Malaysia Airlines has just announced a new marketing initiative, allowing customers one full year of unlimited free changes to tickets booked by June 30th 2020 (fare differences still apply).
This new ticketing condition is designed to encourage Malaysia Airlines customers to keep buying tickets and keep cash flowing in even in times where the majority of the fleet is grounded and border closed.
Right now it’s pretty much an uphill battle to find customers putting their money into airline tickets as it’s hard to find a route where the airline is still operating a reliable schedule that guarantees the customer it’s actually possible to fly.
The respective landing page outlining the ticketing conditions can be found here.
We are enhancing our booking and travel flexibility to give you the freedom to make unlimited changes to your bookings at no extra charge.
All Malaysia Airlines customers with tickets booked on or before 30 June 2020 will be able to make unlimited changes to travel dates with change fees waived or have the flexibility to plan for a new destination (re-route from original destination) in which fare differences may apply.
With this, tickets purchased on or before 30 June 2020 will now be valid for travel completion by 30 June 2021. Requests for extension of travel date must be made by 31 December 2020.
How does it work?
When you are ready to fly, contact Malaysia Airlines Global Contact Centre at 1-300-88-3000 (in Malaysia) or +603 7843 3000 (outside Malaysia) or Malaysia Airlines appointed agents (for tickets booked through travel agencies) to re-book your flight. Call us at least 30 days from the intended date of travel.
If you have yet to convert or change your ticket, submit your requests via Assistance Request form. If you made your booking with a travel agency please make your request through your travel agent.
What you need to know about the extended flexibility:
- You are eligible for unlimited changes with a fee waiver. However, a fare difference will apply if your new fare travel is higher than the original ticket fare purchased.
- If you choose to cancel your tickets, the cancellation fee will be waived for partially used and totally unused tickets. The cancellation policy is applicable for refundable and non-refundable tickets. We will issue a travel voucher for your next travel to be booked by 31 December 2020 and to be completed by 30 June 2021.
What if I have converted my ticket into a travel voucher?
Your travel voucher validity will be updated as well. However, you are required to complete your travel by 30 June 2021 and call our centre to make your changes 30 days from the new travel date.
What if my flight has been cancelled?
Don’t worry, your tickets will automatically be converted into travel vouchers to be used by 30 June 2021. Just contact our Call Centre at least 30 days before your new travel date to re-book.
What if I didn’t turn up for my flight?
If your ticket was issued to travel within 2020 and you did not turn up for your flight, your No-show fees will be waived. You will also be eligible for the travel flexibility and you must complete your travel by 30 June 2021. Contact our Call Centre at least 30 days before your new travel date to re-book.
Mileage tickets issued by Malaysia Airlines Enrich are apparently excluded but other than that pretty much any ticket booked MH stock until June 30th will essentially be flexible, even the cheapest Economy fare. There will however be a fare difference (if the new fare price is higher) as highlighted above – just the change fees are waived.
On the face of it that’s a pretty attractive proposition. Keep in mind though that this doesn’t mean you can cancel free of charge and receive a cash refund, the emphasis here is on changes and travel vouchers in case of cancellations.
Personally I don’t see any reason to book Malaysia Airlines tickets now unless there would be a killer deal for something like 6 months out. I don’t see that happening right now.
Conclusion
We have covered Malaysia Airlines extensively here over the past years and the airline will take yet another financial hit this year. I do think however that Malaysia Airlines is in better shape than other airlines because they have been slimming down during previous years already and the overall size of the company is comparatively small.
Trying to enage customers and have them spend money is a necessity because without a cash flow through ticket sales it’s very difficult for an airline to operate. Of course even if there is goodwill from customers who are willing to fly MH in the times ahead it’s likely hard to actually do so with all the immigration restrictions now imposed on travelers from/to or even transiting in Malaysia.
