Travelers given rebook option

Travelers who might have had flights on Samoa Airways cancelled due to the state of emergency orders will be given options including rebooking without extra fees. 

The announcement from the national carrier, posted on its website, follows Cabinet’s decision last week to close Samoa’s borders starting from midnight last Wednesday. 

Samoa Airways says the option is to assist passengers travelling on the airline who have had flights withdrawn or rescheduled due to the recent flight schedule restrictions. 

It also covers those who had to postpone travel plans due to the new state-imposed travel restrictions following concerns about the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). 

Options include passengers changing their bookings to the next available flight without any fees or fare differential up to and including 11 April 2020.

The airline states that date change waivers will be permitted for new travel dates up to 30 June 2020. 

“All changes and rebooking must be done 48 hours in advance of original dates booked,” the company said in a statement 

“Or an option to transfer the full ticket value to a credit voucher to be held for further travel on Samoa Airways services valid for 12 months from the purchase date of the original ticket. 

“No cancellation or transfer fees will be charged, however any fare difference will apply when rebooking if the same fare is not available on your new dates of travel.” 

According to Samoa Airways, refunds as a form of payment will be only honoured according to fare conditions on original tickets purchased. 

The statement added that the national carrier is not liable for any other separately ticketed or booked connecting flight services and any other related costs such as hotel, tour or other ground transportation. 

“No show” passengers are not eligible for the change waivers or credit, says the airline. 

“Reminder that the above options and waivers only applies to passengers that have been ticketed on Samoa Airways between now and the 31st March, 2020 and have had to change or cancel their travel due to government imposed travel restrictions in relation to COVID-19 or being affected by any flights service changes or cancellation due to new flight schedule restrictions,” the conditions state. 

The Government’s state of emergency is effective for 14 days starting from 22 March 2020. 

Samoa Airways had also closed its ticketing offices in New Zealand, Australia and Samoa since Thursday 26 March until further notice.