MSE News: Egypt crisis: your travel rights

HXDave

Wharfbob,

we do not use explore here, however i feel that when you use the word 'Force Majeur' it may only come into play for payment of compensation for cancelling your holiday.

As explore have not been able to provide the holiday you booked, they should offer you a FULL REFUND, so i would not worry about that bit.

Now if they had to cancel your holiday because (for example) they had overbooked, not enough people on the trip to make it worth while etc, then as well as having right to a full refund, you would also have cause for compensation (on a sliding scale depending on how close to departure it was). However if it was something totally outside of their control (weather, civil unrest, force majeur) then they are not compelled to pay compensation, just the holiday cost back.

Hope this puts your mind at rest.

HXDave

HXDave

Hyset,

who cancelled the holiday? did you request the holiday to be cancelled or did the tour operator cancel?

If it was you that cancelled then yes it would have been a 50% charge to cancel, so getting back 90% is a good outcome.

If, however, it was the tour operator that cancelled the holiday, then you are fully entitled to FULL REIMBURSEMENT of everything that was shown on that holiday invoice.

However after looking on Discover Egypt website, they are showing they are operating holidays normally for march, so not 100% sure what is happening?

HXDave

gamelsby

Hi I have a trip booked to Cairo on the 21st February for 5 days. I booked it all independantly and have been told by my insurance company that I will not get a refund if I cancel and that if I go to Cairo against advice, my policy will be invalidated.
Where do I stand? Cancel and lose £1200 or go and risk getting caught up in the trouble.
My flights are with AirEgypt.

HXDave

Gamelsby, have you spoke with AirEgypt to seek their advice? Unfortunately, as their flights are still operating then they could still enforce ticket conditions to you, and if you cancel they could charge you the full cost of the ticket. Speakin with them they may have contingency plans in place for just this situation.

As with the accommodation, again you need to speak with your accommodation provider (direct with hotel if you booked direct with them, or the agent you booked with if you used one). again, it could be down to their individual choice.

As with the travel insurance - unfortunately they are quite correct. if you do travel, you are travelling against official government advice, and therefore they have the full right to refuse cover.

HXDave

Cardham

We are due to fly to Cairo then onto Luxor to take a Nile Cruise on Wednesday 16 February. After the cruise we have booked a 3 night stay in Cairo. When I contacted the Travel Agent (Future Travel - part of the Co-operative Travel Group) they informed me that they could not do anything for me at the moment but to contact them 48 hours before I am due to travel. I don't feel that is fair. How can I be expected to wait until 48 hours before I am due to go on holiday? I have booked car parking at Heathrow, arranged carers for my son and also booked the time off work. What should I be asking the Travel Agent to do for me bearing in mind it is now less than 2 weeks before we are due to fly to Cairo. What should the Travel Agent be offering me. Any advice would be gratefully received.

I booked the holiday last August and paid by Debit card. I did take out insurance but this does not cover civil unrest etc.

HXDave

Cardham,

Infortunately in your case the Travel Agent is limited in what it can do as it is the Tour Operator who ultimately decides if & when you can cancel free of charge.

Who is your tour operator, do you know?

HXDave

Cardham

HXDAVE

Future Travel booked the holiday for us. They are using Air Egypt to fly us out and then arranged the Nile Cruise for us. They said they specialise in this type of holiday. They are ABTA and ATOL protected and come under the Co-operative Group Travel umbrella. The holiday was booked over the phone.

Stoffy

Hi,

I am new to MSE but I'm after a bit of advice and can maybe offer a bit of help too.

Here's my situation:

I have booked 2 weeks in Sharm travelling the last week in May this year. I have booked a package deal for myself and my GF through OTBeach.com using easyjet as the flight provider. Obviously with the protests going on in Cairo, Luxor ect I was a bit nervous in going even though Sharm is relatively unaffected as we wanted to do a few excursions to these places to visit the pyramids ect. I emailed OTBeach.com to check my options should I choose not to go. I was given 2 options:

- Choose an alternative date/destination with easyJet; OR
- Cancel your plans and receive a travel voucher for the value of your booking which will be valid against future travel with easyJet for up to one year."

I am tempted to take the vouchers and go elsewhere but I really wanted to travel a bit further afield than Europe and Egypt is probably the furthest Easyjet go.

Ideally I would just like the money I have paid so far (approx £1350) transferred to another destination and not be restricted by any flight providers. I assume this has been offered as OTBeach must have to pay a cancellation fee to Easyjet or something which is probably why I'm restricted to them only.

The other problem is my GF wants to hold out and wait to see if this crisis will end soon and Egypt will go back to normal (tourism wise) but I'm torn between whether to do this or to cut my losses and take the vouchers go elsewhere and plan to go to Egypt when the trouble stops in the future.

What would everyone else suggest if it were them?

Anyone who has booked through OTBeach maybe able to contact them and see what they are offered too, this is why I posted on here to let people know how far I have got so far and to be fair, they are not trying to screw me in any way, just thought I wouldn't be restricted to one flight company. Rant Over!!

Thanx

gamelsby

Update
Egypt air have decided to give refunds without any costs, so thats good. :j
Now negotiating with the hotel chain.

Thanks

HXDave

Cardham, If future travel has booked it for you as a 'Package', then the decision lies with them at the end of the day. Obviously, if the FCO advisory hasn't changed by then then they should cancel for you. Unfortunately, if they do insist on leaving it that late then i dont believe there is nothing much that can be done.

Stoffy, plenty of time yet to see what developes if you are not travelling until the end of may. Personally i would hang fire and see what happens. As far as OTB having to pay a cancellation fee to Easyjet if they cancel - not quite true. Its you that will pay the cancellation fee to easyjet, not OTB, and as Easyjet are a non refundable airline, the cancellation fee will be the cost of the flight. The reason why OTB has offered alternative easyjet destinations is so that the flight can be transferred at whatever costs (again payable by you), rather than cancelled.

I also cant understand why you have paid so much money so far? £1350.00 seems a lot to pay up front, however if you are going spring bank then the flight costs might be more compared to other dates.

Gamelsby, nice result there. Hope you get things sorted with the hotels. Which chain is it? is it a group that has a UK service agent / office?

HXDave