Woke in the middle of the night in a panic!

peachyprice

We have a holiday booked for 12th May to Maldives, with Emirates Holidays based in the UK.  It's a full package with ABTA cert, so in theory fully protected.

At the moment Emirates are cancelling/re-booking up to 17th April when our current travel advisory ends, I fully expect that to be extended by at least another 4 weeks after which we should be able to cancel/rebook.  Any thoughts on what would happen if, in the meantime we go into almost total lockdown and there are no longer people working at Emirates Holidays to refund us or at ABTA?  Would we then have to try to claim from Amex?  

bradders1983

And what about if there is nobody working at AMEX to refund you? 

Lots of ifs and buts at the moment, no point worrying about it yet. 

peachyprice

bradders1983 said:

And what about if there is nobody working at AMEX to refund you? 

Lots of ifs and buts at the moment, no point worrying about it yet. 

Not to worried about Amex TBH, they'll just shuffle their service to different offices around the world.  

bradders1983

Emirates will do the same. 

Westin

This is unlike you peachyprice.  

This is my take:-

1.  Situation fast changing and this means constant adaption of what we and businesses do and what procedures are necessary.  Little you can do will change this at the moment with regard to your holiday.   What will be, will be.   Worrying and losing sleep won't change things.

2.  Very, very likely that your holiday in May will be cancelled.  I expect FCO travel advisories to change and be extended.

3.  Take comfort that you wisely booked a protected package holiday arrangement.  You are in one of the best situations possible. 

4.  Many companies will have home working provisions set up or being set up.   They will be under pressure but will be doing their best to ensure best business continuity.  

5. Dnata Group, of which Emirates Holidays is a part, have multiple locations of offices.  Expect them to be routing calls and work accordingly. Actions may be delayed and a general slow down felt and we need to probably all be accepting of this. 
  
6. ABTA will have a smaller team and may well be struggling to keep up with work.  I obviously do not know that for sure but that would be my assumption given the expected number of calls they are likely getting. 
 
7.  Whilst Package Travel Regulations do say that a refund should be given within 14 days should the holiday be cancelled, this regulation was never built around what would happen in the case of a worldwide pandemic and grounding of airline fleets.  As travellers, we probably all need to start accepting changes and variances will be necessary - for holidays (and life in general).  For protected package holidays which get cancelled, refunds (or credit vouchers) will I am sure be processed but it could well be that we have to show patience with back office administrative roles and wait longer that we wish.

8. A credit card claim is an option but bank staff and credit card company staff  will be under the same pressures and working restrictions - possibly more so given the sensitivity and secure access to customer's financial records from remote working locations.

Easy to say, but please try not to worry about the holiday issue to much.  I am sure it will get sorted.   If any consolation, I should be in Australia at the moment and still dismantling that trip. Also have a TUI package to Turkey in early May - very comfortable leaving that with TUI at the moment and letting them plan and roll out solutions to what I expect will be another cancelled trip.

Keep your pecker up peachyprice - we need your help on the forums at the moment.

peachyprice

I know, I know, I'm sorry.  At 3am I let the 'end of the world is nigh' lot get to me, lol.
I'm sure it will be fine, and TBH, I would rather re-book, single resort islands in the Maldives need people to return asap otherwise they'll disappear. 

Thank you for your wise words. 

Westin

No need to apologise.  
A good night sleep hopefully for you tonight.