Airlines waive rebooking fees to help passengers

Local airlines waived rebooking fees for passengers whose flights were affected by torrential rains this week as Metro Manila reels from the heaviest rains seen since 2009.

In a statement, flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) said many of its flights were affected by delays at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia), where take offs and landings have been difficult due to the bad weather.

“All passengers who were unable to take their flights due to floods may rebook without penalties and charges,” PAL said.

“This rebooking fee waiver applies to outbound and inbound passengers affected by the current flood situation,” it added.

The rebooking of flights is subject to fare and booking class seat availability.

PAL said it would also accept “high-value” relief goods from around the country to be airlifted for free to areas affected by the weather.

The “humanitarian cargo grant” is part of the flag carrier’s disaster response initiative following massive flooding in the metropolis and surrounding areas.

Reputable non-profit, socio-civic or religious organizations may avail themselves of PAL’s free airlift to send high-value relief goods to their counterparts or partners in Metro Manila on “space-available” basis on PAL domestic flights.

Interested charitable or non-profit organizations should e-mail the PAL Foundation Executive Director—[email protected] —with a packing list of high-value relief items, number, sizes and weight in kilos of the boxes, and their counterpart NGO or consignees’ complete contact details.

Items like rice, instant noodles, sardines, and used clothing which are readily available in the vicinity of calamity-stricken areas are not considered high-value relief goods and therefore ineligible for PAL’s humanitarian cargo grant.

In a separate statement, Cebu Pacific said many of its flights remained on schedule, but warned that last-minute delays and cancellations may occur due to weather conditions.

Cebu Pacific said passengers with flights on Aug. 7 that were cancelled due to the weather would be given two options.

First, passengers would be allowed to rebook their flights within 30 days of the original departure date.

Second, passengers can choose to place the full value of their cancelled ticket in a “travel fund” that can be used for other flights.

In a similar move, AirAsia Inc. Philippines, the local unit of Malaysia’s AirAsia Berhad, said it would allow passengers flying out of its hub in Clark Freeport, Pampanga to reschedule their flights until Aug. 21.

Passengers with flights scheduled on Aug. 7 and 8 would be covered by  AirAsia’s offer.