Qatar Airways launches free flight ticket changes FOR ALL whilst S7 launches full refunds

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Qatar Airways has become the latest airline to bring in a change waiver.

The waiver applies to new bookings AND existing bookings. Here’s looking at you, BA and Virgin Atlantic …..

This waiver is also more flexible than the one offered by British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, because Qatar Airways WILL allow you to cancel. The only snag is that your refund will be in the form of a Qatar Airways travel voucher, valid for 12 months.

The waiver applies for tickets booked for travel by 30th June. Up until three days before departure you can either request a change of date (repriced based on the current fare for the date you want) or take the voucher.

You can read more on the Qatar Airways website here.

S7 Airlines also shows how it should be done ……

S7, based in Russia and part of the oneworld alliance alongside British Airways, has announced that ALL tickets are now refundable.

Any ticket bought in any class from now until 10th April can be refunded up to 40 minutes before departure for a 1,000 Ruble (£11) administration fee.

Let’s see how long it takes for British Airways, Virgin Atlantic etc to copy this. I don’t see any other realistic solution in the medium term.

Category

Qatar Airways and Privilege Club

This article is closed to new posts. Discussion continues in the HfP Forums.

Travel Strong says:

7 Mar7 March 09:41

OT: Virgin card blocked. Called VM, answer: “call back monday” – your account is under review, we do not know why. It’s times like these you really appreciate Amex customer service!

(Note: suspect account just locked due to large transaction attempt abroad, not curvy seagulls – but will take 3 days to unlock / find out!)
- The Streets says:
  
  7 Mar7 March 09:50
  
  Customer service for Amex accounts under review also operate Monday to Friday
Grant says:

7 Mar7 March 09:44

Given the plentiful supply of reward tickets available LHR > MIA on Virgin I was thinking about booking something for the summer school holidays. Any pointers about where to head from there would be welcome – kids are 3 and 5 and I’d prefer to do the Disney thing in a few years when they will probably get more out of it. i was thinking about the Keys?
- Qwertyknowsbest says:
  
  7 Mar7 March 09:56
  
  Keys stunning scenery, but limited on child friendly hotels and but run down in parts. Key West is over rated (my opinion) and not very child friendly. Look at the Hilton Curio on Key Largo, good kid friendly beach. Also look at Naples just across from Miami, stunning beaches and more.
- Anna says:
  
  7 Mar7 March 10:47
  
  Consider a couple of days in Miami, there is the aquarium if you like that kind of thing. Outside Orlando not that much to do for small kids. North of Miami there are good resorts and beaches, or the gulf coast is lovely. You will need plenty of options to keep cool in the summer so I would go for a resort with good pool facilities and preferably condo-type units so you always have access to chilled water/ice/food your kids will eat!
  - Mj says:
    
    7 Mar7 March 11:07
    
    My vote would be to go up the gulf coast too. I also like Fort Lauderdale but not a lot to do for kids.
    - TripRep says:
      
      7 Mar7 March 13:58
      
      +1 for Gulf Coast, St Pere Beach, Clearwater and up to Crystal River
      - TripRep says:
        
        7 Mar7 March 13:59
        
        *St Pete Beach
      - J says:
        
        8 Mar8 March 00:39
        
        Yeah St Pete’s Beach/Clearwater area is great for kids. My daughter (4) loves collecting shells at Pass-a-grill and trying to spot dolphins from the fishing pier at Fort de Soto. And if you drive to Tampa, I reckon Busch Gardens is the best theme park there is for under 5s.
- thehornets says:
  
  7 Mar7 March 11:32
  
  We are using Virgin miles to fly into Miami and back home via Orlando.
  
  Miami will give time to visit the Everglades, the Keys, Miami itself and some beaches (perhaps Clearwater) and then drive North to Orlando for some theme parks afterwards.
  
  You could also (depending on how you feel about cruise ships at the moment) take a short cruise to the Carribbean.
- Ken says:
  
  7 Mar7 March 12:38
  
  Would anyone holiday in Florida in the summer with kids if it wasn’t for;
  a) theme parks.
  b) school holidays.
  
  Heat and humidity so high you will need constant access to air conditioning or a pool.
  Kids would love it in 3 or 4 years. Now just seems like torturing yourself.
  - Lady London says:
    
    7 Mar7 March 16:03
    
    Yes but Florida is especially great for the sorts of food or more correctly ‘food’ that kids love.
    
    I don’t have kids but having been there a few times (for business, personally I can’t stand the place) I would recommend Gulf Coast say around St Petersburg or Naples.
    - Lady London says:
      
      7 Mar7 March 16:04
      
      agree with poster above though that unless you personally want to go to this location, they’d enjoy it more from around 7 or 8 onwards.
      - Lady London says:
        
        7 Mar7 March 16:05
        
        PS Find out when Spring Break is and avoid it.
- Clive says:
  
  7 Mar7 March 12:49
  
  We have done Marco Island a few times (JW and Hilton). Very laid back, nice beach and child friendly. Clearwater is also good with most things walkable and lots to do. The unlimited crab legs at Gators is a must.
- Grant says:
  
  7 Mar7 March 20:12
  
  Thanks all – plenty to think about. Perhaps summer school holidays is not the best time to go given the high temps and humidity. Virgin miles buring a hole in my pocket!
Nick says:

7 Mar7 March 10:07

I wonder if the Qatar voucher covers the rebooking of another flight to the same destination or just a voucher to the equivalent cost paid for the original flight? I ask because i night a ticket in a sale.
- Rob says:
  
  7 Mar7 March 10:21
  
  General Qatar voucher AFAIK
Nicky says:

7 Mar7 March 10:08

OT: sorry no bits but I just want some confirmation. Am I right in thinking that if I cancel my BAPP card that I will keep my 2-4-1 voucher and as long as I have another AmEx (going to apply for Gold card) that will mean I can still use the 2-4-1 later on in the year?
- rams1981 says:
  
  7 Mar7 March 10:20
  
  You should keep the voucher. Only requirement is to pay with an Amex.
  - Genghis says:
    
    7 Mar7 March 10:33
    
    And that’s any Amex. I used a friend’s during my ban.
    - Russ 😷 says:
      
      7 Mar7 March 12:12
      
      You were banned Genghis?
      - Genghis says:
        
        7 Mar7 March 14:20
        
        Yes. I’m back now though. I took the mic but they were draconian in their response. We came to an agreement.
    - mr_jetlag says:
      
      7 Mar7 March 13:16
      
      When we redeemed my wife’s 241 they insisted on using a card in her name.
      - Genghis says:
        
        7 Mar7 March 14:19
        
        Put in your card details in your wife’s name and the payment goes through fine.
Novice says:

7 Mar7 March 10:48

Just got an email from United.

Any flight, any class, any fare type, any destination will be able to change dates for a year for free if booked in March.

I think that’s not bad.
- Rob says:
  
  7 Mar7 March 11:40
  
  Not really – fare difference still due and no help if travelling for a specific event.
  - Ken says:
    
    7 Mar7 March 12:51
    
    So other than only applying to March bookings, what’s the difference between United and Qatar ?
    - Rob says:
      
      7 Mar7 March 14:57
      
      The Qatar waiver is for pre-existing bookings. United is telling you to get stuffed if you already had a ticket – the waiver only applies to new purchases.
      
      Qatar will give you a travel voucher if you choose to cancel. United only lets you change date on the same route, no cancellations.
Novice says:

7 Mar7 March 10:49

You beat me to it.
Colin MacKinnon says:

7 Mar7 March 11:47

Haven’t read the small print of the Business Amex Plat insurance.

Will it cover me if a trade show is cancelled? Have BA tickets Scotland-LHR-Zurich for AERO Friedrichshaven and suspect it will not be going ahead.

Plan B is to bid for the Verbier chefs weekend – but its a bit of a trek from Zurich to Verbier!

Anyone got any other ideas for a non-ski-ing weekend in Switzerland at the start of April?
- Colin MacKinnon says:
  
  7 Mar7 March 13:00
  
  OK, Aero Friedrichshaven now cancelled.
  
  So Plan B or C!
  - Lady London says:
    
    7 Mar7 March 15:22
    
    Depends how much driving you’d be doing. And how many days do you have?
    
    I often land at FDH, BSL or ZRH with the aim of heading to any of;-
    
    MIL (perhaps not now)
    MUC and area is not out of the question.
    Zermatt, couple of very nice hotels there, luxury experience. Same available IIRC some spa luxury weekends sold in hotels vaguely near (not in) Dornbirn.
    ZRH/Lausanne/Gva. Depends what you’re looking for. Some nice hotels in Montreux too.
    
    I think I would do a short stay in a luxury hotel in Interlaken area and do short day excursions. That time of year you might be lucky and get sunshine. But I’d be prepared for grey and rainy as it rains a lot in Switzerland.
    
    If I didn’t know of any hotels I particularly wanted I would look at Small Luxury Hotels, maybe take a look at Alistair Sawday in case there are hints there if I wanted something quirky/ modest, look at tchibo.de which may have the odd luxury-ish 4* poss, just poss, 5* excellent few-days hotel-spa deal. Maybe they have something in the Black Forest with excellent dining (I like game there but not the right season really).
    
    That area I worked in when young so I know Bregenz Dornbirn Zermatt. When I land at these airports now I’m usually heading somewhere 3-5 hours away as it’s so convenient to reach so much from there.
Benilyn says:

7 Mar7 March 11:51

OT: is it okay to cancel the free IHG card immediately after 20k points post? Or is there a smart way / time frame to close it to most protect credit score?

Still sore after Barclaycard rejected me for their 0% card 🤣
- Grant says:
  
  7 Mar7 March 12:16
  
  Terms allow clawback of points if you don’t keep it for six months. Stick it in a drawer and set yourself a reminder.
- Lumma says:
  
  7 Mar7 March 12:59
  
  Unless you have the premium card too, isn’t it one card that’s worth just sticking in a drawer for the free gold status with IHG
  
  They do also send semi regular 0% balance transfer offers too if you’d have any use (not fee free however)
- The_Real_A says:
  
  7 Mar7 March 13:48
  
  Don’t cancel if you ever want it again. It appears everyone is barred from re-application.
  - Genghis says:
    
    7 Mar7 March 14:15
    
    I’ve had the free one twice now. I guess I’m Creation’s target customer…
  - paulm says:
    
    7 Mar7 March 16:11
    
    Recently accepted after being rejected for re-applying previously. Maybe 2 years is the magic time frame!