The Covid-19 pandemic has taken a toll on many industries but it’s clear that the aviation and tourism industry has been hit quite hard by all this. With lay offs and pay cuts plaguing employees of the aviation and tourism industry, we can only hope for them to bounce back after all this.
On top of all this, they’re going to have to deal with customers who have had their trips cut short due to this. As such, many have demanded refunds for flights that were supposed to take place before measures were implemented during the Covid-19 outbreak.
Here are what some airline companies have to offer for flight disruptions amidst the Covid-19 outbreak.
1. AirAsia
AirAsia’s Tony Fernandes took to Instagram to address this recently. To read the full statement, click here.
To summarize, Fernandes revealed that employees would be receiving a 15 % to 75% pay cut depending on the staff seniority. He also urged customers to accept store credit for replacement flights instead of refunds. He highlighted how 80% of customers have accepted their credit offer.
With the credit offer proposed by Air Asia, customers would be:
- provided a 365-day validity
- allowed to change their flight date for an unlimited number of times
They will be accepting requests for refunds on a case by case basis. However, it would take a long process of 12 to 16 weeks due to the overwhelming amount of responses.
It’s quite obvious that Air Asia is having a hard time and Fernandes is basically begging customers to show them some mercy. However, this may not really bode well with many customers especially when it’s clear that their own financial status may not be as stable as it was before.
2. Scoot
Singapore based Low-Cost Airline Scoot on the other hand is offering refunds for flights booked before most flights were suspended due to the Covid-19 outbreak.
For all customers with bookings made on or before 15th March 2020 travelling on flights scheduled to depart between 23rd January 2020 and 31st May 2020 but were unable to travel. Scoot is offering:
- A 100% refund via the original method of payment, or
- A 120% discount on Scoot vouchers, valid for 12 months.
You will receive an email with instruction on how to process your refund in the coming week if your bookings fall within the above dates. This would definitely alleviate Scoot customers who are given two good options to choose from.
3. Malindo Air
It seems like Malindo Air’s method of addressing customer requests for refunds are through vouchers and free change. Flights for tickets issued on or before 17th March 2020 for travel between 17th march 2020 (10 February for flights from and to China and Hong Kong) and 31st March 2020 will be provided a one-time free change (with fare differences applied) to travel.
Redemption of voucher must be completed within 6 months of the issued date. Period of travel permitted is up to 11 months ahead of redemption date. Notice of cancellation must be provided 72 hours before scheduled flight departure. Travel to and from Malaysia and/or Australia differ slightly as its travel voucher is valid up to 6 months for travel up to one year from the date the voucher is issued.
Source: Malindo Air , Lowyat.net , Tony Fernandes (Instagram) , Scoot , Scoot (Twitter)
