Forced to return back to the UK after New Zealand went into a state of lockdown, Watford resident Simon Mail had no choice but to spend thousands of pounds on a plane ticket back home
Forced to return back to the UK after New Zealand went into a state of lockdown, Watford resident Simon Mail had no choice but to spend thousands of pounds on a plane ticket back home.
Backpacking around the North and South Islands, the 36-year-old paid £2000 for a flight that is due to land in London on Monday.
One of thousands of British tourists around the globe caught up in the worldwide pandemic, Mail, a sports journalist, explained how he feels New Zealand airline authorities are taking advantage of the situation.
“The flight cost me a huge sum of money and people here have been very critical of flight prices, it feels like we are being taken advantage of,” he said.
His insurance company currently taking no responsibility in this case, Mail’s trip of a lifetime was called off whilst still in progress. Stranded in Auckland, but at least in an English-speaking country, Mr Mail said that:
“It is an alien city and country to me and every day has been a different challenge. I have cooking appliances in my room but I am very limited to what I can do.
“I am going to see if I can claim the money back when I get home, but whether I can or not I don't know."