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Qatar gives away 100,000 free flights
Qatar Airways will give away 100,000 free tickets to frontline healthcare professionals to say thank you for their heroic work looking after people during the current COVID-19 pandemic.
The giveaway will open at 00.01 AM on 12 May and close at 23:59 on 18 May (Doha time) which is 22.01 UK time today, 11 May, closing at 21.59 on 18 May. Healthcare professionals can register for the offer at qatarairways.com/ThankYouHeroes by submitting a form to receive a unique promotion code, offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
Healthcare professionals from every country in the world will be eligible for tickets. To ensure the application process is fair and transparent, each country will receive a daily allocation of tickets, depending on its population size, staggered over a seven day period from 12 to 18 May. The daily allocation will be released at 22.00 UK time (00:01 AM Doha Tim) throughout the campaign period.
The 100,000 healthcare professionals that receive the promotion code can book up to two complimentary Economy Class return tickets on Qatar Airways operated flights – one for themselves and one for a companion – to anywhere on the airline’s global network. Tickets must be booked before 26 November, with travel valid until 10 December 2020. The tickets will be fully flexible, with an unlimited number of destination or date changes allowed without any fees. Fare and surcharges will be waived on tickets, airport taxes apply.
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “We at Qatar Airways are incredibly grateful for the commitment and hard work of healthcare professionals around the world who looked after people in these times of uncertainty. Their heroic display of kindness, dedication, and professionalism has saved hundreds of thousands of lives around the world.
“We have built a strong level of trust with passengers, governments, trade partners, and airports as a reliable partner during this crisis and we intend to continue delivering on this mission by acknowledging the incredible efforts of these heroes. Our crew and operation has never given up during these past three months, never abandoned hope or their mission to help people get home to their loved ones and we do not intend to do so now.
“United in dedication, we share our gratitude. Now it is our turn to give something back to those on the healthcare frontline. There are no words or gestures that are enough to repay these brave men and women but we hope that our small offer of a complimentary return flight on Qatar Airways will allow them to enjoy a well-deserved holiday, visit family and friends or explore a destination they have always dreamed of, as travel restrictions start to ease.”
As a further gesture of appreciation, healthcare professionals will be offered additionally a voucher with 35% discount to redeem at Qatar Duty-Free retail outlets at the airline’s state-of-the-art hub, Hamad International Airport (HIA) in Doha, valid for use up to 31 December 2020.
Marriott 20% off e-gift vouchers
Hotels are gradually catching on to the fact that to get money, offering a gift voucher at a discounted rate is a good idea. Marriott have jumped on the bandwagon and are offering 20% off e-gift certificates until 17 May.
Marriott eGiftCards can be purchased up to US$5,000 per person per credit card per day. Obviously, you and your other half could buy one each if you really wanted to go to town. There is little risk of Marriott going bankrupt, so I would view these as a safe investment providing you are sure you will stay in a Marriott property soon and have considered all the factors I list below.
It takes up to 7 business days for an e-gift card to arrive due to authorisation.
They are available in 5 demonstrations:
- $50 gift card for $40
- $100 gift card for $80
- $250 gift card for $200
- $500 gift card for $400
- $1,000 gift card for $800
The gift cards don’t expire but there is one big watch out. You have to use them to pay on-site – you can’t use them for prepay rates. You can use them for spas, restaurants and hotel stays etc. You also can’t use them at Marriott Homes and Villas, Design Hotels, Bulgari Hotels, or Ritz-Carlton Residences.
You can find the relevant page here.
CAA reiterates that airlines must obey the law for refunds on cancelled flights
The CAA has released a statement that they are now looking at how airlines are processing refunds. Some airlines I think are acting illegally. For example, Swiss and Lufthansa are saying their refund departments are closed until the end of summer. BA for all their faults have refunded all of my bookings in full within about 3 weeks. EU rules state that they must refund cancelled flights within seven days (fourteen for a package holiday). While CAA and the government acknowledge airlines should be shown some patience as they simply don’t have the staff to process the volume of refunds, how much of it is deliberate? Virgin, for example, are saying 90 days – that’s a lot longer than 7 days for something that they should have an automatic process for. Ryanair are saying it will take 6 months!!
The CAA’s statement said
“We are reviewing how airlines are handling refunds during the coronavirus pandemic, and will consider if any action should be taken to ensure that consumer rights are protected,”
“Under the law, consumers are entitled to receive a refund for their cancelled flights, despite the challenges the industry is currently facing.”
“We support airlines offering consumers vouchers and rebooking alternatives where it makes sense for the consumer.
“But it is important that consumers are given a clear option to request a cash refund without unnecessary barriers.
“We expect airlines to provide refunds for cancelled flights as soon as practically possible, while appreciating there are operational challenges for airlines in the current circumstances.
“We have published guidance and advice for both industry and consumers, and we continue to engage with airlines on this important issue.
“We do not expect airlines to systematically deny consumers their right to a refund.”
What do you think is a reasonable amount of time to get a refund? Let us know in the comments below or on social media.
13 comments
BA cancelled flights that my wife and I were due to take to SFO, returning from PHX. The flights were cancelled on 14 March. I hung on to see what was developing, but called them on 14 April for a refund. Within 2 days I’d received a refund for the seat assignment costs (not cheap in Club World), but I’m still waiting for the flights themselves to be refunded. Ditto for easyJet to Venice using Emirates points (not holding my breath on that one!).
I’m also having problems with getting a valet parking refund using BAs Parkvia. I’ve already successfully used the Amex Platinum dispute route for another valet booking and will be using that again today for the BA flights.
I would wait for the BA flight refund. I got my seat costs refunded promptly but the fare refund took another 10 days.
I cancelled an avios booking the week before lockdown in UK using the workaround detailed by you and your readers and still no refund in my account. Might have only been a Club short haul but even still I’d like it back!
I would recommend chasing them. I chased for one of mine and got it back within 48 hours.
I agreed a refund with Virgin Atlantic on 30 March for a $1400 JFK-LHR return for my elderly mother-in law . They said it would be paid within 90 days.
On 29 April I received an email stating:
QUOTE
Dear Customer,
This is to confirm that we have received your refund application, should you have any inquiry or concern regarding your refund please contact us by email [email protected] and quote your refund reference mentioned above in the email subject area.
UNQUOTE
I replied to them asking why the delay in repayment but have heard nothing.
We are now on day 43 and counting…
I wouldn’t hold your breath!
I’ve just asked for a refund from Lufthansa, for cancelled flights, and was told it might take “2 to 2 and a half ……. months!”
I get that the refund departments are a bit busy, but I’m not sure why it should take so long to hit a ‘Refund’ button on a computer. Maybe, next time I book travel, I should say that I’m a bit busy right now and my payment might take 2 weeks to arrive? 😉
Yes funny how they are quick to take your money, not so quick to give it back.
Etihad have refused to refund me for x4 business class tickets. Several phone calls and two months later they still refuse, they just do not care. They are breaking the law and their own terms and conditions…
Regulation 261/2004 Cancelations by the airline, provides that airlines must refund your ticket no later than 7 days after the scheduled flight
https://www.etihad.com/en-gb/legal/conditions-of-carriage
ARTICLE 10 REFUNDS
10.2 INVOLUNTARY REFUNDS
10.2.1 If we: (i) cancel a flight; (ii) fail to operate a flight reasonably according to schedule; he amount of the refund shall be,
10.2.1.1 if no portion of the Ticket has been used, an amount equal to the fare paid (including taxes, fees, charges)
I had no other option but to start a charge back. I contacted the credit card company this week for an update, they told me that Etihad had submitted documentation to fight the charge !
I had some other tickets booked with BA, they were refunded within a couple of weeks.
I had a few non refundable hotel booking that have all been refunded.
When I need to travel again these company’s will get my business, well done and thank you BA, Hyatt and Shangri-La.
I can’t believe they would fight something that is law! Outrageous
I booked LHR-AMS-NBO Business Class with KLM through Opodo and paid extra for the Opodo Cancel at any Time guarantee.
Opodo has closed all means of contact except phone and app and many webpages are now blank. Phone calls ask for the booking reference then disconnect if the flight is more than a few days away.
The Opodo Facebook page was active so I asked about the guarantee. They said that due to Force Majeure it was invalid. I said there was a detailed Force Majeure clause. The response was that because of Force Majeure the Force Majeure clause is inoperative! That channel of communication has now gone silent.
I received emails from Opodo inviting me to cancel, the links didn’t work. The app does work and I’ve now cancelled but a month on shows no progress.
In the middle of this KLM notified me direct that all four of my flights were cancelled but they had rescheduled just 3 of them. They ‘re not going to bring us back from Nairobi but we have seats AMS – LHR! They invited cancellation so I did.
Opodo has not notified me of this; their app still shows the original flights, but marked cancelled.
The moral? Don’t use agents; it’s another link in the chain which can go wrong.
Yes it is definitely showing why it’s best to book direct. I’m in a similar situation with Priceline with both sides washing their hands of it.
BA were excellent, once we got through the refund was done that day. Also Alaska Airlines were great, one request refund acknowledged, although awaiting actual funds. Hawaiian Airlines were very reluctant but after five messages they relented and the money was refunded instantly. Avios via a Lloyd’s upgrade voucher refunded tax quickly but I have not seen the actual Avios back in the account yet! It does seem to vary depending on airline. Hotels, rental & cruise have all paid up. Took me twice as long to unravel the holiday than book it all!
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