Swiss Air: due to latest entry qualifications both ends am cancelling a 5 day trip to the UK end of next week. Hotels, car and restaurants all cancelled so just Swiss flight left to sort, but all they offer is ability to change date of flight to a random plucked date in the future and then, as I want to go asap, change again to new dates when the hassle lifted....what is wrong with a credit note (like BA for any fare), surely would save everyone a great deal of time and, as the same end result but simpler, would cut the workload for Swiss?!
It might be more convenient for you, but it most definitely is going to increase the workload for Swiss. You know little things like developing new accounting modules, training staff etc....
Swiss International Airlines is the company you are talking about. Swissair ceased to exist in 2002.
Which ticket option did you choose, Economy Classic or Economy Flex? With the Classic, no refunds are given, even with the Flex, they keep 80 Francs. If you booked with your credit card, there may be a way to recoup that. The only way to book an LX flight that is fully refundable if you decide not to fly is to go for the Business Flex. Or to book using a corporate account that has special conditions with Swiss, as some of my former colleagues used to do.
Lesson learned, read the T&Cs before you book next time, even more important in these times of uncertainty. Although not ideal, rebook for 2021, you can always change again if it gets cancelled.
Booked Business Saver so was aware not as flexible, not asking for my money back, just questioning why they don't make their life easier (oh and the customer's which never hurts) by shortcutting the process of jamming up their forward flight schedules with flights people have no intention of taking only to reschedule it later to another time...when a credit note would do the exact same job
They had the 'refund voucher' option in their software from when it was active last year, can't be that hard to turn it back on. Also in terms of staff, enabling people to do this online would save thousands of staff hours from fielding calls on rebooking flights many don't want to take. That's why BA have this now. Also.... perish the thought a company wants to make life easier for the customer
Brilliant thanks, wasn't aware of Zurich Relax Travel cover.
Only thing left to cancel on my trip is four rather expensive tickets to Phantom of the Opera....
... super efficient, whilst typing just got a very friendly email from the theatre with a £385 credit note to be used at leisure to rebook the performance over the next two years...that's service!
I made the mistake of booking Business Saver for a flight due to go in the middle of Dec which cost Fr40 to rebook to May. Have now upgraded to business flex as I can rebook without further charge - in case May is also not a goer.
When I cancelled the flights last Sunday the person I spoke to after a 40-minute wait was confused and amongst other things gave me the phone number of their insurance company in Belgium!?!
She also told me to complete the cancellation form from the link in the footer of their website (Refund/Compensation). This I did on Monday. This morning I received an email from Swiss advising they will be refunding all my flight costs within 21 days - less 2 x CHF30 service fee. Approx CHF750.00.
I'm surprised and delighted as I had booked the cheapest option with one extra piece of luggage each way...
A tip for anyone holding a Swiss Sliver or higher M&M card. There's a phone number printed in font size 1 and partially obscured by the embossed card number. Call it during office hours and you'll be straight through to their central ticketing office within a minute and they'll do everything right there on the phone. Call out of hours or on Sunday and you'll be wanking in treacle for an hour or 2 with their regular call centre.
I called the senator number during office hours today - and was stuck in a seemingly endless queue, waiting for a representative, until their system gave up and disconnected me. Tried calling twice more, same scenario.
I'll try first thing tomorrow morning, perhaps I'll get lucky.