Flag carrier Philippine Airlines announced on Wednesday that it is offering one-time free rebooking for international tickets purchased on or before March 31 except for tickets originating in Japan and Korea.
The move, according to PAL spokesperson Cielo Villaluna, aims to provide air travelers added flexibility to rebook their flights in time for the COVID-19 concerns.
“If you wish to avail of this offering, you may request for free rebooking at least seven days before your original flight departure date, for travel at any time within the validity of your ticket,” said Villaluna.
The offer covers all types of fares, including Economy Supersaver, Saver and Value fares.
“We will not charge you rebooking fees or penalties for this change. However, if seats for the same fare type are not available on your chosen flight, the fare difference amount will be charged,” Villaluna said.
For succeeding (second) rebooking, penalties and charges may apply in line with the stated fare conditions, she added.
PAL has canceled the following flights due to the travel ban in relation to the coronavirus: 28 round trip flights to and from Doha, 75 round trip flights to and from South Korea (Incheon and Busan), and 69 round trip flights to and from Mainland China and Special Administrative Regions Hong Kong and Macau.
The airline assured its passengers that at the airport, preventive measures are in place.
“We work closely with the Bureau of Quarantine to ensure that our passengers get screened via thermal imagery scanning. Our cabins are subjected to disinfection using high-grade industrial disinfectants. The interior of the cabin—seats, windows, galleys, lavatories, etc.—go through this intensive process.”
PAL cargo hold is also disinfected as well as passenger luggage before these are loaded off the aircraft while cabin crew wear face masks in all phases of the flight and gloves at specific phases of the flight and the planes have hepa filters which purify the air inside the cabin.”
“We continue to cooperate with health authorities in providing essential information in the name of public health and the national interest,” the PAL management said.