My flight home from Europe was cancelled. How can I get compensation?
I lodged a claim and was told the Australian office would process payment. They now say only the Paris office can deal with this and are ignoring me.
Opinion
Michael Gebicki is Traveller’s expert Tripologist. Each week he tackles the thorny issues in travel as well as answering your questions. Got a question for the Tripologist? Email tripologist@traveller.com.au
January 9, 2026 — 5:00am
**Vietnam Airlines cancelled my flight out of Paris in June. Hours later passengers received a notice telling us we could claim for accommodation/food costs incurred since the alternative flight was for the next day. I lodged a claim and provided all documents and I received an email indicating the Australian office would process payment. They now say only the Paris office could deal with this, and they are ignoring my claim. How might I get a resolution?
**H. Murdoch, Torquay, Vic
Vietnam Airlines cancelled a reader’s flight home from Paris.iStock
You would probably be better off claiming reimbursement under Europe’s air-passenger rights legislation. This sets passengers’ rights for compensation when their flights are delayed or cancelled. It applies to any flights originating from any EU city regardless of whether by an EU or non-EU airline, and therefore would apply to your Vietnam Airlines flight. It’s enforceable, and it is likely that you would be entitled to the full amount of €600 ($1065). The EU’s Air passenger rights website sets out the terms and how to proceed. There are also agencies that will do the heavy lifting on your behalf, but they will claim a chunk of whatever you’re entitled to. AirHelp, Flightright and Airclaim are a few such agencies.
**We plan to visit the Grand Canyon in May. I understand there is a national park entry fee for non-US residents, can you confirm? If I am travelling with US citizens in their car, and they have annual park passes, will the new entry fees still apply to us?
**S. Rudzyn, Lindfield NSW
Grand Canyon West, United States.Getty Images
Admission to US national parks is going to become more complicated and more expensive for foreign visitors in 2026. Not all the sites managed by the National Park Service require an entry pass, most are free to visit even for non-US residents. However, you do need to pay an entry fee to visit the most famous parks and that includes the Grand Canyon National Park, where the admission price is $US35 ($53) a vehicle, valid for seven days. Non-US residents over 16 will pay a $US100 ($151) fee at 11 of the most visited major parks on top of the standard park entrance fee.
Alternatively, you can buy an America the Beautiful Non-Resident Annual Pass for $US250 ($378) for non-residents. This covers entrance fees at all fee-charging national parks and federal recreation lands during the year. Even if you are travelling with US citizens in their vehicle, you are required to pay the non-resident surcharge. See the website.
