Airlines have confirmed that they are given facilities and flexibility when changing reservations

People with Coronavirus are demanding cash refunds for tickets, without conditions

The facilities include keeping the ticket and traveling later at a date determined by the traveler with the ability to change the destination.

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Passengers reported that they were unable to complete their travel after booking tickets to Arab and international destinations due to positive confirmation of the PCR analysis of the Corona virus, or because the travel time coincided with home quarantine as a result of their infection with the virus, demanding more facilities when changing reservations. In view of the exceptional circumstances imposed by the pandemic, most notably the cancellation of reservation change fees and the full cash refund of the ticket value in the event of unconditional cancellation.

For its part, national and Arab airlines, in response to inquiries by Emirates Today, confirmed that there are facilities and flexibility in dealing with these cases, including keeping the ticket and traveling later on the date specified by the traveler within a period of up to two years, in addition to allowing a change of destination, And cash refund of the ticket value, with the possibility of charging a fee for changing the reservation in specific cases.

Fate of tickets

In detail, Ahmed Salem said that he booked tickets for him and his family to travel to one of the international destinations two months before the date of travel, but he was infected days before travel with the Corona virus, and he is currently spending the home quarantine period, and his family is also in the home quarantine period, and thus they were unable to travel .

Salem asked about the fate of the tickets he had booked, which cost more than 15 thousand dirhams, demanding a full refund of the value of the tickets.

fees

Thana Al-Imam said that she had booked a ticket to travel to one of the Arab countries, but she was surprised, two days before the travel, with the positive analysis of the "Corona" PCR analysis, which prevented her from traveling, explaining that the airline imposed fees on her to change Reservation is 150 dirhams, considering that the cancellation was made 24 hours before travel.

She added that the company informed her that the cancellation should be made at least 96 hours before travel to not impose the fee, noting that there is flexibility, but it is calling for an increase in this flexibility, especially with regard to imposing fees, given the exceptional circumstance and knowledge of her injury a few hours before travel.

Recovery

As for the traveler, Adel Gharib, he stated that he had booked a ticket to travel abroad, but he had contact with one of the injured and the analysis had proven positive for "Covid-19", so he could not travel, so he requested a cash refund of the ticket, pointing out that he is still waiting for the airline's response to the The request does not know whether you will agree or not.

Options

For its part, the "Emirates Airlines" company stated that the travel ticket barriers on its flights and those infected with the Corona virus are covered by the options available to travelers whose travel plans have been affected by the spread of the virus, as they can keep the ticket and travel at any time during the next 24 months, as they can. Request a refund, if they booked a ticket to travel on or before September 30th.

The carrier added that affected passengers can keep their tickets for tickets issued on or before September 30, 2020 for travel on or before September 30, for future use within an additional 24 months from the date of the original reservation, noting that tickets will be accepted for any trip to the same destination or Within the same region and in any class of travel without additional charges during that period.

Change of destination

The company indicated that the same applies to tickets issued on the first of October 2020 or after this date for travel on or before September 30, as travelers can keep the ticket for later use within an additional 24 months from the date of the original reservation, provided that tickets are accepted for any trip to the same destination. Or within the same region and in the same class of travel without additional charges during this period.

She pointed out that the traveler can change his destination, as this applies to tickets issued on or before September 30, 2020 for travel on or before September 30, as well as tickets issued on the first of October 2020 or after this date for travel on or before September 30. .

She said that the price paid to book a flight to the same destination or to a destination within the same region will be accepted in any class of travel without paying any additional fees, noting that if the itinerary on the original ticket does not include Dubai, the flight can be changed and replaced only by an itinerary. A similar excursion does not include Dubai.

Reservation

"Emirates Airlines" confirmed that no amendment fees are imposed upon rebooking during a 24-month period, which provides greater flexibility for planning future trips, pointing out that the traveler can also request a refund if the trip is not canceled, but an amendment fee may be charged. / Or a difference in price if the traveler chooses to change the date of reservation or destination.

She explained that in the event that the flight is changed and the traveler's status does not fall under the requirements of the carrier’s policies diluted due to the Corona pandemic, a change fee and / or price difference may be imposed if the traveler decides to change the reservation or cancel the trip.

Flexible policy

In turn, Etihad Airways confirmed that it is keen to provide a flexible policy to change flight schedules with the possibility of canceling the trip and using the ticket value for upcoming flights, in light of the current circumstances of the Corona pandemic.

A spokesman for the company stated that if it is scheduled to travel at any time before the 30th of next June, Etihad Airways guarantees that the flight will be changed completely free of charge without a price difference if the travel is within the same travel area before June 30th.

Cancellation

The company added that the travel agent should be contacted in the event that a change of flight is made, but if the reservation is made directly with "Etihad Airways", the ticket can be canceled and choose to save it for a later time with the balance of "Etihad", which includes a reward of up to $ 400 and an additional 5,000 miles of miles. Etihad Guest ».

The carrier indicated that the traveler has the right to refund the monetary value of the ticket if he receives a positive result for the examination of "Covid-19", indicating that the result of the examination must be submitted and a request for a refund of the monetary value within a period ranging from 24 to 96 hours before the flight departure time.

User account

In the same context, a spokesperson for the "Air Arabia" company said that in the event that the traveler is infected with "Covid-19", the company puts the amount of the ticket in the user's account for later use during his next trip, and gives him the right to schedule the flight at the time he determines. With a full refund of the ticket price in the user's account.

He added that these facilities require two basic conditions, namely: that the traveler requests to change the flight before the departure time and not after the take-off, and that the medical report that shows the injury be attached.

Wiz Flex

On a related note, «Wizz Air Abu Dhabi» confirmed that it provides travelers with an additional insurance method to help them change their reservations with complete flexibility, by purchasing an additional «Wizz Flex» service with airline tickets that allow them to change their reservations flexibly, where travelers can cancel their reservations. Up to three hours before departure, without any fees, with a full refund of the original ticket price directly, as well as the possibility of changing appointments and even the itinerary.

Reschedule

For his part, an official in one of the Arab airlines (DS) said that the company allows rescheduling the flight for those affected by "Covid-19", and also allows the ticket price to be refunded under conditions, the most important of which is that it be 96 hours before the flight with a report showing the infection.

Automatic rewind

"Wizz Air Abu Dhabi" recently announced the launch of its automated process to retrieve the value of reservations that meet requests for cash transfer refunds within one week only. The automated process of "Wizz Air Abu Dhabi" automatically returns 120% of the original fare for the canceled flight to the traveler's private credit card. With its flights or giving travelers the option of full cash refund via the used payment method or rebooking completely free of charge.

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