Duty of Care while travelling is a big focus right now. Learn how to create an effective travel risk management programme.
At Corporate Traveller we are aware that the global pandemic of COVID-19 has caused a lot of uncertainty since being declared by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in the beginning of March. There have been multiple steps taken around the world to reduce the spread of the virus that have heavily impacted travel and businesses. In an effort to reduce concerns we have assembled a list of frequently asked questions, so although we don’t know what will happen next, we can advise on what we do know.
Please always check with your own company or your employer’s travel policy and crisis plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Will airlines refund any travel that has been disrupted or cancelled by the coronavirus?
A. There are lots of variables in this situation; it depends on the individual airlines and if your flight was cancelled or you chose not to travel. We recommend getting in contact with your company insurance provider to understand what level of coverage you have and what they are advising. You can then call or email your dedicated Travel Expert for more details about your trip and the specific airline’s policy, if that has changed and what they advise.
We are limited to airline policy on all tickets, therefore we can only offer you free airline changes/cancellations fees where applicable.
Should you request a refund through our company, we will look at what the airline has stated and follow what they’ve approved. If necessary, we can reach out to the airline regarding your individual situation. We can advocate your case to the airline, but unfortunately, we are not able to offer anything that the airline isn’t offering.
For more information please visit our COVID-19 resource page where you can access individual airlines policy pages.
Q. I have an upcoming trip planned, should I cancel it?
A. Again, there are many factors to consider here. These include when your next trip is, where you are travelling to and of course what the situation will be like then. If you are not flying for another six months, you are better off waiting until a little closer to the time as the situation is changing daily.
If your trip is in the imminent future then whether or not you should travel is most likely out of your or our control. Recently travel bans have been put in place advising people not to travel and many flights have been cancelled. Our main recommendation is to follow the Government Advice for updates on your destination as well as advice about travelling outside New Zealand.
Q. Will airlines be doing anything to help prevent the spread of illness when we travel again?
A. Most airlines already have WHO-approved cleaning policies in place for each flight, including disinfecting and cleaning surfaces in between each flight. In addition, many airlines use HEPA filters for air filtration on flights, which remove 99.97% of bacteria in the air on planes. This means that airborne particles that spread viruses aren’t spreading around planes through the recycled air.
Additionally, many airlines are providing virus response kits and additional cleaning materials to crews flying through areas with higher risks and travel warnings.
Q. What measures have Corporate Traveller put in place to manage the ongoing situation?
A. At Corporate Traveller you can be certain that our people are continuing to work hard to support all our clients during these uncertain times. Our exceptional service and amazing people are what we are known for and this doesn’t change during challenging times, in fact it’s when we truly shine. COVID-19 may have generated uncertainty but we are here for all our travellers.
Q. If I need to make changes or cancel an upcoming trip due to the evolving nature of the situation, what do I do?
A. Our dedicated Travel Experts are still working and ready to help you with any requests. You can email or call your dedicated Travel Expert and let them know if you want to reschedule or cancel your upcoming plans. If you have a trip that is in the next 24 hours and it is outside of our regular New Zealand working hours you can reach out to our 24 hour emergency assistance team where a real person will be able to assist you.
Q. I am a travel booker for my company, I need to check what future travel is planned and who is travelling?
A. Get in touch! Your dedicated Travel Expert or Account Manager will be able to pull a report to let you know what upcoming trips you have booked in. Who will be going where and when.
Q. Is there anything I should do when we start travelling again?
A. It’s important to try and remain healthy and follow the below practices when travelling:
- Washing your hands.
- Keep hand sanitizer and wet wipes with you
- Eat well and get plenty of sleep
- Avoid traveling to areas with known outbreaks.
