My daughter in New Zealand caught by Emirates flights suspension - help on her options

Marty4Marks

My daughter has been travelling in New Zealand (been there for 3 weeks) and had a flight booked tomorrow (Tuesday) to return to London from Auckland via Dubai. She has just been told that her flight has been cancelled, I assume because the second leg flew out of Dubai to London after their shutdown of passenger flights. What her rights in terms of getting Emirates to provide alternative travel arrangements or a refund? I think that she has a non-refundable ticket and Emirates are offering a refund of taxes or a voucher if you give up any other claim. But am I right that EU legislation gives her right to a full cash refund?
What are her options for getting home? Singapore Airlines seem to have closed down all their flights via Singapore and Air New Zealand use them for part of their London flight. I find it difficult to find out any information on the status of US travel ban on UK citizens as there seem to be flights via LAX still running. If she applied for an ESTA would it be refused as she is a UK citizen and would this stop her from applying in future if one was refused?
Sorry for the multi-part question but want to get her home as soon as possible and also protect her rights with Emirates / try and get them to sort out the problem they've created as flights are not banned at the moment.
Many thanks for your help - Martin    

Caz3121

Marty4Marks said:

 But am I right that EU legislation gives her right to a full cash refund?
What are her options for getting home? Singapore Airlines seem to have closed down all their flights via Singapore and Air New Zealand use them for part of their London flight. I find it difficult to find out any information on the status of US travel ban on UK citizens as there seem to be flights via LAX still running. If she applied for an ESTA would it be refused as she is a UK citizen and would this stop her from applying in future if one was refused?

EU legislation does not apply to a non-EU carrier with the exception on journeys commencing in the EU
country information from IATA https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/international-travel-document-news/1580226297.htm
I doubt there will be any ESTAs issued, there have been reports of ESTAs being cancelled (and they can take 72 hours +)
I would concentrate in seeing if you can get her home anyway you can (options will be reducing by the hour) and hope she has a good travel insurance policy that will cover the additional costs
Worry about any Emirates refund/voucher etc when home. This was forced on them my the United Arab Emirates closing the airport for two weeks  https://www.660citynews.com/2020/03/22/uae-to-suspend-transit-flights-saudi-arabia-imposes-curfew/

Westin

Wow. This is a tough one.  I feel for you, your daughter and your shared situation.

Caz3121 has covered well.  I fear by Wednesday most aircraft will be on the ground.  The limited options for such a journey from New Zealand were already closing down by /Thursday/Friday last week. Its got worse since then.  EK had been one of the last a few carrier options for many worldwide travel.  If you can find other flight options at this late stage, plan to open your wallet.  I am afraid the time to seek airlines to fulfil obligations and do the right thing have passed.  Get her home if you can first.

I would also have a Plan B.   Seek contact detail of our British consulate services in NZ and pass these to your daughter.  Also have a possible plan and place of safety for her to stay in NZ.  This might have to be the temporary solution.

I wish you both well.

Browntoa

New Zealand is now on lockdown , contact the British consulate but she may not be able to leave.

Marty4Marks

Thank you all very much for your advice. Further research shows that Australia banning all transit tomorrow which removes another set of possibilities. Thank you for suggestion of contacting consulate and I've passed this on to her. I'm sure there must be a lot of people in similar situations - the speed with which things have changed is remarkable. She has got contacts in New Zealand that she can stay with so she is safe thankfully. Thank you again.  

Nebulous2

I'm in the same position, in that I'm stuck in New Zealand. I wasn't due home for another two weeks yet. Here's a web link to a form to complete to register with the foreign office in New Zealand. I can't currently find any options that don't fly to an airport which has banned transit. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScn2zIYYtqSsRLbJn-Soceh1qF3S2W_6YSBT5RD6ugpjWuVnw/viewform

fifeken

Marty4Marks said:

Thank you all very much for your advice. Further research shows that Australia banning all transit tomorrow which removes another set of possibilities. Thank you for suggestion of contacting consulate and I've passed this on to her. I'm sure there must be a lot of people in similar situations - the speed with which things have changed is remarkable. She has got contacts in New Zealand that she can stay with so she is safe thankfully. Thank you again.  

Transiting through Australia from New Zealand is permitted "with a confirmed onward ticket on the same calendar day to return home" acccording to Timatic so don't rule it out if you see an opportunity.

Caz3121

fifeken said:

Transiting through Australia from New Zealand is permitted "with a confirmed onward ticket on the same calendar day to return home" acccording to Timatic so don't rule it out if you see an opportunity.

not for long though
Temporary exception: Passengers departing from New Zealand with a confirmed onward ticket on the same calendar day to return home are allowed to transit through Australia. They must remain airside and must have not been in China (People's Rep.), Iran, Italy or Korea (Rep.) in the past 14 days. This is valid till 11:59 AEDST 24 March 2020.

bradders1983

Surely your daughter has to shoulder some personal responsibility here. It was bloody obvious this was the way things were going and she comtinued to gallivant around New Zealand.

Did it not occur to her to cut it short?

fifeken

bradders1983 said:

Surely your daughter has to shoulder some personal responsibility here. It was bloody obvious this was the way things were going and she comtinued to gallivant around New Zealand.

Did it not occur to her to cut it short?

I tend to agree.  I was due to fly to the Far East (Malaysia) last week and made alternative arrangements while I still could.

Westin

@Marty4Marks:  This is not the magic flying carpet solution (sorry) but I have just stumbled across this information from ABTA.  It seems they are trying to gather data on Britain's abroad so they can apply pressure on Government for support and help for nationals stuck overseas.   

ABTA are asking travel trade members to send - 
Details need to include country name, departure airport, number of passengers and issues encountered, for example: 'New ZealandAKL15NZ flights from 28/3 cancelled with no alternative offered' or 'AustraliaSYD10SQ flight on 27/3 was scheduled to transit via SIN, which is now not permitted.  No alternative available'.

Whilst you are not "the trade" I cannot see what harm it would do to send the requested concise information.  It is not the offer or solution of a flight home but it might be just another action you can take to help in someway.

ABTA have also stated to travel agents - "Please be aware that we have no indication that the UK government is intending to arrange repatriation rescue flights, so it is critical that you continue your efforts to make alternative arrangements for your customers."