Advice for travellers affected by Bali flight cancellations

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ConsumerTravel agent

Consumer Protection has issued advice to people travelling to Bali during the school holidays who may be affected by flight cancellations due to the latest volcanic eruption.

Before leaving, passengers should check the terms and conditions of their ticket in the event of flight suspensions or cancellations and to review their travel insurance policies.

Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard said that travellers may find themselves stranded and out of pocket if they decide to travel without doing the proper checks.

“The terms and conditions of the various airline tickets can vary, so consumers should contact their airline before travelling to determine what will happen if their flight is delayed or cancelled,” Mr Hillyard said.

“While most airlines will endeavour to re-schedule their passengers during these events, they may not necessarily offer refunds for circumstances outside of their control or if the passenger decides to travel on another airline.

“As this eruption has been an ongoing issue for many months, travel insurance policies may exclude claims to recover losses as the policy holder was aware of the risks of disruption prior to departure.

“So check existing policies to ensure you are covered for these circumstances and, if not, consider purchasing another policy which agrees to cover you, as the extra accommodation and meal costs for delayed departures could be significant, especially if travelling as a family.

“Check also that the policy will cover costs related to booking alternative flights if required and make sure you keep all receipts related to these extra costs for your claim.”

Consumers requiring further information and advice can contact Consumer Protection by email consumer@dmirs.wa.gov.au or by calling 1300 30 40 54.

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Media Contact: Alan Hynd, (08) 6552 9248 / 0429 078 791 / alan.hynd@dmirs.wa.gov.au  

Consumer Protection
Media release
29 Jun 2018

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