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.

 

[FlyboyAl]

Help! Does anyone have a link to more info about this 'immediate' self isolation. Transiting in BKK, flight to SYD boards in 3 hr, connecting to BNE, overnight in BNE city then pick up Mrs Pineapple off SIN flight on Tue am. That was the plan.

There is nothing on Health dept website, nothing on Home Affairs, well it is Sunday , and I have no idea what I'm now supposed to do. Other than its an offence to breach these unknown rules and they will be enforced.

This is pathetic!

Hope you enjoy your 2 weeks together in "self isolation"!

 

[PineappleSkip]

I suspect you can travel to BNE.

Where is your final destination?

North West of Brisbane in the middle of nowhere. Cancelled hotel in BNE, shout out to Novotel and Accor for being flexible.

I think I can travel to BNE too, so will jump on TG to SYD and see whathappens at the other end. Thanks for the links, to the old advice, best I can go on now. They still haven't updated anything, despite the restrictions being hugely broadened.

Just wondering if there is a self isolation zone in the QF lounges. They might need one!

Update: The Health Dept website is still saying this:
Further travel restrictions will not significantly help limit community transmission of COVID-19 in Australia.

 

[ausfox]

Pulled the plug on UK Thursday next. Our demographic lining up for 4 weeks arrival isolation. Longer than the holiday.

 

[NickCorr]

Pulled the plug on UK Thursday next. Our demographic lining up for 4 weeks arrival isolation. Longer than the holiday.

We were supposed to be flying to the UK on Thursday morning too for my Dads 90th. Given his age and the new isolation regs decided to take Qantas up on their 100% credit voucher. Now looking at flights for late October. Just have to see if Premier Inn will come to the party or enforce their tough luck no changes policy..

 

[_TheTraveller_]

Have a holiday booked to Vic Falls but accomm is only gonna let us reschedule and no news from CX regarding refunds for ex-oz pax. Not eligible for free rebooking either since I booked it on the 6 Feb 2020 vs 4 Feb 2020. In bit of a limbo here now.

 

[OATEK]

Pulled the plug on UK Thursday next. Our demographic lining up for 4 weeks arrival isolation. Longer than the holiday.

We were supposed to be flying to the UK on Thursday morning too for my Dads 90th. Given his age and the new isolation regs decided to take Qantas up on their 100% credit voucher. Now looking at flights for late October. Just have to see if Premier Inn will come to the party or enforce their tough luck no changes policy..

Yes, I was off this Thursday to LHR, but have been madly undoing the bookings. Only BA to go, but I believe that the fares are refundable so should limit the losses. Will try again around Christmas, to visit daughter/granddaughter.

 

[nat965]

Cruise to NZ cancelled for the end of the month. Was for my birthday, so maybe I need to make birthday party plans on land then...?

 

[Must...Fly!]

Taken from a Facebook post. But a clear indication of how difficult this is for airlines.

Overtime doesn't come cheap, either.

Just spent over an hour waiting for Virgin Australia Customer Support to make changes to my booking. They had no issues with providing me with a travel credit which is amazing service. The representative had been working for 15 hours with overtime and said the call centre have over 1000 calls in the Queue. Just remember when you're on the phone to these guys to be courteous and understanding.

 

[Pushka]

So, if one has to do 2 weeks of "self isolation", how will it work.
If I live in Adelaide, and fly into Melbourne coming home, do I "self isolate" in my city of entry, or do I go home to Adelaide, and then do it.
And who checks that I'm doing it???
Yes, I know I'm doing this for the good of my country.

I think another issue is how people on connecting domestic flights having arrived from overseas get home?

 

[serfty]

I think another issue is how people on connecting domestic flights having arrived from overseas get home?

The answer is they take the connecting flight, get home and then self isolate.

 

[Bundy Bear]

Just had an event I was attending in April just cancel.

Only a Virgin flight to cancel, will keep it in credit for a future trip.

 

[flyingfan]

Just cancelled my AKL DSC runs for vouchers, leaving intact a part to DRW and will look to rebook when things get back to normal. They were all turnarounds so didn't have any hotels booked. My thoughts are with those who are far more affected by the restrictions (let alone the disease itself).

 

[PineappleSkip]

The answer is they take the connecting flight, get home and then self isolate.

Think so. Running an AFF test of this, just boarded TG. Will report back!

 

[amaroo]

Singaporeans told to defer all non-essential international travel
Singapore's Health Ministry has urged its citizens to defer all non-essential travel abroad as part of its latest measures to stop the spread of coronavirus.


You know what's coming next.

 

[Flashback]

All our travel this year, two international trips now pretty much cancelled. Bali first at end of March and July for a Greek Yacht Cruise and then a Med cruise. Maybe we will get a good deal for FNQ in July. The cruiseline operating the small Greek Island Cruise said they hadn't had any cancellations. Sure you don't! Although Greece hasn't really been impacted as much. Maybe it's warmer there so far. Asked me to change to next year. No dice. They will refund me and their price was in € so I might actually get back more than I paid because of the AUD fall since I Paid. Lost $900 on flights on Qatar non refundable. Bali - likely will lose $1200 because of Qantas cancellation. Celebrity cruises - likely loss of $800 deposit. Just one non refundable hotel night at Rome airport. Not even booking.com can get through to them. Suspect they've closed. It's a Hilton.

I thought Qatar had a generous policy, was your flight booked too early for that to apply?

 

[jase05]

Singapore MOE recalls overseas students on exchange and internship programs

Coronavirus: MOE recalls all students overseas on exchange and internship programmes

SINGAPORE - Students on official overseas placements, including all internships and exchange programmes, will be asked to return to Singapore as soon as possible, the Ministry of Education (MOE) said in a statement on Sunday (March 15). Read more at straitstimes.com.

www.straitstimes.com

 

[pippilongstocking]

My daughter is currently Jakarta for a uni placement.

Uni advised students to return to Australia.

I was on hold for some time, but then the service was fantastic.

Her original return booking was Jakarta to Denpasar where she was having a few days, then onward to Melbourne, via Sydney later this month.

She is now booked, Jakarta to Singapore, then direct to Melboure. Arriving Thursday morning. Total extra cost.....$27.70.
Thankyou Qantas.

Pippi

 

[luxury-lizard]

I will be brief as I posted this on the Cruises thread - currently in Cape Town - Ponant cruise scheduled for 2 days from now just cancelled - pulled the pin on other travel and booked to fly home tomorrow - CPT-JNB-PER-SYD - called the 24-hour Australian consulate help line (found number on Smartraveller.com) - was advised that transit in Perth is fine - self isolation only starts once you arrive at your final destination - hope this info helps others. Person I spoke to said they had many calls regarding this issue.

 

[TonyHancock]

I was scheduled for a LHR-OSL-LHR-EWR-ORD-MSP-ORD-DTW-DCA-BOS-DCA-CVG......and more, as yet unbooked starting next weekend.

I am now pretty much trapped in Blighty.

 

[RooFlyer]

I’ve had to change and re route my current oneWorld Done4 twice in the past 2 weeks. Ticketed on AA stock.

My TA madrooster was able to get change fees waived both times. Anyone who doesn’t use a TA for international travel ( esp complicated stuff) is just crackers.

Took me 3 or 4 emails, that’s all. ( I’m sure it took him much more effort).