HELP! Travel plan Clash with Exam

Lsistermay on 06/10/2016 - 18:45
Last edited 06/10/2016 - 18:50 by 1 other user

I booked a Jetstar Japan free return deal in May this year for my family to travel to Japan first time for celebrating my younger son finishing his degree.

Airfares are paid for and non refundable and I spent a lot of time in organising tickets, accommodation, etc due to we require triple room. In trying to make it a memorable trip as he has been studying really hard all these years. It was stupid of me in hindsight trying to make it a surprise trip but I did suss him out on exam time before I booked the flights and thought the booking from 4 Nov to 12 Nov is ok. Now his exam dates came out and they clash with our travel dates, I have no choice but to tell him about the trip. I saved up for this trip and was looking forward to it but now we both worry sick because it is not easy if not impossible to get a defer exam base on this reason, what should I do ?

Travel

Comments

  • currentfad on 06/10/2016 - 18:53
    +3

    Special considerations > do exam early/do supplementary exam if he must go. Really doubt a vacation would be a sufficient reason for special considerations though… Apply nonetheless since there's no choice.

  • mccaj09 on 06/10/2016 - 18:55
    +4

    From past experience at my Uni, they will not allow a change on that basis

  • spackbace on 06/10/2016 - 18:58
    +5

    Abandon the trip…?

    Exams > Holiday

  • [Deactivated] on 06/10/2016 - 19:03

    lol

  • phoenixx on 06/10/2016 - 19:04
    +6

    Rookie mistake.

  • Limitless on 06/10/2016 - 19:04
    +2

    Try changing the dates of your trip. It may cost you a little more to do but at least you won't lose the lot.

    • sistermay on 06/10/2016 - 20:15

      I checked with Jetstar, it will cost me another 150% the original cost because this time I have to pay for my return fare on top of the change fee and difference in fare price etc so its definitely not an option. :(

      • Limitless on 06/10/2016 - 20:23

        Wow that really sucks sorry to hear that. Unfortunately it would be really unlikely to defer the exam so you'll probably just have to cop the loss or maybe name transfer with a friend or gumtree?

      • battler on 06/10/2016 - 21:51

        you could just book a supplementary one-way ticket for the kid after his exam?
        edit.. saw below, that would give him a 3 day holiday :(

  • nomoneynoproblems on 06/10/2016 - 19:16

    Pull a sickie. Know any Dr in the family?

    • sistermay on 06/10/2016 - 20:20

      I wish I could, his exam dates are 7 to 9 Nov, don't know how to pull this one off.

  • CrazyMexican on 06/10/2016 - 19:18

    make up an excuse and talk to the school (convince them :P)
    edit: oh its a uni degree… :/ that makes it harder!

    • sistermay on 06/10/2016 - 20:16

      I read the UQ website about deferral of exam, they were very strict.

      • Banana on 07/10/2016 - 08:20

        No ideal. It's harder to do the supplement exams as they are somewhere during the mid of the next semester so he most likely won't remember the content.
        As a student I don't think it's worth missing your exams for a vacation, especially when you've tried really hard all year. Can you perhaps have someone else going?

  • goegge on 06/10/2016 - 19:19
    +2

    My son was in the same situation when an exam date clashed with an already booked trip to the soccer world cup in Germany at the time. He was allowed to sit the exam at the British Consulate in Munich (Sydney University). Check with your university if a similar arrangement is available for your son.

  • shanakatak on 06/10/2016 - 19:22

    Not sure what uni he goes to but Melbourne's policy is pretty clear cut and most others will be the exact same, almost all unis have an academic calendar that states the official exam period and you should never book flights in these dates. Unfortunately unless you can arrange with the university to sit the exams at an overseas consulate (unlikely if its multiple exams as from what I've heard its done at the same time as a local exam) you will need to pay to change dates or you are s*** out of luck.

    Can I book my flight tickets for trips during the exam period before the exam timetable is released?
    - No. Students should never book flights, trips or events during the formal exam period. If you do so, you do so at your own risk, as the examination timetable is subject to change. If your examination is rescheduled for any reason, you have an obligation to attend.
    - Travel is not an acceptable ground for seeking Special Consideration or equitable arrangements. It may be possible to sit your examination overseas, or interstate however you will need to check your eligibility, make appropriate arrangements and be approved pursuant to the External Examination Procedure. If you are not approved you must cancel your trip or reschedule your travel to another time.
    - You must plan to be in Melbourne during the official examination period as stipulated on the Academic Calendar.

  • voiletmay on 06/10/2016 - 19:37

    Oh gee that is awful. I hope you can change your dates, even if you have to pay more.

    I usually refer to the university academic calendar to get the exam period dates, and then don't book holidays till after that.

    • sistermay on 06/10/2016 - 20:18

      It's ironic, this will be " memorable", but in a wrong way! :(

  • SeaSalty on 06/10/2016 - 19:42

    And this is why I always miss out on the deals. The dates for cheap airfare are always during uni time.

    • pyro love bird on 09/10/2016 - 17:58

      I managed to get some just outside of my uni exam time

  • chumlee on 06/10/2016 - 19:48
    -4

    Pay someone to sit your sons exam or get a fill in son for the trip.

  • shanakatak on 06/10/2016 - 20:36

    Well OP this is from UQ's policies, unfortunately you are out of luck.

    http://ppl.app.uq.edu.au/content/3.10.11-examinations

    6.3.4 Unacceptable grounds for deferred examinations
    Where the Director, Student Administration, or Head of School is not satisfied that the student took reasonable measures to avoid the circumstance that contributed to the student missing the examination, a deferred examination will not be awarded. For example, the following are not grounds for the award of a deferred examination:
    holiday arrangements, including overseas travel;
    misreading an examination timetable; and
    social and leisure events, including sporting and cultural commitments other than at state, national or international representative level.

    • sistermay on 06/10/2016 - 21:54

      That's what I read and yes, that's not good news.

    • azzatron on 06/10/2016 - 22:53

      Yeah, pretty clear cut it seems. However that rule seems to be aimed at whether a student took "reasonable measures to avoid the circumstance that contributed to the student missing the examination". In the OP's situation the student actually had nothing to do with the booking of the trip. So the uni can't claim he was careless by booking his holiday without reading the exam timetable first etc.
      I definitely think it would be worth applying to sit a rescheduled exam and really labour the point that it's a very important family trip (don't have to give too much detail) and the student had no idea it was being planned. It is essentially a circumstance outside of his control, which is the basis on which rescheduled exams are normally given.

      • shanakatak on 06/10/2016 - 23:58
        +1

        The full page lists different reasons and circumstances, whether or not its the student doesnt really matter. Otherwise a bunch of students could simply have 'suprised holidays' booked by 'parents' during exams.

        • azzatron on 07/10/2016 - 09:46

          One would have to prove that the circumstances eventuated outside of the student's control. I can only speak from personal experience and anecdotal experience (at different units to the OP), that a special once in a lifetime trip organised by your parent without your knowledge may fit this criteria, if you can satisfy you aren't taking advantage of the system. I've personally had exams rescheduled for less.

      • sistermay on 07/10/2016 - 00:46

        Thanks azzatron, thinking of giving it a try anyway, it's a shame I've got it wrong and a supposedly happy event changed to something really stressful for us. Appreciate your tips, and thank you to the others who contribute their ideas, its good to know ozbargain community do care. :)

  • onetwothreefour on 06/10/2016 - 20:44
    +3

    Go without him, don't tell him that you have a ticket for him.

  • donbot on 06/10/2016 - 22:46

    I once got a waiver from a mid semester exam… 'to attend my uncle's 100th birthday celebration in QLD'

    Never got asked to provide proof - but it so mean my end of semester exam was weighted higher.

    In your situation - I think you're stuffed.

  • hymio on 06/10/2016 - 22:46
    +1

    Any cheap Japan > Aus return flights? He could fly to Japan, fly back for exams, fly to Japan again then come back again…!

  • dandandan on 06/10/2016 - 22:49

    Do they have any overseas examination centres? I am doing a Masters degree and will be doing an exam in Bangkok in a couple of weeks when on a holiday.

  • kobrien456 on 07/10/2016 - 01:36

    Unless he becomes unwell for a week, gets a med cert, sits exam later?

  • [Deactivated] on 07/10/2016 - 02:48

    I had a similar experience during my first year of uni (currently in my 2nd year).
    As a general rule of thumb, most universities will automatically decline any special considerations to excuse an individual from a formal examination date, unless of course it is due to a dramatic circumstance (e.g. hospitalisation).

    As difficult as the situation may be, it's imperative that your son does not miss the final exam as they are a compulsory academic item and most courses will issue an 'auto-fail' grade if he fails to attend - i know this because i had to learn it the hard way unfortunately.

    Depending on how long your trip is and the final date of his examination,
    Perhaps he may only need to miss the first few itineraries and can meet you half-way throughout the trip?
    (Although this will mean paying extra money for flight tickets and slight moderation in itinerary)

  • trustnoone on 07/10/2016 - 06:31

    If your in a uni with high officialness (probably not a word) then your unlikely to get a uni exception due to normal means. Only chance you have is for your kid to ask the lecturer directly. I've seen some lecturers do it (mostly as some international students have problems with dates as well so they lump them with them), though its quite a low chance.

    You could also try the whole "death in a the family, due to cultural reasons or something, your son has to travel overseas asap" (you may need to provide receipts of flights). Its dishonest and against uni rules, but they may allow it, maybe if you say its for a funeral or something.

    Or if you can get a doctor to sign a sick cert for the date required then they may change the date also, but again its dishonest and definitely against the rules.

    I personally wouldn't do either of them.

    You can always try changing things with Jetstar, but from what I've heard online (and personal experience) about how difficult it is dealing with them, I'd rather retake a whole entire semester lolol.

    • kiitos on 07/10/2016 - 23:37

      try the whole "death in a the family, due to cultural reasons or something, your son has to travel overseas asap" (you may need to provide receipts of flights)

      Would be funny to claim a death in the family in November, then show flights for it booked in May! Premeditated?

  • indium on 07/10/2016 - 08:36
    +1

    Tell him you are going overseas to give him space to study. Enjoy yourselves and cut your losses on flight but try to change accommodation. Return with nice thoughtful gift :)

  • shadowangel on 07/10/2016 - 12:55

    I would still go on the trip buy him another ticket, let him spend the few days with the family and then send him lose on a solo adventure.

  • shanakatak on 07/10/2016 - 22:21

    Another option, check your travel insurances. I know a few have policies about cancellation due to exams. Possibly whoever you went with didn't put these in the exclusions.

  • sistermay on 08/10/2016 - 00:14

    Thanks all for your ideas / tips, very much appreciated.

    I will write a letter to explain our situation to submit it with my son's exam deferral application to UQ and see how we go.

    If that fails, not sure if I can somehow sell his ticket, Jetstar mentioned something about pay a fee for name change but I didn't pay enough attention to it so need to check with them again. If they really allow name change for the ticket, how and where is the best place to sell it ?

    The flight is from Bris to Narita via Cairns leaving 7 am on 4/11 arriving evening at Narita and coming back on 12/11 also via Cairns. It has meals and return leg with 20 kg luggage. It costed me around $570.

    With just about a month to go, may be challenging, any suggestions?

    • nxllson on 10/10/2016 - 14:28

      Jee. Exams are tough with dates; some exams can be done privately at a later date with strict supervision with some universities. Check with them to see if they can do this. This is really going to ruin the surprise of the holiday ;(

  • Natt on 10/10/2016 - 18:45

    How about contacting a University in the Japanese city you will be in exam time.

    With a bit of work they might be able to supervise your exam.

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