Should I expect a refund from TUI?

psycho_modo

I know everyone involved in the travel industry is extremely busy and I have no wish to add to their workload at present. This post is just to try to get get clarification regarding a possible refund.

In a nutshell:
- Holiday booked and paid for in February: TUI All inclusive to Hurghada for 14 days (16th to 30th April - Sunrise Holidays Resort for 2 persons = £1,850)
- 16th March (09:40 hrs flight) My wife and I decided at the very last minute not to fly to Hurghada
- 18:10 hrs: announcement on the TUI website (Coronavirus Information page):
"Holidays to Egypt...Customers due to travel between 16 and 18 March will be provided a full refund automatically..."

Further detail:
My wife and I were scheduled to fly to Hurghada at 9:40am on Monday 16th March with TUI (14 days All inc). The day before we were due to fly out (15th) there was lots of media coverage regarding hotels now in lockdown in Hurghada which concerned us (I'm late 60's and on blood thinners). I tried unsuccessfully to call TUI (always on hold then getting cut off) to see if they would still be flying there tomorrow. Later on the 15th March, TUI announced that they were cancelling ALL package holidays. I again tried unsuccessfully to contact TUI (to check if my holiday would be affected). At the last minute we decided not to fly and emailed both TUI and the hotel to advise that we would not be travelling.

At 18:10hrs on the same day (16th) there was an announcement on the TUI website (Coronavirus Information page):
"Holidays to Egypt...Customers due to travel between 16 and 18 March will be provided a full refund automatically..." (This information is no longer on the TUI website - but I have a pdf screenshot of that page)

Since then I have had messages from TUI saying that "We hope that you're having a wonderful holiday in Egypt..." and "confirming that my return flight is still scheduled as planned."
I have emailed and messaged them to say that we are still in the UK - we've not had a response.

Should I expect a refund from TUI eventually?

Thanks.

bradders1983

Your issue here is that you chose not to travel before they pulled the trip. You could be in for a bit of a battle.

psycho_modo

bradders1983 said:

Your issue here is that you chose not to travel before they pulled the trip. You could be in for a bit of a battle.

Yes, I do realise that.
I was hoping that the announcement from TUI: "Customers due to travel between 16 and 18 March will be provided a full refund" would swing it in my favour?

bradders1983

You would assume so given that wording, yes. Maybe you will need to bite the bullet and get in the phone queue and speak to them.