[Misc] Summer Holidays

[Balders]

I was experiencing similar but managed to get my money back. I needed to force their hand with numerous emails. Got a full refund instead of a credit mine was a cruise but same principle applies if booked through a travel company.

While cruise lines' terms and conditions typically say they can change itineraries at will without recompense, the Package Travel Regulations overrule such clauses when changes are significant – such as changing the country of departure or arrival.

Yet for anyone who booked the trip under the protection of the Package Travel Regulations 2018 – through a travel agent or direct with the UK sales operation of the cruise line –*the law is clear: their planned trips have changed significantly and they are entitled to all their money back.

But the Package Travel Regulations*make it clear: “The traveller may, within a reasonable period specified by the organiser accept the proposed changes; or terminate the contract without paying a termination fee.”
If the customer does not wish to make the revised journey, they are entitled to receive a full refund – within two weeks

You are 100% correct re the Package Travel Regulations and glad you got your refund - the trouble is most Tour Operators are currently ignoring the Regulations. ABTA are being really unhelpful imho, because the law is the law and retrospectively changing it is never a great idea, hence why for the last 3 weeks despite ABTA saying that the Government will update re the situation, they haven't as I'm convinced the Government are nowhere near agreeing to it. It can be found here BUT this is "Advice" and not Law: https://www.abta.com/news/coronavirus-outbreak

 

[Beach Hut]

Waiting for easy jet to cancel my flight too Poland ,don't want a voucher just my money back thanks ?
Regards
DF

We had a flight, hotel and transfer booked with them to Poland going a week today which was cancelled and they have refused my card, except the initial deposit which should happen shortly.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

I feel desperately sorry for those places that were just starting to get back on their feet after the global financial crisis, and now this. Greece springs immediately to mind. Their islands only have a short season to harvest the tourist euro. Their summer looks to be all but wiped out.

I'm guessing when air travel starts to slowly emerge from its enforced lockdown, the new normal will involve entering your coronavirus test certificate number along with your passport number, and producing both at the airport(s)

 

[Nitram]

You are 100% correct re the Package Travel Regulations and glad you got your refund - the trouble is most Tour Operators are currently ignoring the Regulations. ABTA are being really unhelpful imho, because the law is the law and retrospectively changing it is never a great idea, hence why for the last 3 weeks despite ABTA saying that the Government will update re the situation, they haven't as I'm convinced the Government are nowhere near agreeing to it. It can be found here BUT this is "Advice" and not Law: https://www.abta.com/news/coronavirus-outbreak

Yes I can imagine things have developed. To put context in my trip was to China starting 31st March. I started the process of trying to get my money back in February and was settled in full mid March.
I would say if the travel company are not playing ball and ignoring Package Travel Regulations then I would suggest going down the credit card route section 75 of the Consumer credit act (if paid by credit card) and asking them to get the money back. Telling the credit card company what steps have been tried to resolve the situation telling them they are not abiding by Package Travel Regulations.

 

[The Wizard]

I’m not sure I agree with the premise that holidays will be cancelled for the rest of the year, there are places that will do everything they can to open because with no tourism some places simply won’t survive, plus until we know the true spread of this virus it’s really very difficult to make any judgements, if Boris Johnson and Prince Charles have had the virus who can imagine how many of us might have had it, not enough it known yet. I also did read some research the other day, can’t find the article now but it said that once you reach a certain point of a pandemic, restricting air travel doesn’t actually achieve and awful lot.

The next few months I would certainly write off, but not peak summer period yet, too many unknowns.

 

[Balders]

Yes I can imagine things have developed. To put context in my trip was to China starting 31st March. I started the process of trying to get my money back in February and was settled in full mid March.
I would say if the travel company are not playing ball and ignoring Package Travel Regulations then I would suggest going down the credit card route section 75 of the Consumer credit act (if paid by credit card) and asking them to get the money back. Telling the credit card company what steps have been tried to resolve the situation telling them they are not abiding by Package Travel Regulations.

I have my own Travel Agency Business - things have developed a lot further since then with positions changing frequently and this includes Travel Insurance Companies and Card Providers - basically by law the Tour Op is liable for the refund and thus Insurers and Card Companies have moved to not getting involved!

 

[Surf's Up]

Taking into account the virulent nature of this virus and the fact that the only way of dealing with it at the moment is through lockdown, containment and testing it seems extremely unlikely that the international and domestic constraints will be lifted until the vaccine has been developed, rigorously tested, proven and is produced in industrial quantities worldwide. Unfortunately that looks like it's going to be at least a year away.

 

[JJ McClure]

Our May holiday is almost certainly in the bin...although flights not have yet been cancelled by Westjet I'm expecting that to happen very soon.
I'm holding out vain hope that Cyprus in September might be OK, but certainly not 100% confident.
In terms of refunds or credit, I obviously understand people wanting their money back, but its the paying of refunds that will cause companies to fold and countless thousands of people to be laid off. Accepting a voucher and rolling your holiday on 6 - 12 months could help travel companies and airlines and hotels to survive and still be there when everyone is able to start going away again.

 

[cloud]

We are due to travel independently to Austria and Italy in mid August, as a special birthday celebration. We will be dependent on all the links in the chain working. If one operator e.g. train company isn't working, then whole holiday may need to be cancelled.
We've all had the virus - I think - so a certificate/passport would be handy.

 

[ATFC Seagull]

A few mentions of people who've had the virus needing certificates to prove so, in order to travel.

Where does that leave those of us that haven't?

 

[Bozza]

A few mentions of people who've had the virus needing certificates to prove so, in order to travel.

Where does that leave those of us that haven't?

I think it's only a suggestion at this point, but it's a logical extension of what the Germans seem to be doing:

“Immunity passports” for key workers could be a way of getting people who have had coronavirus back into the workforce more quickly, scientists and politicians in the UK have suggested.

Researchers in Germany are currently preparing a mass study into how many people are already immune to the Covid-19 virus, allowing authorities to eventually issue passes to exclude workers from restrictive measures currently in place.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2...-could-speed-up-return-to-work-after-covid-19​

...which has also been mooted for here...

The UK plans to roll out "immunity passports" to people who have already contracted COVID-19 to allow them to return to "normal life," the Health Secretary Matt Hancock said on Thursday.

"We are looking at an immunity certificate," Hancock said at a Downing Street press conference.

"People who have had the disease have got the antibodies and then have immunity can show that and therefore get back as much as possible to normal life."

https://www.businessinsider.com/uk-...-so-brits-can-leave-lockdown-2020-4?r=US&IR=T​

Given countries will be keen to prevent a new spike in infections, they'll unlikely want large number of unverified tourists entering, bringing with them the risk of further spread. In Asia, foreign travellers are banned. It could be that countries continue this for those who don't hold a Covid-19 certificate/passport, or insist on those who don't go into quarantine for an extended period of time upon arrival.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/31/world/asia/coronavirus-china-hong-kong-singapore-south-korea.html

All speculation, of course, but it does chart a path to allow some people to return to some form of normality.

 

[ATFC Seagull]

I think it's only a suggestion at this point, but it's a logical extension of what the Germans seem to be doing:

“Immunity passports” for key workers could be a way of getting people who have had coronavirus back into the workforce more quickly, scientists and politicians in the UK have suggested.

Researchers in Germany are currently preparing a mass study into how many people are already immune to the Covid-19 virus, allowing authorities to eventually issue passes to exclude workers from restrictive measures currently in place.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2...-could-speed-up-return-to-work-after-covid-19​

...which has also been mooted for here...

The UK plans to roll out "immunity passports" to people who have already contracted COVID-19 to allow them to return to "normal life," the Health Secretary Matt Hancock said on Thursday.

"We are looking at an immunity certificate," Hancock said at a Downing Street press conference.

"People who have had the disease have got the antibodies and then have immunity can show that and therefore get back as much as possible to normal life."

https://www.businessinsider.com/uk-...-so-brits-can-leave-lockdown-2020-4?r=US&IR=T​

Given countries will be keen to prevent a new spike in infections, they'll unlikely want large number of unverified tourists entering, bringing with them the risk of further spread. In Asia, foreign travellers are banned. It could be that countries continue this for those who don't hold a Covid-19 certificate/passport, or insist on those who don't go into quarantine for an extended period of time upon arrival.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/31/world/asia/coronavirus-china-hong-kong-singapore-south-korea.html

All speculation, of course, but it does chart a path to allow some people to return to some form of normality.

Just to play devil's advocate, could this not encourage some people to flout rules in an attempt to get the virus? I'm not saying this would ever be my thinking, but if someone in their 30's who thinks they are likely to have a mild case, and has some travel lined up, isn't a frontline worker and due to lockdown is unlikely to get it - might they not actively try?

 

[Driver8]

Just to play devil's advocate, could this not encourage some people to flout rules in an attempt to get the virus? I'm not saying this would ever be my thinking, but if someone in their 30's who thinks they are likely to have a mild case, and has some travel lined up, isn't a frontline worker and due to lockdown is unlikely to get it - might they not actively try?

If they like playing Russian Roulette. The original guidance that the young and healthy will only get mild symptoms has been superseded I think.

 

[Weststander]

Be very careful. Deposits and Balances seem to have different legal standings. I have two holidays booked this year. My understanding is that the final balance gets refunded if they cancel the holiday but they do not have to refund deposits. Apparently they can force me to accept a credit voucher for the deposit amount. Of course I may be able to pursue the deposit via credit card chargeback/insurance etc

If they fail to provide the service (the package holiday), whether it be through their fault or due to force majeure, you are entitled to every penny back under UK consumer law.

 

[ATFC Seagull]

If they like playing Russian Roulette. The original guidance that the young and healthy will only get mild symptoms has been superseded I think.

Absolutely, I think you'd be mad to actively want to get it.

But a situation whereby people who've had the illness can travel, play sport, go to work etc whilst others can't would create some very bizarre dynamics.

 

[Weststander]

We are due to travel independently to Austria and Italy in mid August, as a special birthday celebration. We will be dependent on all the links in the chain working. If one operator e.g. train company isn't working, then whole holiday may need to be cancelled.
We've all had the virus - I think - so a certificate/passport would be handy.

We looked at Austria for August, also travelling independently, but their government's ruling on hotel closures appears steadfast.

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

I’m going with flights starting up again mid June

It’s not going to be much longer till places like Vegas/Disney etc really ramp up the pressure on trump

It’s going to be interesting to see how this plays out

 

[Dave the OAP]

I have my own Travel Agency Business - things have developed a lot further since then with positions changing frequently and this includes Travel Insurance Companies and Card Providers - basically by law the Tour Op is liable for the refund and thus Insurers and Card Companies have moved to not getting involved!

More than just refused to renew my policy when we called them as it was due for renewal that day and hadn’t heard anything, they told me to try other companies( helpful not)

We did a quick look on line and hardly any were doing travel insurance.

If holidays come back on line , I can see a lot of people not getting insurance unless they can prove they had had the plague and recovered, or there is a vaccine available....which may be years off!

 

[Daddies_Sauce]

Sorry I've not read the whole thread, but it might be worth giving [MENTION=21]Simon[/MENTION]calder a follow if you do Twitter. He has been posting lots of advice regarding if you have to pay the full balance, when airlines have to legally refund paid monies, rejecting any vouchers offered etc. We have flights to the south of France in July, I doubt they are going to happen, so will reclaim closer to the time either from SleazyJet or from credit card, not sure how reclaims for the Gatwick car parking will work.

 

[andy1980]

On the evening Argus it says that the foreign office has just announced we should postpone all foreign travel indefinitely.

The article states that this effectively means holidays are cancelled. I don't know how truthful that is, but that's what it says.