Flight Suspended Or Cancelled Due To COVID-19? Here’s What You Can Do
Without a doubt, one of the major things the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak has affected is air travel.Â
As the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the outbreak a pandemic, many countries have decided to either impose travel restrictions or completely lockdown their borders in an effort to contain the spread of the virus.
This resulted in many suspended and cancelled flights. Understanding the sudden and urgent need to adjust travel dates or redirect travel plans, many airlines around the world have introduced more flexible change policies to help ease their customer’s burdens.
Malaysia Airlines
MAS is giving all passengers with new and existing bookings the flexibility to alter their flights without limits or charges. Tickets issued on and before 31 March 2020 can have unlimited changes to the date of their flight (with a waiver of the date change fee) and changes to their destination (any difference in fare will apply).
All re-bookings must be made on or before May 31 2020. The rebooked return travel must be completed by December 31, 2020.
Visit their website for more information.
AirAsia
AirAsia is offering guests whose travel plans are affected by restrictions or cancellations a one-time flight change to a new travel date on the same route within 90 calendar days from the original flight without any additional costs.
Guests may also cancel their booking and retain the value of their fare as AirAsia BIG credits, or get a full refund for their bookings.
Get more information here.
Cathay Pacific
The Hong Kong-based carrier allows free changes for bookings to, through, or from Hong Kong, made on or before 4 February 2020 for travel until 31 May 2020. Though, fare differences apply.
You can choose any date up to 10 December 2020 but re-bookings must be made before 31 May 2020.
Get more information on their website.
Emirates
The Dubai-based airline is giving its customers the flexibility to reschedule their trips. Any bookings made on or before 31 March 2020 can be re-booked to new dates with no extra charges, except for fare differences.
Visit their website for terms and conditions.
Etihad
Etihad allows their customers to amend their holiday and flight dates on new bookings from 8 March until 7 April 2020 with zero charges. For guests of flights before 30 June 2020 that were cancelled, they are also permitted to reschedule, though fare differences apply.
More information on their website.
Qantas and Jetstar
These Australian airlines are waiving change fees for international flights made before 31 March 2020 for travel through 30 June 2020. Though customers are limited to only one change and will need to pay fare differences if applicable.
Visit their website for more information.
Qatar Airlines
The airline is allowing affected passengers to re-book their tickets to alternative dates or destinations, or request a full refund for their ticket without any charges. Eligibility depends on original travel dates that differ according to destination.
For the full details, visit their website.
Lufthansa
The German airline will waive re-booking fees for all customers who booked a ticket on or before 5 March with a travel date up to 30 April 2020. New dates of travel can only be up to 31 December 2020.
For customers whose tickets were issued on or before 12 March with a travel date up to 30 April 2020, their reservations can be cancelled without having to rebook until 10 June.
Get more information on their website.
Singapore Airlines
Singapore Airlines will waive all cancellation and change fees for customers affected by entry or transit restrictions for tickets issued on or before 4 March. The new travel date must commence on or before 31 August 2020 and fare differences apply.
Visit their website for more information.
For any airlines not listed here, please check its official website. Most airlines have created dedicated COVID-19 travel pages with information on flight cancellation, rebooking and re-routing policies.
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