Finnair is cancelling all flights to the US between 19 March and 12 April due to the US Government’s travel restrictions. Finnair is also cancelling its flights to Delhi between 15 March and 14 April due to recent visa restrictions. Finnair flies from Helsinki to New York and back until 18 March, in order to fly customers home. For flights departing 14 – 18 March, restrictions on Schengen passengers going to the US will be in effect as specified by the US authorities. Finnair also flies to Los Angeles on Sunday 15 March and to Miami today, 12 March. Finnair is continuously following the impacts of the coronavirus situation. Due to the decreased transfer passenger loads caused by these cancelations, further impacts on Finnair’s narrow-body traffic in Europe are to be expected. Finnair will communicate these changes once such decisions are made. Finnair will communicate flight cancellations directly to customers who have bookings on these flights. Customers can then either seek for a full ticket refund or postpone their travel by contacting Finnair’s customer services. Unfortunately, the customer service lines are very congested at the moment, so we suggest customers who don’t have bookings for immediate departures to contact Finnair’s customer services at a later stage. In addition, Finnair is offering customers with bookings on Finnair flights full flexibility to change their travel dates without a change fee until 30 November, 2020.
Read More »Air France: Flights to and from the US operating as normal on 13 March 2020
Air France has taken note of the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS)’s announcement of new United States border restrictions as of 14 March 2020. Flights to and from the United States are operating as normal on 13 March 2020. From 14 to 28 March 2020 included, Air France plans to continue operations to Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles, Miami, New York JFK, San Francisco and Washington. Air France is working with its partners KLM, Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic on implementing a plan to continue service to the United States for its customers beyond 28 March 2020.
Read More »AirAsia offers credit account valid up to 365 days
In light of recent travel restrictions imposed by various governments, including Singapore and Australia, in response to the Covid-19 outbreak, AirAsia is making the following provisions available for guests who are unable to travel due to their travel history, nationalities or respective travel bans. 1. Move flight: One-time flight change to a new travel date on the same route within 90 calendar days from the original flight time without additional cost, subject to seat availability; OR 2. Credit account: Retain the value of your fare in your AirAsia BIG Loyalty account for future travel with AirAsia. The online credit account is to be redeemed for booking within 365 calendar days from the issuance date for your travel with us. The actual travel dates can be after the expiry date as long as our flight schedule is out. The above options are available for flights ticketed prior to 7 March, for flight departure until 30 April. Guests who wish to choose any of these options when making voluntary changes to their travel plans may do so via support.airasia.com. Meanwhile, guests whose travel plans are affected by restrictions or cancellations are advised to refer to the Covid-19 Refund Request Guide. AirAsia assures that the safety and wellbeing of our guests and Allstars is our top priority. AirAsia is complying with advice and regulations from the local government, civil aviation authorities, global and local health agencies, including the World Health Organization. AirAsia is closely monitoring the public health situation and reserves the right to announce further policies according to the latest developments.
Read More »Fern Hotels: Dealing with COVID-19
Suhail Kannampilly, CEO, The Fern Hotels and Resorts, says, “In these uncertain times, I wanted to reach out to you personally about what we are doing here at The Fern Hotels &; Resorts to support you and your travel plans. As the situation around novel coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to evolve, we are doing everything we can to ensure your travel safety and provide maximum flexibility.” Safety for guests As it has always been, the safety and security of our guests and team members remains our highest priority. We take great pride in maintaining the highest standards of cleanliness and hygiene. In response to the coronavirus, we have taken additional measures developed in consultation with global and local public health authorities (including the WHO) to make our cleaning and hygiene protocols even more rigorous: · Our hotel teams are receiving ongoing briefings and enhanced operating protocols. · Front desk have been equipped with infrared thermometers necessary to check all guests. Travel Flexibility for Guests We remain committed to offering you flexible booking options. Given these unique circumstances we are making additional adjustments to our individual booking policies to give you extra peace of mind: · Government Restrictions. In regions affected by government-issued travel restrictions, we will continue to waive change dates or offer full refunds. · Existing Reservations. All reservations – even those described as ;non-cancellable (“Advanced Purchase”) – that are scheduled for arrival before April 15, 2020, can be changed or cancelled at no charge up to 24 hours before your scheduled arrival. · New Reservations. Any reservation you make – even those described as “non-cancellable” (“Advanced Purchase”) – that are booked between today and April 15, 2020, for any arrival …
Read More »Sarovar Hotels and Resorts, on measure taken against COVID-19
According to Ajay K. Bakaya, MD, Sarovar Hotels and Resorts, “The wellbeing of our guests and associates is important to us. We are constantly updating COVID – 19 guidelines from World Health Organization and the local health departments. We are also coordinating very closely with all local government health authorities. As abundant precaution, we are training our associates on CoV-19 prevention and surveillance. We are taking zero compromise hygiene and safety measures. As a group, we are taking proper steps to sanitize all our staff and guest contact areas such as rooms, restaurants, kitchens, public space, associate facilities etc.”
Read More »Singapore Airlines offers fee waiver and flexible rebooking for all customers
Singapore Airlines is waiving all rebooking fees for tickets issued on or before 15 March 2020, for travel up to 31 May 2020, with immediate effect. Customers can cancel their existing flight itineraries, retain the value of their tickets and rebook their travel at a later date, when they are able to firm up their new travel plans. The new flight itinerary should be completed by 31 March 2021. This new policy will allow customers the flexibility to defer their travel plans and applies to all bookings for travel up to 31 May 2020. All rebooking fees will be waived, although a fare difference may apply for the new itinerary. SIA will continue to review its waiver policy and retains the flexibility to extend the cut-off date of 31 May 2020 as it assesses the impact of the Covid-19 outbreak on global air travel in the coming weeks. For all new SIA and SilkAir tickets issued from now to 31 March 2020, SIA will also waive change fees. Customers may contact us through our online form. Customers who booked their tickets directly through Singapore Airlines may also contact their local Singapore Airlines reservations teams. Customers who booked their tickets through travel agencies are advised to contact their agents for assistance. Due to the high volume of incoming requests, we seek our customers understanding that it may take longer than usual for our service agents to respond. Customers are encouraged to only contact us if their flight is departing in the next 72 hours in order for our agents to focus on and assist those with urgent flight changes. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.
Read More »Air New Zealand capacity reductions
Air New Zealand is further reducing capacity across its network as a result of the impact of Covid-19 on travel demand. The airline placed itself into a trading halt today to allow it time to more fully assess the operational and financial impacts of global travel restrictions. On its long haul network Air New Zealand will be reducing its capacity by 85 percent over the coming months and will operate a minimal schedule to allow Kiwis to return home and to keep trade corridors with Asia and North America open. Full details of this schedule will be advised in the coming days. Among the long haul network capacity reductions, the airline can advise it is suspending flights between Auckland and Chicago, San Francisco, Houston, Buenos Aires, Vancouver, Tokyo Narita, Honolulu, Denpasar and Taipei from 30 March to 30 June. It is also suspending its London-Los Angeles service from 20 March (ex LAX) and 21 March (ex LHR) through to 30 June. The Tasman and Pacific Island network capacity will significantly reduce between April and June. Details of these schedule changes will be announced later this week. On the Domestic network, capacity will be reduced by around 30 percent in April and May but no routes will be suspended. Customers are advised that due to the unprecedented level of schedule changes they should not contact the airline unless they are due to fly within the next 48 hours or need immediate repatriation to New Zealand or their home country. Chief Executive Officer Greg Foran says that while airlines face an unprecedented challenge, Air New Zealand is better placed than most to navigate its way through it. “The resilience of our people is exceptional and I …
Read More »Thai: Travel advisory Disease infected zones of COVID-19 China, Iran, Italy, Korea
In reference to the Notification of the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand and Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health, on practical guidelines for Air Operators relating to services to be provided in territories outside Thailand defined as disease infected zones of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) outbreak, including the Republic of Korea, the People’s Republic of China, including Macao and Hong Kong Special Administration Regions, the Italian Republic and the Islamic Republic of Iran, passengers are required to present the following documents at check-in: 1. A health certificate certifying they had no sickness related to Covid-19 (Coronavirus) in the past 14 days. This health certificate must be issued 48 hours prior to flying and should be issued in English or Thai language. 2. Proof they hold a health/travel insurance with a minimum of 100,000 USD cover in Thailand. – This does not apply to nationals of Thailand. If unable to present the required documentation, boarding passes will not be issued and passengers will be denied boarding.
Read More »ANA to temporarily change service on select routes
All Nippon Airways (ANA) will temporarily change its flight frequency to and from select cities. 1.International Flights (March 16 – 28) A total of 267 flights serving 23 routes to the following cities will be affected by the changes announced today, bringing the total number of affected flights to 2,224 serving 46 different routes. *Before the changes, ANA planned to serve a total of 67 international routes in March.
Read More »Qantas Group provides customers more flexibility due to Coronavirus
Qantas and Jetstar have introduced greater flexibility for customers wishing to change their travel plans, following increased travel restrictions being implemented by various governments around the world due to the evolving Coronavirus situation. These changes apply to all domestic and international flights for Qantas, QantasLink and Jetstar (including Jetstar domestic services in New Zealand and Jetstar Asia’s flights between Darwin and Singapore). EXISTING BOOKINGS Customers with existing bookings on any domestic or international flight until 31 May 2020, who no longer wish to travel, can cancel their flight and retain the value of the booking as a travel credit voucher. This needs to be processed by 31 March 2020. Travel credit vouchers can be used for travel on any domestic or international flights. Qantas and Jetstar will waive the change fee once customers are ready to rebook. For Qantas customers, travel credit can be redeemed for travel for up to 12 months from the original booking. For Jetstar customers, travel vouchers can be redeemed in one booking only within 6 months of issue, for travel within 12 months of new booking date. Qantas Frequent Flyers who have booked classic redemption flights on Qantas, Jetstar and all partner airlines, and no longer wish to travel, will have change fees waived. NEW BOOKINGS To provide customers with greater flexibility and confidence when they book, customers who make a new domestic or international booking and later decide they no longer wish to travel, can cancel their flight and retain the value of the booking as a Qantas travel credit or Jetstar travel voucher. This applies to bookings made from 10 March 2020 until 31 March 2020 for travel before 31 May 2020. This …
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