Bazle

The rate of progress doesn't seem to have sped up. Shame, as it's a great opportunity to do so in the current environment.

No cancellation charge. I had booked it last September, and was due to fly on 20 April. EVA were offering to accept cancellations without charge. I had to cancel a flight 3 years ago because of an imminent bereavement, and EVA's London office were very polite and efficient. That is the only time I've needed to use Customer Service. In terms of other services, I've found EVA very good, and hope to continue flying with them.

Just checked my credit card account on-line again. The refund got credited on 3 April. Deep joy!! And well done EVA!

Many thanks for that, Butch. You caused me to check. On the EVA website it says: "Refund Status1 Apr. 2020：Refund completed!(it should appear on your statement in 1-2 billing cycles)". I then looked, on-line, at my bank credit card, and it hasn't appeared. ☹️ I'm not sure what EVA mean by "billing cycles". I need to monitor this closely.

That's great, Butch. Thanks. Precisely what I needed to know. 🙂

I had to cancel my flights with EVA because of the Covid-19 problem. EVA have an on-line system to enable such applications. I duly applied on 17 March, and the screen said the money would be refunded back to the original credit card within 7 working days. It has not happened. When I check on their website, it says my refund is "in process". I realise that they must be exceptionally busy, but I'm wondering if any other BMs have experience of getting an EVA refund in recent weeks?

Got this message from a mate earlier this morning (Wednesday): "I decided on Monday to come back after talking with Emirates, they were most helpful & for all the people who write crap on social media there must be arseholes bcos I haven't experienced anything bad with them. I think booking direct with them is a bonus also. Anyway I got the same flight I would have got on the 30th March, yesterday Tuesday and arrived in the Evening, all well.. but a little bemused by the social distancing in the airport arrivals and luggage pickup area, but most of my journey I wore a mask."

I don't think I'm interpreting the situation the same as you are. As I read the situation, absent a vaccine or cure, we are all going to catch it. As some of us will get it very seriously, the government is simply trying to make sure we don't all get it at the same time.

https://www.emirates.com/uk/english/help/travel-updates/ FLIGHT UPDATES Emirates will temporarily suspend most passenger operations by 25 March. Having received requests from governments and customers to support the repatriation of travellers, Emirates will continue to operate flights to the following countries until further notice, as long as borders remain open, and there is demand: the UK, Switzerland, Hong Kong, Thailand, South Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Japan, Singapore, Australia, South Africa, USA, and Canada. We aim to provide affected customers with updated information as early as possible. To receive the latest notifications on your flight, customers should ensure their contact details are updated by visiting manage my booking. Customers can also check the website for their flight status.

Just had a response: She can, because her husband and 3 children are all New Zealanders.

Thanks. I don't know the woman, but have passed your comments on to our mutual friend.

I think that that is the advice found here - https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/thailand?fbclid=IwAR1IMUzsv3UwLG3BTNFqP51Wwy3B17GeTcocQsueZDkOUiNMSJn2_8sJPI0 You will see that it relates to RESIDENTS in Thailand. Edit: It also applies to British nationals in Thailand temporarily.

A friend of a friend here in London was intending to spend a few days in Thailand en route to NZ, to where she is emigrating. She had the test all lined up at a cost of £60, but at the last moment decided to go straight to NZ as a result of the closures in LOS. So it can be done. I, too, was surprised.

Why is that?

My opinion is that you should get back as much of your money as you can, by whatever means possible. Forget postponing - it'll be many months (possibly years) before you'll want / be able to do the trip.