Cancelling Flight to New Zealand
Mar 14, 2020, 5:04 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 236
Cancelling Flight to New Zealand
I have an upcoming flight to NZ from Australia on Virgin Australia. Following the NZ PM's announcement of a mandatory 14 day quarantine for all travelers upon arrival, has anyone had luck canceling their flights and receiving a refund? I've been on hold with customer service for hours and can't get through.
Mar 14, 2020, 5:08 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 20,992
I have an upcoming flight to NZ from Australia on Virgin Australia. Following the NZ PM's announcement of a mandatory 14 day quarantine for all travelers upon arrival, has anyone had luck canceling their flights and receiving a refund? I've been on hold with customer service for hours and can't get through.
When did you book the ticket and when is travel?
Would expect NZ<---->Aust flights to be cancelled/changed in the coming days/week on all airlines. Demand will drop a lot. If rescheduled you should/may be able to get a full cash refund
Mar 14, 2020, 8:41 pm
#3
Join Date: Feb 2007
Programs: NZ Koru
Posts: 6,411
VA is allow refunds on all New Zealand flights before 29 March, and 12month credit on all flights before 30 June that involve New Zealand.
Ive got an Bali trip in April that is now pretty much an no go, just it’s near impossible to get hold of VA currently (or any airline on the Tasman).
Really hoping they just put up an online form this week on there website to request the travel credit rather than having to call.
Ive got an Bali trip in April that is now pretty much an no go, just it’s near impossible to get hold of VA currently (or any airline on the Tasman).
Really hoping they just put up an online form this week on there website to request the travel credit rather than having to call.
Mar 14, 2020, 10:34 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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@rjs11
https://www.virginaustralia.com/au/e...travel-alerts/
https://www.virginaustralia.com/au/e...travel-alerts/
New Zealand travel restrictionsWe are aware of new travel restrictions announced by the New Zealand Government.
Currently, we plan to operate all Virgin Australia flights to and from New Zealand until 22 March 2020 and expect to then reduce services.
We understand these restrictions may affect guests’ travel plans. Virgin Australia guests with bookings to New Zealand from now until 30 June 2020, who no longer want to travel, have the option to change their flight to a later date and/or to a different destination, without incurring a change fee. They are also eligible to receive credit to a Travel Bank with no cancellation fee.
Currently, we plan to operate all Virgin Australia flights to and from New Zealand until 22 March 2020 and expect to then reduce services.
We understand these restrictions may affect guests’ travel plans. Virgin Australia guests with bookings to New Zealand from now until 30 June 2020, who no longer want to travel, have the option to change their flight to a later date and/or to a different destination, without incurring a change fee. They are also eligible to receive credit to a Travel Bank with no cancellation fee.
Flexibility for Domestic and International BookingsVirgin Australia guests with new or existing bookings for travel between 15 March through to 30 June 2020 have the option to change their flight to a later date and/or to a different destination, without incurring a change fee.
Please note:
Please note:
- Guests will still be required to pay any fare difference or applicable taxes should the same booking class/fare not be available on the date they wish to rebook.
- Maximum two changes per international booking.
- Maximum one change per domestic booking.
Mar 15, 2020, 12:43 am
#6
Join Date: Sep 2005
Programs: Lifetime *G (MP), Lifetime PE (Bonvoy)
Posts: 1,465
That raises an interesting question. If I have to cancel travel paid for by credit card because of the virus and the ticket was on a non-refundable basis, will the credit card process a credit on that basis?
Mar 15, 2020, 2:56 am
#7
Join Date: May 2006
Location: GA
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A credit card will process whatever the merchant pushes to it. Your bank doesn't know or care about fare rules.
Mar 15, 2020, 4:24 pm
#8
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: AKL
Programs: NZ Silver
Posts: 1,816
I have a DUD-BNE-MEL booking for this Wednesday that is now not going to be utilised....is the only option to provide a date for a new flight? I'd much rather a travel credit/refund....it sounds like it would take up a lot of call centre time to try work out a new itinary for everyone?
Mar 15, 2020, 10:27 pm
#10
Join Date: May 2006
Location: GA
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That would be a serious outflow of cash, why would they do that? They are probably barely staying above water as it is. Some people really do need to travel.
Mar 16, 2020, 2:29 am
#11
Join Date: May 2011
Programs: Delta Diamond; Marriott Gold Elite
Posts: 170
I had a trip departing tomorrow AM to cancel for work. We do not use Concur but book individually.
I was advised by company email this morning that I would have to call Virgin myself because they couldn't cancel it on my behalf. I called the number and I got a message saying they were not receiving calls. NBD so went on-line to cancel. I had to jump through the hoops with that Travel Bank nonsense that they use to make it unnecessarily complicated. Anyway when all is said and done it still applied a cancellation fee.
I'll get it settled after all of this dies down but was somewhat annoyed that the cancellation fee was taken out. Seeking a refund wasn't worth it because I will definitely use the travel bank, most likely sooner than later.
I was advised by company email this morning that I would have to call Virgin myself because they couldn't cancel it on my behalf. I called the number and I got a message saying they were not receiving calls. NBD so went on-line to cancel. I had to jump through the hoops with that Travel Bank nonsense that they use to make it unnecessarily complicated. Anyway when all is said and done it still applied a cancellation fee.
I'll get it settled after all of this dies down but was somewhat annoyed that the cancellation fee was taken out. Seeking a refund wasn't worth it because I will definitely use the travel bank, most likely sooner than later.
Mar 16, 2020, 3:47 pm
#12
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: AKL
Programs: NZ Silver
Posts: 1,816
I have a DUD-BNE-MEL booking for this Wednesday that is now not going to be utilised....is the only option to provide a date for a new flight? I'd much rather a travel credit/refund....it sounds like it would take up a lot of call centre time to try work out a new itinary for everyone?
Mar 17, 2020, 12:35 am
#13
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Posts: 4,844
Mar 17, 2020, 11:03 am
#14
Join Date: Aug 2009
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