Airline fares!!!

Hmm, try Momondo, I'm still finding prices like 600 US$ to fly to Amsterdam from Manila and back by the end of May '22. One stop, in Istanbul, 18 hours or so, not bad at all (actually pretty d*mn cheap, last time I flew there I was lucky to find a ticket below 1000€).

 

Until the flight gets canceled and you have no choice to buy a ticket on a more expensive flight or forgo your travels.

 

Come to think of it I have never had this problem in the past either. It must be related to the pandemic. I have a friend in the US who has had her airline reservation from LAX to Thailand canceled twice. The first time it was canceled, instead of buying the expensive same day ticket she used her credit with the airline to book a flight another 5 weeks out so she could get the cheaper fare. Then this second flight was canceled so now she booked another flight six weeks out.

I think the consumer protection laws, rules and typical treatment have changed during the pandemic. I have had two trips canceled by local airlines.

Here is an article that appeared in the LA Times. It describes the trouble a person is going through getting their refund in the USA. It clearly shows that the enforcement of the rules is much less now.

Because of the overwhelming number of refund requests, the United States DOT isn't holding airlines' feet to the fire with the same rigor "if those carriers are making good faith efforts to provide refunds in a timely manner," a May FAQ from the DOT said.

https://www.aviationpros.com/airlin...rfare-refunded-here-are-steps-you-should-take

 

That's for sure a pretty cheap ticket, but the airline you have to use and the airport of transfer can be troublesome when the leader of that country is completely unpredictable.

 

Well yes, Erdogan has steered his country into deep trouble, the latest trick being putting loads of un-ceremonial pressure on the central bank to continue the policy of plentiful money despite inflation rates flying higher and higher, to which pressure the central bank unfortunately caved.
Turkish Airlines however is a beacon of success in an otherwise very gloomy economy (and I would assume Erdogan knows that). I really wouldn't expect him to meddle with their affairs.