TUI Holiday Refund - Coronavirus

NathanMorgan

Hi, I have a family holiday booked in September but with the obvious issue with Coronavirus I don't want to take the risk of travelling there even though its a couple of months away.

I've paid a lump of it as a deposit and have 3 payments left to pay it off, can I have a refund of the holiday if I cancel now and I did take out travel insurance the same time as the holiday and wondering if this covers my situation?

NoodleDoodleMan

Going by TUI's rules you'll lose your full deposit.

https://www.tui.co.uk/destinations/faq/how-much-will-it-cost-to-cancel-my-holiday?catId=265&subcatId=267&docId=860

NathanMorgan

from the info from that link am I better off losing my deposit or continue paying for the holiday and hope that the government say its still not safe to travel and I can then go about getting a refund.

I really dont know whats best to do, what would you do in my situation?

Caz3121

from the main MSE article I've booked a trip, but I'm paying for it in instalments. I don't want to go – can I stop paying?

• You'll need to weigh up the risk based on what you've paid so far and what you've yet to pay, but this is likely to be a bad idea.

  The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) warns if you're paying in instalments for a holiday and stop paying because you fear your holiday will be cancelled or you don't want to go, you are effectively cancelling the booking.

  This means that if the booking is subsequently cancelled by the operator you won't get your money back, whereas if you continue to pay and it's then cancelled, you would get a refund.

  https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2020/02/coronavirus-travel-help-and-your-rights/
  

NathanMorgan

• This means that if the booking is subsequently cancelled by the operator you won't get your money back, whereas if you continue to pay and it's then cancelled, you would get a refund.

  https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2020/02/coronavirus-travel-help-and-your-rights/
  

I can’t make sense from your last point, do you mean if TUI cancel my holiday I won’t get my money back?

[Deleted User]

NathanMorgan said
I can’t make sense from your last point, do you mean if TUI cancel my holiday I won’t get my money back?

That is correct.  If you cancel now you will forfeit your deposit irrespective of whether TUI subsequently cancels it.  The advice being given by travel experts, such as Simon Calder, is to make your payments and you will then be covered for a full refund if the package holiday provider has to cancel.  That said I am a little worried that, if the crisis becomes prolonged, then many travel companies could cease trading and I am not sure how ABTA and insurers would cope with a large scale situation like this.  I also have a September holiday booked and have final payment due in June, I will review the situation then and make a decision on whether to write off my deposit or press on with the final payment which is fairly substantial.

NathanMorgan

I’ve also read that the travel companies have the right to give vouchers instead of cash refunds, is that still the case?

Caz3121

NathanMorgan said:

I’ve also read that the travel companies have the right to give vouchers instead of cash refunds, is that still the case?

It is covered in the main article which will be updated with any changes
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2020/02/coronavirus-travel-help-and-your-rights/
under - "Package holiday cancelled? You're due cash, not vouchers - but that could be about to change"

Moppa

I'm in a similar situation - but ours in due to fly out 24th June with final payment of £5228 due 1st April. I doubt the holiday will go ahead and the impression I get is that TUI are playing a game to see who cancels first? Deposit amounted to around £800.

drumajo

Hi all,

I'm in a similar situation...

My friend and I have booked a holiday to Egypt in August.  He has paid the initial deposit (as he booked the holiday).  He already had an annual travel insurance policy in place, but I didn't have any at the time of the booking - I recently tried to get travel insurance but to no avail.  

We need to pay the next instalment soon, but I've very worried that it'll be only my friend who receives a full refund should the travel company cancel our package deal holiday (with ATOL certificate).  My understanding is that ATOL only covers you if they go bust.

Without me having any insurance, is it safer to just cut my losses & pay the cancellation fee.  Even if we can go to Egypt a travel insurance policy won't cover me against anything to do with Coronavirus.

Thanks for listening

NathanMorgan

can I go about getting my deposit back by claiming on travel insurance which I took out the same time as the holiday booking?