Xmas holiday - pay balance?

cazlou71

We have 1 week package holiday (Crystal/TUI) in Lapland (Finland) booked at Xmas. It was booked in early Jan’20. We have annual travel insurance which was renewed with the same company in July. Our insurance does not cover coronavirus.  The holiday balance is due next week. We’ve saved up for this and are keen to go, but it’s a lot of money to potentially lose. So, in each of these cases would we be likely to get a refund from package company or insurance?

1. package company don’t cancel but FCO advises against travel (insurance is not valid so we wouldn’t go)
2. package company doesn’t cancel but 2 week quarantine imposed in Finland (can’t afford the extra week so we wouldn’t go)
3. package company doesn’t cancel but Finland is blocking non-residents from entering (we couldn’t go)

We’re trying to decide whether to pay the balance of cut our losses.

bradders1983

Lose? You wont lose anything if you pay the balance. TUI have been refunding cancelled package holidays. In cash. Insurance isnt really relevant when it comes to package holidays and getting money back.
TUI have also not been flying to places with restrictions like you state and it will be cancelled nearer the time if that remains the same.

One thing is for sure though, if you dont pay the balance off you are breaking the contract and you will lose your deposit.

cazlou71

But if it’s 14 days quarantine at the destination I assume they wouldn’t cancel?

bradders1983

Of course they will, all Jet2 and TUI package holidays have been cancelled where this was and is the case 

Think logically about it. Do you really think they are going to fly plane loads of their own package holiday customers in to have to do that?

This is the benefit of booking a package through a company that operates its own airline and not one of the cowboys like Love Holidays or On The Beach. 

This must be your first time reading this forum in 6 months. TUI have been by far one of the better companies for cancelling holidays. Yes refunds were a bit slow to start but that seems to be sorted.

cazlou71

Thanks, it is my first time reading this forum, it’s the one holiday we’re taking this year so I haven’t had reason to look up til now.