Summer 2021 - Refunds, and general Tribulations Query

Orta117

Hi All,

Possibly had this answered a thousand times before but my searching has yielded nothing to my specific question. Here's our scenario; we've had our US / Canadian Sabbatical cancelled for the second time (May - July 2020, then April - June 2021) so are looking to do some weekend City breaks in Europe over the summer before, (I'm a pessimist) they lock us all up again next winter. 

So for example I'm looking at booking two nights in Amsterdam. Flying out very early Friday morning and flying home very late Sunday night. Looking on Expedia; flights from Manchester (Yay no Gatwick) to Amsterdam, hotel and transfers for £507.90. Seems reasonable. 
Splurb on the hotel portion says cancellable up to the day of check-in, again great. But then the flights clearly state: "Cancellations not allowed".

Last year I knew where we stood as the flights themselves were cancelled and we just got our money back no issue. This year though, what are the chances the flight itself will go ahead; but because of Covid restrictions in Holland we aren't allowed to travel? If they run the ghost flight, or run it with the 3 people travelling for essential purposes on, that means we wouldn't be entitled to a refund? ATOL protection is irrelevant here I guess as Expedia isn't going out of business... it's just the flight. Where do you stand refund wise if you're not allowed to travel to the destination if the destination's Covid restrictions don't allow but the flight goes ahead? It is frustration of contract? Was reading an article on this site that said:

Which uses language such as "likely" rather than "legally entitled" which makes me nervous.

Anyone know anything I don't? Appreciate the help!!

eskbanker

If the trip is structured as a package then the Package Travel Regulations apply, which offer greater protection than booking flights and accommodation separately. https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2020/02/coronavirus-travel-help-and-your-rights/#wantogo explains the 'unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances' provision within the PTRs that protects you if the destination is locked down.

Orta117

Hi. Thanks for the response. And booking flights, transfers and hotels with Expedia counts as a package?

eskbanker

Orta117 said:

Hi. Thanks for the response. And booking flights, transfers and hotels with Expedia counts as a package?

Should do, but worth checking with them.

Thrugelmir

Orta117 said:

 If they run the ghost flight, or run it with the 3 people travelling for essential purposes on, that means we wouldn't be entitled to a refund? 

Scheduled flight is a scheduled flight. Often a multi destination route during the course of the day, to/from it's base. Planes can carry cargo as well as passengers.  

bagand96

Just a caution on the Package Travel Regulations. As @eskbanker and the linked MSE article says, the PTRs state:

 "unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances" occur which "significantly affect the performance of the package,"

Different travel companies have different interpretations of that clause and not all been offering up refunds easily. This is especially true of Online Travel Agents, who won’t get a refund from the airline if a flight operates, so then obviously don’t want to be out of pocket by refunding the customer! ABTA stated last summer that they expect their member agents to refund customers in such scenarios. That resulted in some companies just leaving ABTA!

The PTRs do offer better protection than doing it DIY but don’t always assume it will be easy because it’s a package, it largely depends on the agent. I’m not sure how good Expedia have been over the pandemic. 

easyJet operate MAN-AMS and their easyJet Holidays arm will sell you a package. I think they’ve been pretty good in being flexible or offering vouchers/refunds. 

https://www.easyjet.com/en/holidays/info/covid-19-response

eskbanker

bagand96 said:

Just a caution on the Package Travel Regulations. As @eskbanker and the linked MSE article says, the PTRs state:

 "unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances" occur which "significantly affect the performance of the package,"

Different travel companies have different interpretations of that clause and not all been offering up refunds easily.

Perhaps also worth noting that an important phrase in the PTRs is that those circumstances must be "occurring at the place of destination or its immediate vicinity", i.e. they would be relevant in OP's scenario of concern about not being allowed into the destination country, but wouldn't apply if not allowed out of the UK, a crucial distinction that many have fallen foul of.