Holiday cancellations

Bfc · Post by **Bfc** » Mon Mar 16, 2020 7:33 pm

My TUI booked holiday to Cyprus next month is now looking very unlikely, as Cyprus has shut down until the 30th April at the earliest.
Has anyone on here already had any experience, or can give any advice, on what steps to take, to recover my expenditure. Besides the holiday booking, Ive pre paid car parking and to use one of the airport lounges.
Are the travel companies likely to refund travellers, or is it going to be an insurance claim. I expect the other two will be hard to get refunds from. I wouldn’t mind if they offered me, as an alternative, another date.

IanMcL · Post by **IanMcL** » Mon Mar 16, 2020 7:39 pm

I am not sure how this will work. The cancellation is by 'Force Majeure', which usually nullifies claims. That would then revert to insurance or credit card companies, who may also shout foul. That would push the problem to Government.

It is a possibility that your holiday may be rescheduled, for a date in the future.

Normal service is not available, at this time.

Devils_Advocate · Post by **Devils_Advocate** » Mon Mar 16, 2020 7:42 pm

I have/had a holiday booked for Spain last week in April. I booked the hotel direct on their website so emailed them and they are looking at closing hotel so offered me a full refund straight away.

Flights booked Jet2 and dont expect any issues getting refund but waiting a few weeks to let them get through backlog of people already abroad or due to go very soon

My insurance would have covered me but with £50 excess charge

I think most places / company's are gonna be fine about things but just remember they are probably dealing with call volumes well beyond their current capacity

Bosscat · Post by **Bosscat** » Mon Mar 16, 2020 8:04 pm

Bfc wrote: ↑
Mon Mar 16, 2020 7:33 pm
My TUI booked holiday to Cyprus next month is now looking very unlikely, as Cyprus has shut down until the 30th April at the earliest.
Has anyone on here already had any experience, or can give any advice, on what steps to take, to recover my expenditure. Besides the holiday booking, Ive pre paid car parking and to use one of the airport lounges.
Are the travel companies likely to refund travellers, or is it going to be an insurance claim. I expect the other two will be hard to get refunds from. I wouldn’t mind if they offered me, as an alternative, another date.

1st port of call is your holiday company Bfc ... although am sure the sages on here will mostly give you good information

tarkys_ears · Post by **tarkys_ears** » Mon Mar 16, 2020 8:05 pm

Just a bit scam run by Big Toiletpaper!

Things'll be reet in a week.

Keep planning to go until you're told "no"

ŽižkovClaret · Post by **ŽižkovClaret** » Mon Mar 16, 2020 8:12 pm

Had been due to go to Majorca 11th April. Thankfully my habit of free cancellation options means no loss on the accommodation, although now at the mercy of Ryanair for the 100 quids worth of flights

Quickenthetempo · Post by **Quickenthetempo** » Mon Mar 16, 2020 8:13 pm

You are covered if you bought the holiday as a package.
You will be re-imbursed if bought on a credit card.

Your travel company will jump at the chance to swap for a similar holiday later on.
Your travel company will reimburse if they can't deliver the holiday for you.

Tricky Trevor · Post by **Tricky Trevor** » Mon Mar 16, 2020 8:24 pm

I’m with Zizkov. We have a fortnight away in May. Budapest, Lubljana, Zagreb, Plitvice Lakes, Zadar. All booked free cancellation up to two days prior to arrival. Ryanair appear? to be being fair. Although possibly credit rather than repayment.
If THEY cancel all flights I would imagine a refund becomes more probable.

Winstonswhite · Post by **Winstonswhite** » Mon Mar 16, 2020 8:31 pm

A hotel we booked through a “middle man” website in Italy over Easter have already refunded and EasyJet are also processing a full refund ASAP so you should be okay!

ŽižkovClaret · Post by **ŽižkovClaret** » Mon Mar 16, 2020 8:32 pm

Tricky Trevor wrote: ↑
Mon Mar 16, 2020 8:24 pm
I’m with Zizkov. We have a fortnight away in May. Budapest, Lubljana, Zagreb, Plitvice Lakes, Zadar. All booked free cancellation up to two days prior to arrival. Ryanair appear? to be being fair. Although possibly credit rather than repayment.
If THEY cancel all flights I would imagine a refund becomes more probable.

That is my feeling. I think currently they are more hamstrung by not having invested in the necessary customer service staffing that the others have rather than being deliberately shitty

dsr · Post by **dsr** » Mon Mar 16, 2020 8:38 pm

IanMcL wrote: ↑
Mon Mar 16, 2020 7:39 pm
I am not sure how this will work. The cancellation is by 'Force Majeure', which usually nullifies claims. That would then revert to insurance or credit card companies, who may also shout foul. That would push the problem to Government.

It is a possibility that your holiday may be rescheduled, for a date in the future.

Normal service is not available, at this time.

As I understand it, it's a frustrated contract which means that it can't be fulfilled and wasn't either party's fault. So the contract can't happen and if one party has paid any money, the other party has to give it back. So the holiday company should pay you back - assuming they don't go bust, of course.

Force majeure is slightly different because that is part of the contract. But I'm fairly sure that any contract by a big holiday company to a small customer that said "if anything goes wrong, we keep the cash" would be an unfair contract term, so it won't be there.

Bfcboyo · Post by **Bfcboyo** » Mon Mar 16, 2020 8:49 pm

Tricky Trevor wrote: ↑
Mon Mar 16, 2020 8:24 pm
I’m with Zizkov. We have a fortnight away in May. Budapest, Lubljana, Zagreb, Plitvice Lakes, Zadar. All booked free cancellation up to two days prior to arrival. Ryanair appear? to be being fair. Although possibly credit rather than repayment.
If THEY cancel all flights I would imagine a refund becomes more probable.

Ryanair will be bust by june

buzzclarets79 · Post by **buzzclarets79** » Mon Mar 16, 2020 10:15 pm

We went into Tui at Burnley last week to book this years holiday in July, we asked about if we were unable to travel and told we could get a full refund or move the holiday at no cost to us. Now saying it is one thing, when it actually comes to it I'm not sure, but I would think that the OP would get refunded.
We've only paid the desposit at the moment and will wait to see what happens before paying the balance.
I've had good dealings with TUI over the years, I suspect they will allow a change of holiday date, they normally charge for that (£50 i think) but I'd bet youd get it free

thatdberight · Post by **thatdberight** » Mon Mar 16, 2020 10:19 pm

I would be very careful about taking credits etc for future use. Likely to be worthless in some cases.

Coolbreeze799 · Post by **Coolbreeze799** » Mon Mar 16, 2020 10:20 pm

Im off to marbella end of.april

Will.still.go.if they get rid.of the travel ban

Paul Waine · Post by **Paul Waine** » Mon Mar 16, 2020 10:24 pm

I've just come back from a week away, so I've avoided all the "can't go" issues, for now...

One of our party got an email from his insurance while we were away - their message was that they would no longer pay out on coronavirus cancellations on insurance bought after 14-March. I've no idea if that's a "one-off" travel insurance response, or whether it's common to many insurers. Their position is that coronavirus is happening and so it's an existing condition and not an insurable possible future event.

So, I agree, hotels, travel companies, airlines will probably all provide refunds or credits. It would be expected that credit/debit cards will also be responsible for refunds. But, check your travel insurance policy carefully - especially if you've not yet bought the insurance.

Paul Waine · Post by **Paul Waine** » Mon Mar 16, 2020 10:26 pm

Oh, and after Thomas Cook went bust last summer, this year was going to be a bumper year for TUI and other travel holidays and airlines.

Who knew.

burnmark · Post by **burnmark** » Mon Mar 16, 2020 11:04 pm

Florida at the end of July. I’m fully expecting not to be going now which will be heartbreaking for the kids but what will be will be.

Flying Without Ings · Post by **Flying Without Ings** » Mon Mar 16, 2020 11:52 pm

Thailand for me, in April. At the moment, I can still go (against the Government's "travel only if essential" advice). Unfortunately the situation hasn't appeared to peak yet, so the UK could very well enforce a stop or Thailand close their doors by the time we get to mid-April. Thailand seem to be coping better with their coronavirus situation than Europe.

If cancelled, I hope Emirates will give us a refund because the flights aren't cheap. I was due to travel to various places so I've booked with many hotels, mostly with companies like booking.com. Some have free cancellation, however we have paid for some up front. I don't know whether booking.com would reimburse me? We do have travel insurance but again would rather avoid going through them if there is any chance of a refund. We paid on a credit card if that helps?

dsr · Post by **dsr** » Mon Mar 16, 2020 11:54 pm

burnmark wrote: ↑
Mon Mar 16, 2020 11:04 pm
Florida at the end of July. I’m fully expecting not to be going now which will be heartbreaking for the kids but what will be will be.

"Heartbreaking"? Do you mean "disappointing"?

dsr · Post by **dsr** » Mon Mar 16, 2020 11:57 pm

Paul Waine wrote: ↑
Mon Mar 16, 2020 10:24 pm
I've just come back from a week away, so I've avoided all the "can't go" issues, for now...

One of our party got an email from his insurance while we were away - their message was that they would no longer pay out on coronavirus cancellations on insurance bought after 14-March. I've no idea if that's a "one-off" travel insurance response, or whether it's common to many insurers. Their position is that coronavirus is happening and so it's an existing condition and not an insurable possible future event.

So, I agree, hotels, travel companies, airlines will probably all provide refunds or credits. It would be expected that credit/debit cards will also be responsible for refunds. But, check your travel insurance policy carefully - especially if you've not yet bought the insurance.

It will be common to all insurers. They don't insure against risks that you already know about - whether it's personal health issues or wider, more general issues. It's like trying to get buildings insurance when your house is already on fire - it won't work.

CombatClaret · Post by **CombatClaret** » Tue Mar 17, 2020 12:22 am

I have a trip to New York booked for early May. Got my AirBNB fully refunded, don't want to travel during a global pandemic and even If I could get there everything I want to see and do will likely be closed.

Now that the Foreign Office has declared 'All but essential travel' to the US under the term of my insurance that should in theory allow me to claim for cancellation for flights.
Insurers though are saying first saying check with your airline and see If you can get a refund or reschedule.
The airline (Virgin Atlantic) will surely do everything in it's power not to give me a refund. As of now my outbound flight is still scheduled and I expect they will try to run very few flights just so they can say there's an option. That I can't enter the United States once you get to the airport is not on them.

Money Saving Expert is as ever a great resource, they have a dedicated page with lots of info/advice
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/ ... ur-rights/

jedi_master · Post by **jedi_master** » Tue Mar 17, 2020 12:32 am

We have Florida booked for a fortnight from September 15th (with Tui).

Have the ability to cancel for full refund up to 70 days before departure (minus £100 deposit), which gives us until the start/mid of July to make that decision.

At this point I’m really unsure, even 6 months away, that we will be able to go. Tough to call!

claret3561 · Post by **claret3561** » Tue Mar 17, 2020 6:18 am

Supposed to be playing golf for a week in Portugal from 28th March and still hoping to go
We've been told we can get a refund on flights and accommodation but not on the golf package (over 300 quid) so that's quite a big hit.

burnmark · Post by **burnmark** » Tue Mar 17, 2020 6:43 am

dsr wrote: ↑
Mon Mar 16, 2020 11:54 pm
"Heartbreaking"? Do you mean "disappointing"?

No

houseboy · Post by **houseboy** » Tue Mar 17, 2020 9:52 am

Zante for us for 2 weeks on the 8th May. Not looking good but the government haven't said 'no' yet. It's with Tui.

Burypaddy · Post by **Burypaddy** » Tue Mar 17, 2020 10:04 am

Was going to lanzarote on sunday, got a text from jet2 yesterday telling me that they are cancelling my flights and straight after received a text from my accommodation saying the apartments wont be open therefore a refund will be forthcoming with 28 days.
Dont think alternatives are being offered because they havent got a clue when it will be safe to fly.

IanMcL · Post by **IanMcL** » Tue Mar 17, 2020 10:42 am

Tui has just emailed a reminder to me, this morning, requesting final (large) payment, for my cruise around the Med! Due by 24th March. I better check the rules!

strayclaret · Post by **strayclaret** » Tue Mar 17, 2020 10:57 am

Flying out to LA middle of May via LAS Vegas and returning from LA at beginning of June. Virgin appear to have a refund policy and you can apply via their website.
I booked my flights via Trailfinders, from whom I've already had an email, advising that all bookings to 30.4.20 have been cancelled and they will deal with the refund.,
Fingers crossed, i'll get my money back as I can't see the situation getting better. In any case I don't want to go now as my nephews told me, his locals closing on Thursday

CombatClaret · Post by **CombatClaret** » Tue Mar 17, 2020 11:45 am

Thank god we're protected by comprehensive EU travel legislation...

Jambounchained · Post by **Jambounchained** » Tue Mar 17, 2020 12:02 pm

I’m due to pay my holiday off on Friday, £1100 - I go away mid June.

Really not sure what to do, their website is down with technical difficulties and the phone lines are jam packed.

If I can’t get on to pay will they cancel my holiday anyway!?

Billy Balfour · Post by **Billy Balfour** » Tue Mar 17, 2020 12:37 pm

Jambounchained wrote: ↑
Tue Mar 17, 2020 12:02 pm
I’m due to pay my holiday off on Friday, £1100 - I go away mid June.

Really not sure what to do, their website is down with technical difficulties and the phone lines are jam packed.

If I can’t get on to pay will they cancel my holiday anyway!?

Is there an email address you can contact them on?

Herts Clarets · Post by **Herts Clarets** » Tue Mar 17, 2020 12:43 pm

Last October we were due to spend a week in the Canaries and the holiday provider used Thomas Cook flights. So that went out of the window and we received a refund. As it was short notice and we are governed around taking holidays around school holiday periods, we decided to save the money and go to India at Easter. Last Thursday the Indian Government suspended all tourist visas, so once again we are facing a cancelled holiday and chasing a refund. Virgin Atlantic via Netflights currently owe us nearly £3.5k....

Rileybobs · Post by **Rileybobs** » Tue Mar 17, 2020 1:08 pm

Supposed to be getting married in Tuscany at the end of July. All planned, booked and largely paid for. Happy days!

Siddo · Post by **Siddo** » Tue Mar 17, 2020 5:12 pm

IanMcL wrote: ↑
Tue Mar 17, 2020 10:42 am
Tui has just emailed a reminder to me, this morning, requesting final (large) payment, for my cruise around the Med! Due by 24th March. I better check the rules!

Hi Ian, we are in the same situation, balance required by 27th March for a mid June holiday. Couldn't get through on the phone and no joy on the web page or on the app.
Please can you let me know if you receive any info, and of course I will let you know if I hear anything.
Not sure if I am going to not pay, but would lose £400 in deposit, or pay and hope I get a full refund or rebook for next year?
To be honest, after reading today's Times, I am more than a bit worried that TUI might go under. Really hope not as they are a good, professional company.

TheOriginalLongsider · Post by **TheOriginalLongsider** » Tue Mar 17, 2020 5:27 pm

If the holiday company cancels the holiday you are entitled to a refund from them. Don’t take a later booking in its place as this may go on for a long time and holiday companies may go bust. If you’ve booked flights and hotels separately then insurance should cover it. They may treat hotels, flights, and parking as claims from 3 different sections of the policy so you may have to pay 3 lots of excesses.

Local cricketer · Post by **Local cricketer** » Tue Mar 17, 2020 5:48 pm

Rileybobs wrote: ↑
Tue Mar 17, 2020 1:08 pm
Supposed to be getting married in Tuscany at the end of July. All planned, booked and largely paid for. Happy days!

Might be doing you a favour to be fair

IanMcL · Post by **IanMcL** » Tue Mar 17, 2020 6:46 pm

Siddo wrote: ↑
Tue Mar 17, 2020 5:12 pm
Hi Ian, we are in the same situation, balance required by 27th March for a mid June holiday. Couldn't get through on the phone and no joy on the web page or on the app.
Please can you let me know if you receive any info, and of course I will let you know if I hear anything.
Not sure if I am going to not pay, but would lose £400 in deposit, or pay and hope I get a full refund or rebook for next year?
To be honest, after reading today's Times, I am more than a bit worried that TUI might go under. Really hope not as they are a good, professional company.

Yes I am just sitting tight, until the last minute, which for me is 24th. Today's announcements might clarify Tui long term. Looks more promising. As you say, lose deposit paid to date, is the alternative. Probably pay, unless the clear advice is, no, at some point.

Clarinetclaret · Post by **Clarinetclaret** » Tue Mar 17, 2020 6:54 pm

jedi_master wrote: ↑
Tue Mar 17, 2020 12:32 am
We have Florida booked for a fortnight from September 15th (with Tui).

Have the ability to cancel for full refund up to 70 days before departure (minus £100 deposit), which gives us until the start/mid of July to make that decision.

At this point I’m really unsure, even 6 months away, that we will be able to go. Tough to call!

Just be aware if you booked with low deposit(50 per person)you will lose the full deposit which if I'm right is 200 per person. We were in that situation with TUI. The low deposit isn't your full deposit.

Bfc · Post by **Bfc** » Tue Mar 17, 2020 7:20 pm

CombatClaret, thanks for the info. I thought I'd sent a reply earlier, but it's not shown on the site.
I followed the link that directed me to a site that answered some of the questions. TUI show on their site that they cover disruptive travel, as do my Aviva, my own travel insurers, which helps.
Other site users would find CCs info very useful.
I've rung Hays travel in Burnley, who booked the holiday for me, but I gave up after waiting 15 mins. I'd the same problem ringing their head office line, for a longer time. But wasting 30 mins of my time, is going to put me off booking with them again. I didn't want to go into town, as I'm of an age where home isolation is a better idea, especially on my birthday.

ClaretEngineer · Post by **ClaretEngineer** » Tue Mar 17, 2020 8:05 pm

Mrs Eng. and I are due to go southern Italy in mid June on a TUI holiday.

I paid on my credit card and am two payments away from completion.

I really want to go on this holiday (went last year, the pizza and weather was mega).

Am I being optimistic I thinking we’ll still be going? Would anyone advise seeking a refund now?

Tribesmen · Post by **Tribesmen** » Tue Mar 17, 2020 8:32 pm

Bfcboyo wrote: ↑
Mon Mar 16, 2020 8:49 pm
Ryanair will be bust by june

To be honest i don't think so as they are cash rich with something like €12 billion in the bank due to the fact Boeings Air Max have not delivered planes.

AndrewJB · Post by **AndrewJB** » Tue Mar 17, 2020 8:46 pm

Flying Without Ings wrote: ↑
Mon Mar 16, 2020 11:52 pm
Thailand for me, in April. At the moment, I can still go (against the Government's "travel only if essential" advice). Unfortunately the situation hasn't appeared to peak yet, so the UK could very well enforce a stop or Thailand close their doors by the time we get to mid-April. Thailand seem to be coping better with their coronavirus situation than Europe.

If cancelled, I hope Emirates will give us a refund because the flights aren't cheap. I was due to travel to various places so I've booked with many hotels, mostly with companies like booking.com. Some have free cancellation, however we have paid for some up front. I don't know whether booking.com would reimburse me? We do have travel insurance but again would rather avoid going through them if there is any chance of a refund. We paid on a credit card if that helps?

I’m in the same boat - Thailand in April. So far we’ve been refunded for everything except the overnight train fares from Bangkok south. The flights were cancelled by the company we booked through, so that helps.

CombatClaret · Post by **CombatClaret** » Tue Mar 17, 2020 9:47 pm

buzzclarets79 wrote: ↑
Mon Mar 16, 2020 10:15 pm
We went into Tui at Burnley last week to book this years holiday in July, we asked about if we were unable to travel and told we could get a full refund or move the holiday at no cost to us. Now saying it is one thing, when it actually comes to it I'm not sure, but I would think that the OP would get refunded.
We've only paid the desposit at the moment and will wait to see what happens before paying the balance.
I've had good dealings with TUI over the years, I suspect they will allow a change of holiday date, they normally charge for that (£50 i think) but I'd bet youd get it free

No problem.
And Happy Birthday!

Flying Without Ings · Post by **Flying Without Ings** » Tue Mar 17, 2020 10:11 pm

AndrewJB wrote: ↑
Tue Mar 17, 2020 8:46 pm
I’m in the same boat - Thailand in April. So far we’ve been refunded for everything except the overnight train fares from Bangkok south. The flights were cancelled by the company we booked through, so that helps.

If you don't mind me asking, who were you flying with and who did you book through? We haven't heard anything from Emirates so we presume the flights haven't been cancelled, yet. We've booked our hotels through 2 or 3 different companies rather than 1, but hopefully they will all offer refunds.

AndrewJB · Post by **AndrewJB** » Wed Mar 18, 2020 1:17 am

Flying Without Ings wrote: ↑
Tue Mar 17, 2020 10:11 pm
If you don't mind me asking, who were you flying with and who did you book through? We haven't heard anything from Emirates so we presume the flights haven't been cancelled, yet. We've booked our hotels through 2 or 3 different companies rather than 1, but hopefully they will all offer refunds.

My partner works at a travel company, and booked through them. They cancelled all their flights yesterday - so no chance for us to go. Our flights were Emirates too. With the uncertainty, we’d only booked the last hotel night (at the most expensive hotel she could find - in case we’d be forced to quarantine there), so that was cancelled too. The train, we’ve cancelled so waiting to see how that goes.

ashtonlongsider · Post by **ashtonlongsider** » Wed Mar 18, 2020 7:40 am

We returned from a week in Mallorca yesterday. We were cautious when we booked but the situation was less clear at the time. However, I enquired about insurance and was told I'd need to have a clause in for policy for 'disruptive travel'. I'd like to give a big thanks to TUI who kept us informed at all times since the lockdown in Spain was announced, and assured us that the'd take every step they could to fly us back home. They kept there word and fortunately we got off on time yesterday. At times like these it pays to go with a reputable company as opposed to booking separately.

Bfc · Post by **Bfc** » Wed Mar 18, 2020 8:11 am

My Daughter in Law has a high flyer friend in the Travel Agency business, who deals with most of the big companies. I should be getting a call from TUI, telling me, I will be getting an offer of another holiday, or they will offer a refund if you ask. I think I will ask for the refund. At least it's in my bank and I can book another holiday, maybe somewhere else, when/if things get back to normal.

Spike · Post by **Spike** » Wed Mar 18, 2020 1:34 pm

Bfc wrote: ↑
Mon Mar 16, 2020 7:33 pm
My TUI booked holiday to Cyprus next month is now looking very unlikely, as Cyprus has shut down until the 30th April at the earliest.
Has anyone on here already had any experience, or can give any advice, on what steps to take, to recover my expenditure. Besides the holiday booking, Ive pre paid car parking and to use one of the airport lounges.
Are the travel companies likely to refund travellers, or is it going to be an insurance claim. I expect the other two will be hard to get refunds from. I wouldn’t mind if they offered me, as an alternative, another date.

i should have going to t'Egypt next monday with Tui.

You simply go into Tui who fill in a computer based claim .this gives you a full holiday refund. there ia a wait at present and they are doing them in date order. but will go straight back on my card.

not sure about the lounge but you can still use the car park-sorry team!

Commy · Post by **Commy** » Wed Mar 18, 2020 2:44 pm

I booked all mine separately. Accommodation with free cancellation and had an email from Easyjet last week saying I could wait for them to cancel the flight for full refund, or book another for any time in the future with no change of flight costs. For a budget airline they are very good.