Singapore Airlines - Refund on non-refundable ticket - help pls

Hi All,

I've been trying my very hardest here to attain a refund due to a cancelled flight from Singapore Airlines. If anyone has more information on this or has been successful in the same situation, I would highly appreciate further insight. I've booked through a travel agent to go from AU>SING>JPN (March 31)returning JPN>SING>AU. Key points I've been reading below.

Singapore Air Policy relating to COVID-19 - https://www.singaporeair.com/saar5/pdf/media-centre/200324FA…

ACCC page stating that if cancellations are due to government restrictions, my rights as a consumer are "impacted" - https://www.accc.gov.au/consumers/consumer-rights-guarantees…

ACCC page stating when cancellation of a service is possible - https://www.accc.gov.au/consumers/consumer-rights-guarantees…

Silly news article which states I'm entitled to a refund - https://7news.com.au/the-daily-edition/coronavirus-update-yo…

My travel agent is insisting only a credit is possible, without refund. I've contacted ACCC although they've said the same thing as what's stated above and that the timing is also in play here. Information on this: Singapore Airlines has sent through the cancellation notice (6pm March 19) after the Australian Border close was announced (12pm March 19) but not before it was closed (March 20)

To top it off, the travel agency which I've been dealing with is closing all offices today, although the agent has advised she will still assist with inquiries.

Does anyone know if I have any grounds to stand on to request a refund? If so, what are they? Thank you all.

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Comments

  • +1

    First of all, when was the flight booked? This will go a long way in determining whether your case is solid or not.

    • -1

      Lets say I placed a booking in July 2019 for a flight in the middle of May 2020 with return at the end of June 2020 , how do I stand getting a refund ?

    • Hey
      I’ve booked it in August 2019, does that make a solid case? If so, how?

      Thank you!

  • I am in the similar situation. Airlines only offering a credit and not full refund. Appreciate any assistance. I booked the tickets in August 2019 with a travel date in May 2020.

  • Credit or credit

  • +3

    Here is the SIA info:

    https://www.singaporeair.com/saar5/pdf/media-centre/200324FA…

    Whilst Aus consumer law is clearly on your side, it would be a long battle on your own. There's a zillion others in your boat so it might be that someone may commence a class action.

    • Thanks good info.

      • +1

        I really hope you can resched your trip!! Fabulous country.

  • +1

    I also have been offered a flight credit rather than a refund - when I suggested to my travel agent that it seemed a bit rough, as it was the airline who cancelled the flight, she replied that if they gave out refunds for all cancelled flights there'd be no more airline. Which made sense. Anyway I still plan on going, just delaying the trip twelve months so a flight credit is fine. I have been given 12 months from the date I originally booked, in which to make a new booking for future travel. Original booking was made last October for travel in June, so as long as I've rebooked for next June no later than this October I'll be okay.
    Here's hoping there's still an airline by then with which to make a booking.

    Still waiting to see what's happening with the accommodation though. Non-refundable bookings paid through Booking.com; at present refunds are only being offered for bookings up to the middle of April. Same with the car hire sigh If the money's gone, it's gone, but I am holding out hope that refunds will be extended for later bookings.

  • Another option may be to try claim travel insurance on the credit card you used to purchase (assuming that's what you did and that's what you have)

    • I do have travel insurance although it would only cover 75% of the non-refundable costs. The issue with going down this path is that I would then lose the $409 partial refund I would be eligible for if I cancelled the travel insurance policy, rather than using it. The reason it is only 75% is because it falls under the "cancel for any reason" add on which I purchased, as the insurer states they do not cover cancellations due to epidemics, pandemics, etc. in their PDS.

  • Latest info I've just received guys - just got through to Singapore Airlines who advised if I had booked directly they would be able to process a refund on this request.

    • Thank you for your update ailee. Very much appreciated.

    • Interesting, we also booked flights with SIA late last year and we've had our flights changed & ultimately cancelled. We were due to fly out on the 1st April.

      I e-mailed them requesting a refund & they advised we'd get back approx. $1,200 out of $2,700

      I've raised a dispute with my CC provider, just waiting to hear back from them. Failing that I'll pay a $500 excess & claim through our travel insurance as my wife just had an ultrasound & a large blood clot was discovered in her leg

      • Perhaps try calling them on their Sydney 24 hour line - I'll give you a pro tip here, based on my two experiences.

        1st call - On hold for 1hr 13mins when I noticed the line had gone blank (no sound), this would've occurred around a minute before I actually noticed, hung up the call after waiting another minute
        2nd call - On hold for 1 hr 11 mins, noticed the line went blank again, decided to stay on the line and eventually got through to someone 5 minutes later

        As I mentioned the agent stated that refunds were being given out due to the current situation although that did not apply to me due to booking through an agent. Perhaps they would offer the same $1200 refund although you might be able to negotiate with them over the phone. Best of luck!

      • Just curious how this turned out - did you end up getting anything back from your credit card provider? I'm in a similar situation and trying to figure out what to do since they're only offering me credit, not a refund.

  • Merged from Has Anyone Successfully Got a Refund from Singapore Air for a Non-Refundable Ticket? I Would Appreciate Your Help

    Please let me know to remove if too similar too my previous post - the story is the same but topic is different.

    • I've booked a non-refundable flight with Singapore Air through a travel agent
    • Have contacted the airline who stated that if I booked direct I could get a refund
    • Travel agent is saying that there is no refund not because of their own policy but because of the airline refusing to
    • Travel agent has agreed she will push for a refund if I can provide info to her regarding someone who was successful in doing so with the same situation

    Original post
    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/526704

    If anyone is in a similar situation, has been able to attain a refund and is willing to help me out, please let me know. Thank you.

    • +2

      Have a read of this;

      https://www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/sg/travel-info/precaution…

      The way I interpret this is:-

      Tickets issued up to 15/3/20 and for travel up to 31/5/20 can be changed to flights up to 31/3/21. A fare difference may be applicable. You may possibly change your flights online through manage my booking or an online form - this point is weird because generally if you book through a third party / online travel agent etc you need to contact them directly to change.

      This is my understanding and opinion:-

      Your rights are affected due to the restrictions, so whilst airlines have cancelled flights - they are not obliged to automatically cancel your ticket and refund your money. Most have resorted to giving travellers an open-ended ticket to be used by xx/xx/21 date.

      IF you no longer wish to travel because [whatever reasons / no need to travel] you are bound by the original cancellation conditions. [I know that my points-booked flight that was due to fly out in four days, even though the flight is cancelled, I have been given an open ended date to rebook. If I want to cancel, I end up paying the cancellation fee].

      • Received email Y'day KrisFlyer <[email protected]> from Goh Choon Phong CEO, Singapore Airlines

        " In view of the uncertainty amid the Covid-19 outbreak, the value of the unused portion of your tickets will be retained as flight credits when your flight has been cancelled or if you would like to postpone your travel. You can use those credits to make a new booking any time from now until 31 March 2021. We have also waived no-show and rebooking fees. Please contact us here when you firm up your new travel plans.

        I would also like to share that we will automatically renew all KrisFlyer Elite and PPS Club membership statuses for another 12 months at the end of their membership year. This applies to all memberships expiring from March 2020 through to February 2021. The validity of any expiring PPS and Elite Gold Rewards will also be extended until 31 March 2021.

        This is a small token of our appreciation for your loyalty and support, which we value greatly as we work hard to get through this outbreak."

        The way I interpret this is:-

        The offer is flight credits only.
        You can use those flight credits as long as you book before 31 March 2021.

        Is that how you guys read this ?

        • I've found this URL in my searches which states a refund should be possible with a $200 cancellation fee, in case this is of any help to someone.

          https://www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/gb/plan-travel/local-prom…

          • @ailee: Unused tickets - if your flight is cancelled:
            Options: -
            1. Defer travel with final return date of 31Mar21.
            2 Refunds
            a. Refundable fares: Yes. Standard Fares Rules apply.
            b. Non-Refundable fares. Yes. For flight cancellations up to 30Apr20. Processing fee of $200 applies.
            i. Please use “Covid19” as the waiver code

            Only flight cancellations up to 30Apr20 , mine are in May.

    • +1

      Maybe check the Australian Frequent Flyer forums, I think I remember seeing a thread or two on this topic.

      We have business class tickets that we booked with Krisflyer points, flying in September. If we have to rebook for 2021, I hope it's going to cost the same amount of points…not holding my breath though.

      Fingers crossed we can still fly…first flight in business on Qatar Airways on August 20. Will be bummed if we have to cancel!

      • Thank you for the tip, it looks like some people on there have got a refund.

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