Coronavirus travel disruption - latest info and your rights

welsh_lynn

We were stranded in Madeley for 10 weeks longer than planned.  Had 8 flights with 4 different airlines cancelled. Easyjet was the company we originally booked with. Can we claim accommodation costs from them? 

e_clay91

I booked our holiday before coronavirus happened, and paid extra for the best Insurance from nationwide as we would be going to get married. I ended up getting a full refund from kuoni so I didn’t need to go through my insurance. I paid for a very expensive insurance due to my health conditions, but our holiday was cancelled. I asked for a refund for our travel insurance from nationwide and they’ve said no as they are still providing a service?! I’ve spent hundreds on this insurance which is now a waste. Has anyone else had this issue? Have you successfully got your travel insurance value back as it’s been unused? Thanks!

eskbanker

e_clay91 said:

I booked our holiday before coronavirus happened, and paid extra for the best Insurance from nationwide as we would be going to get married. I ended up getting a full refund from kuoni so I didn’t need to go through my insurance. I paid for a very expensive insurance due to my health conditions, but our holiday was cancelled. I asked for a refund for our travel insurance from nationwide and they’ve said no as they are still providing a service?! I’ve spent hundreds on this insurance which is now a waste. Has anyone else had this issue? Have you successfully got your travel insurance value back as it’s been unused? Thanks!

You've presumably had insurance cover for the period between taking it out and cancelling the trip, so it hasn't literally been unused, even if you haven't made any claims over that period - if there had been some health or bereavement issue preventing you from travelling then they'd presumably have paid out.

However, there is an argument that the insurance covering the period of the trip itself (covering different risks such as medical treatment, repatriation, etc) can be regarded separately, to warrant a partial refund - are there any Ts & Cs that help you here?

blindman

e_clay91 said:

I booked our holiday before coronavirus happened, and paid extra for the best Insurance from nationwide as we would be going to get married. I ended up getting a full refund from kuoni so I didn’t need to go through my insurance. I paid for a very expensive insurance due to my health conditions, but our holiday was cancelled. I asked for a refund for our travel insurance from nationwide and they’ve said no as they are still providing a service?! I’ve spent hundreds on this insurance which is now a waste. Has anyone else had this issue? Have you successfully got your travel insurance value back as it’s been unused? Thanks!

Hi
Was it single trip insurance or annual?
Was it part of the Nationwide Flex (or Plus) account package?

I have a Nationwide Flex account and the annual insurance that is packaged (for free) covers Europe only and up to 30 days per trip.
In January this year I-as usual- upgraded the insurance at a cost of £300 to cover Worldwide and up to 77 days cover.
(More expensive than usual - £150- as my wife has a new medical condition).
As we could not take our planned 75 day worldwide trip in April I asked for this upgrade fee to be refunded 
It took nearly three months of non communication but then I have just learned I'll be getting it all back as they will cancel the Worldwide cover part of my insurance.
I rang 0800 051 0154 and chose the Upgrades option.
Got through in minutes.

Hope this helps.

Caz3121

Abapo said:

Am in Manila was due to fly back to UK May 5th but flight cancelled
the next flight rescheduled July 12th 
can I claim for the additional accommodation/food I have had to pay  (paid for flight only when booking)
Do I claim from the company I booked the trip or the airline 

have you checked your travel insurance policy? have you been in contact with your insurer in the last few months to discuss cover etc?

chrism80

I booked prior to Covid-19 for this month.  The flight was cancelled on the 25th May and I still havent recieved any direct communication about it from the travel company.  They emailed toady stating that government has now said holidays are going ahead, so my holiday is on - it was a very generic email. 

They will give me two choices

1, I take the holiday now but have to sign a wiaver releasing them, the airline, hotel etc from any liability. 

Or 2, Re-book for another time but I have to pay the difference.

A future holiday isnt what I want - certainly not with the company I've used, their customer service has been truely horrible.  And I didnt purchase the holiday under any threat of the disease, so I'm certainly not willing to sign a waiver releasing everyone else of liability.

I have replied that the flight was cancelled and I want a refund.  But I'd really like to know where I stand on this because it cant be right that they insist on having to sign something where I could lose everything, in order to go on the holiday we agreed a year ago, two weeks before travel?

Any wisdom would be appreciated.

Butts

chrism80 said:

I booked prior to Covid-19 for this month.  The flight was cancelled on the 25th May and I still havent recieved any direct communication about it from the travel company.  They emailed toady stating that government has now said holidays are going ahead, so my holiday is on - it was a very generic email. 

They will give me two choices

1, I take the holiday now but have to sign a wiaver releasing them, the airline, hotel etc from any liability. 

Or 2, Re-book for another time but I have to pay the difference.

A future holiday isnt what I want - certainly not with the company I've used, their customer service has been truely horrible.  And I didnt purchase the holiday under any threat of the disease, so I'm certainly not willing to sign a waiver releasing everyone else of liability.

I have replied that the flight was cancelled and I want a refund.  But I'd really like to know where I stand on this because it cant be right that they insist on having to sign something where I could lose everything, in order to go on the holiday we agreed a year ago, two weeks before travel?

Any wisdom would be appreciated.

The name of the Company would also be appreciated !!

katie2811

Booked a flight and hotel to Dubrovnik back in February for 9th July. The flights were cancelled and refunded last month. However the hotel, booked through hotels.com is open so still going ahead. At the time the only option was non-refundable booking so that’s what I booked. Since the flight has been cancelled I asked hotels.com for a refund. As anticipated they said it wasn’t possible as it’s a non-refundable booking but they would allow me to change the booking to an alternative date. I asked the agent if I was to move to a date where the price was cheaper would I get a refund for the difference and he told me yes. I picked my dates and they were £200 cheaper. However, on contacting the hotel the agent advised that because the hotel is now only offering refundable rooms they’re not able to provide us with a non-refundable room at the correct price and would only offer to change the date at the price I have already paid. Can they do this? Is there anything I can do? 

LucyBarnett

I'm in need of some advice please! We have flights booked with Jet 2 (5 passengers) to travel to Portugal on July 29th but the FCO are still advising against all but essential travel. I took out travel insurance on 26/2/2020 when I booked the flights and there were no restrictions in place. In the terms and conditions of my policy it states that if I purchased the policy before 12 March 2020 then I can claim under the following circumstances.
“When you booked your trip or bought your policy the FCO had NOT advised of ANY restrictions to your destination.”
Im trying to get some confirmation that I can claim my money back for the flights before I cancel them but I can't get through to anyone on the phone!!! It's so frustrating and I don't know what to do. 
Can anyone help please?

blindman

LucyBarnett said:

I'm in need of some advice please! We have flights booked with Jet 2 (5 passengers) to travel to Portugal on July 29th but the FCO are still advising against all but essential travel. I took out travel insurance on 26/2/2020 when I booked the flights and there were no restrictions in place. In the terms and conditions of my policy it states that if I purchased the policy before 12 March 2020 then I can claim under the following circumstances.
“When you booked your trip or bought your policy the FCO had NOT advised of ANY restrictions to your destination.”
Im trying to get some confirmation that I can claim my money back for the flights before I cancel them but I can't get through to anyone on the phone!!! It's so frustrating and I don't know what to do. 
Can anyone help please?

The best advice is to NOT cancel and wait to see if the FCO advice is still in place on the 29th July, so you will then be able to calim on the insurance.

If YOU cancel then even if the FCO advice is still there your insurance may not pay out and if the FCO is relaxed by the 29th you will have no valid calim.

Why are you tying to cancel anyway?

The hotspot in Portugal is in Lisbon IIRC