International Flight Cancellation - Are We Screwed?

themadman on 11/06/2023 - 16:45
Last edited 11/06/2023 - 16:53 by 1 other user

My partner and I are planning to cancel flights we booked to Japan in early July due to life circumstances changing and no longer being able to accomodate the trip into our lives.

Having spoken to Jetstar support, they have told us we aren't eligible for a refund or credit, as it was a "Starter" fare. We have paid $2700 total, and this seems kinda outrageous. They have told us we can reschedule the flights, however we aren't particularly interested in this, and it will cost us $500+ in change fees.

Do we have any options or are we screwed?

Edit: I should also mention that we have pending changes to our flight that require confirmation, however it's nothing substantial - basically just removing a layover on the way there.

Edit 2 : Flights were purchased using a 28 degrees cc, which I think has some travel cover, but I'm not sure what it includes.

Travel Jetstar

Comments

  • Tovers93 on 11/06/2023 - 16:55
    +3

    If they have made a change to your itinerary, you may be able to say it no longer suits you and request a refund. I recall doing this a few years ago with Tiger after the flight time changed by 15 minutes.

    You could also consider reselling the tickets to somebody (FB Marketplace). It looks like the name change fee $80 (unsure if per passenger or per booking). You might recover 50%-75% of your fare but is a bit risky.

    Last option - are you "life circumstances" something that could be covered by Insurance, either through your credit card/airline/independent insurance that you smartly took out at the time of booking the flights? Something like a family bereavement may be in scope for an insurance claim?

    Good luck

    • themadman on 11/06/2023 - 17:07
      -2

      Thanks for the advice! I was thinking the itinerary change might come in handy when negotiating this. :)

      I said that I would like to cancel and I'm not happy with the change to my flights and they've sinced offered credit. Still not as good as refund, but definitely beats lost money. :)

      • djkelly69 on 11/06/2023 - 17:56
        +5

        Pretty sure you are entitled to an actual refund if they make significant changes to your itinerary and it is no longer suitable.

        • themadman on 11/06/2023 - 18:52
          -2

          I guess the question is if removing a layover in Brisbane is significant haha. They were suddenly very helpful once I mentioned I don't agree to the flight changes, so I do wonder if they were aware of the refund requirement and wanted to lock me into credit. At the end of the day, I'm just glad it wasn't money completely lost.

          • djkelly69 on 11/06/2023 - 18:55
            +7

            @themadman: If you happened to have been planning to catch up with a friend or relative in Brisbane during the layover and will now miss out on that, the change seems pretty significant to me…

  • Ughhh on 11/06/2023 - 17:09
    +2

    Flights were purchased using a 28 degrees cc, which I think has some travel cover, but I'm not sure what it includes.

    Easy to find out whats covered and whats not.

    • themadman on 11/06/2023 - 17:26

      I did have a look, and they had a scheme during COVID but it ended in middle of 2022. They still have some travel perks, but I don't think it counts as insurance

  • Hybroid on 11/06/2023 - 17:23
    +23

    We have paid $2700 total, and this seems kinda outrageous.

    Why is this relevant? You agreed to a set of T&Cs whether they were $50 or $5,000.

    Your main recourse is going to be insurance. Check your CC, check your travel insurance etc. See if they cover cancellations due to that specific change in life circumstances.

      • dcep on 11/06/2023 - 17:42
        +1

        Doesn't work that way in many aspects of life , even if they don't incur any losses at all , no matter what justification you can think of , once you commit to the t&c of fare , that's the only thing matter and binding , unless they offer gesture of goodwill but that's completely up to them , because you are not entitled in the 1st place , so don't go thinking they owed you for that. Feeling entitled whilst not, is outrageous.

        Airfares often has higher option to pay extras to allow for free change or refund for cancellation latter.

        Didn't neg you btw.

        • themadman on 11/06/2023 - 18:53
          +1

          Yeah, I guess the negs are fair. It's just rough realising $2700 is potentially down the drain. Thankfully managed to sort out credit with Jetstar so all is well.

          • AustriaBargain on 12/06/2023 - 02:29

            @themadman: Why not just go on the trip? Or give the tickets to me and I'll go on your trip.

      • cookie2 on 11/06/2023 - 19:25
        +1

        3 weeks is nothing. Glad you sorted it out tho.

  • DashCam AKA Rolts on 11/06/2023 - 17:44
    +7

    Your decision is a change of mind, not an illness, death in the family etc which is normally covered by travel insurance.
    The airline haven't changed the booking/flight which would give you leverage for a refund.
    You may be just out of pocket/be stuck with the flights you no longer want. Airlines aren't particularly accommodating in such situations.

  • JimmyF on 11/06/2023 - 17:50
    +11

    we aren't eligible for a refund or credit, as it was a "Starter" fare

    Do we have any options or are we screwed?

    Take the flight or not. The choice is yours, but you are not entitled to a refund for a 'change of mind' as you didn't book a fully flexible fare.

    We have paid $2700 total, and this seems kinda outrageous

    Nothing outrageous, you booked fares with these conditions. Cost has nothing to do with it.

    which I think has some travel cover, but I'm not sure what it includes.

    Most travel insurance doesn't cover 'change of mind', don't want to go now, give me my money back.

  • p1 ama on 11/06/2023 - 17:50
    +11

    Having spoken to Jetstar support, they have told us we aren't eligible for a refund or credit, as it was a "Starter" fare. We have paid $2700 total, and this seems kinda outrageous.

    What's outrageous is that you've not bothered to read the first line of the terms and conditions of a starter fare.

    https://www.jetstar.com/au/en/help/articles/starter-fare-rul…

    To quote, "Non-refundable, except in certain circumstances including under the Australian Consumer Law, your local law or Conditions of Carriage or if you have purchased FareCredit."

    If you want flexibility, then buy a flex fare. End of story.

    • themadman on 11/06/2023 - 18:54
      -7

      Maybe outrageous is a bit of a strong choice of words haha. I guess it just felt rough planning this trip months ago and when we get to the point where we need to cancel discovering that it's not possible with our choice. Guess I'll just have to take the extra cost for cancellation more seriously in future…

  • trustnoone on 11/06/2023 - 17:55

    Unfortunately I think you're fairly screwed? See if you have any cover from credit card or any insurance you may have got? If not hope they make changes to the time/date of the trip and use that to say that they changed your trip and now you want it cancelled. Or else I guess the next closest would be to move dates/times or re-sell tickets and pay for ticket name change (check this though as many times the change fee+fee differenece is more expensive then a completely new ticket).

    TBH I wouldn't go Jetstar overseas anywhere purely because of this. If there's one airline that I've heard over and over again having no issues leaving you stranded, it will be Jetstar. I get that its a cheaper flight, but if I ever purchase Jetstar I pretty much do so assuming that money is gone (like if I play pokies).

    FWIW I hear people tell me that they just keep complaining to companies over and over again until they've had enough and just feel its cheaper to refund you then to stay on the line. I'm not saying you should do that but…

  • markathome on 11/06/2023 - 18:30

    This suggests you can change names:

    https://www.jetstar.com/au/en/help/articles/starter-fare-rul…

    This suggests it'd cost $160:

    https://www.jetstar.com/au/en/help/articles/fees-and-charges

    Tokyo in July can be quite warm but you might find a cousin willing to take up your flights.

    Unfortunately because it's Japan, they'll definitely check passports before boarding but at only $160 why wouldn't you do a name change?

  • Wiadro on 11/06/2023 - 18:43
    +3

    bikies as always

  • timthetoolman on 11/06/2023 - 18:50

    Very poor timing now that there are some JAL return direct flights under 1k. Would be hard pressed to sell these flights to someone, even discounted.

  • coffeeinmyveins on 11/06/2023 - 18:56
    +6

    aren't eligible for a refund or credit, as it was a "Starter" fare. We have paid $2700 total, and this seems kinda outrageous

    I love this sort of thing

    You purchased a cheaper flight ticket without the ability to reschedule or refund and then you're surprised Pikachu face when you can't get a refund

    • themadman on 11/06/2023 - 18:57
      -7

      The outrageous comment may have been a bit much, I admit haha.

      Should you have to pay extra to cancel a flight though? I could understand if there's a no refund on cancellations within a certain period, but seems like a bit of a scam that you have to pay to be able to cancel your flights safely? I dunno, guess I'm biased haha.

      • coffeeinmyveins on 11/06/2023 - 20:41
        +7

        Should you have to pay extra to cancel a flight though

        That's what the higher priced tickets are.

        You purchased probably the cheapest no frills ticket that is cheap BECAUSE you take on more risk.

        You decided to pay less and take more risk, and guess what? It didn't work out for you.

        You can't have your cake and eat it too.

  • payless69 on 11/06/2023 - 19:22

    You have entered into a discounted contract.
    If the supplier can fill it to the agreed condidtion incl fineprint then a contract remains a contract.
    Contract laws seem to differentiate between full price offers and discount offers like take it or leave it contracts vs negotiated contracts.
    Anytime you enter a contract, read the fineprint first and consider getting a second oppinion.

  • Tee Rex Arms on 11/06/2023 - 19:46

    Jetstar? Yuck

  • sonicentropy on 11/06/2023 - 19:55

    Wait till they inevitable change your flight. if more than 4 hours you can get a refund. Japan is still in mask mandatory mode. Gets old quickly.

  • boomramada on 11/06/2023 - 20:10

    Basically just removing a layover on the way there

    So basically Jetstart takes them ahead of schedule, so this may not apply https://www.jetstar.com/au/en/help/articles/compensation-and…

    And I don't think 28 degrees got travel insurance unless OP gets COVID just before the flight https://www.latitudefinancial.com.au/about-us/media-releases…

    At this stage, OP is screwed, good luck with any airline standards, not just Jetstar. Good luck challanging tho.

    • Iwantthebestprice on 11/06/2023 - 20:11
      -1

      Why can’t OP just say before the flight takes off he got COVID and then get refunded? Use the pandemic to your advantage

      • boomramada on 11/06/2023 - 20:13
        +1

        haha if its that easy, OP needs a medical certificate etc. Else we all can get sick freely ;)

  • Cave Fire on 11/06/2023 - 20:25

    Check if you are getting $60 departure taxes each + fees back with the credit. Can claim those separately from border force and maybe Brisbane airport.

  • Eeples on 12/06/2023 - 02:17
    +1

    I always pay for FareCredit when booking with Jetstar.

    Did you consider it?

    https://www.jetstar.com/au/en/help/articles/farecredit

  • WreckTangle on 12/06/2023 - 08:44
    +3

    I’ve been in your situation with Jetstar, and yes you are screwed. You can claim back the security/government surcharge bit of the fare though.

  • Dslrfirst on 12/06/2023 - 11:00

    If you/the ticket purchaser, use/used a credit card & it has complimentary travel insurance it might be worth looking into.

    • boomramada on 12/06/2023 - 13:20
      +2

      complimentary travel insurance

      No travel or CC related insurance cover personal related cancellations.

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