Entry Restrictions in Response to Coronavirus

AKG23

Hello,

Does anyone have any experience in receiving a refund/voucher/date change where the destination country have changed their entry requirements such that you can no longer enter the country?  I was due to travel to Indonesia in September but currently all foreign nationals are banned (bar a few exceptions e.g. working visas).  My flights haven't been cancelled but obviously if I can't legally enter the country I don't have much use for the flights!  Trying to get any advice from the travel agent is like getting blood from a stone so it would be greatly appreciated if anyone can offer any input on what the best course of action might be.  I have annual travel insurance running until the end of October and the flights were booked in February.

Thanks!

Voyager2002

There is a thread on the Travel board with the subject Flight to Australia about someone facing the same problem.

There is no easy solution, but it is probable that your travel insurance could help. Also consider whether you would be happy to move your holiday to some point in the future.

Thrugelmir

September is a few weeks away yet. No doubt the agent will deal with the matter in due course. 

silvercar

It would be helpful to know which airline, whether you have booked a package holiday etc.
You may have to wait, if the restrictions are not lifted there is more chance of the flight being cancelled.

AKG23

Thanks for all your responses.  It was just the flights we booked online through a travel agent following a Jack's Flight Club email and the airlines are Swiss International Air Lines, Singapore Airlines and Jetstar Asia Airways.  It's three legs each way (Heathrow-Zurich, Zurich-Singapore, Singapore-Bali) so I'm hopefully that if just one of the 6 legs is cancelled that we'll be able to get a refund.  I've been trying to drag advice out of the travel agent but it's honestly like they have never heard of Covid-19, I'd even be happy with changing the dates as a compromise but they just aren't giving us any options, I keep having to make suggestions which get a non-committal response. 

I will update the post if I receive any help from them in case in can help anyone else in a similar position.

silvercar

AKG23 said:

Thanks for all your responses.  It was just the flights we booked online through a travel agent following a Jack's Flight Club email and the airlines are Swiss International Air Lines, Singapore Airlines and Jetstar Asia Airways.  It's three legs each way (Heathrow-Zurich, Zurich-Singapore, Singapore-Bali) so I'm hopefully that if just one of the 6 legs is cancelled that we'll be able to get a refund.  I've been trying to drag advice out of the travel agent but it's honestly like they have never heard of Covid-19, I'd even be happy with changing the dates as a compromise but they just aren't giving us any options, I keep having to make suggestions which get a non-committal response. 

I will update the post if I receive any help from them in case in can help anyone else in a similar position.

I hope it was booked as one ticket! If it was, then cancelling (and not offering you anything that gets you to the destination within 3 hours of original time) triggers a refund entitlement for the lot.
Not being allowed in is not the airline's problem, other than it makes it more likely a flight will be cancelled. Though if Brits can go to Switzerland and the Swiss can go to Singapore, that may not be the case.
Whoever you booked the ticket with is responsible for the refund. I suspect you had a very good deal, if it was off Jack's flights, in which case the travel agent is unlikely to be able to rebook for a later date without extra cost, unless all 3 airlines are very accommodating.
It may be that you need to wait until nearer the time to find out if the flights are cancelled.
Try your travel insurance but they may tell you to wait until either the restrictions are lifted or the flights may be cancelled. Many insurers say to wait until a month before.

Thrugelmir

Scheduled airlines carry cargo too. Even if passenger numbers are limited. 

AKG23

silvercar said:

I hope it was booked as one ticket! If it was, then cancelling (and not offering you anything that gets you to the destination within 3 hours of original time) triggers a refund entitlement for the lot.
Not being allowed in is not the airline's problem, other than it makes it more likely a flight will be cancelled. Though if Brits can go to Switzerland and the Swiss can go to Singapore, that may not be the case.
Whoever you booked the ticket with is responsible for the refund. I suspect you had a very good deal, if it was off Jack's flights, in which case the travel agent is unlikely to be able to rebook for a later date without extra cost, unless all 3 airlines are very accommodating.
It may be that you need to wait until nearer the time to find out if the flights are cancelled.
Try your travel insurance but they may tell you to wait until either the restrictions are lifted or the flights may be cancelled. Many insurers say to wait until a month before.

Thanks, silvercar.  Yes it was booked as one ticket so I'm hopeful if the Zurich-Singapore or Singapore-Bali leg is cancelled I could get the full refund but as you say there could be Indonesian nationals on the Singapore-Bali flight as well as others who meet the entry requirements so I doubt a couple of Brits are going to make the difference!  And I did get a bargain from Jack's Flight Club, this'll teach me for not going for a package holiday as usual!

AKG23

Good news - just had an email last night that the flight has been cancelled by the airlines! I’ve been offered a date change, voucher valid for 12 months or refund as per the far rules.  As far as I understand I would be due a full refund from the agent so will get this confirmed.

silvercar

AKG23 said:

Good news - just had an email last night that the flight has been cancelled by the airlines! I’ve been offered a date change, voucher valid for 12 months or refund as per the far rules.  As far as I understand I would be due a full refund from the agent so will get this confirmed.

Great news. You are entitled to a refund, though I would check the terms of the voucher, if it valid for the same route at a later date it may be worth accepting. If it’s just worth the £££ value of your ticket then get the cash.
would also be considerate to email jack’s flight with feedback either way.