Coronavirus travel disruption - latest info and your rights

Suzy_P

We had to cut short our holiday last week, to return to the UK. We were in a villa, and paid for 10 nights but the airline, booked separately, told us we had to come back after 7 nights, losing 3 days holiday. My annual travel insurance policy covers holiday disruption, but I paid for the villa (booked direct with the owner who has confirmed no refund possible from him) by credit card. Is it best to claim for the missed 3 nights on my travel insurance, or via the credit card I paid with?
I think if I claim on the travel insurance, it will affect my premium next time. It is a specialised policy due to pre-existing conditions.
Thank you

Westin

I don't think there is a valid S75 claim. The villa was available for your use.
You will need to weight up the travel insurance route.
Possibly this is a cost you may end up writing off.

pmcgrath

Not sure if this has been answered already or not...

I'm due to pay my final balance of ~£2500 to TUI on 3rd April for holiday to Mexico on 25th June. I have existing travel insurance from the annual worldwide policy I took out last year which doesn't expire until 17th July this year, well after we return.

If I pay the balance and the non-essential travel ban is still in place by 25th June, would I get a full refund from TUI? I am also assuming that my travel insurance will be ok as it's from last year. Thanks or any help/guidance.

messages4sarah

Flight and hotel have been cancelled. Lastminute keep telling me I have to have vouchers for refunded flights (Ryanair). Hotel was due to be paid on arrival.  I have told them this is unacceptable and I want a cash refund as entitled to under law. Now they're trying to make out they're entitled to send vouchers as industry has requested emergency measures from government as shown on ABTA site. Though I dont believe these have been passed. I know it's probably easier for them to send vouchers, and they wont lose out by doing this, but as our main income comes from self employment, we have no idea when working conditions will return to normal so every penny is going to count for us. Where do I stand? 

Sophia4455

My elderly mother recently paid the deposit of £950 for a holiday cottage on her credit card for a week in the Easter holidays. It was for a family holiday for her and her 2 children and grandchildren. Due to the situation she can’t go and they have offered to move the booking to later this year. Unfortunately due to being on the most vulnerable list she doesn’t want to book the summer holidays and the October holidays don’t fit due to Scottish and English dates. She would like a refund. Is this covered at all by the credit card? Thank you.

01Martin

I had a holiday cottage in Scotland booked for early June through LHHScotland. I have received an email from LHHScotland telling me that all bookings for holidays commencing before 30th June have been cancelled and to claim from my insurance. Is this legal? I haven't cancelled the holiday, they have. Surely they should refund me in full? Isn't that theft if they keep the money?

rach4peace

I was really hoping someone could give me advice on this. Travel insurance purchased on 25th Feb 2020. We were due to go to Disneyland Paris on 15th March 2020 and due back on 18th March 2020, flying with Easyjet. Things were getting worrying with CV19 in Paris so we decided to cancel Disney. As we did this 8 days before we were due to go we got 75% of our hotel and park tickets back. We were afraid to leave it as otherwise we would not have gotten anything back. As it turns out we could never have gone as they closed the park the day we were supposed to go (15th March). Should Disney give us the other 25% back do you think? I emailed them a while back but no reply. On 17th March FCO warned against any non essential travel. Should easyjet refund at least the return flights after this warning was issued? Finally I tried to claim with my insurance, a Leisure guard policy I got through the MSE site. They are underwritten by Allianz Global Assist who have replied to say the policy states that you are not covered for claims arising from prohibitive regulations from the government of any country. This seems to be contrary to what the MSE table says about Leisureguard policies.  They have also said that costs may be recoverable from accomodation provider and transport operator. Loooong story short I do not know where to go from here. We have mitigated our loss a bit with getting 75% of accomodation and park back and applying for govt tax refund for flights but have still lost over £1000. Sorry this is so long winded but would really appreciate some advice on this.

japitts

01Martin said:

I had a holiday cottage in Scotland booked for early June through LHHScotland. I have received an email from LHHScotland telling me that all bookings for holidays commencing before 30th June have been cancelled and to claim from my insurance. Is this legal? I haven't cancelled the holiday, they have. Surely they should refund me in full? Isn't that theft if they keep the money?

I should have thought that would fall under breach of contract. And/or a Section 75 claim.

I think we're going to get a lot of this.. travel firms, understandably from their perspective, want to keep as much cash in their banks as possible, for as long as possible. They will try all manner of tricks to avoid paying out, and I suspect a few are going to need a gentle reminder of the law. Just remember it may not be the fault of the agent you speak to.

stevem99999

japitts said:

01Martin said:

I had a holiday cottage in Scotland booked for early June through LHHScotland. I have received an email from LHHScotland telling me that all bookings for holidays commencing before 30th June have been cancelled and to claim from my insurance. Is this legal? I haven't cancelled the holiday, they have. Surely they should refund me in full? Isn't that theft if they keep the money?

I should have thought that would fall under breach of contract. And/or a Section 75 claim.

I think we're going to get a lot of this.. travel firms, understandably from their perspective, want to keep as much cash in their banks as possible, for as long as possible. They will try all manner of tricks to avoid paying out, and I suspect a few are going to need a gentle reminder of the law. Just remember it may not be the fault of the agent you speak to.

Similar situation here - holiday cottage booked in Wales via Original Cottages/Best in Wales (all same company) starting 4th April, now received an email from OC/BIW saying that due to the UK non-essential travel ban they "write to confirm that you will be unable to take your upcoming holiday with Best of Wales." Their offer is to move it to another time (no thanks, not with there being no timescale to this virus, plus personal reasons not to go too far into the future) or to cancel and lose full amount paid but they offer to send me a document so I can claim on my insurance!! Erm, nope. Advice on how to claim breach of contract or go via credit card company would be appreciated. Thanks

M271

My wife and I had to fly back from Vietnam last weekend half way through a 3 week Vietnam and Cambodia package tour. We only saw Vietnam as the UK tour company cancelled the tour before the Cambodia part including a Mekong cruise. Do I try and get a refund from the travel company or via my travel insurance?