Coronavirus travel disruption - latest info and your rights

Elevonic

silvercar said:

Elevonic said:

Travel republic are only offering a credit note against my package holiday, can I insist on a refund?

If they have cancelled the holiday, you are entitled to a refund. If they are still operating the holiday then you can't insist on a refund.

They have cancelled.
"With the FCO now advising against all but essential foreign travel, we have taken the decision to cancel your package holiday booking.
In the near future you’ll start to see some cancellation documentation appearing in your inbox, please keep this safe, it’s just our way to let you know we’ve done as we said.
We will be issuing you a credit note to the value of your booking, it will be valid for 6 months from the date you receive it. Please be aware it may take us several weeks to send out your credit note however, we promise we’ll get it to you as soon as possible.
Best regards,
Your Travel Republic Team
Thank you so much for your patience and understanding during this very challenging and rapidly changing situation."

Cookiepops

Hi,  Ive been reading about rights an insurance if holidays get cancelled due to corona virus.  But we have just got back from Cyprus last night.  All was well when we flew out there last week but due to event over the weekend, Paphos went into lockdown and our flights originally for Fri 20 Mar were cancelled.  We managed to get on the last flight yesterday which is the main thing.  But are we able to claim for a partial holiday?  Im not really bothered about car parking fees and other expenses but it would be good if we could get the 3 nights hotel costs refunded if possible.  I just don't know how to go about it.   Thanks

tonyl1954

I booked for a touring holiday to Italy via Fleetway Travel back in October. Paid in full. Due to travel 19/4/20 with Easyjet
Informed yesterday by Fleetway that as the FCO advise against all but essential travel the holiday is cancelled & that I need to claim via my insurance. If Fleetway have my money why are they not obliged to return it? Their policy states if they change or cancel then one of the options would be to "having a full refund of all monies paid"
I'm wondering if its different because the FCO have now advised against travel.
If I go through my insurers I will loose £75 excess per traveller. If thats the case do I claim at least that back from Fleetway.
HELP!!!

Westin

@Rock_melon: 
Depends on quite a few elements that you have not disclosed. 

If you booked all travel components with the same UK agent within a short 24h window you *may* still have some protection under the linked travel section of the Package and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations.  If not a package or qualifying multi "linked" trip, or this was some overseas OTA, you may not have this protection.  Did you get an ATOL certificate?  This might indicate if you had some level of "package" cover under a UK operating business.

People are now discovering that separate booked over a full package holiday can be troublesome to dismantle if things go wrong.  This is being seen when people have booked non-refundable elements.  Cheaper at the time but restrictive.  Some businesses are offering gestures of goodwill with being flexible on non-refundable rates but they don't have to.  They may offer a credit or voucher for future use.  Don't necessarily expect a cash refund on a non-refundable hotel stay.

Hopefully you have suitable travel insurance to allow for a claim on anything you can't get a refund on.  The latest FCO travel advisory now at least kicks this process towards insurers.

Also, you may like to read the MSE article which is being constantly updated https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2020/02/coronavirus-travel-help-and-your-rights/?utm_source=MSE_Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=18-Mar-20-50597963-386&utm_campaign=nt-hiya&utm_content=4

patricia1066

Coverwise has clarified AXA policy on cover for cancelling due to cv19. 

TLDR If you have arranged travel  before 17 March you have cover for your holiday costs under the terms if you cannot obtain a refund. Any new travel arrangement will get cover under the terms just not for cv19 aspects. 
https://www.coverwise.co.uk/travel-insurance/corona-virus.aspx?cwcustom=Covid19_AMT

AlfieConn

BA have offered a voucher valid for 12 months if you wish to delay your travel. But this virus situation and the restrictions may continue beyond the next 12 months. So I called BA to ask them to confirm if that were to be the case,and you weren't able to use the voucher, would they extend its expiry dates. The call centre said "I'm sure BA would extend it in that case" but wouldn't confirm it and then cut me off when I asked to speak to someone who would confirm their position in such an event. I've tweeted them as well. I wondered if anyone else had rasied this and received something tangible, than just hopeful intention from a call centre

patricia1066

Coverwise put 17 March in the email this morning. On the link there is no mention of the date of making travel arrangements, and 12 March refers to the date after which a new policy won’t cover you for cv19. 

Westin

@AlfieConn:  I think the answer is that they simply don't know at this time.  Let them get through the immediate challenges and issues. Perhaps a question to ask them in a month+ time.

steveiles

has anybody had trouble contacting last minute.com or travelup- cant change hotel or flights as cant get hold of them?

malc_b

What is the legal position when you have annual insurance that was in place when the booking was made (not a package but separate hotel and flight), but that annual insurance ends before the holiday is due?  Can the insurers refuse to renew or renew only with coranvirus excluded?  The holiday date isn't within the current no travel period so could in theory still happen, hence can't be cancelled yet.  But even if it all dies down there would still be a risk of coranvirus breaking out again when on holiday so cover for that is a must.