Trip booked for end of May.

GrantH1816

Hi there 
Don't know if anyone could help me. I have a trip booked to go to Amsterdam for the end of May only for 2 days, I won't  be able to travel due to Covid 19, but if I cancel it will cost me more than the trip, plus got a final payment on the 15/05/20 which I wont be able to pay as I'm not in work. Is there anything i can do about this because as it stand the airplane have not cancelled the flight and the travel is still going ahead according to the travel agent. 

Aylesbury_Duck

Sit tight for a bit. You've got three weeks to see if the situation unfolds. 

Retireby40

So you booked a weekend away with a travel agent. You paid a deposit to them and have to pay the remainder?

Why if you cancel do you have to pay more than the trip? Do you not just lose the amount you have already paid? 

bagand96

You say if you cancel it will cost you more than the trip? That seems odd, often cancelling at a late stage might mean you forfeit 100% of the cost, but I've never heard of having to pay extra to cancel?  Who have you booked with and what exactly have you booked?

GrantH1816

Theres a cancellation. It was with last minute.com. I was under the impression that if I cancelled it I'd just lose the deposit. 

GrantH1816

Cancellation fee sorry 

bagand96

Ok.  So if you bought flights and hotel together than you have a package.  Your flights will likely be non-refundable and perhaps the hotel too.  It could be that even though you have only paid a "deposit"  you do have 100% cancellation cost, and lastminute cancellation fee on top.  Even though they call it a "deposit" in effect they are just letting you spread the cost.

It's hard to know for sure without knowing the T&Cs of the booking though, you will need to give them a read.  If you don't pay the remaining balance your booking will be cancelled.  If the T&Cs do state that you are liable for 100% in the event of cancellation then lastminute.com could pursue you for that debt.

You could leave the booking in place and hope that the airline have to cancel.  If they do then you will be entitled to a full refund under the Package Travel Regulations.  Of course, leaving the booking in place would mean paying the balance when it's due.

GrantH1816

Right ok. Does anyone know what sort of timescale the airlines are given when regards to canceling flights? 

bagand96

It really depends, not many are cancelling up to the end of May just yet, other than Jet2 who have already announced no flights until 17th June.

Most are cancelling on a rolling basis 10-14 days ahead.  That said, nobody knows what the situation will be a few weeks from now.