Help with cancelled flight and fees
Jun 3, 2020 | 4:35 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2020
Posts: 1
Help with cancelled flight and fees
Hi,
I booked return flight from Melbourne to Tahiti via New Zealand through Air Tahiti Nui for July. I booked before COVID.
Now Air Tahiti Nui allow free changes to flights before June 30, then they say from July 1 they are returning to normal. BUT Australia still has a ban on international travel (and so does the rest of South Pacific as far as I know). They have contacted me to say that half my flights have been cancelled (from Melbourne to New Zealand) and that they can change my onto another flight on the same day with another airline to still make the connecting flight New Zealand to Tahiti. When I asked if I could change the flights to another date they said I would have to pay a fee.
I dont think this is reasonable, but what can I do ?
I booked return flight from Melbourne to Tahiti via New Zealand through Air Tahiti Nui for July. I booked before COVID.
Now Air Tahiti Nui allow free changes to flights before June 30, then they say from July 1 they are returning to normal. BUT Australia still has a ban on international travel (and so does the rest of South Pacific as far as I know). They have contacted me to say that half my flights have been cancelled (from Melbourne to New Zealand) and that they can change my onto another flight on the same day with another airline to still make the connecting flight New Zealand to Tahiti. When I asked if I could change the flights to another date they said I would have to pay a fee.
I dont think this is reasonable, but what can I do ?
Jun 3, 2020 | 11:02 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 22,948
Rachz Welcome to FT
Unfortunately it is always the passengers responsibility to ensure they have the correct visa/passport/government approval to travel.
If the airline/airlines are flying, then it is not the airlines problem/cost you cannot fly for some reason.
As TN did not fly MEL-AKL what airline was that flight? Qantas or Air NZ?
Very few airlines are currently flying AU<---->NZ
A passenger request to change to another day would normally be at the passenger cost, if another a flight was available/offered on the scheduled day. How realistic that offer is a matter of opinion.
If flights are cancelled you may/should be entitled to a full cash refund. But all airlines are limiting cash refunds or/and making it very hard to impossible. Which may/may not be legal or in compliance with their t&c's
I would await until closer to the end the month so see if the current TN waiver gets extended or they do indeed start flying AKL-PPT from July 1 (doubtful in my opinion).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Tahiti_Nui
Another TN PPR thread----> Transit Questions under Covid restrictions, AKL, PPT
I booked return flight from Melbourne to Tahiti via New Zealand through Air Tahiti Nui for July. I booked before COVID.
Now Air Tahiti Nui allow free changes to flights before June 30, then they say from July 1 they are returning to normal. BUT Australia still has a ban on international travel (and so does the rest of South Pacific as far as I know). They have contacted me to say that half my flights have been cancelled (from Melbourne to New Zealand) and that they can change my onto another flight on the same day with another airline to still make the connecting flight New Zealand to Tahiti. When I asked if I could change the flights to another date they said I would have to pay a fee.
I don’t think this is reasonable, but what can I do ?
Now Air Tahiti Nui allow free changes to flights before June 30, then they say from July 1 they are returning to normal. BUT Australia still has a ban on international travel (and so does the rest of South Pacific as far as I know). They have contacted me to say that half my flights have been cancelled (from Melbourne to New Zealand) and that they can change my onto another flight on the same day with another airline to still make the connecting flight New Zealand to Tahiti. When I asked if I could change the flights to another date they said I would have to pay a fee.
I don’t think this is reasonable, but what can I do ?
If the airline/airlines are flying, then it is not the airlines problem/cost you cannot fly for some reason.
As TN did not fly MEL-AKL what airline was that flight? Qantas or Air NZ?
Very few airlines are currently flying AU<---->NZ
A passenger request to change to another day would normally be at the passenger cost, if another a flight was available/offered on the scheduled day. How realistic that offer is a matter of opinion.
If flights are cancelled you may/should be entitled to a full cash refund. But all airlines are limiting cash refunds or/and making it very hard to impossible. Which may/may not be legal or in compliance with their t&c's
I would await until closer to the end the month so see if the current TN waiver gets extended or they do indeed start flying AKL-PPT from July 1 (doubtful in my opinion).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Tahiti_Nui
Another TN PPR thread----> Transit Questions under Covid restrictions, AKL, PPT
Jun 13, 2020 | 9:57 am
#4
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Waiting might not work for the OP is there's a deadline for cancelling hotel reservations.
Jun 17, 2020 | 4:02 am
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Netherlands
Programs: KL Platinum; LH Senator; A3 Silver
Posts: 30,649
Why not ask for a refund, based on the fact that they cancelled?
Given that you appear happy to travel at some future date, why not indicate you would accept a refund in the form of a voucher that you can use to book a new ticket with the same airline at dates of your own choosing when things have settled down?
Given that you appear happy to travel at some future date, why not indicate you would accept a refund in the form of a voucher that you can use to book a new ticket with the same airline at dates of your own choosing when things have settled down?