Flightcentre have offered travel credit, but are we entitled to our money back?

retacmr

Hi all
We were booked to go to Canada on June 19th, I recently emailed Flightcentre to ask what our options where at this point as the trip was a way off. They have got back to me today and have offered us a travel credit voucher to be used in 12 months for the full value of our trip. 

But I was wondering if we were in fact entitled to a cash refund? I’m not sure if we will travel within the next 12 months TBH, as I’m sure international travel costs will spike, and it is a lot of our money just to be sat elsewhere...

Thanks in advance. 

bradders1983

Your trip is 2 months away.  Do not jump first, wait until they officially cancel it.

retacmr

bradders1983 said:

Your trip is 2 months away.  Do not jump first, wait until they officially cancel it.

Our friends in Canada are telling us to look into our options now, Canada has closed its borders to international visitors until June 30th. 

bradders1983

Indeed but do not give the agent any hint you want to cancel or move dates before they offer it first. 

Neil49

retacmr said:

bradders1983 said:

Your trip is 2 months away.  Do not jump first, wait until they officially cancel it.

Our friends in Canada are telling us to look into our options now, Canada has closed its borders to international visitors until June 30th. 

Your only option is to wait for official cancellation and then see what options are initially offered to you. This question has been raised on numerous occasions in other posts and the advice remains the same.

In theory you should get a cash refund but given the circumstances surrounding Covid the financial demands on travel companies is overwhelming hence the credit voucher option. If you try to take action now it could be deemed that it is you who is cancelling in which case you would get nothing. 

retacmr

bradders1983 said:

Indeed but do not give the agent any hint you want to cancel or move dates before they offer it first. 

Hey
I didn’t hint at anything, just asked what our options were, I was expecting them to say we had to wait till nearer the time as on WestJets website you can still book onto the flight we were on. 

But they came back to me and said: 
I can confirm as this was booked as a package, you can have a full refund credit voucher for the whole booking, this can be used within the next 12 months.
Hence why I’m asking that if they are offering a credit voucher at this stage am I not legally entitled to our money back?

Browntoa

Almost all travel companies are only offering vouchers at this time despite the law saying cash refunds within 14 days of formal cancellation.

That situation is most unlikely to change 

SevenOfNine

retacmr said:

bradders1983 said:

Indeed but do not give the agent any hint you want to cancel or move dates before they offer it first. 

Hey
I didn’t hint at anything, just asked what our options were, I was expecting them to say we had to wait till nearer the time as on WestJets website you can still book onto the flight we were on. 

But they came back to me and said: 
I can confirm as this was booked as a package, you can have a full refund credit voucher for the whole booking, this can be used within the next 12 months.
Hence why I’m asking that if they are offering a credit voucher at this stage am I not legally entitled to our money back?

No. Your trip is still going ahead (technically) unless FlightCentre have already advised you that it's cancelled. In which case you are entitled to a cash refund. 

If FlightCentre have not yet advised you that your trip is cancelled, though in all probability it will be (unless Canada suddenly opens it's borders & our FCO "essential travel only" is lifted) so FlightCentre are just pre-empting the inevitable by 'generously' offering you vouchers now - before you become legally entitled to a cash refund when THEY are obliged to cancel your trip.

Just for info, if it's anything like ours with TUI, they'll tell you it's cancelled a week or so before you're due to go.  Off course, if you may see the voucher offer NOW more palatable than perhaps a battle to recover your cash later.  1) Section 75 won't be applicable on a package booking. 2) ATOL will be obliged to step in if FC crash.  3) The UK Government may step in, change the law, & allow travel companies to use us like an unwilling loan company - keeping our money & issuing 'travel vouchers' instead of refunds. 

For me, there isn't a cat in hell's chance of me accepting a voucher at any point in time unless option 3 is forced upon us.  I'd rather wait a while for a cash refund, or hope that TUI sink down the plughole & ATOL step in.