Finnair China travel waivers??
Jan 23, 2020, 12:48 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 940
Finnair China travel waivers??
Does anyone see any indication that Finnair May offer Travel waivers/refunds on itineraries currently booked to mainland China?
have a trip booked for late April to Guangzhou in J, a non refundable ‘flash sale’ ticket, but not sure if this might be cancelled/refunded at this point! Many thanks.
have a trip booked for late April to Guangzhou in J, a non refundable ‘flash sale’ ticket, but not sure if this might be cancelled/refunded at this point! Many thanks.
Jan 24, 2020, 1:57 pm
#7
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At least two Chinese carriers have recently issued policies with the effect that most travellers can cancel tickets with a full (end expedited) refund. I know of CA and MF.
On one hand I'd say it is very uncharacteristic of Finnair to take such measures. OTOH, could they be forced to? Anyone care to speculate on that?
With the reliance on China as main market, that could quickly ground a big portion of the fleet.
On one hand I'd say it is very uncharacteristic of Finnair to take such measures. OTOH, could they be forced to? Anyone care to speculate on that?
With the reliance on China as main market, that could quickly ground a big portion of the fleet.
Jan 24, 2020, 2:26 pm
#8
Join Date: Feb 2014
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DISRUPTIONS IN THE TRAFFIC | JAN 24, 2020
European authorities have not set any travel restrictions to China. World Health Organisation has issued instruction precautionary measures for travellers hereopens in a new window, stressing the importance of usual precautions, including frequent hand-washing.
You can check your passenger rights hereopens PDF document.
No changes to Finnair flights to and from China due to coronavirus cases
We are following the situation related to the coronavirus cases in China closely and will update any new information on this page. We continue normal operations to and from China. Changes to your reservation are possible according to the standard fare rules of the ticket type you’ve purchased.European authorities have not set any travel restrictions to China. World Health Organisation has issued instruction precautionary measures for travellers hereopens in a new window, stressing the importance of usual precautions, including frequent hand-washing.
You can check your passenger rights hereopens PDF document.
Jan 24, 2020, 2:41 pm
#9
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That is the official stance today, yes.
Chinese carriers started acting yesterday.
Chinese carriers started acting yesterday.
Dear Passenger:
In order to carry out the joint prevention and control of the 2019-nCoV epidemic and implement the requirements established by Civil Aviation Administration of China, passengers who have booked tickets for flights operated by Air China and CA-coded flights operated by Air China with a ticket number beginning with 999, including mileage award tickets, can voluntarily refund their tickets from 0:00 am on January 24, 2020, and Air China and all of its ticket sales agencies should not charge refund fee.
Air China 24-hour service hotline: +86-10-95583
In order to carry out the joint prevention and control of the 2019-nCoV epidemic and implement the requirements established by Civil Aviation Administration of China, passengers who have booked tickets for flights operated by Air China and CA-coded flights operated by Air China with a ticket number beginning with 999, including mileage award tickets, can voluntarily refund their tickets from 0:00 am on January 24, 2020, and Air China and all of its ticket sales agencies should not charge refund fee.
Air China 24-hour service hotline: +86-10-95583
In order to support the joint prevention and control of pneumonia
caused by 2019-nCoV, special treatment of relevant air tickets of
Xiamen Airlines (hereinafter referred to as MF) are supplemented as
follows:
I. Eligible Tickets and Flights
Xiamen Airlines (731)-validated tickets issued before 24th Jan, 2020
(exclusive), with travel date after 24th Jan, 2020 (inclusive), involving
MF-operated flights and MF-coded, other carriers-operated flights.
II. Exemption Policy
All tickets that match the eligibility hereof can be issued full refund
within the ticket validity.Xiamen Airlines 23rd Jan, 2020
caused by 2019-nCoV, special treatment of relevant air tickets of
Xiamen Airlines (hereinafter referred to as MF) are supplemented as
follows:
I. Eligible Tickets and Flights
Xiamen Airlines (731)-validated tickets issued before 24th Jan, 2020
(exclusive), with travel date after 24th Jan, 2020 (inclusive), involving
MF-operated flights and MF-coded, other carriers-operated flights.
II. Exemption Policy
All tickets that match the eligibility hereof can be issued full refund
within the ticket validity.Xiamen Airlines 23rd Jan, 2020
Jan 25, 2020, 9:04 am
#11
Join Date: Nov 2019
Posts: 10
Finnair has now issued a waiver: Due to the corona virus cases in China, we have made changes to our cancellation and change policies for our flights to and from China during 25 January to 23 February 2020. We continue normal operations to and from China, but if you have a Finnair ticket issued before 25 January 2020 to or from China for travel between 25 January and 23 February, 2020 you can, if you so wish:
- postpone your travel until 31 May 2020 or
- cancel the booking and apply for a refund in Manage booking
Jan 25, 2020, 12:14 pm
#12
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Interesting...
I wonder why they waited until new year had begun before announcing.
The announcement is not very clear when it comes to refunds. Are they just voiding the "non-refundable" and "non-changeable" rules or are they also voiding fees? Refund fee is pretty hefty on the flexible tickets.
I wonder why they waited until new year had begun before announcing.
The announcement is not very clear when it comes to refunds. Are they just voiding the "non-refundable" and "non-changeable" rules or are they also voiding fees? Refund fee is pretty hefty on the flexible tickets.
Jan 25, 2020, 8:06 pm
#13
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Interesting...
I wonder why they waited until new year had begun before announcing.
The announcement is not very clear when it comes to refunds. Are they just voiding the "non-refundable" and "non-changeable" rules or are they also voiding fees? Refund fee is pretty hefty on the flexible tickets.
I wonder why they waited until new year had begun before announcing.
The announcement is not very clear when it comes to refunds. Are they just voiding the "non-refundable" and "non-changeable" rules or are they also voiding fees? Refund fee is pretty hefty on the flexible tickets.
I doubt Finnair wants press coverage saying it’s charging pretty heavy refund fees to those who want out of China-related travel under this kind of apparent public health emergency. And so I go in assuming there is not a big AY refund fee for those who avail themselves to thIs AY travel waiver policy.
Jan 26, 2020, 12:36 am
#14
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I am merely pointing out that the process suggested for these cancellations are non-promising. The site says nothing and travellers are advised to cancel from MMB and then apply for refund through a form. So these cancellations will end up in the same exact flow of every other cancellation. So at back end someone needs to handle these as exceptions twice - first for refunding despite fare rules and then for cancelling the standard/automatic refund fee.
Not sure there would even be a public backlash. If someone went from non-refundable ie losing say 700€ to getting 650€ back, maybe they won't make a fuzz about the last 50 lost
Not sure there would even be a public backlash. If someone went from non-refundable ie losing say 700€ to getting 650€ back, maybe they won't make a fuzz about the last 50 lost
Last edited by intuition; Jan 26, 2020 at 12:45 am
Jan 26, 2020, 6:13 pm
#15
Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 938
Just got off AY101 to HKG. Four pax in C and maybe some 50 pax in Y. The purser said the flight to PEK had even less pax. The inbound flights might obviously have higher loads. This is the middle of CNY holidays but it does appear the virus outbreak is hitting AY hard. My guess is they will announce cutbacks in flights to China in the coming days.
The cabin crew were all wearing protective face masks, felt like I was in a hospital
The cabin crew were all wearing protective face masks, felt like I was in a hospital