* . *
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact
Wednesday, August 6, 2025
Earth-News
  • Home
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    Rachael Leigh Cook and Brandon Routh ‘Happy to Have Found Each Other’ Following Respective Divorces – yahoo.com

    Rachael Leigh Cook and Brandon Routh ‘Happy to Have Found Each Other’ Following Respective Divorces – yahoo.com

    ‘Billie Jean’ – Hyde Park Herald

    The Enduring Magic Behind ‘Billie Jean’ Revealed

    Hank Hill returns to a changed world in new ‘King of the Hill’ episodes – New Haven Register

    Hank Hill Navigates a Bold New World in Thrilling New ‘King of the Hill’ Episodes

    Exclusive | Fox Takes Stake in IndyCar Owner Penske Entertainment – The Wall Street Journal

    Exclusive | Fox Takes Stake in IndyCar Owner Penske Entertainment – The Wall Street Journal

    Go-to entertainment: why gaming was made for the toilet – The Guardian

    Why Gaming Is the Ultimate Way to Pass Time in the Bathroom

    Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra takes the Lollapalooza stage – Yahoo Home

    Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra takes the Lollapalooza stage – Yahoo Home

  • General
  • Health
  • News

    Cracking the Code: Why China’s Economic Challenges Aren’t Shaking Markets, Unlike America’s” – Bloomberg

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Trending Tags

    • Trump Inauguration
    • United Stated
    • White House
    • Market Stories
    • Election Results
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Technology
    Future Trends In HR Technology – Dataconomy

    Future Trends In HR Technology – Dataconomy

    Nasdaq-listed Verb Technology to build $558 million TON treasury, rebrand as TON Strategy Co. – The Block

    Nasdaq-Listed Verb Technology to Build $558 Million TON Treasury and Rebrand as TON Strategy Co

    How Tech Firms Like Google and Meta Are Embracing the Military – The New York Times

    How Tech Firms Like Google and Meta Are Embracing the Military – The New York Times

    Credo Technology: Wiring The AI Revolution (NASDAQ:CRDO) – Seeking Alpha

    Credo Technology: Driving the Next Wave of AI Innovation

    Microsoft Seeks to Extend Access to OpenAI Technology – PYMNTS.com

    Microsoft Aims to Broaden Access to OpenAI Technology

    Livonia police use grappler technology to stop drunk driver – ClickOnDetroit | WDIV Local 4

    Livonia Police Deploy Grappler Technology to Safely Stop Drunk Driver

    Trending Tags

    • Nintendo Switch
    • CES 2017
    • Playstation 4 Pro
    • Mark Zuckerberg
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    Rachael Leigh Cook and Brandon Routh ‘Happy to Have Found Each Other’ Following Respective Divorces – yahoo.com

    Rachael Leigh Cook and Brandon Routh ‘Happy to Have Found Each Other’ Following Respective Divorces – yahoo.com

    ‘Billie Jean’ – Hyde Park Herald

    The Enduring Magic Behind ‘Billie Jean’ Revealed

    Hank Hill returns to a changed world in new ‘King of the Hill’ episodes – New Haven Register

    Hank Hill Navigates a Bold New World in Thrilling New ‘King of the Hill’ Episodes

    Exclusive | Fox Takes Stake in IndyCar Owner Penske Entertainment – The Wall Street Journal

    Exclusive | Fox Takes Stake in IndyCar Owner Penske Entertainment – The Wall Street Journal

    Go-to entertainment: why gaming was made for the toilet – The Guardian

    Why Gaming Is the Ultimate Way to Pass Time in the Bathroom

    Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra takes the Lollapalooza stage – Yahoo Home

    Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra takes the Lollapalooza stage – Yahoo Home

  • General
  • Health
  • News

    Cracking the Code: Why China’s Economic Challenges Aren’t Shaking Markets, Unlike America’s” – Bloomberg

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Trending Tags

    • Trump Inauguration
    • United Stated
    • White House
    • Market Stories
    • Election Results
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Technology
    Future Trends In HR Technology – Dataconomy

    Future Trends In HR Technology – Dataconomy

    Nasdaq-listed Verb Technology to build $558 million TON treasury, rebrand as TON Strategy Co. – The Block

    Nasdaq-Listed Verb Technology to Build $558 Million TON Treasury and Rebrand as TON Strategy Co

    How Tech Firms Like Google and Meta Are Embracing the Military – The New York Times

    How Tech Firms Like Google and Meta Are Embracing the Military – The New York Times

    Credo Technology: Wiring The AI Revolution (NASDAQ:CRDO) – Seeking Alpha

    Credo Technology: Driving the Next Wave of AI Innovation

    Microsoft Seeks to Extend Access to OpenAI Technology – PYMNTS.com

    Microsoft Aims to Broaden Access to OpenAI Technology

    Livonia police use grappler technology to stop drunk driver – ClickOnDetroit | WDIV Local 4

    Livonia Police Deploy Grappler Technology to Safely Stop Drunk Driver

    Trending Tags

    • Nintendo Switch
    • CES 2017
    • Playstation 4 Pro
    • Mark Zuckerberg
No Result
View All Result
Earth-News
No Result
View All Result
Home Business

Air NZ sorry for charging tourists $13,000 to change flight after terminal diagnosis

February 28, 2024
in Business
Air NZ sorry for charging tourists $13,000 to change flight after terminal diagnosis
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Navigation for News Categories

Air New Zealand

Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon

Air New Zealand has admitted it made a mistake when it tried to charge two US tourists $13,000 to change their flights after one of them received a grave medical diagnosis.

Todd and Patricia Kerekes flew business class from New York to Auckland in January. The return tickets cost $37,500.

They intended to stay until April, but six weeks into their visit Patricia was diagnosed with cancer of the gallbladder. Their surgeon advised them to head home immediately, so Todd contacted Air NZ to have their flights moved up.

“Right away on the first call I told them my wife was gravely ill, and we were on holiday and we needed to go back home,” the 60-year-old told Checkpoint.

“And it was a whole series of long pauses, and I couldn’t tell whether they were conferring with co-workers or working at it on the computer, or what it was. But I would go through a whole series of 15- to 30-minute hold periods, and sometimes the people would come back and basically tell me something I didn’t want to hear, like it was gonna cost me NZ$13,000 to change my flight.”

Todd said he was “momentarily stupefied”, saying the new seats were only about $100 more expensive than what he had already paid.

“It was just such a large amount, it did not seem like the flights could possibly have gone up by that much. What they were charging me was four times what the increase in the cost of the flights were.”

In his four-hour effort to get a more reasonable price, Todd said he was cut off three times, never offered any compassionate options and was not once asked for documentation or proof of his wife’s diagnosis.

“They weren’t rude or unkind, but they were simply like, ‘Look, this is the way it is and there’s nothing we can do about it.’ And I was like, it was surprising to me that in a situation where I was that they couldn’t be more helpful.”

The most surprising thing was that everyone he had met so far in New Zealand had been so kind.

“I grew up in New York, outside of New York City, and New Yorkers are unfriendly. We just tend to be brusque. But Kiwis are downright nice to the point where people were arguing with us that people aren’t really as nice as we thought they were…

“It’s not right by any standards, and it’s definitely not right by Kiwi standards.”

‘Fell short of expectations’

Air NZ general manager customer care Alisha Armstrong agreed. In a statement, she said Air NZ “pride ourselves on the care and consideration we show our customers”.

“It’s clear we fell short of expectations and our compassionate care policy was not followed in this case. We have reached out to Kerekes to apologise and issue a full refund for the additional costs incurred to change their original flights.

“Our compassionate fare policy is in place to support our customers in times of unexpected medical emergency or bereavement to book a last-minute flight or provide flexibility to easily make changes to existing bookings.

“Once again we apologise for how this case was handled and our thoughts are with Mrs Kerekes at this time.”

Todd said Patricia, 75, only had about four months left.

“I resent having that four hours taken away from whatever time I would have spent [with] her, and I do not appreciate the aggravation that my wife had to go through for this.”

And he worried how people without a New York attitude might fare in a similar situation.

“Although they have sorted me out – and I appreciate that – what about the people who don’t come out with this ‘I’m not going to let you put the screws to me attitude’ like I did? And the people that don’t have the energy because they’re the ones who are gravely ill or don’t have the time to sort that out?

“How many people are there out there that don’t have the opportunities that I had and the resources that I had?”

The Kerekes flew home on 26 February.

Get the RNZ app

for ad-free news and current affairs

Download from Apple App Store
Download from Google Play Store

>>> Read full article>>>
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source : RNZ – https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/510424/air-nz-sorry-for-charging-tourists-13-000-to-change-flight-after-terminal-diagnosis

Tags: businesschargingtourists
Previous Post

Government intervention to save Newshub ‘highly unlikely’

Next Post

Explainer: What’s going on with interest rates?

Edward McNabb, pioneer of conservation bioacoustics and nocturnal ecology, died on May 7th, aged 81 – Butler Nature

Remembering Edward McNabb: Trailblazer in Conservation Bioacoustics and Nocturnal Ecology Passes Away at 81

August 5, 2025
Insider’s View: Europe can be a leader in AI for science – Science|Business

Insider’s View: Europe can be a leader in AI for science – Science|Business

August 5, 2025
The FDA is targeting orange juice. Here’s why, and what the science says. – The Boston Globe

Why the FDA Is Targeting Orange Juice-and What the Science Actually Reveals

August 5, 2025
Beyond Nutritional Deficiencies: Managing GLP-1 Side Effects With Lifestyle Interventions – Patient Care Online

Beyond Nutritional Deficiencies: Managing GLP-1 Side Effects With Lifestyle Interventions – Patient Care Online

August 5, 2025
Shaw Travels To China For World Games With U.S. Men’s National Team – hailstate.com

Shaw Joins U.S. Men’s National Team for Thrilling World Games Showdown in China

August 5, 2025

A Turbulent Week Rocks the American Economy

August 5, 2025
Rachael Leigh Cook and Brandon Routh ‘Happy to Have Found Each Other’ Following Respective Divorces – yahoo.com

Rachael Leigh Cook and Brandon Routh ‘Happy to Have Found Each Other’ Following Respective Divorces – yahoo.com

August 5, 2025
Chatbots Can Trigger a Mental Health Crisis. What to Know About ‘AI Psychosis’ – Time Magazine

When Chatbots Spark a Mental Health Crisis: Unraveling the Enigma of ‘AI Psychosis

August 5, 2025

Why Young Adults Are Checking Out of Politics and Choosing Not to Vote

August 5, 2025
Future Trends In HR Technology – Dataconomy

Future Trends In HR Technology – Dataconomy

August 5, 2025

Categories

Archives

August 2025
MTWTFSS
 123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031
« Jul    
Earth-News.info

The Earth News is an independent English-language daily published Website from all around the World News

Browse by Category

  • Business (20,132)
  • Ecology (756)
  • Economy (781)
  • Entertainment (21,658)
  • General (16,306)
  • Health (9,818)
  • Lifestyle (789)
  • News (22,149)
  • People (780)
  • Politics (790)
  • Science (15,994)
  • Sports (21,276)
  • Technology (15,758)
  • World (762)

Recent News

Edward McNabb, pioneer of conservation bioacoustics and nocturnal ecology, died on May 7th, aged 81 – Butler Nature

Remembering Edward McNabb: Trailblazer in Conservation Bioacoustics and Nocturnal Ecology Passes Away at 81

August 5, 2025
Insider’s View: Europe can be a leader in AI for science – Science|Business

Insider’s View: Europe can be a leader in AI for science – Science|Business

August 5, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact

© 2023 earth-news.info

No Result
View All Result

© 2023 earth-news.info

No Result
View All Result

© 2023 earth-news.info

Go to mobile version