Travel Republic Refund

williams1507

 We booked to go to Thailand in August 2020 with Travel republic.

Due to Covid-19 our trip did not happen.

Today T.R refunded only part of the Money saying that our flight did go ahead so we would not get refunded for it (£1476)

From May 2020 we repeatedly ask T.R via their CSRs system and Facebook messanger what would happen if the holiday cancelled but got no reply. 

As it got Nearer the travel date and we still had not received a reply so we asked them to cancel the holiday  as it was obvious, we were not going.

 

Surely they should refund all money paid as it was their fault they did not contact us about cancelling the whole holiday.

williams1507

I have spoken to Emirates today and no flights left Stansted in August , they said if our flights had been changed we are intitled to a full refund.

Westin

williams1507 said:

 We booked to go to Thailand in August 2020 with Travel republic.

Due to Covid-19 our trip did not happen.

Today T.R refunded only part of the Money saying that our flight did go ahead so we would not get refunded for it (£1476)

From May 2020 we repeatedly ask T.R via their CSRs system and Facebook messanger what would happen if the holiday cancelled but got no reply. 

As it got Nearer the travel date and we still had not received a reply so we asked them to cancel the holiday  as it was obvious, we were not going.

 

Surely they should refund all money paid as it was their fault they did not contact us about cancelling the whole holiday.

I think the highlighted parts may be your issue.

Early on when you were messaging them they probably would not have had a clue what the situation would be like in a few months time. Your messages going to the crystal ball department before being deleted.

If nearer to the travel date you asked them to cancel then they would have done so in accordance with the booking terms and conditions. This however would unlikely be in your favour.  

Waiting for an official airline cancellation of your flight would have been the preferred option and then a refund on the flights would eventually follow.

Whilst it has been widely reported that reaching TR has been difficult (it seems they prioritise calls for people leaving within 7 days) you probably should have stepped up efforts to contact them at the appropriate time rather than relying on assumptions that you would not be travelling.

The only thing I can think of is if you do some detective work to see if the flight operated or was cancelled.  If the latter you possibly may have opportunity to seek a refund but it concerns me that you pressed the button first and told them you wanted to cancel.

Good luck.

sheramber

If you cancelled the holiday then you will be due to pay according to the terms and conditions of the booking. The nearer the date of travel , the more you have to pay.
if you know the details of your flight number Emirates should be able to tell you if the flight was cancelled and whether any refund was made to TravelRepublic.
If you did not  receive flight details that would indicate your cancellation was actioned.

williamsl5

If you booked a package holiday before COVID and paid a deposit, but before the final balance is due your flight is cancelled, are you entitled to a refund of the deposit as presumably with the flight being cancelled, it would render the holiday cancelled?

Westin

williamsl5 said:

If you booked a package holiday before COVID and paid a deposit, but before the final balance is due your flight is cancelled, are you entitled to a refund of the deposit as presumably with the flight being cancelled, it would render the holiday cancelled?

Actually not. The travel organiser would be responsible to find you an alternative flight, or may offer a refund if suitable ones can not be found.

I suspect with all what is happening in the travel and aviation sectors at the moment that they will simply offer a refund but a small chance they may come up with alternative flights. I recall one example recently of this on the forum just a week or so ago with a switch from EasyJet to RyanAir.

I would be wary of not paying any final balance based on an assumption that the holiday will not proceed based purely on the flight cancellation.  I would suggest you contact them and discuss options.  Given the current flights are cancelled and presuming you no longer wish to travel, it might also suit the travel organiser to cancel your package arrangement at this point, saving them further work looking for alternative flights.

Westin

WilliamI5 - I have just reread the thread. If your last question is linked to and the same as your Thailand holiday then every possibility that Emirates would have moved you from their STN flight to one departing LHR.  As far as I know EK consolidated STN and LGW operations to LHR and have been flying from there each day.  You would need to check TR terms and conditions to see if STN/LGW/LHR classed as “London” and therefore a suitable alternative departure point.  

I still suspect the issue may be that it it sounds like YOU asked them to cancel before the airline cancelled or a rerouting option given.

williamsl5

Hi Westin
I haven't asked them to cancel - I want to pay the final balance but they are advising me not to. The flight is with Thai Airways and they have cancelled all flights until the end of November (our flight was 12th November). Also note the Thai Government is currently not allowing foreigners into Thailand.
If this was not the case, and we could go to Thailand we still would.
I contacted Citizens Advice today and they advised that as the holiday company cannot give me the holiday I booked I am entitled to a refund and have advised me not to pay the balance.

Westin

What was your reference to Emirates in post #2?

williamsl5

Westin - not me - a different person - just happen to have same surname

Westin

I need to lay down! Williamsl5 and Williams1507...

@williamsl5 (Thai/Thailand) - my first response still stands. The travel organiser officially should look to offer an alternative flight given that you have booked a package but I suspect if you don’t wish to travel they may simply allow for a refund.  You could ask the agent if they have ticketed the booking and if this somehow is why they mention the deposit.  If they have yet to ticket the booking they are perhaps wisely telling you not to pay them further funds until the situation with Thai is known.  The deposit might also be that they have paid something to a 3rd party supplier which they may struggle to get refunded in cash, hence the credit offer.  I don’t think the agent is telling you anything misleading. I would talk over options with them to look for the best solution for you both.