My flight home from Europe was cancelled. How can I get compensation?

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

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

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 National Park Service website.

We’re going on a river cruise in June from Constanta on the Black Sea to Vienna. We have been given the option of leaving the ship for two days and travelling to Sofia, or to remain on the ship and go on its included excursions. Is this excursion worth the additional expense?
M. Freeland, Little Bay, NSW

Sofia is one of Europe’s older capitals with a mix of history, culture and food that reflects its unique history and urban life. Highlights include the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Ottoman-era mosques such as Banya Bashi and the Roman ruins of Serdica, unearthed little more than a decade ago during construction of the city’s metro. It has pockets of charm, but you need to moderate your expectations. Compared with the iconic cities of Eastern Europe, such as Vienna, Prague and Budapest, Sofia is more a middleweight, not quite in the same league.

If you decide to visit Sofia you might find out how many other passengers have signed up for this excursion, and a large number might prejudice your choice. It would be well worth considering which other shore excursions are on offer, including the visit to the unearthly beauty of the Belogradchik Rocks and Fortress.

We want to stay in or near New York City for a week, preferably in a self-contained apartment which would accommodate a few family members. We’d love to be close to central NYC but would consider somewhere nearby that would allow us to go to shows on Broadway. Any recommendations?
A. Dale, Croydon North, VIC

Following the restrictions imposed on Airbnb and other similar platforms, the options for short-term rental accommodation in New York City for stays of less than a month have shrunk. However, there are several apartment-style hotels that could work for you. AKA Central Park sits in a prime location that makes it easy to get the most out of your stay. Residence Inn by Marriott has apartment-style hotels at several locations around Manhattan while Wotif has apartment hotels in Manhattan as well as in less expensive areas such as Jersey City, Newark and Teaneck, all with reasonable access to Manhattan.

Many of these places charge a per-person fee for additional overnight guests, so confirm maximum occupancy and extra-person fees before booking. Some have a sofa bed and that might suit your extra guests. Since you’re planning to take in some Broadway shows, check the transit time to the theatres. Prices for self-contained apartments are high if you need extra bedrooms to cater to family members who might arrive. You’d probably find hotel accommodation at the same standard a cheaper alternative. Brooklyn’s Pod Hotel, The Muse and Hotel Hugo are a few possibilities.

Travel advice is general; readers should consider their personal circumstances

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