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Section 75 or Travel Insurance?

I booked a flight to Vienna Austria for 10th Dec, via lastminute.Com for an Austrian Airlines flight. (me and my partner, flights totalled to about £270). Austria have gone into lockdown and banned tourists from visiting so I am not allowed to board the flight. However, Austrian Airlines are not refunding or giving vouchers, as they state the flight will still be running and has not been cancelled, as business travel is still technically allowed (they are running nearly empty planes to avoid refunding everybody I guess).

I have the standard Coverwise travel insurance which was purchased a couple months before I purchased the flights.

Do you think I have any chance getting a refund on the flight, since it is impossible for me to board the plane? Would it be best to try through my travel insurance, or credit card section 75?
Or would I be wasting my time even trying, which is my gut feeling from my research this evening... 

Many thanks for any advice! 

Comments

  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 35,242 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    edited 30 November 2021 pm30 8:50PM
    If your travel insurance covers you, then that is the only route available to you. 

    The airline isn't running the planes to avoid refunds, but to transport the passengers who can travel and need to get to Austria. 
  • bagand96
    bagand96 Posts: 6,383 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 1 December 2021 am31 8:02AM
    Section 75 will not cover you as the airline is not in breach of contract. They are running the flight, the fact you can't use it is not your fault, but not theirs either. 

    Your travel insurance might cover you but it would depend on the level of cover and the policy wording. 

    You may be able to move your flights to another date. It will depend on when you booked and your type of ticket. It would also need to done via LM.com who will charge their own admin fees, even if the airline waive theirs. https://www.austrian.com/gb/en/flexible-booking
  • The above advice is correct, and people still need to travel hence the flight still running. 
    Travel insurance is your only hope really. 
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