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Original poster

Booking 2 holidays for the same dates, one abroad one in uk. Is it fair?

72 replies

Watermelon221 · 27/06/2021 12:44

As above.

Two families I know have booked a 2 week cottage break in the uk (school summer holidays) with Airbnb and also a holiday abroad (Airbnb) for the same dates.

They plan to cancel the uk holiday if restrictions change to make going abroad easier.

Apparently they can cancel for free up to 1 week before so plan to decide then based on guidelines / rules at the time.

Although I’m sure they are right in what they say- that they can cancel and get a full refund- is this morally right?

OP posts:
Boood · 27/06/2021 15:11

No, it’s not fair. The travel industry is on its knees, they’ve had to introduce the refund policies to have any chance of survival. To take advantage of that and game the system is really shitty.

Original poster
Watermelon221 · 27/06/2021 15:49

It’s either Airbnb or booking.com I’m not entirely sure, but friend says she’ll take advantage of the more relaxed approach that the companies are offering due to covid. (I presume to allow people to pull out if they test positive or need to isolate). It’s strange as she portrays an image of being very benevolent and having a very high moral compass and is judgey about others who she deems as less so!

Same friend also sometimes books 2 or 3 restaurants, chooses which one she fancies on the day and cancels the other. (Which I also think is bad too).

OP posts:
Carycy · 27/06/2021 15:52

We wouldn’t do it for to an individual renting a cottage but we did but centerparks as well as France. We knew centerparks is pretty flexible on moving it and regularly go there so would have just moved it to another date. Also know they will fill it again. As it happens we are going to centerparks now.
It’s either that or end up with no holiday.

Doghead · 27/06/2021 15:57

Yes.. I do it. Why should I book something and pay upfront, especially in these uncertain times. If it was so morally wrong they wouldn't offer it.

Original poster
Watermelon221 · 27/06/2021 16:07

@Doghead

Yes.. I do it. Why should I book something and pay upfront, especially in these uncertain times. If it was so morally wrong they wouldn't offer it.
But would you deliberately book more than 1 at the same time knowing you’re not going to use one and then pull out at very short notice?
OP posts:
FurryMcFlurry · 27/06/2021 16:11

Personally I don’t see an issue, if the free cancellation option is there then why not use it? Isn’t that the point of it? If you want to can you can?

Geamhradh · 27/06/2021 16:15

@Boood

No, it’s not fair. The travel industry is on its knees, they’ve had to introduce the refund policies to have any chance of survival. To take advantage of that and game the system is really shitty.
I'm 55 and this option has been around for decades, both online and in person in travel agencies back in the day. Covid has meant that more people are offering the option or nobody would risk booking anything, that's all. It's really nothing new.
Original poster
Watermelon221 · 27/06/2021 16:16

Possibly, that’s why I asked the question.

It doesn’t seem a very sustainable way to run a business though does it?

It feels a bit off to me, but like you say if the option is there then it’s ok to do it. I just wondered if the option was there to make life easier for people if they had to cancel (through things beyond their control like illness) not because a better option came up!!

OP posts:
CuriousaboutSamphire · 27/06/2021 16:18

Personally I think how we treat others says a lot about us.

I wouldn't do it. I wouldn't book multiple tables in a pub or restaurant so I could choose on the day either.

I am self employed and wholly understand the losses sustained when someone does this. And the leisure industry is already on its knees. They have to choose between being as flexible as possible to encourage bookings and taking the hit when people abuse that.

Geamhradh · 27/06/2021 16:20

It's also been the case for at least thirty years if not more that you hold multiple plane tickets then decide which ones you want.
If people think this is a Covid thing, then they can't have done much travelling beforehand tbh!

Pinuporc · 27/06/2021 16:24

Some people do the same with school places - keep a place at a state school but then go abroad/go private and leave til last minute for the place to he allocated to someone else.

WRT holidays some people would be happy to book last minute (weve done that before) so hopefully no one loses out.

happytoday73 · 27/06/2021 16:47

@Geamhradh nope never done than with plane tickets either and before covid regularly travelled abroad... Both extensively with work and leisure.
I agree with curiousaboutsampire it doesn't sit well with me. I'd rather make a decision, book and go....

Bitofachinwag · 27/06/2021 16:50

It's not the definition of what the word fair means, but I can understand why people do it.

User27aw · 27/06/2021 16:51

I've done this for this August. The property owners set the cancellation terms, so they must know there is a risk of this happening. Im sure they will have no problems reletting a cottage close to the sea in a popular part of Devon, they could probably get double the price.

RoseMartha · 27/06/2021 17:01

It is a 'We are going to have a holiday whatever' attitude. And comes across entitled.

It is unfair for lots of people including myself who have been unable to book anything because of low availability and it has driven the prices out of my reach and of the reach of many others. I find it annoying tbh.

I get they didnt go away last year. But neither did everyone else who has been priced out because of this and will go another year without a break.

I have looked again this weekend for something for me and the kids and it is all out of my budget. I started looking in Jan, normally that is ok time to look.

I also get some people have had their holidays re booked from last year which is not helping the shortage.

I have also noticed a fair few self catering places are on the market probably due to covid and lockdowns.

There are not enough places for us Brits to all holiday in uk together. Especially in the six week summer school break. And some of us like me and my dc will miss out.

IncessantNameChanger · 27/06/2021 17:02

If you can do it, it's not wrong. I have a Haven break booked for Bout 1k for a week in August. If I have to book to use the pool and pub on site and all limited then I will cancel that if I can as it's not what I booked for. There is nothing else lined up. Is that morally wrong? I dont honestly care. I paid in good faith it would be open access for the kids. Ok its slightly different but I dont put the company over my own interests. I'm just a customer of a service. I'm not obliged to be loyal. We live in capitalist society after all.

Malteser71 · 27/06/2021 17:05

It’s a shit thing to do if you leave it up to the wire to cancel.

I did exactly this but I made a decision 12 weeks beforehand and cancelled the place I’d booked in Europe. The owner told me it was rebooked within an hour.

The same would have been true if I’d cancelled the uk bit. I do think it has to be done well in advance though, no problem being organised, massive problem with people giving no thought at all for others.

zafferana · 27/06/2021 17:14

It’s a shit thing to do if you leave it up to the wire to cancel.

But what choice do people have at the moment @Malteser71? People can only make a decision about travel this summer when the government makes it mind up and makes a public announcement that it isn't going to go back on!

Surely, no one wants to leave deciding on their summer holiday to the last minute, the only reason they are forced to do so is because there is no information at the moment about what the situation will be regarding amber list holidays after 19th July.

Malteser71 · 27/06/2021 17:18

Then there comes a tone they need to choose, surely?

I had to pay my balance by July 24th. I chose to cancel at the beginning of May because of the uncertainty.

I still have a uk holiday booked. Perhaps I could have gone to France - it’s still impossible to know. But on balance I needed some certainty. I wanted to book activities and restaurants.

What’s so hard about that ?

Bobbybobbins · 27/06/2021 18:06

We booked with air bnb for the first time and we're supposed to be there this weekend but I broke my foot last week and had to cancel. I was fully prepared to lose a proportion of it and couldn't believe how quick it was all refunded. I sent the owner a very apologetic message.

Original poster
Watermelon221 · 27/06/2021 18:23

@IncessantNameChanger

If you can do it, it's not wrong. I have a Haven break booked for Bout 1k for a week in August. If I have to book to use the pool and pub on site and all limited then I will cancel that if I can as it's not what I booked for. There is nothing else lined up. Is that morally wrong? I dont honestly care. I paid in good faith it would be open access for the kids. Ok its slightly different but I dont put the company over my own interests. I'm just a customer of a service. I'm not obliged to be loyal. We live in capitalist society after all.
I think that’s different and I would do the same in your position.

Because the holiday experience would be different and you are within your rights to cancel.

It would also be ok to cancel a holiday abroad if it suddenly goes to amber.

But if you have booked something as a “reserve” or a “just in case” and are planning to cancel it the week before it feels rude somehow, to me anyway!

OP posts:
Original poster
Watermelon221 · 27/06/2021 18:25

@Malteser71

Then there comes a tone they need to choose, surely?

I had to pay my balance by July 24th. I chose to cancel at the beginning of May because of the uncertainty.

I still have a uk holiday booked. Perhaps I could have gone to France - it’s still impossible to know. But on balance I needed some certainty. I wanted to book activities and restaurants.

What’s so hard about that ?

They have until the week before for a full refund apparently.

They have already booked restaurants in both places, uk and abroad.

OP posts:
Karwomannghia · 27/06/2021 18:33

Don’t you still have to pay the Airbnb fee if you cancel?
Either way, no -it’s selfish.

zafferana · 27/06/2021 18:33

@Malteser71

Then there comes a tone they need to choose, surely?

I had to pay my balance by July 24th. I chose to cancel at the beginning of May because of the uncertainty.

I still have a uk holiday booked. Perhaps I could have gone to France - it’s still impossible to know. But on balance I needed some certainty. I wanted to book activities and restaurants.

What’s so hard about that ?

@Malteser71 some people just have a higher tolerance for uncertainty. You were prepared to cancel in May, when you didn't know whether you could go or not, but I'm guessing that a lot of people REALLY WANT to go on their amber list holiday and so aren't prepared to cancel until they have a clear idea of whether they can go or not. For a lot of people, the word 'holiday' means going abroad, it means hot sunshine, lying by a pool, all the sights and sounds and smells of a foreign holiday and they'll only settle for Devon if they absolutely have to!
Original poster
Watermelon221 · 27/06/2021 18:43

@zafferana

Yes this is what my friend thinks- she very much does not want to go on the uk holiday due to the rubbish weather but can’t commit to amber due to not being able to quarantine.

I just feel it’s wrong booking places over here and restaurants etc that could be cancelled but perhaps it’s me that is in the minority.

OP posts: