Voucher expiring but fares 50% higher
Mar 2, 2021, 1:49 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 257
Voucher expiring but fares 50% higher
Like many I had to cancel my QR trip in March 2020 due to suddenly imposed travel restrictions. As the voucher is going to expire in a couple of weeks I have been checking to book new flights but on QR.com fares are at least 50% higher than last year.
Does anyone have experience with this?
Is it worth calling QR? Might they have other fares that are not published on the website?
Would such a case qualify for a refund of the original ticket value?
Thanks.
Does anyone have experience with this?
Is it worth calling QR? Might they have other fares that are not published on the website?
Would such a case qualify for a refund of the original ticket value?
Thanks.
Mar 3, 2021, 1:46 am
#3
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Kent, UK
Programs: BA Gold; Virgin FF; United Airlines; American Airlines; and was frequent c/c churner - RIP!
Posts: 944
That's encouraging to know that a voucher can be refunded as, I too, am worried that with existing travel restrictions and uncertainty regarding future travel arrangements I might not be able to book a flight using the voucher before its expiry date or that the prices have risen beyond reasonable. The loss of the 10% value enhancement is a small price to pay for getting the cash back.
Is there any indication that the expiry date for vouchers may be extended beyond the original two-year period?
Is there any indication that the expiry date for vouchers may be extended beyond the original two-year period?
Mar 3, 2021, 2:46 am
#4
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Hertfordshire, UK
Programs: SQ,CX,LX
Posts: 343
This is what I had to do too. My flights from AKL-LHR were cancelled a couple of times (April-June 2020 period). First flight cancelled so given vouchers which were used to book second flight which was also cancelled, I requested a refund but they said that seeing as the flights were purchased using vouchers they could only refund to vouchers! It took 9 months of back and forth calls and messages but I did eventually get a cash refund that worked out quite well because the original flight was booked in $NZ using a UK credit card so the cost to me was in UK£ and because of currency movements NZ$-£ I eventually got more £ back after the refund in $NZ - hope that makes sense!!
Mar 4, 2021, 5:00 am
#5
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Kent, UK
Programs: BA Gold; Virgin FF; United Airlines; American Airlines; and was frequent c/c churner - RIP!
Posts: 944
Your experience sounds as if it took a lot of time/effort to get the cash refund. My worry is that I might run out of time to use the voucher to find somewhere that I want to go that is not made difficult by the UK government's restrictions and those of the various destinations despite QR flying there. I recognise that it is not QR's problem.
Mar 4, 2021, 11:45 am
#6
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Hertfordshire, UK
Programs: SQ,CX,LX
Posts: 343
Your experience sounds as if it took a lot of time/effort to get the cash refund. My worry is that I might run out of time to use the voucher to find somewhere that I want to go that is not made difficult by the UK government's restrictions and those of the various destinations despite QR flying there. I recognise that it is not QR's problem.
Mar 11, 2021, 5:54 am
#7
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Kent, UK
Programs: BA Gold; Virgin FF; United Airlines; American Airlines; and was frequent c/c churner - RIP!
Posts: 944
Mar 11, 2021, 7:08 am
#8
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: HKG, BHX, MAN
Programs: Qatar Gold (OWS), Asiana Diamond (*G)
Posts: 1,493
Mar 18, 2021, 7:32 pm
#9
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: MEL
Programs: DL, QF, QR Gold, MR Lifetime Gold
Posts: 7,003
It's worth noting that Covid happened, many travel plans had to be cancelled, but we got a refund. Ideally, that refund should cover the cost of a similar trip, but I don't think it's a reasonable expectation. I had booked a flight when it was on sale and got a good deal, then had to cancel... I knew I wasn't going to get the same deal again, but was thankful to get a refund (VS just losing the money altogether.) Things change...