Samsung offers airport phone replacements for stranded Note 7 buyers
You can’t fly with a Note 7 handset anywhere, but Samsung will provide swap and replacement services at major Australian airports.
It didn’t take long after US air authorities announced that the Galaxy Note 7 was banned from US flights for the majority of the world’s airlines to follow suit. For some weeks now customers on Qantas and Virgin flights in Australia would have heard a warning that they were not allowed to switch on or recharge their phones in flight, and that has now been extended to banning the devices altogether from either checked or carry-on luggage after Samsung’s full recall of the line.
What do you do, though, if you’ve travelled and you’ve got a Note 7 on you? Samsung has announced that it will set up customer service points at major Australian airports offering replacement devices before you head through security screening. Specifically, Samsung advises that it has customer service points currently active at the following airports and terminal positions, open from 6am to 6pm local time:
Sydney Airport
QANTAS domestic terminal
Virgin and Jetstar domestic
International terminal
Melbourne Airport
QANTAS domestic terminal
Virgin domestic terminal
International terminal
Brisbane Airport
Domestic terminal
International terminal
Canberra Airport
Domestic terminal
Adelaide Airport
Domestic terminal
Perth Airport
International terminal
Virgin domestic terminal
QANTAS domestic terminal
Gold Coast Airport
Domestic terminal
I’m travelling from an airport not on that list! What do I do?
Samsung says it’s working on opening up its scheme to additional airports, but for the time being, if you rock up to an airport with a Note 7 and can’t exchange it, you still won’t be able to fly with it. Samsung suggests contacting airport ground staff and then Samsung to make arrangements.
I’m already overseas with a Note 7 and due to fly back to Australia. What do I do?
Samsung appears to be offering the service in other countries, with the advice given to contact the local Samsung office in the country that you’re in to arrange replacement or refund as applicable.
Samsung says it will work to provide replacement devices plus any refund of price difference, or a refund at the customer’s discretion. We’d say that the latter was your best choice as it opens up a wide variety of smartphones you could opt for as a Note 7 replacement.
Latest mobile phone headlines
Image: Shutterstock