Change Fees Suspended
Mar 7, 20, 2:52 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: EIDW
Programs: Aer Lingus Concierge, Radisson Rewards Platinum, BW Diamond, Hilton Silver
Posts: 1,755
Change Fees Suspended
Aer Lingus has finally relented and suspended change fees on all bookings made from yesterday onwards
https://www.aerlingus.com/plan-and-b...peace-of-mind/
https://www.aerlingus.com/plan-and-b...peace-of-mind/
Mar 10, 20, 3:46 pm
#2
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,657
Not good enough compared to other major carriers. People who booked before the Corona outbreak are being wrongly punished yet those booking now suddenly get more rights. A lot of criticism on various platforms about this policy.
Aer Lingus are turning people against them with this type of move.
Aer Lingus are turning people against them with this type of move.
Mar 11, 20, 4:30 am
#3
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: IRL
Programs: AerClub, BAEC.
Posts: 44
It's clearly just a marketing move to drive new bookings, which would have fallen through the floor.
With so many tourist trips disrupted around St Patrick's Day, it's sad to think many visitors first - and maybe last - impression of Ireland will be the merciless IAG approach to customer service.
With so many tourist trips disrupted around St Patrick's Day, it's sad to think many visitors first - and maybe last - impression of Ireland will be the merciless IAG approach to customer service.
Mar 12, 20, 2:52 pm
#6
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Dublin
Programs: BA Bronze! Avis PC
Posts: 310
Today I was sent home from work to self isolate because my sister's kids whom I met 4 days ago are now demonstrating symptoms of COVID-19. I was due to fly to Paris tomorrow for the already cancelled 6N rugby weekend.
I eventually realised I could change for free so have deferred my trip until the summer. Thanks EI.
If only i could get Accor to change my non refundable rate!!
Edit: Accor eventually changed their policy last night so have been able to rebook for free. 👍
I eventually realised I could change for free so have deferred my trip until the summer. Thanks EI.
If only i could get Accor to change my non refundable rate!!
Edit: Accor eventually changed their policy last night so have been able to rebook for free. 👍
Last edited by MM00LL2; Mar 14, 20 at 2:11 pm
Mar 12, 20, 5:00 pm
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Netherlands
Programs: KL Platinum; A3 Gold
Posts: 27,843
Mar 13, 20, 3:58 am
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: EIDW
Programs: Aer Lingus Concierge, Radisson Rewards Platinum, BW Diamond, Hilton Silver
Posts: 1,755
Thats a hardcoded message which always appears.
Its like the middle of Summer right now out of Dublin, everyone rushing to get out
Its like the middle of Summer right now out of Dublin, everyone rushing to get out
Mar 14, 20, 4:43 am
#11
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 250
This doesn’t seem to be the most helpful policy - as I understand it, flights need to be re-booked on specific dates, whilst no-one has any idea on future travel restrictions or event re-scheduling.
Be interested to hear thoughts on working around this - maybe book as far in the future as possible, then pay the change fee once travel restrictions are lessened or events are re-scheduled?
Be interested to hear thoughts on working around this - maybe book as far in the future as possible, then pay the change fee once travel restrictions are lessened or events are re-scheduled?
Mar 14, 20, 6:15 am
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Netherlands
Programs: KL Platinum; A3 Gold
Posts: 27,843
This doesn’t seem to be the most helpful policy - as I understand it, flights need to be re-booked on specific dates, whilst no-one has any idea on future travel restrictions or event re-scheduling.
Be interested to hear thoughts on working around this - maybe book as far in the future as possible, then pay the change fee once travel restrictions are lessened or events are re-scheduled?
Be interested to hear thoughts on working around this - maybe book as far in the future as possible, then pay the change fee once travel restrictions are lessened or events are re-scheduled?
Any ticket for travel up to 31 May 2020 can be changed without payment of the change fee. They say nothing about when travel has to be completed by/rebooked for
You can rebook right up to the end of the published schedule.
I changed my end-of-March home-to-see-the-folks trip to my Christmas home-to-see-the-folks trip. Paid only an extra €21 which meant my total spend on the new flight is actually less than what the website is charging for a new ticket on my new date.
Mar 14, 20, 10:00 am
#13
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 250
Think it might be more a misunderstanding of my question.... As it stands, the rebooking process has to be undertaken over the next week or so. According to the FAQ:
”A fare difference may apply. Changes should be made no later than 25th March 2020, and some terms and conditions apply.“
Like many others, flights were booked to travel to a specific event or meeting, and it will be far from clear over the next week when those events will be re-scheduled to. It’s not so much About getting flights for a specific date some time in the future, but simply that the date that many customers will need to re-book for is completely unknown And will remain so until well after the limited window within which the flights can be changed, expires.
At the moment, I have no idea when I will need to change my flights to. Best estimates I have is that the new timing will not be clear for at least twelve weeks. In those circumstances, what might the best mechanism be to preserve the flight value, vs losing it all to cancellation? The equivalent schemes on alternate carriers (e.g. trade in for a 12 month travel voucher of equal value) seems a lot easier to administer...
I’m sure my situation is not unusual...
”A fare difference may apply. Changes should be made no later than 25th March 2020, and some terms and conditions apply.“
Like many others, flights were booked to travel to a specific event or meeting, and it will be far from clear over the next week when those events will be re-scheduled to. It’s not so much About getting flights for a specific date some time in the future, but simply that the date that many customers will need to re-book for is completely unknown And will remain so until well after the limited window within which the flights can be changed, expires.
At the moment, I have no idea when I will need to change my flights to. Best estimates I have is that the new timing will not be clear for at least twelve weeks. In those circumstances, what might the best mechanism be to preserve the flight value, vs losing it all to cancellation? The equivalent schemes on alternate carriers (e.g. trade in for a 12 month travel voucher of equal value) seems a lot easier to administer...
I’m sure my situation is not unusual...
Last edited by drscoop; Mar 14, 20 at 10:05 am
Mar 14, 20, 2:49 pm
#14
Join Date: Jan 2008
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 246
If the price difference isn't large, one option is to change to another flight in the next couple of weeks (before March 25th) in the hope that the new restrictions mean the flight is cancelled.
Last edited by mjg59; Mar 14, 20 at 2:49 pm Reason: Fix typo
Mar 14, 20, 4:38 pm
#15
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: IRL
Programs: AerClub, BAEC.
Posts: 44
I'm in a similar situation. Due to travel next week.
Going to wait until 4 or 5 hours before the scheduled flight time to make a decision. Hoping by then the flight will be cancelled and can just take the full refund. If not, will just have to change to some future date to keep the ticket valid.
Going to wait until 4 or 5 hours before the scheduled flight time to make a decision. Hoping by then the flight will be cancelled and can just take the full refund. If not, will just have to change to some future date to keep the ticket valid.
