Advice on flight cancellation

5 replies

koji

Cathay Pacific - The Marco Polo Club

Member since 11 Jun 2018

Total posts 58

Hi Everyone,

I don’t have much experience of dealing with the flight cancellation situation and wonder if anyone could kindly give me some advice on negotiating with the airline.
I bought a virgin Australia issued and partly codeshared with HongKong Airline return ticket in business class (multi-city) , travelling in September. But one section from cns to hkg was cancelled due to HX schedule, while other sections including return trip sections are not disturbed.
I found my flight cancelled myself and double confirmed with HX. After discussing with VA, they looked also surprised since they didn’t even get any notifications from HX and promised giving me a feedback later.
As you know, HX business fare on this route is really cheap and it seems that re-routing my flight in business class isn’t quite realistic (while I strongly hope if they could do so). Two alternative options I gave them to consider are:
1. Change my cns-hkg flight to cx operated same day flight in business class.
2. Reroute my entire outbound trip to X-Syd-hkg va operated same day flight in business class.
I know both options look like “bullying” VA due to the huge fare difference and I don’t expect they would arrange it. My question is that which option is more likely to be accepted, and if they downgrade me to a (premium) economy seat, what kind of reasonable compensation can I ask, if possible?
Thanks in advance.

Michael Kao

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 06 Nov 2014

Total posts 163

Legally what VA can do is:

1. Cancel and refund you the ticket, as you haven't started the trip yet. Or,
2. They can reroute you via SYD and put you in economy and simply refund you the fare difference, as the contract of carriage only guarantees you to your destination but not class of travel.
Anything else above that will be VA doing you a favor. But legally they don't have to. You can ask for extra points, credit vouchers and they may give it to you as a gesture of good will. But if they don't there isn't much you can do.

koji

Cathay Pacific - The Marco Polo Club

Member since 11 Jun 2018

Total posts 58

Legally what VA can do is:
1. Cancel and refund you the ticket, as you haven't started the trip yet. Or,
2. They can reroute you via SYD and put you in economy and simply refund you the fare difference, as the contract of carriage only guarantees you to your destination but not class of travel.
Anything else above that will be VA doing you a favor. But legally they don't have to. You can ask for extra points, credit vouchers and they may give it to you as a gesture of good will. But if they don't there isn't much you can do.

Thanks Michael. I don’t even expect they would refund fare difference actually.

henrus

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 23 Oct 2013

Total posts 766

I recently booked a $5000 return business class ticket from Australia to Europe on a star alliance carrier over December/January.


A scheduled change to one of the flight meant I'd have to leave Europe a day earlier but instead, the airline proposed flying on Cathay instead. Obviously, they didn't have to do it and they aren't a partner airline but it just goes to show it's possible.

I proposed options to the airline and I wouldn't at consider it bullying either but instead gives them options. FYI they knocked back my original option and they were the one who proposed the Cathay option.

koji

Cathay Pacific - The Marco Polo Club

Member since 11 Jun 2018

Total posts 58

I recently booked a $5000 return business class ticket from Australia to Europe on a star alliance carrier over December/January.

A scheduled change to one of the flight meant I'd have to leave Europe a day earlier but instead, the airline proposed flying on Cathay instead. Obviously, they didn't have to do it and they aren't a partner airline but it just goes to show it's possible.

I proposed options to the airline and I wouldn't at consider it bullying either but instead gives them options. FYI they knocked back my original option and they were the one who proposed the Cathay option.

Thanks Henrus! Hope I could also get some luck.

bagpuss

Member since 18 Jan 2017

Total posts 28

The flight is cancelled because the HKG slots were transferred to VA to get the Melbourne - Hong Kong back to a daily service with an efficient turn around.


I’d expect Virgin to offer you re-routing via Melbourne or Sydney on VA metal, all in business class. As it’s a schedule change, there is no additional cost to you.

Last editedby bagpuss at Aug 25, 2018, 11:48 AM.

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