Singapore Airlines Changed My Flight

Almost Banned on 11/03/2020 - 19:12
Last edited 12/03/2020 - 09:54 by 1 other user

Ok, I know I'm taking my life in my hands but I'm going to India in two weeks. Wanted to travel at a decent hour on a full service airline, so had to go with Singapore Air. I can't sleep on a plane so I looked carefully for flight times that would not have me flying overnight. I chose my flights based on the advertised times, and paid extra to fly SIA during the daytime.

Well, they have just changed my booking so I now fly home out of Singapore at midnight and into Perth at 5am. This not only means my lay-over in Singapore is about five hours longer, I am now stuck doing the exact thing I didn't want to do and it will stuff my up for that day - meaning an extra day of leave. I could have chosen overnight flights on another carrier for less cost but didn't. And of course the airline's terms and conditions basically say you have to bend over and take it.

It is outrageous that Australia does not have a bill of rights for airline customers like Europe. We are getting screwed. I have contacted Singapore Air but am not holding my breath (coronavirus joke). Oh, and I booked through Fly365 so am not expecting any support on that front.

Does anyone have any great ideas?

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Comments

  • Ocker on 11/03/2020 - 19:26

    I totally agree with the fact the Aussie airline traveler gets screwed, vis-a-vis our European and USA counterparts when it comes to compensation for cancelled/ delay flights.

    • cameldownunder on 11/03/2020 - 20:35

      That's partially true. Change of flight means, you can accept it, or they have to refund you. ( Even a change of aircraft is a change of flight )
      Of course they refund you what you paid at the time, finding another good offer might not be so easy.
      or maybe due to corona virus, it is easier.
      So request a refund if you don't like the flight, and if you find a cheaper flight at a better time.
      I think you have 24Hrs - 48Hrs to submit your request.

      • vee124 on 11/03/2020 - 21:03
        +3

        I don't believe a change in aircraft is a change of flight.

  • [Deactivated] on 11/03/2020 - 19:27

    Charter your own plane.

  • PissLUR on 11/03/2020 - 19:43

    Bad luck.

  • JimmyF on 11/03/2020 - 19:57
    +6

    Does anyone have any great ideas?

    We are in extraordinary circumstances around air travel and travel in general. Airlines are cutting flights left, right and center.

    You could ask for a refund and then rebook with someone else, but that would appear to be up to Fly365 refund policy.

    Honestly yes its pretty crappy, but they didn't do this to single you out, the entire airline world has been turned upside down.

    Companies are parking entire fleets of A380 planes, slashes routes or stopping flying in to asia full stop. Some airlines have gone under.

    You gotta expect a few lumps along the way. You not sleeping on the plane is one of those lumps. At least your flight is only short ~5hrs. You'll be ok. Assuming you can even come back into the country by then.

  • nandystam on 11/03/2020 - 20:04
    -2

    If you were happy to pay extra why did you low ball it with Fly365?

    • Almost Banned on 11/03/2020 - 20:07

      I was willing to pay extra to get the flights I wanted - not just for the hell of it. If I had been happy to fly on a budget carrier, or fly the midnight horror, I could have been even cheaper.
      But for those particular flights Fly365 was the cheapest.

      • nandystam on 11/03/2020 - 20:12
        -2

        You understand Fly365 is cheaper than others for a reason? Flight schedules aren't set in stone, if you want added piece of mind book direct, or via a travel agent. In hindsight paying extra would've saved you a lot of unnecessary stress.

        • Almost Banned on 11/03/2020 - 20:21
          +4

          Buddy Flight365 had NOTHING to do with this flight change.
          Paying extra or using a travel agent would have made ZERO difference.

          • nandystam on 11/03/2020 - 20:28
            -1

            @Almost Banned: You're right, they didn't - the airline did. But booking direct or using a TA would've given you more options than Fly365 (e.g. rescheduling), and that's where you're wrong.

            If you're not prepared to be flexible, don't book with cheapo OTAs like Fly365. Simples.

            • Almost Banned on 11/03/2020 - 20:32

              @nandystam: Ok, I'll bite.
              Tell me Nandy, what options would a TA give me in this situation?

              • nandystam on 11/03/2020 - 20:37
                -1

                @Almost Banned: You're obviously worked up and not thinking clearly. The answer's already there.

                • Almost Banned on 11/03/2020 - 20:49

                  @nandystam: You think a TA could have rescheduled my cancelled flight? To when exactly, 12:05am that night perhaps?
                  What magical flight do you think a TA could have conjured for me? Do you think TAs have the power to rearrange international airlines flight schedules?
                  I really think Ozbargain ought to have some basic intelligence test to post - which you would fail.

                  • nandystam on 11/03/2020 - 20:58
                    -2

                    @Almost Banned: Resorting to insults, very classy.

                    Clearly your head is elsewhere. Maybe you should channel all that pent up anger into strategies for sleeping on a plane?

        • cameldownunder on 11/03/2020 - 20:39

          I found Fly365 very helpful, but maybe only because I was working in that industry in the past.
          I think you still have a right of refund, not from Fly366 ( note we have aleap year ), but from Singapore.
          Probably have to go through Fly365. Discuss you option with them.

          • Almost Banned on 11/03/2020 - 20:52

            @cameldownunder: I'll admit I am making an assumption based on their Administration.
            It is possible they might be responsive, but I thought I'd try the airline first.

            • sigh on 11/03/2020 - 22:01

              @Almost Banned: Who let you know your flight changed? Singapore Airlines or fly365?

              • Almost Banned on 11/03/2020 - 23:59

                @sigh: Singapore Air

                • sigh on 12/03/2020 - 04:41

                  @Almost Banned: I have had the same issue happen with future travel plans with Singapore Airlines in the past week. They changed my flights that I booked directly with them and I suddenly, on return, had a 34 hour stopover in Singapore instead of 5 hours. This wasn’t acceptable to me, so I did exactly what the notification email said. I called them.
                  The call centre is getting smashed so you will have to be patient. It took me 6 phone calls and 5 disconnections while on hold and 6 hours of hold music over several days. My flights are now fixed, I just return a day earlier than planned and have the same time flights I originally booked just one day early. It was all changed without cost to me, they even booked the same seats I chose originally. It just took time.
                  I have friends travelling with a different carrier same destination but haven’t been so lucky with changing flights.
                  I suggest calling them, and being patient.

  • Prince K on 11/03/2020 - 20:17

    I feel you mate. been through something similar with Qantas a few years ago. added 7 hours of travel on top of 16. Called them and they pretty much said they’re not breaking any law. Too bad so sad.

    • fishball on 11/03/2020 - 20:30

      Same thing for me, Qantas changed the time on the HKG<->SYD route and basically nothing I could do (arrived at 4am with nothing open - not even the trains in HK).

  • Donaldhump on 11/03/2020 - 20:44
    +5

    Don’t stress you will get 14 days to rest when you get back

  • DashCam AKA Rolts on 11/03/2020 - 20:51
    +2

    This was not done to personally impact you. As @JimmyF said, these are extraordinary times.
    That said, over the last few years, flights have changed constantly for me when booked directly with QANTAS/Jetstar. Sometimes a small time adjustment; in worst case a direct flight to a SEA destination with Jetstar became a flight with QANTAS, via another capital city, adding hours to the trip. Plus side, full service flights.
    Flights change and get cancelled. You booked with your conditions front of your mind, but that has nothing to do with the airline or the agent.
    This is not unique, nor a new occurrence, and definitely not targeting you.

  • burningrage on 11/03/2020 - 21:12
    +1

    I will totally agree with you 100% that Australia should have a bill of rights for air travellers just like one in Europe.

    You will see in QF and VA they put an exclusion clause that says they do not guarantee flights nor do they form part of their contract, meaning they can shift your flights in a whim and usually they call it "operational". A bill of rights would definitely be warranted for.

    However, on this occasion, just like you should not really embark on a cruise travel presently, you should not do an air travel and not expecting disruption.

    • Prince K on 11/03/2020 - 21:34

      Cannot agree with you more. Us travellers should be entitled to refund and changes free of charge when major changes like that happens. I do understand your point though, it is a sensitive time and hard on the airlines.

      • sigh on 11/03/2020 - 22:09

        Singapore Airlines just did this to me for travel booked in two months, but I did what the notification email said to do and I called them.
        It took some patience to get through but they changed my flights to something more suitable (ie no a 34 hour stopover between connecting flights) and did it free of charge including booking the original seats I had chosen.

  • chumlee on 11/03/2020 - 22:05
    +1

    Not sure if you've heard of terms & conditions, but worthwhile reading them first

    • orangetrain on 12/03/2020 - 08:32

      Does any flight not have these terms and conditions?

  • boomramada on 11/03/2020 - 23:07

    That's happen to me, but if you read the terms, its in the terms, flight time can be change.

  • Mechz on 11/03/2020 - 23:23

    I've booked through Expedia for Virgin flights before and they changed them to an unsuitable time so called and got Expedia to contact Virgin for a refund. It takes a while on the phone but I got my money. Just call them and get a flight that suits you better or a refund if you can get a better flight with someone like Scoot (business is quite nice and good value).

  • SBOB on 12/03/2020 - 07:23

    You think in 2 weeks time there won't be an automatic quarantine on travellers returning from places like India?

    That extra day off will not be your issue :)

  • brad1-8tsi on 12/03/2020 - 09:15

    Take a couple of silent nights to help you sleep.

    I just came back from southern India on tuesday. No visible sign of covid19 issues anywhere that we stayed during that 4 weeks. People don't appear to be panicking like Australia.

    Indian government is only reporting infections in Delhi but I assume they are not telling the truth (like several other countries)

  • kanad on 12/03/2020 - 09:20
    +2

    Your life and sleep is now saved as India is suspending all tourist visas as of today till 15th April.

    https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-natio…

  • holdenmg on 12/03/2020 - 09:39

    If you booked via Fly365 there is a support group…
    https://www.facebook.com/groups/196450934940826/?ref=group_h…

  • GG57 on 12/03/2020 - 10:23

    A first-world "problem" perhaps?

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