of the virus and its developments.

Worse, some dont even cover epidemics/pandemics period. I'd avoid this company always

Latest Travel Warnings

Stay up to date with the latest travel news and events around the world with 1Cover travel alerts. Including natural disasters, terrorism alerts and more.

www.1cover.com.au

 

[drron]

By August I suspect that things will be a lot clearer.Either the virus has done it's dash though more likely world wide spread so travel bans would become pointless though some countries will almost certainly still have some bans.

 

[Dr Ralph]

By August I suspect that things will be a lot clearer.

4 weeks ago people were making the same statements but saying that the date for clarity was April.

I suspect that this will be an issue all year long.