BPS3458 From Australia, joined Oct 2006, 522 posts, RR: 1 Posted (4 years 3 months 3 weeks 3 days 23 hours ago) and read 3106 times:
We currently have a young German girl staying with us helping us with our three little children. She was supposed to return to Germany end of May but as she likes Australia so much she intends to stay longer.
Her return SQ ticket to FRA expires end of May so she asked me if there was any way she could sell this ticket to someone wanting to go to Germany with a one way ticket. My first reaction was "no" but I thought I'd ask the question here in this forum just to be sure.
Kiwiandrew From New Zealand, joined Jun 2005, 8435 posts, RR: 14 Reply 1, posted (4 years 3 months 3 weeks 3 days 23 hours ago) and read 3073 times:
Hi Peter ,
so long as she can find someone else who has exactly the same name on their passport (and is eligible to enter Germany on a one way ticket ) she should have no problems at all ..... about the same odds as winning the lottery on Saturday night , I would have thought .
Moderation in all things ... including moderation ;-)
Mneo From Bulgaria, joined Mar 2004, 776 posts, RR: 1 Reply 2, posted (4 years 3 months 3 weeks 3 days 23 hours ago) and read 3035 times:
Yea, I would have to agree with Kiwi on this one. I have only heard of full fare tickets to be transferable, and i don't think that applies after the first portion of the ticket has been used. IIRC she might be able to get the the taxes back tho.
I know WN issues credits if you return an unused portion of a ticket, but im sure that this does not apply here. But it never hurts to try.
SL1200MK2 From United States of America, joined Sep 2008, 31 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (4 years 3 months 3 weeks 3 days 22 hours ago) and read 2998 times:
You know, I think that if you can not find a way to sell this ticket you are supposed to cancel it or the airlines get mad...something like that. I think it has to do with "hidden city" ticketing or something of that nature and they will take away loyalty points. I don't know if this is of any consequence to the person who holds the ticket so pardon me if this is not necessary information.
BPS3458 From Australia, joined Oct 2006, 522 posts, RR: 1 Reply 4, posted (4 years 3 months 3 weeks 3 days 22 hours ago) and read 2996 times:
Hi Kiwiandrew & Mneo,
thanks for your replies. Will tell her to look for another German with identical name looking to return to FRA in May and to contact SQ and see if she can at least get the taxes back.
Kiwiandrew From New Zealand, joined Jun 2005, 8435 posts, RR: 14 Reply 5, posted (4 years 3 months 3 weeks 3 days 22 hours ago) and read 2996 times:
BTW , even if she tries to just get a refund on the taxes SQ will not normally do it without some proof that she is legally entitled to stay in Australia ( at least that is what SQ do in New Zealand , I assume similar restrictions would apply in OZ )
Moderation in all things ... including moderation ;-)
SkyguyB727 From United States of America, joined Sep 2007, 589 posts, RR: 1 Reply 6, posted (4 years 3 months 3 weeks 3 days 22 hours ago) and read 2990 times:
BPS3458, a quick check of SQ's Contract of Carriage would have given you the answer you are seeking. Here it is, copied directly from the contract:
d) Ticket not Transferable.
A ticket is not transferable.
Cospn From Northern Mariana Islands, joined Oct 2001, 1480 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (4 years 3 months 3 weeks 3 days 22 hours ago) and read 2970 times:
In the USA this would be a violation of Immigration rules, Id Check with the Immigration in Australia, I think they are more strict than USA
Kiwiandrew From New Zealand, joined Jun 2005, 8435 posts, RR: 14 Reply 9, posted (4 years 3 months 3 weeks 3 days 22 hours ago) and read 2944 times:
Quoting BPS3458 (Reply 8): Thanks guys. It is just her ticket expiring not her visa. She is legally in Australia and will return to Germany before her visa expires.
Hi Peter , sorry to sound negative but you will probably find that being legally in Australia actually requires her to hold a valid outbound ticket , if she submits it for a refund of taxes she no longer has a valid outward ticket and therefore technically is no longer legally in the country - this may sound silly but it is true in many countries and I would assume it is true for Australia - please advise her to be careful as I have known of people caught out this way before and forced to buy a full fare oneway ticket to satisfy immigration ( this is also the reason why SQ will usually not process any refund of taxes or residual value on the ticket as they need to cover their arse in case they get into trouble with Aussie Immigration )
I worked in the travel industry for a number of years and learned quickly never to assume anything with regard to legality of stay - I cannot emphasise enough that before she attempts to do anything to her ticket she really needs to check with the Australian Immigration authorities - better to be safe than sorry ... hope she enjoys her extended stay and has no hassles - regards
Moderation in all things ... including moderation ;-)
747m8te From Australia, joined Aug 2008, 405 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (4 years 3 months 3 weeks 3 days 19 hours ago) and read 2842 times:
Quoting Kiwiandrew (Reply 9): Hi Peter , sorry to sound negative but you will probably find that being legally in Australia actually requires her to hold a valid outbound ticket
I know that is the case for NZ Immigration (as well as many other countries) if on visa waver, unless on a visa that states otherwise that outward travel waved, but my understanding is that Australain Immigration actually doesn't require outward tickets, strange I know seeing as they are so tight on other policies...the fact that everyone entering Australia except for Kiwis requires a Visa may mean they are processed more thoroughly before entry??? Probably find an answere in regards to immigration policies on Aus Immigration web site
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LH470 From Germany, joined Jan 2008, 56 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (4 years 3 months 3 weeks 3 days 19 hours ago) and read 2798 times:
Hi Peter,
Did you already try to contact SQ? May be the fare rules allow her to pay the difference between the fare paid and a fare with a longer maximum stay (in addition to the rebooking fee). This might be cheaper than buying a new one-way ticket to Germany. However, no fare has a maximum stay exeeding 12 months.
BPS3458 From Australia, joined Oct 2006, 522 posts, RR: 1 Reply 12, posted (4 years 3 months 3 weeks 3 days 4 hours ago) and read 2586 times:
Hi guys,
told her to give LH Sydney a ring (she bought her ticket through LH not SQ) and see if she can somehow book a later flight and simply pay the fare difference. If not possible she will simply purchase a new ticket. Thanks for all your helpful replies.
Leskova From Germany, joined Oct 2003, 6075 posts, RR: 72 Reply 13, posted (4 years 3 months 3 weeks 2 days 17 hours ago) and read 2548 times:
Quoting LH470 (Reply 11): However, no fare has a maximum stay exeeding 12 months.
Agree with your other comments, but I'll just comment on this remark: there are fares exceeding 12 months, though not on LH and/or SQ... we have 18 month youth/student fares from Air New Zealand that we sell.
As for the ticket in question here, I agree that asking for an upgrade to the next applicable fare, whichever one offers a 12M maximum validity, is the best idea.
Bps3458 From Australia, joined Oct 2006, 522 posts, RR: 1 Reply 14, posted (4 years 3 months 3 weeks 1 day 7 hours ago) and read 2505 times:
Hi everyone,
after getting all the helpful replies, thought I'd let you know final outcome. Her father called LH in Germany. Her ticket can't be changed but she is entitled to departure tax refund of approx. EUR 13.00.
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