Have you had to change/cancel travel due to COVID-19 (involuntarily or voluntarily)?

[robtemt]

I thought I would start a thread as a resource for AFFers who have changed or cancelled travel plans directly or indirectly due to 2019 n-CoV.

• Did the airline/cruise company cancelling or change your flight/cruise? Or, did you proactively or reactively cancel or change it on your own (and why?).
• Did they notify you directly, or did you discover it on your own?
• What was your original plan, and what was the revised plan?
• What was your experience like?
• Did you go through any travel insurance claim process, and how was that part of it?

For the record, part of my role at work is to monitor medical related issues, filter out mis/disinformation, and brief other staff using only verified facts from trusted sources, so I am not one to buy into sensationalism or hysteria. BUT, I am also an advocate of forward planning and monitoring situations that could affect travel plans.

Post automatically merged: Feb 10, 2020

To start it off…. We have begun voluntarily changing (or making back up plans for) our upcoming holiday SYD-(+/- SIN)-LAX-SJO-LAX-HNL-LNY-HNL-SYD

We are booked to the USA via SIN on SQ in a few weeks (F Saver Reward Booking). A few things caused us to start making contingency plans on getting to the USA including:

• Reading posts from Buttermilk Chicken regarding her RTW flight being disrupted between HKK and CEB
• Member Pushka raising a good point if Singapore will be next.
• Monitoring the World Health Organisations surveillance on n-CoV (as part of my responsibilities at work). Singapore confirmed infections were 28 on 5 Feb, 40 on 8 Feb, and 43 on 9 Feb. Several of these cases were human-to-human contact, with no recent travel to China.
• Bloomberg’s article this morning HERE, which discussed the spread of the virus from a conference attendee in Singapore, via a resort in France, to people in France, Spain, and the UK.

We contacted SQ, to discuss the options of alternative carriers, to which there were no available flights. The agent was very friendly, and said she understood the desire to rebook and avoid an Asia transit, but she said until official bans are in place, there were no options, but “we will offer options if Singapore becomes affected by travel bans”.

We began searching other options. We contacted VFF, who found one seat on DL SYD-LAX in W, and one seat on VA in J SYD-BNE-LAX. No other business or premium reward seats (except any seat) were available +/- 1 day of our desired travel (with pre-booked hotels, cars, and other flights to South America, and Hawaii). We will keep looking for another J seat on same day, and hopefully two on the same flight to free up closer to the date.

We have left our SQ bookings as is for now, and will cancel either that booking of the DL/VA booking closer to the date as thing develop.

Overall Experience:

• Wait times on the phone are obviously a bit longer, but I’ve not been on hold longer than 15 minutes with either VA or SQ.
• Staff at both SQ and VA call centres have been friendly, empathetic, and helpful in searching, but have no/limited availability and flexibility in voluntary changes so far.

 

[Pushka]

Just listened to the Vic CMO recommend travel only to NZ and Canada by Vic Schooles. Apparently he doesn't trust anyone else. He said he may go on to recommend no O/S travel at all.

He also said that a Doc had continued to practice whilst sick with the virus and now they are going to find 70 pts.

Coronavirus claims the school excursion: overseas trips banned except to Canada and NZ

The escalation of COVID-19 containments measures comes at the urging of Victoria's chief health officer Dr Brett Sutton, according to a letter sent to parents and seen by The Age.

www.theage.com.au

Unless they have the will to say Do Not Travel then such advice is pretty much useless.

 

[get me outta here]

Washington State has the biggest outbreak, but they have no test kits. So, only being told to stay home means there are no reliable figures.

Post automatically merged: Mar 7, 2020

It may not be officially sanctioned, but it carries weight for parents I'd suggest.

Unless they have the will to say Do Not Travel then such advice is pretty much useless.

 

[fionoula]

In 3 weeks I have QFF One World RTW Business trip
Syd- KL-DOH-ATH-LHA-TKY-KXT-SYD
Doha Athens flight has been changed by Qatar Air Twice already. I originally had 12 hrs in transit for a planned tour of Doha. My flight was changed to a flight where I had 5 hrs transit (still enough time to see some of Doha). This week that flight was cancelled and I was transferred to a flight which gives me 2 hrs in transit (not enough to leave airport)
I am awaiting news of Qantas flight changes Osaka - Sydney .
How and for what acceptable reasons can I cancel my RTW ticket and get all my points back?
looking for experienced members advice as I need my points back. This was my once in a lifetime trip and I have been saving these points for 36 years!!

 

[Pushka]

Washington State has the biggest outbreak, but they have no test kits. So, only being told to stay home means there are no reliable figures.

Post automatically merged: Mar 7, 2020

It may not be officially sanctioned, but it carries weight for parents I'd suggest.

And teenagers finishing school? Not so much.

Post automatically merged: Mar 7, 2020

In 3 weeks I have QFF One World RTW Business trip
Syd- KL-DOH-ATH-LHA-TKY-KXT-SYD
Doha Athens flight has been changed by Qatar Air Twice already. I originally had 12 hrs in transit for a planned tour of Doha. My flight was changed to a flight where I had 5 hrs transit (still enough time to see some of Doha). This week that flight was cancelled and I was transferred to a flight which gives me 2 hrs in transit (not enough to leave airport)
I am awaiting news of Qantas flight changes Osaka - Sydney .
How and for what acceptable reasons can I cancel my RTW ticket and get all my points back?
looking for experienced members advice as I need my points back. This was my once in a lifetime trip and I have been saving these points for 36 years!!

That's interesting. We are flying through on QR to Athens as well in July. Any reasons or simply poor loads?
Using QF points? I cancelled an award last week and got points back instantly along with the 6000 each penalty.

 

[fionoula]

And teenagers finishing school? Not so much.

Post automatically merged: Mar 7, 2020

That's interesting. We are flying through on QR to Athens as well in July. Any reasons or simply poor loads?
Using QF points? I cancelled an award last week and got points back instantly along with the 6000 each penalty.

First change was QR211 changed scheduled departure time from 01:30 to 19:45
then last week due to declining passenger numbers some QR211 flights were cancelled including mine on 1 April and I was moved to QR 207 15:00

i would like to cancel without 6000 penalty - so will wait to see the schedule of Qantas flight reductions Japan -Sydney. Being 65+ Japan currently may prove unwise , but I want to be able to take this trip at a later date and will need all the points + points increase on RTW

 

[JohnM]

In 3 weeks I have QFF One World RTW Business trip
Syd- KL-DOH-ATH-LHA-TKY-KXT-SYD
Doha Athens flight has been changed by Qatar Air Twice already. I originally had 12 hrs in transit for a planned tour of Doha. My flight was changed to a flight where I had 5 hrs transit (still enough time to see some of Doha). This week that flight was cancelled and I was transferred to a flight which gives me 2 hrs in transit (not enough to leave airport)
I am awaiting news of Qantas flight changes Osaka - Sydney .
How and for what acceptable reasons can I cancel my RTW ticket and get all my points back?
looking for experienced members advice as I need my points back. This was my once in a lifetime trip and I have been saving these points for 36 years!!

Any award flights/itineraries can be cancelled and you will have your points and fees refunded - less the 6K points penalty. No reason is needed. That is the beauty of an award over a non-refundable discount fare.

I cannot see how you can avoid the points penalty. I'd guess it's there as notionally a service fee - but really to discourage rampant booking and cancelling.

Edit: I guess if you can show that carrier-imposed changes have made your itinerary completely unworkable you might avoid the penalty.

 

[fionoula]

Any award flights/itineraries can be cancelled and you will have your points and fees refunded - less the 6K points penalty. No reason is needed. That is the beauty of an award over a non-refundable discount fare.

I cannot see how you can avoid the points penalty. I'd guess it's there as notionally a service fee - but really to discourage rampant booking and cancelling.

I was hoping because my flight times have been changed twice I may have grounds to change

 

[JohnM]

I was hoping because my flight times have been changed twice I may have grounds to change

I was editing my post when you responded. See my edit.

 

[JohnM]

I was hoping because my flight times have been changed twice I may have grounds to change

If it has become truly messy for you in regard to flights and you have concerns about age and COVID-19, I can't see any harm in calling QF, explaining the situation/stress and pleading special case for a penalty-free refund so you can do it later when things have settled down.

There's no harm in asking nicely.

 

[I love to travel]

A little OT sorry is it 6000 points one way or if you have a return is it 12000? Thanks

 

[serfty]

A little OT sorry is it 6000 points one way or if you have a return is it 12000? Thanks

6K points per booking per PAX in the booking.

So one PAX in one booking (one-way, round trip ormulti segment) fee is 6K.

 

[fionoula]

A little OT sorry is it 6000 points one way or if you have a return is it 12000? Thanks

I think it’s per booking - so as long as both legs of your trip were booked together it’s 6000

 

[JohnM]

I was hoping because my flight times have been changed twice I may have grounds to change

Post #72 here doesn't look good for QF waiving the penalty: Question - 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.

 

[OATEK]

Post #72 here doesn't look good for QF waiving the penalty: Question - 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.

Yes, we could not get out of our 2x6,000 point cancellation fee, after 1.5hrs on the phone.

 

[MollyJones]

At least QF are refunding the points. No chance with American Express travel credit.

 

[Pushka]

At least QF are refunding the points. No chance with American Express travel credit.

They will hold the booking open through so you don't lose the $450 and can use it for an equal or lesser value fare on Qantas.

 

[MollyJones]

They will hold the booking open through so you don't lose the $450 and can use it for an equal or lesser value fare on Qantas.

I had used the $400 platinum credit towards a Singapore hotel. Have had to cancel as our onward flights have been cancelled and when I called they said no change, no refund, no nothing. Only way to get $ back is to try and claim on TI.
Their Ts&Cs confirm this policy.
Do you have any advice on other options?

 

[Pushka]

I had used the $400 platinum credit towards a Singapore hotel. Have had to cancel as our onward flights have been cancelled and when I called they said no change, no refund, no nothing. Only way to get $ back is to try and claim on TI.
Their Ts&Cs confirm this policy.
Do you have any advice on other options?

That’s a shame. It might be just a Qantas thing. I’d claim on TI then.

 

[nickykim]

Advised Friday that my small group tour/art workshop in the north of Scotland in mid April has been cancelled. Now I’m trying to decode the fare conditions of my Oman business class air fare - RXFMY8. Most of it makes sense R = discount business, X = leave on a weekday, F = ???, MY = travel through Malaysia, 8 = guess is booked 8 months in advance. But can’t find anywhere what R fare conditions are. The link through my ticket to the fare code is no longer valid. Have requested a refund or advice re alternatives. Based on Oman’s reputation, don’t expect to hear anything...

I may have travel insurance cover as paid for ticket with Velocity Amex. Other travel insurance bought prior to outbreak appears not to cover but if no-go with Amex will try.

 

[jase05]

Advised Friday that my small group tour/art workshop in the north of Scotland in mid April has been cancelled. Now I’m trying to decode the fare conditions of my Oman business class air fare - RXFMY8. Most of it makes sense R = discount business, X = leave on a weekday, F = ???, MY = travel through Malaysia, 8 = guess is booked 8 months in advance. But can’t find anywhere what R fare conditions are. The link through my ticket to the fare code is no longer valid. Have requested a refund or advice re alternatives. Based on Oman’s reputation, don’t expect to hear anything...

I may have travel insurance cover as paid for ticket with Velocity Amex. Other travel insurance bought prior to outbreak appears not to cover but if no-go with Amex will try.

R class is non refundable but changes can be made for a fee. I changed the date of a BKK-MCT-LHR leg on a R fare last trip with WY and it was about $300 for memory. Found them pretty good to deal with TBH and no worse than most other airlines. Don’t know about these circumstances though.