COVID-19 is no doubt going to be one of the most impactful things happening in Aviation over the next year and even into the coming years. While it’s visibly hurting tourism and economy’s around the world, airlines are really feeling the pain, and some are also close to major financial problems. Our Australian airlines have been pretty slow to react with the virus and have even been pretty relaxed, quite the opposite to other carriers who were a lot more lenient. I’m happy to announce that  Virgin Australia improves its change & cancellation policy starting today.

Within two hours of each other, our major airlines both introduced new policies which much better match other carriers around the world.

Virgin Australia 777 Departing Sydney

Virgin Australia Improves Its Change & Cancellation Policy

• All bookings made and travelling with Virgin Australia up until June 30th will be eligible for free changes, the only part you would have to pay for is the fare difference is there is one.
• If you want to cancel your trip, you’ll be able to put your flight value into travel credit, free of charge
• You’re able to make a maximum of two changes for free on international itineraries
• You’re able to make a maximum of one change for free on domestic itineraries
• If you’ve got a booking made from March 12th, you’re able to make changes online
• If you booked before this date, you’ll need to contact the call centre

Virgin Australia’s 777 Business Class

Important things to remember during this time:

• Don’t be an ass, be considerate and calm on the phone – you’re not the only one in this.

This is something that happens all to often. When something goes wrong with flights, some people just start getting angry with staff who are at the front line of the airline, in person or on the phone. The call centres are extremely busy, so patience is definitely needed. If you can do something online, do that and if you can, use the airlines’ social media networks as these can often be the best ways to quickly get the necessary information.

• Reconsider your need to travel

Even if you aren’t too concerned with actually catching the virus, the uncertainty in the air is severe enough to make a lot of people reconsider their travel. Many people will be travelling on holidays, and the last thing you want to do is have to cancel quickly and rush home due to the possibility of not being able to travel.