Package holiday might not be cancelled but we want to rebook / cancel anyway

tdsmithj

I have a holiday abroad on the 25th July. I spoke to the wife and because of all this that has happened this year (covid) we want to move it to next year or cancel as I don't think it will be an enjoyable experience. I rang up Jet2Holiday to rebook out holiday for next year and after spending days trying to get through only to be told we would have to pay an admin fee currently equalling £200. I have been advised to wait to see what the FCO says later on to see if my holiday does get cancelled. Annoyingly the admin fee goes up within a 28 day window so if we wait to see if our holiday in Teneriffe is cancelled and if it isn't it will cost us more to rebook. Other scare stories I am heaving is the jump in prices from package holidays like Jet2Holday and TUI in 2021. Ideally I want to cancel. Is anyone else iwith the same problem

[Deleted User]

Plenty of people with same problem!   Unfortunately it is something you are going to have to decide yourself whether to jump now and rebook (pay whatever they are asking), wait to see if your holiday is cancelled then request a refund  but obviously, as you say, if the holiday does go ahead then you will either have to go or pay the penalty for cancelling.   Most people would think it unlikely but who knows?  Things changing all the time.

slatersara

We’re in exactly the same boat for on the 25th July too with On the Beach and Ryanair. I’m set to lose £700 if I cancel it myself before the 28 days, or may have to pay the £1800 to go on a holiday that isn’t appealing any more. The outbound flight has been removed from the Ryanair schedule but I can’t find out from On the Beach if this means our holiday will be cancelled or not. I know there are worse things going on in the world, but it’s not easy to swallow when you save all year. My sympathies. 

Life__Goes__On

Does your insurance cover FCO advice? as that might allow you to cancel at the end of June.

Pollycat

We have (or had) a package holiday booked for the end of August.
Deposit of £60pp paid, balance due Thursday 18th June.
Looked at amending for 2021, fee is £40pp.
Not sure how travel will work - check-in, security, flight, passport control on arrival, luggage reclaim, coach transfer - and reverse for return.
Not sure what the resort will look like - would we be able to get in the restaurants we want, will there be enough sunbeds round the pool, local buses, trips etc.
To top it off, the early morning flight that got us in at midday and home by 15:00 had been changed (no notification from Jet2) to a 15:20 departure from the UK that got us home after midnight.
We cancelled and walked away from the £120 and will spend the summer at home.
The right choice for us.

You (OP) have a much harder choice as your holiday is paid in full.

tdsmithj

Life__Goes__On said:

Does your insurance cover FCO advice? as that might allow you to cancel at the end of June.

It should do. Got it the same time as the holiday. Rock insurance I think. Got it added when I booked with the holiday. Our holiday is paid in full. Everything came up to £5100ish. Just worried as it's quite expensive to lose.

manetti

tdsmithj said:

Life__Goes__On said:

Does your insurance cover FCO advice? as that might allow you to cancel at the end of June.

It should do. Got it the same time as the holiday. Rock insurance I think. Got it added when I booked with the holiday. Our holiday is paid in full. Everything came up to £5100ish. Just worried as it's quite expensive to lose.

As others have said, it is down to personal choice - whilst it may be cancelled it is a gamble against the chance that the holiday goes ahead.

This is only my opinion (and I obviously don't know your financial situation) but if the options are to potentially go on a £5k holiday where facilities and amenities may be significantly reduced or unavailable versus paying a £200 fee for the relative peace of mind that the holiday will go ahead next year when things are probably back to some degree of normality, I would take the second option without much hesitation.

mattyprice4004

£200 to move a £5k holiday seems fine to me, when they don't even have to move it at all if your holiday is going ahead. 
Bite their hand off! You sound surprised they wanted a fee to move it; unfortunately there's always a cost involved and this pandemic isn't Jet2's fault so I'd expect a charge. 

sharpe106

I would be quite happy to pay the fee too, when they may not have to. Do you really want all the hassle and worry?

tdsmithj

Yea I know. I assume would be less hassle. Going to edit for a little bit first and see what happens.

rachaelfl

Hi, can anyone advise what I should do please. I have a package holiday booked to go to Cyprus with my 83 year old mother the end of July with lastminute.com.  I have continually tried to change the holiday to next year but they keep saying their is no availability, even though they have the same package holiday advertised on their website. I have also got written confirmation from the hotel that they are happy to reschedule at no extra charge and have availability on the dates I have requested, but lastminute.com are now ignoring my emails.  I have paid just over £800 deposit and have another £2200 to pay on the 26th June.  Do I pay this final balance or not? I appreciate if I don't i will be seen to of cancelled my holiday and lose my deposit, but I am unsure whether they will come after me for the remaining balance if I don't? I am keeping up-to-date with trust pilot re lastminute.com, and it looks like my money is going to just go into a black hole and its a lot of money to lose. It also looks like if you cancel they still charge you the full amount that you were supposed to pay anyway. I just don't know what to do.