Flight refunds

Boozoss

Please please help me.
I have booked a flight to Australia in May with my partner.
Unfortunately her daughter has become unwell and This obviously means we can no longer go to Australia
I have contacted the travel agent who state I am not entitled to a refund of my ticket and that I may get some of the taxes back. Surely this can't be true?! I have paid over £800 for something I won't have!
I had not yet taken out travel insurance as i usually do that closer to the time of going.
Is there anything I can do to get more money back than a potential of £170?

richardw

Have you got travel insurance with a bank account or the card you paid with?

Grumpelstiltskin

If it was a non refundable fare then the agent is correct.


Why on earth did you spend that amount and not take out insurance when you bought the tickets?

Pollycat

Sadly this is the second thread within 2 days on exactly the same subject - needing to cancel a holiday but not having taken insurance out.

This thread is about a round-the-world trip departing within 5 weeks, illness but leaving buying travel insurance until the last minute:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5207441

Boozoss - look at the advice given by richardw, it's your only hope of getting more than taxes back although as it is your partner's daughter who is ill you might find that even if you had taken insurance out it may not have covered this situation.

PeacefulWaters

Boozoss wrote: »

I had not yet taken out travel insurance as i usually do that closer to the time of going.

For everybody else: Please insure immediately after booking. It costs the same and saves this financial hit!

photome

Pollycat wrote: »

Sadly this is the second thread within 2 days on exactly the same subject - needing to cancel a holiday but not having taken insurance out.

This thread is about a round-the-world trip departing within 5 weeks, illness but leaving buying travel insurance until the last minute:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5207441

Boozoss - look at the advice given by richardw, it's your only hope of getting more than taxes back although as it is your partner's daughter who is ill you might find that even if you had taken insurance out it may not have covered this situation.

It is almost a daily occurance on here.

Maybe its the increase in people doing DIY flight/holiday bookings, whereas in the "old" days a TA would sell you the insurance at time of booking.

I have no idea how you make the unaware more aware of the importance of buying insurance at the same time though

gettingtheresometime

photome wrote: »

I have no idea how you make the unaware more aware of the importance of buying insurance at the same time though

Get Martin to do a piece on it?

Pollycat

gettingtheresometime wrote: »

Get Martin to do a piece on it?

I'm pretty sure I've seen Simon Calder talking on various programmes about the risks of not getting insurance as soon as you've booked.

If you don't see it or don't use this website (both posters are newbies on MSE), then I guess it won't make any difference.

katejo

I am fully aware of the need to have insurance at the time of booking so the following is a hypothetical example.

1. I have an annual policy which is still valid for 3-4 months at the time of booking the trip so I don't take out a new policy straight away.

2. Let's say I book a trip for September with the intention of renewing my annual policy in June when it is due to expire.

3. Between now and June, i develop a new condition which might prevent me from travelling.

In this case, should i be eligible for refund if a doctor says that i can't travel or should i extend/renew my annual policy at the time of booking the trip?

Grumpelstiltskin

I don't know what you can do if people are prepared to pay out hundreds or thousands of pounds on flights/holidays and yet it doesn't cross their minds to get insurance straight away.


How much can you hold their hand?

photome

katejo wrote: »

I am fully aware of the need to have insurance at the time of booking so the following is a hypothetical example.

1. I have an annual policy which is still valid for 3-4 months at the time of booking the trip so I don't take out a new policy straight away.

2. Let's say I book a trip for September with the intention of renewing my annual policy in June when it is due to expire.

3. Between now and June, i develop a new condition which might prevent me from travelling.

In this case, should i be eligible for refund if a doctor says that i can't travel or should i extend/renew my annual policy at the time of booking the trip?

If the condition presents itself before your policy expires then you will be covered by your current policy.

When it comes to renewal, if you havent already cancelled you would then declare your condition before renewing

at least thats how i see it