Flight cancellation, no notice given, compensation?

Donaldhump on 30/12/2017 - 18:01

So i had a flight December 28th from PNI airport to BNE via POM using air niugini, however they cancelled their flights 3 weeks ago and failed to notify anyone that didn't book via a travel agency.

To cut a long story short there next flight was Sunday the 31st, and instead they paid for me to fly home via Guam and japan. However this took 45 hours and required an extra overnight in pohnpei, and a night in guam and cost $271 in total for extra accommodation and taxis.

i believe the airline shoould pony up and pay for all this, as i did not want to stay an extra 2 night, and it was far from enjoyable.

thoughts?

Poll Options

  • 12
    Yes
  • 28
    No
Travel

Comments

  • theHMASfriendship on 30/12/2017 - 18:03
    +4

    Did you ask them?

  • Baysew on 30/12/2017 - 18:08
    +3

    Ask this guy - I Have Been to 100+ Countries Ask Me Anything

    • Donaldhump on 30/12/2017 - 19:46
      +1

      He hadn't encountered this at the time

  • MrHyde on 30/12/2017 - 18:21

    Did you accept the alternative provided? If you said yes to that option, you have missed the opportunity for any further claims.

  • MelbBargainChaser77 on 30/12/2017 - 18:22
    +10

    This is what travel insurance is for. In the terms and conditions you agreed to , Im positive there is a line which clears them of any responsibility. Good luck.

  • myusername on 30/12/2017 - 18:33

    travel insurance

  • Ocker on 30/12/2017 - 18:37

    If you read the (long) T's & C's you will see that all the airline has agreed to (and contracted to) is to get your from point a to point b. Nothing about on a particular flight etc.
    If you were traveling in USA, or Europe it may be different, but here I think you are shafted!

  • EightImmortals on 30/12/2017 - 18:48
    +2

    So the airline failed to notify you, but did you bother to check the flight status in the lead up to the day of travel?

    • Donaldhump on 30/12/2017 - 19:43

      Where exactly do you check this status, you ever used air Niugini web site

      And check 4 days before

  • Dack Smith on 30/12/2017 - 18:52

    Problem is since you accepted their Guam offer, you now have no recourse because the terms would have stipulated that you accept any and all of their substitute arrangements.

    Try to kick up a stink with corporate

    Worth a try

  • bobbified on 30/12/2017 - 19:02

    I believe your travel agency is meant to notify you. That's why they get the commission from the sale of your ticket.

    • Donaldhump on 30/12/2017 - 19:42

      I didn't use a travel agency

      • bobbified on 31/12/2017 - 00:05
        +2

        My bad - you did say that in your original post. I need to brush up on my reading skills! lol

  • holdenmg on 30/12/2017 - 19:08

    I understood airniugini were starting to run twice daily flights back into Cairns.

    PNI - TKK - PON - CNS - BNE

    Couldn't they spring you a flight from CNS to BNE?

  • JimmyF on 30/12/2017 - 19:33
    +1

    I find it highly unlikely they didn't text/email you. Check your spam folder. Each flight change/cancel I've had, has ended up in endless emails/texts until I acknowledge the change.

    As you accepted another flight schedule, there is no compensation from them.

    BUT You can claim on your travel insurance (You had this right?).

    • Donaldhump on 30/12/2017 - 19:46

      No nothing sent, they already admitted that

      Even reprinted itinerary on 23rd

      Yes have travel insurance but this is next step

      • JimmyF on 30/12/2017 - 21:09

        very strange indeed they didn't contact you at all!

  • Donaldhump on 30/12/2017 - 20:08
    +3

    Ok, seems the consensus is no as flight was accepted as is, I've asked the question. Thanks for the inputs

    I'll hit up travel insurance all though I don't think they will cover anything either

    Oh well the trip from hell is over

    • JimmyF on 30/12/2017 - 21:08

      depends on your policy, but travel insurance will normally cover these costs as your flight was cancelled.

      • Donaldhump on 30/12/2017 - 22:01

        Is budget direct essentials , they only cover cancellation if weather or terrorism or civil commotion for delays so I think it is no good

        • JimmyF on 30/12/2017 - 22:30

          'essentials' is the key word then….. But looking at the policy quickly, it says

          Travel Delay Expenses

          Cover for expenses incurred if your return to Australia is delayed due to bad weather, a strike, industrial action or mechanical breakdown.

          $50 per completed 12 hours, up to $1,000

          I assume your cancelled flight was a mechanical breakdown?

          But yes, just like budget airlines, budget insurance has things missing ;)

        • bqjt on 30/12/2017 - 22:57

          Also check your excess. Most travel insurance policies have a $250 mandatory excess, if this is true for your policy then there is no point in the hassle of claim as you were out of pocket by $271. Good luck

        • Sensiekatie on 31/12/2017 - 11:39

          @JimmyF:

          I think they reduced how often they fly out.

          I had a flight cancelled with no notification for one of my participants when I used to arrange travel accommodation etc.

          we had to charter s plans for her (ouch to my Cost Centre!)

          They just dropped all flights and didn’t tell anyone.

  • holdenmg on 30/12/2017 - 21:28

    I use https://help.tripit.com/hc/en-us/articles/226107067-Travel-a… for Cancellation and Delay notifications because I don't ever want to go home via Guam. :+)

  • CacheHunter on 31/12/2017 - 08:51

    If you use them frequently, say a couple of dozen flights a year, you've got more chance than if you're an occasional traveler with them.
    Otherwise, you're going to be pushing uphill and best to rely on travel insurance.

  • elliebargain on 31/12/2017 - 12:42
    +2

    I think they totally should pony up and pay for your Accomodation and taxis at a minimum! When Jetstar cancelled our flight and we had to (got to!) stay in Queenstown another 2 nights they compensated us for Accomodation and food/ taxi expenses. We went from staying in a backpackers to staying at the Novotel :D and ate and drank like kings for 2 days. I don’t understand why everyone sides with Airlines on this- of course you accepted the flights they offered at the time as they probably presented it as your only option and you wanted to get home! Chase it up with them, any airline Ombudsman available and your travel insurance too. Good luck.

    • Donaldhump on 31/12/2017 - 15:05
      +1

      thanks, sort of felt the same

  • Trader101 on 31/12/2017 - 15:46

    Years ago, my family got bumped in PNG without explanation. We kicked up a fuss at the airport checkin counter having got wind by accident of what had happened. Someone with money and connections had paid a bribe to get the seats we had previously confirmed. We made it clear that wasn’t OK and had a checkin staff member admit she’d done the wrong thing. We got our seats back. PNG is well known for corruption, but at least it’s not like some third world countries where Royalty and heads of armed services can and do cancel commercial flights without notice so they can use the planes for their own purposes. This happened to me in Myanmar once, despite being with a 5 star tour group and arguably the best travel agency in Myanmar at the time. We had no come back and had to wait another day at the airport for another flight.

    • Donaldhump on 31/12/2017 - 17:35

      yeh i can believe all of that

  • rambutann on 31/12/2017 - 16:36

    I once had a flight from Honolulu to Melbourne, flight was cancelled 4 hours prior to takeoff. I called up, managed to get on a flight via Sydney that departed 15 minutes earlier.. I had planned on catching a bus to the airport, I now decided that this was "no longer possible" so I took an uber, I also had a solid meal at the airport because I "didn't have time" to eat elsewhere due to this earlier flight.. I claimed all of this back on Jetstar, plus my transfers in Sydney between airports and food in Sydney whilst I waited for my next flight..

    I'd give it a crack. But in saying this, if they cancelled it weeks prior then its likely that they have a clause stating that you should have checked.

    • Donaldhump on 31/12/2017 - 17:13
      +1

      thanks for the info

      i got verification on the 23rd it was still ok, so it was checked.

      i don't agree that i should have to check that my flight isn't cancelled, its a contract, its up to the breacher to inform the other party of a change.

      just like when you buy a house, its up to the seller it inform you if an issue, not up to you to verify this. unless you have been informed and accepted the assumption would be its ok

      • rambutann on 31/12/2017 - 22:45

        You make very valid points. I would definitely pursue compensation.

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