Emirates Airline wont cancel flights to infected areas on lockdown.

urbanmac

Emirates call back now upto 40 hours!
Recorded it for posterity
https://clyp.it/ar04vx0h

dazzahall

urbanmac said:

Absolutely feel your frustration.

Thanks bud.

dazzahall

peachyprice said:

 But Emirates will cancel the flights, sounds like your travel agent is being less than honest with you. 

Flights are still active on their site as of 0825am 17/03
How can an airline not cancel flights to locations that will not accept the passengers?!?!

The Travel agent is acting to protect their business, this I understand...

Good news though, went through insurance (Barclay Card) and they will pay out.
Thank you for all who commented.

@URBANMAC if I come across anything that may help you in your situation I will let you know.

urbanmac

dazzahall said:

peachyprice said:

 But Emirates will cancel the flights, sounds like your travel agent is being less than honest with you. 

Flights are still active on their site as of 0825am 17/03
How can an airline not cancel flights to locations that will not accept the passengers?!?!

The Travel agent is acting to protect their business, this I understand...

Good news though, went through insurance (Barclay Card) and they will pay out.
Thank you for all who commented.

@URBANMAC if I come across anything that may help you in your situation I will let you know.

That is good news, well done.

Emirates are still flying! Their planes must be empty. I did manage to contact them and best they are offering at the moment is a voucher, now that is fine if they don't go bust, happy to push everything back 1 year but as yet there are no flights schedule for April 2021 and won't be released until June, so its a gamble we take the voucher and book ASAP when flights released and in the mean time hope they survive as a business.

Flights were book on Amex Platinum cash back credit card, no cover from them.
Travel insurance has an epidemic clause, so they are refusing cover.
Destination accommodation was a motorhome, they are currently sticking to their standard T&C's, if we cancel now we loose 50% if we cancel within 7 days of pickup we loose 100%.
We have until Monday to make that call.

FCO still not stated Australia/NewZealand as no go countries but if you do 14 days isolation so no point for us.
NZ have started arresting tourists and deporting if they break isolation.

MrsMopp

We are in a similar situation.  We have flights booked for Australia on 28th March.  FCO have advised a worldwide ban on travel.
I understand that Australia is closing its borders to all but Australian citizens from tomorrow.   Our insurance company won't cover as they have a pandemic clause .We have tried phoning Emirates numerous times but like everyone else we can't get through to customer services.  If we try to cancel online, we are told we will only get £342 back on our £1600 flights because they deduct taxes and charges.   This is absolutely scandalous.   Any advice welcome.

Aylesbury_Duck

MrsMopp said:

We are in a similar situation.  We have flights booked for Australia on 28th March.  FCO have advised a worldwide ban on travel.
I understand that Australia is closing its borders to all but Australian citizens from tomorrow.   Our insurance company won't cover as they have a pandemic clause .We have tried phoning Emirates numerous times but like everyone else we can't get through to customer services.  If we try to cancel online, we are told we will only get £342 back on our £1600 flights because they deduct taxes and charges.   This is absolutely scandalous.   Any advice welcome.

Doesn't sound like you have any choice but to keep trying and if it gets to the day before with no success, cancel online. 

Westin

@MrsMopp:  As someone that also couldn't fly to Australia this week, I can empathise. That said here are the home truths - (a) You clearly can't go (b) Emirates, like every travel business and airline at the moment will be under massive pressure to deal with trying to get displaced people back to home countries plus people with upcoming travel. They will be overwhelmed and prioritising actions. (c) Stop calling them - allow those due to travel in the next 72hrs a chance to reach them (d) it is not scandalous - it is an unprecedented situation that no business could plan for and they are coping as best they can.    

"Any advice welcome".   (1) dismantle what travel plans you can do, try to minimise any losses (2) leave contacting EK for a few days. Let them focus on the urgent (yes, I know you are going 28 March, others will be going sooner, or trying to), (3) keep an eye on their website for policy information and instructions on what to do. (4) do not press any buttons on the EK website with the word "Cancel" unless you are absolutely sure what you are doing and what the consequences are. (5) read your travel insurance documents to see if you are covered, if so, contact them for a claims form (6) read the MSE guide and check back for updates on it. - finally, keep washing your hands.

Westin

urbanmac said:

dazzahall said:

peachyprice said:

 But Emirates will cancel the flights, sounds like your travel agent is being less than honest with you. 

Flights are still active on their site as of 0825am 17/03
How can an airline not cancel flights to locations that will not accept the passengers?!?!

The Travel agent is acting to protect their business, this I understand...

Good news though, went through insurance (Barclay Card) and they will pay out.
Thank you for all who commented.

@URBANMAC if I come across anything that may help you in your situation I will let you know.

That is good news, well done.

Emirates are still flying! Their planes must be empty. I did manage to contact them and best they are offering at the moment is a voucher, now that is fine if they don't go bust, happy to push everything back 1 year but as yet there are no flights schedule for April 2021 and won't be released until June, so its a gamble we take the voucher and book ASAP when flights released and in the mean time hope they survive as a business.

Flights were book on Amex Platinum cash back credit card, no cover from them.

Yesterday's EK flights ex Gatwick were crammed.  Lots of Indian nationals apparently trying to get home before border closures.