Covid19: Swiss refunds after cancellation
#753
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: The sky is my home
Programs: Concorde Mach 2 -UAMM- First to Fly A380/B787/B747-8i/FlyingHonu
Posts: 3,029
Hello, I bought flights to Moscow in May for travel in mid-July. It so happened that the sanitary situation in Moscow has worsened and all visas are suspended. I will not be able to travel at planned dates because of visa suspensions.
I don't want to refund. I want to change my flights to a later date.
I have tried and tried and tried calling Swiss on every contact phone number I could find. Basel, Geneva, France, U.S., U.K.... to no avail. The lines are always busy and I am always put on hold until forever.
There is a Facebook page but I will not give my info on Facebook. It's a public platform and I don't trust it...
Can anyone provide help with a phone number that will work or an agent to contact?
I would be very grateful for any help or ideas/suggestions. Thank you very much in advance.
I don't want to refund. I want to change my flights to a later date.
I have tried and tried and tried calling Swiss on every contact phone number I could find. Basel, Geneva, France, U.S., U.K.... to no avail. The lines are always busy and I am always put on hold until forever.
There is a Facebook page but I will not give my info on Facebook. It's a public platform and I don't trust it...
Can anyone provide help with a phone number that will work or an agent to contact?
I would be very grateful for any help or ideas/suggestions. Thank you very much in advance.
#754
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: LHR
Programs: Accor PLT,Thai Silver, HH Dia, SPG Titanium (LT Gold), Aegean Gold, BA Silver
Posts: 5,120
I have always got through without a problem on the UK 03456010956 number. Last time I was in the same situation as yourself I pirvate messaged Swiss on Twitter to move my flight
#755
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: The sky is my home
Programs: Concorde Mach 2 -UAMM- First to Fly A380/B787/B747-8i/FlyingHonu
Posts: 3,029
I explained I had to change the dates as Russia had closed its borders because of the pandemic and the high virus infections.
I tried to change the dates to August for another similar trade show. They said I had to add over $300 for date changes which I think is way too much (I turned it down) and then again the same situation might still happen in August because of the high rate of virus infections in Russia.
The woman said my ticket will not be refunded only the taxes. They said the fare I purchased was a promotional fare so only taxes will be refunded. I find it strange because Swiss had moved my flights a few times since i bought the original ticket. They had rebooked me on the return flights with Brussels Airlines at no extra cost as the Swiss flights were cancelled.
All this because of the pandemic and visa suspension, it is not of my own will. I would have preferred going to Moscow for the trade show in July. I thought the pandemic was a force majeure in such case.
I shall now pm them by Twitter and explain my case see what they say.
Thank you again for your help.
#756
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: The sky is my home
Programs: Concorde Mach 2 -UAMM- First to Fly A380/B787/B747-8i/FlyingHonu
Posts: 3,029
I got through immediately with a French speaking agent. I explained her the situation in Mosow, the pandemic and all the rest. This one was very intelligent and responsive.
I said rebooking for another date was a gamble because of the virus and I wanted a refund. She said a full refund was possible as Swiss had moved my flights around a couple of times. A full refund is now processed. I will just have to wait.
Always need to insist and try every possible way to get the job done. It works.
#757
Join Date: May 2018
Location: FRA
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 1,506
Immigration problems are the responsibility of the passenger.
When they changed your flights you could have asked for a refund but once you accept rebooking you lose that right.
But as you demonstrated, it never hurts to ask and it never hurts to HUCA...
#758
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: ZRH / YUL
Programs: UA, TK, Starwood > Marriott, Hilton, Accor
Posts: 7,295
She said a full refund was possible as Swiss had moved my flights around a couple of times.
#759
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: The sky is my home
Programs: Concorde Mach 2 -UAMM- First to Fly A380/B787/B747-8i/FlyingHonu
Posts: 3,029
According to the OP:
So it sounds like the OP got lucky: LX had significantly changed the flight dates / times, in which case a full refund is possible. Otherwise, as supine correctly states, no refund is due just because the passenger no longer can, or wants to, travel. Fortunately, most airlines, LX included, offer at least 1 free change for any reason to encourage people to book at all in these uncertain times.
So it sounds like the OP got lucky: LX had significantly changed the flight dates / times, in which case a full refund is possible. Otherwise, as supine correctly states, no refund is due just because the passenger no longer can, or wants to, travel. Fortunately, most airlines, LX included, offer at least 1 free change for any reason to encourage people to book at all in these uncertain times.
I had another GVA-NCE cancelled flight fully refunded. That one took longer. Full amount also refunded same way.
No wonder I like Swiss.
#760
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: BRU
Posts: 310
A flight scheduled in september was cancelled in May and money just asked my card, for a LHR-NRT.
I had better luck with refunds from LH and SN even though I got lucky with the FX evolution to smoothen a bit the wait
I had better luck with refunds from LH and SN even though I got lucky with the FX evolution to smoothen a bit the wait