Do airlines know something we don't?

[chickentikka2020]

Easyjet are planning to resume flight to 75% of its network by August and have jut launched their Summer 2020 sale.

I wonder what makes them so confident everything will be ok travel-wise by that point? Is this a sign that International/European travel will be resuming very shortly?

Still waiting on a refund from EasyJet on the flights they cancelled in March, so are a lot of other people (look at their FB page). We booked directly too. I would never ever book with them again.

I'd like to go on a city break in December for a few nights to celebrate 2020 coming to a close, hopefully it will be possible then if there's no huge second wave

Our August flights to Bangkok have just been cancelled by airline so presumably they are not expecting Thailand to take UK tourists in August. We were cancelling anyway so glad to get a full refund on flights even if I did have to fill in a 3 page form per person per seat reservation per flight and another one each for the flights.

I booked direct and was very wary of advice to pay in full and then insurance will refund. Seemed a bit like russian roulette if you don't want to go anyway. I pulled out of the Italy school trip early and told school to add it to insurance claim as didn't want to risk whole amount, insurance did pay out too in the end for deposit.

I wouldn't be amazed if travel restrictions are lifted by UK government in a month or two though to keep the airlines going.

I believe some countries are already lifting quarantine for arrivals, so travel is likely to be possible soon even if it's not appealing to as many people as normal.

I'd booked to go to France at Easter, and I'm still hoping to go in the summer. I don't care if a lot of tourist things are closed, I just want to see my family who live there. There will always be some demand from people like me, even if there are less holidaymakers.

Can't help wondering if it's to save insurance companies from paying out and leaving people to carry the cost if they decide not to go.
I can't imagine how long it would take to pass through an airport and board planes if social distancing is enforced. It would take hours.

I would be cautious when booking anything.
I’m willing to be that there will be a ‘no refund in the case of pandemics’ clause in the small print.

Doubt if they know anything spectacular. They’re an airline at a time when people aren’t travelling. They need to do something to try to get people booking. apparent confidence may sway some.
I won’t be going anywhere this summer because of personal circumstances . It would be bloody marvellous if people could fly off on holidays by then, though. We’ll just have to see how it plays out.

Finally!! Holidays are back. Holidays are a big part of our lives so really happy to hear that, couldn't bear being stuck at home any longer, need a change!!

EasyJet looks like they may be considering cutting some of their routes over July and August , although they haven’t officially cancelled them. There are a lot of flights which are now sold out which were previously available. This might be due to the sale but I’m not convinced.

EasyJet look to be returning with a reduced schedule and lots of low fares to tempt people into flying. They are advising it will be mandatory to wear masks onboard which will be interesting for those with young children. My concerns would be the restrictions at destinations, possible testing and temperature checks on arrival, queues for everything, ticketed beaches and pool time slots.

I work for easyJet and this is news to me as we’ve been told different. Airlines are one of the few industries right now that are paying out more than what is coming in. It’s a tough time for all but we remain optimistic.

@KoalasandRabbit

Which airline is it.
I have flights to Thailand booked for July.
Still not canx. 😫

But from next week you'll need to quarantine for 14 days when you come back to U.K. so unless you want to take 3 weeks annual leave off work for 1 week in the sun, or can afford to take unpaid leave for 2 weeks, why would anyone book right now??

As soon as I can I will be going to Croatia, whether that is flying or driving. I don’t care about restaurants etc being closed. The hills and the Adriatic will still be open :)

I think this is a bit of a cynical move from them, yes undoubtedly to try to address cash flow issues. It's not surprising really. But definitely a question of 'on your own heads be it' for people booking - insurance won't cover this I shouldn't think, and the airlines will try to hold onto cash for as long as possible or issue credit notes in the event they don't fly.

It’s irrelevent if the FCO don’t lift travel restrictions, if people are stupid enough to go, they won’t be covered by travel insurance.
We have easyjet flights to Prague booked for mid July, the cynic in me thinks easyjet dont want to pay refunds so will force people into claiming on insurance ( those of us who booked before lockdown can claim I think).

Greece is basically back open as of July 1st. Which realistically will make it difficult for the countries immediately surrounding them, at least, not to open at least to a similar extent.

No way would I take my chances with EasyJet though!

@wannabebetter

But from next week you'll need to quarantine for 14 days when you come back to U.K. so unless you want to take 3 weeks annual leave off work for 1 week in the sun, or can afford to take unpaid leave for 2 weeks, why would anyone book right now??

I work from home so quarantining would be easy for me.

We’ve paid in full for a holiday to Greece this summer and I’m extremely anxious about it going ahead so we won’t get a refund but it being not at all the holiday we’ve booked!

All I care about is a week’s swimming in the sunshine so if there are timed slots for the beach and pool, it’s not a holiday I want to do. I am so desperate to swim I have spent all evening searching for houses to buy with indoor swimming pools and researching the cost of having one installed (no, I definitely can’t afford it!). So if swimming is restricted, I don’t want the holiday. And I’m anxious about the flight, the hotel has a buffet restaurant which can’t possibly function. If we’d booked a self catering villa with private pool I’d want to go, assuming Greece will let UK tourists in and quarantine is manageable. But a busy hotel trying to space out the guests - no way. I’m assuming though that we will lose the money if flights are running and the hotel opens albeit with heavy restrictions. I am severely regretting paying the balance in full months in advance!!

“But from next week you'll need to quarantine for 14 days when you come back to U.K. so unless you want to take 3 weeks annual leave off work for 1 week in the sun, or can afford to take unpaid leave for 2 weeks, why would anyone book right now??hmm”

Folk that are working from won’t need to take any annual leave to isolate.

The quarantine isn’t just about not going to work though. You’re meant to completely stay at home. No food shopping and no going to public areas.

Interesting. We’ll have nowhere to go, of course.

This won't affect me as I won't be booking anything, so I may not be up-to-date with the latest position, but my understanding is that there was a Europe-wide agreement that airlines having to cancel bookings for Covid-related reasons can refund with vouchers instead of cash. If that's still the case, I imagine this is a fairly cynical strategy to get consumers to give them a massive interest-free loan that won't be repayable at all if they go bust. It's up to you, but I would be cautious myself, and not just because of the germs.

Because they are desperate for cash flow. If it gets to the date you were supposed to fly and that country is not accepting UK visitors they will just issue you a credit note and put two fingers up to you losing out on accommodation/car hire.
Insurance unlikely to cover you for booking when there are still restrictions.
Even if you do get there the changes are you need to quarantine for the entire holiday.

Ihatethecold It's EVAAir, I looked on 31 May and noticed our flight wasn't for sale which seemed odd then yesterday checked their website and they are refunding through to end August. They haven't sent me an e-mail though but both our flight there and back no longer on their schedule, mid week flights.

Still got £1.1k of AirAsia flights and they are not refunding even when they cancel and looks like nothing you can do, our insurance doesn't cover internal flights either in small print. AirAsia insurance is useless. They are doing credit notes and at least these now last for 2 years. Our dates aren't covered yet, currently goes to end August.

EVA does say up to 2 months for a refund but people are reporting refunds coming through within a week so fairly hopeful though paid by Paypal on day came out and Paypal only gives 6 months to refund. We are just down to AirAsia flights and 2 hotels who won't refund, one is owned by AirAsia. Other one is a big company over there but won't even reply. I've had quite a few issues getting refunds but getting there now.