Booked Holiday and travel with special needs child

bird_egg

Hello, 
Looking for some advise. We booked flights (via Jet2) and villa holiday last year (Sep 19) to go on 31 August this year (2020). The flights were paid in full using a credit card (however this was a present and paid of on my mother-in-law credit card). Both me and my wife have travel insurance through our bank.
It would have been me, my wife and my son going on holiday but my son has special needs (he is 7). With all the restrictions happening on flights at the moment we don't think this will be appropriate for my son. For example, he is not verbal and use a combination of lips and hand movement to communicate. This will mean it would be hard to wear a facemask. Also there is no way he would wear one. Secondly he would have no understanding of social distancing either on a plane and in the airport, and we normally have special assistance. He also has no toilet awareness and this might be an issue is we need to change him mid flight as the toilets might be closed.
We just wanted to know the chance of getting our flight money back either through the travel insurance or credit card. I understand that the travel insurance might not cover my son and we usual get him separate insurance before we go.
Any help or advise would be much appreciated.
Thank you,
John
 

bagand96

The credit card won’t be an option. That only covers you when the supplier is in breach of contract, with neither Jet2 or your villa provider are (flights at flying and villa is available). 

You may be able to make a travel insurance claim on medical grounds. However the insurance company would want someone medically qualified to assess that your son cannot travel (I.e. letter from a GP or consultant).   That does depend on whether he is covered on your insurance policy or not, and depending on the company they may have wanted his condition declared.

For what it’s worth, there are exemptions for wearing masks on the aircraft, and likely in the airport, again if you have proof wearing one is not possible on medical grounds. 

mattyprice4004

As above, your card provider isn't liable - without meaning to be rude, your medical issues aren't their problem; as far as Jet2 are concerned they're able to provide the service but you're unable to use it. 

The golden rule is always, always book insurance when you book the holiday - you may be able to claim on your own policy for your places, but if you don't have any cover for your son you'll probably be out of pocket for his side of things. 

sheramber

 If the flight is going and the accommodation is open then it would be  disinclination to go.  The credit card would have no obligation to refund.
Insurance does not cover disinclination to go. As your son is not insured I doubt you could use his limitations as a reason to claim.
If you would still like to go. 
There are face masks available with a clear panel to enable lip reading.
There are  exemptions   to wearing a mask which might apply to your son. 
Jet 2 have said the toilets will not closed but ask that you do not go to use it until it is free.- no queueing
Have you spoken to Jet 2 about any special assistance being available  ?

bradders1983

No airline has said they are stopping access to toilets so no idea where the OP has heard that.

And there are exceptions to the rules both for a) your sons age, and b) the reasons you outline.

Mrs_Soup

Are you sure your son isn't covered by the insurance.  We have travel insurance through our bank account and it is a family policy that covers our children as well (it is a joint account though).