Prodive Cairns and Quantas... grrrr...

[w0nger]

Just came back a few weeks ago from a pretty disappointing trip to Australia. I travelled around the world just to check out the GBR with Prodive, only to get screwed by Quantas when they went on strike the day that i was suppose to fly from Sydney to Cairns. As a result, i missed my flight and missed the dive. Prodive couldn't do anything for me because i hadn't cancelled within their allowable time frame, but they were nice enough to credit my money, although, only until March 31, 2012, and only for standby travel on their boat.

So here's my predicament... how do i plan a second trip around the world, only based on the chance than i may get a spot on one of their boats?? Is this normal practice? What if i spend all that time and money only to show up in Cairns and prodive turns me away because there's no space? why couldn't i have just rebooked my trip, even for a small fee? What do i do...??

 

[fredaroony]

While its not ProDive's fault and only Qantas is to blame I would be contacting Contact Fair Trading : Department of Justice and Attorney-General to see what options you have. You could try to seek compensation from Qantas on this problem.

 

[w0nger]

it's not prodive's fault... and it's not directly Quantas' either... i was actually flying on virgin blue, but because of the strike, Virgin's aircraft ended up over booked and i got the bad end of the straw... i was just hoping that prodive would have been more sympathetic... it'd be easier if i was in australia... but because i'm coming from Canada, it's not easy, nor cheap, to fly around the world...

 

[fredaroony]

Oh, in that case I think you don't really have any recourse except to take up the only offer they gave you. I would have thought they would have been more sympathetic too...

 

[Aquapro Dive Services]

Travel Insurance should cover you for all this hopefully. As for cancelled trips, it is hard, but all the boats do offer re-scheduling. For them they have had to introduce such policies due to people cancelling at last minute and then they cannot fill the places. It’s hard when it’s not your fault, but they do have a 48 hour cancellation policy, and you can reschedule at no loss to you though. Correct?

1stApril is when there is a price rise, so that’s why the deadline. I am sure if you wanted to go after that, then they would let you and you just paid the balance in price. Highly unlikely they would say no.

I know Qantas are supposed to be compensating people so can you put in a claim with them as well?

 

[knowone]

Sell your dives and buy a drysuit

Local divers are the divers diver

 

[w0nger]

they said that my credit is none transferable... otherwise i would like to try and sell the credit to someone local or even on here. As for the rescheduling... they said that they would only put me on a standby list for the liveaboard. Standby is pretty tough... it's still not a sure thing. Even if they could give me a week's notice, i think i could plan around that.

Unfortunately, the 48-hour policy didn't help at the time because there wasn't 48-hours notice of the Quantas lock-out...

Quantas won't cover cause it was Virgin Blue, and Virgin Blue won't cover because it was an extenuating circumstance... they just gave me a refund on my plane ticket. Sigh.... so frustrating... an experience of a lifetime that i may never experience...

 

[Aquapro Dive Services]

I am sure if you gave them a weeks notice you would be able to make a firm booking. i deal with these guys on a regular basis (pretty much every week) and if you have a credit note for a booking I don't see why you cannot firm a date up. You need to take it up with your booking agent, or did you book direct? Ether way, I am sure if you said you wanted to come on a certain date then they would lock it in.

Right now they are doing standby prices for $535 (normally $650) as they boat isn't full, but these are generally not advertised. So I am sure they would be able to advise what bookings are like in the near future and fit you in. Worth a try.

 

[w0nger]

I am sure if you gave them a weeks notice you would be able to make a firm booking. i deal with these guys on a regular basis (pretty much every week) and if you have a credit note for a booking I don't see why you cannot firm a date up. You need to take it up with your booking agent, or did you book direct? Ether way, I am sure if you said you wanted to come on a certain date then they would lock it in.

Right now they are doing standby prices for $535 (normally $650) as they boat isn't full, but these are generally not advertised. So I am sure they would be able to advise what bookings are like in the near future and fit you in. Worth a try.

funny enough, i did the original booking through you guys... but have since been talking to them about everything... should i be communicating with you more?

 

[Aquapro Dive Services]

Leave it with me and will get in touch. Can you PM or e-mail me with your proper name and voucher number. Will PM or e-mail you with outcome.