Temporary board for Covid-19 travel disruption discussions

laineybabes

I have a pre existing insurance with Columbus Direct and within that policy a trip I booked last June. My policy is due for renewal on 24th April and trip due to take place on 6th May. Columbus Direct have just informed me that when I renew, even if there is no lapse or break in my cover, they WILL not cover me for the pre existing booking in the event of cancellation die to COVID 19. This is an annual policy and am now going to be without cover and can't get any. Surely THEY CAN'T just pull the plug on pre existing trips booked within an annaul policy? This is a non refundable cost and stand to lose $7000 paid to hotel.

SCOYA

Have been offered change of flights By EasyJet, our current flights at booked for May, however we can’t get time off to travel later in the year, why can’t we have a full refund?

dCirak

Hi All, 
Hope anyone can offer advice. I booked a weekend in NYC last year for my husband’s birthday. Used Skyscanner to book flights and hotel, through third party online agents (Travel Up for Flights and Travel Trolley for Hotel). We were due to travel on 26th March. When things started to look uncertain (about 3 weeks before travel) I contacted both companies to look for advice. Travel Trolley replied that they have passed my wishes to cancel to the hotel (I did not ask to cancel, however it was looking unlikely at the time that we will be going). Travel Up only replied to say they are very busy and only to contact them if we are due to travel within 7 days. I waited till a week before our travel dates and finally got through on the phone, only to be told (firmly) to wait for an email reply. The next day all call centres were closed. Now our travel dates have passed and I have heard nothing. Considering contacting the credit card company, however their phone waiting times are over an hour and I believe they will ask me to contact the travel agent first. This is extremely frustrating and it is causing me a great deal of stress. 

Any advice?

rossco1701

Hello, we have annual insurance each year and did so last year when we booked our flights to Australia for a wedding 21st March 2020. That insurance ran out after we had booked these flights and we renewed with a different Company. Whilst in Australia things kicked off with regard to Coronavirus and all the advice was to get home asap. However Emirates, who I love flying with, were appalling. No information, no help or guidance, no contact, nothing. However on their website it stated we could cancel or amend flights by phone, or online for no fee. As we could not get through on the phones we brought forward our flights home online. We were due to stop off in Dubai on the way back but as Dubai had closed down and you now needed visas to get in this was not an option. However when we bought the flights forward we were charged £350 for doing so. I assumed, big mistake by me, that this would be removed at the final stage but not so. Anyway we were desperate so we carried on. The day before we were due to fly out of Australia, through Dubai and home, Emirates cancelled our flights. After hours of waiting on the phone we eventually got through only to be told 2 things. As I had paid the change fee online that was my hard luck, the next was the next available flights they could offer me with no guarantee of actually going was 30th April. I had no choice to say yes at this point. We were desperate by now so went into Flight Centre in Perth South City and asked for help. After a couple of days hard work by the girls in the Centre we were offered a flight out with QATAR through Doha on 4th April. However that was business class seats at a cost of $10,000. We had no real choice so we agreed. The next day they called us in as 2 seats had become available on an earlier flight with QATAR on Saturday 28th March. Obviously with the situation getting worse by the minute and the British Consulate in Perth advising us to take the earliest flight we could get we said yes please. However as seats were now scarce there would be no difference in cost albeit these were now economy seats. We agreed to take the earlier flight. My questions are therefore: Do we have a claim for getting refunds at all from whoever. Who could we claim against and which insurance company do I go through. The one that I had out when the original flights were booked or our new one running now when all this kicked off. Emirates customer services are diabolical and a disgrace to the airline. They have said they might look at giving me a voucher for the part of the flight that was cancelled, i.e. Perth to Heathrow, as they have now cancelled the 30th April flights as well, but they did not hold out any hope that this would be the case. As for the amendment fee as I had pressed the button to say yes to the transaction that was my own hard luck as I should have contacted them. Something that was impossible to do. Great airline, great flights and staff but appalling customer service as they dropped us like a stone and I will never be using them again. A thought expressed by many I have spoken to since and the British Consulate in Perth.

SarahEH

We were due to travel to San Francisco on the 17th April then pick up a Princess cruise on the 19th, Princess have already emailed me to say I will get a full refund for the cruise plus a refund for the drinks package I paid for as it is all now cancelled.  Jetline cruises, who I booked through though are saying I will only get back a voucher for the flights for £949 and a cruise voucher for £3300, no cash and I have to loose £949 as irretrievable costs.  What can I do, I will accept the flight voucher but want a full refund of the £4199 that I paid in addition to this

Jsj56

Hi, we were due to fly out today to Canada to start our holiday but obviously the trip has been cancelled by travel agents Hayes and Jarvis. Today they have contacted me offering a credit voucher for future use. I asked for a  cash refund but they are refusing this. I read on Abtas website that they should offer a refund if that's what the customer wants however hayes and jarvis are saying they are not obliged to refund me.  What are my rights? 

twills12

If anyone has booked a camping holiday to France you can find the up to date standing from Eurocamp and other companies on gocampfrance Each company has reduced their payment time from 12 weeks down to 6 weeks prior to the holiday date and they each have a policy on refunds etc.

Ally197

Hi
I'm due to travel to Thailand for a holiday with my 2 young children on 26th July. I booked the flights and hotel separately, both through travel companies. Obviously it's a while off but likely it won't happen. I paid up front for the flights. Should I wait it out and see whether they're cancelled or apply for a credit or refund (it seems the refund route will end up costing quite a lot) now? Also I am still paying monthly installments for the hotel. Should I cancel my direct debit with the travel company? Is it likely I'll get a refund if I cancel now? It's all so confusing! I have travel insurance that I took out a few months ago but can't see anything regarding COVID - 19
Sorry a bit of a rambling email but just any advice would be hugely appreciated!
Thanks

SHEILA54

Hi

I have 2 questions please

1) I booked to travel to Bruges, by Eurostar, on 16th March, returning on the 18th.  Four of us, retired nurses, were going to celebrate starting training 50 years ago.  It was obvious that there were going to be problems so I contacted Omio, who I booked the travel with, and they sent an email to Eurostar for me.  We could have travelled on the 16th but would have been stranded as they cancelled the train back on the 18th.  Eurostar has come back to me and said that they won't cover this as it was booked through Omio.  I have sent them emails and tried to phone them, on the 26th march, but had no reply.  Any idea where we stand on this and the next step please?

2) My family are due to travel to Italy in My for the half term.  We have 2 mobile homes booked + flights with Easyjet.  Like an idiot I didn't book insurance straight away and then it was too late as the travel companies weren't going to cover Coronavirus claims.  My daughter and family have insurance through her nationwide account.  I am sure that we won't be going so what rights do I have with the flights and also Gustocamp, through whom I booked the mobile homes?  I haven't paid the balance, due today, but if I don't pay it then their terms are that the booking is cancelled and my deposits forfitted?

Thank you for any advice x

KKE

Ryanair cancelled our flight home but have kept the flight out (Lisbon) open. They have confirmed that their policy is that we should fly out and then call the airport to request a rescue flight home.  I have screen shots of this.  Any thoughts?  Surely this is illegal advice?