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Original poster

Has anyone cancelled a holiday due to bereavement?

65 replies

Destrs · 11/04/2025 06:57

DH was very very close to his DF. He was his world. He was a fantastic FIL and I, too was very close to him. His DF sadly passed away a month ago. He isnt coping well at all. The funeral was last week and he has been worse since.
He has been signed off work for an additional 6 weeks too.

We have a family holiday booked with easyJet in July and I really don't think DH will be in a fit mental state to go. He has already said he doesn't want to go anymore. I know it's a good few months away but I am not very hopeful. It is also DHs 40th birthday when we would have gone away so I know that will be difficult for him too.

It's our first holiday abroad and we have been saving for it for a good few years. It's nothing luxury but we really can't afford holidays ordinarily and did it for the kids. Fortunately, I haven't told the kids about it.

I would like to cancel the holiday but when going on the booking to try and cancel there is nothing on there to cancel for a death in the family. I'm not sure if I would even get a refund. Also the holiday is over 4 months from the death - I'm worried they would see that as too long a time. Do deaths need to occur more closer to the time of travel?

I am supporting DH as well as I can and feel rubbish thinking about money at such a time but unfortunately we are not in a financial position to let this type of amount be disregarded.

If anyone has any advice on experiencing similar, I would be really grateful.

OP posts:

yugflalska · 11/04/2025 08:25

Note to self to book Easy Jet next time!

Lifestooshort71 · 11/04/2025 08:26

First off, try and move the holiday. Second off, you wouldn't be cancelling for a bereavement but for mental health issues. There's no way insurance (if you have it) would refund because he 'doesn't feel like going'. I'm sorry for your loss.

Sevenandahalf · 11/04/2025 08:30

Perhaps you could suggest he goes to his GP to ask for a referral for some bereavement counselling ? It would be very sad to miss your family's first holiday abroad because his dad died four months previous. It is very sad but life goes on.
Trying to move the holiday is a good alternative.

rookiemere · 11/04/2025 08:41

Destrs · 11/04/2025 07:18

I really don't want to go without him and leave him on his own, on his birthday too. I was thinking to defer to the October half term or next year even.

Go on the Easyjet site and check your booking, it looks like it’s absolutely possible to do this with what might be a £25 fee per person. Or cancel with just loss of initial deposit of £60 pp or put it towards a new booking. Honestly you couldn’t have booked a holiday with a more flexible company ( I don’t work for them !).

Dueanamechange2025 · 11/04/2025 08:52

OP hasn’t said who she has booked with yet everyone telling her to go on the easyJet site! Fingers crossed it is EasyJet but just as likely to be any number of other tour operators.

rookiemere · 11/04/2025 08:53

@Dueanamechange2025 she said it’s booked with Easyjet in the OP !

Dueanamechange2025 · 11/04/2025 09:00

rookiemere · 11/04/2025 08:53

@Dueanamechange2025 she said it’s booked with Easyjet in the OP !

Apologies, you are correct!

Hazeby · 11/04/2025 09:17

QuickPeachPoet · 11/04/2025 08:06

I haven't but I wish I had.
Going on holiday when you aren't in the right place is just miserable. It's not a case of 'pushing through it'.

I understand that but he has a wife and kids who would probably like to go. Its not only about him.

rookiemere · 11/04/2025 09:23

Hazeby · 11/04/2025 09:17

I understand that but he has a wife and kids who would probably like to go. Its not only about him.

Show quote history

Agree and I would say go ahead if they were able to afford annual holidays, but having saved for this one for so long, and as it’s not expensive to change, it seems better to postpone rather than putting on a brave face and not really enjoying it.

The DH might feel better by July and regret not going then, but better to be in a place of regret without having spent thousands and having a nice holiday to look forward to in the future, rather than the reverse.

PrettayGood · 11/04/2025 09:27

I’d be encouraging him to go, July is months away. He has his wife and family to consider too.

Flamingmentalcats · 11/04/2025 10:07

My fil died a week before we were due to.go away and I can honestly say sorting that was harder and more stressful than sorting out the rest of paperwork that comes with a death.
We eventually got our money back minus the deposit.
Sorry about your fil x

Mirrorxxx · 11/04/2025 10:45

I am concerned about something similar at the moment. We have an expensive holiday booked later in the year and my grandad has just been diagnosed with advanced cancer. It doesn’t seem like insurance would cover having to cancel so now I am considering cancelling before we have to pay the full amount

crumblingschools · 11/04/2025 12:01

@Mirrorxxx would your grandad want you to cancel your holiday?

Mirrorxxx · 11/04/2025 12:03

@crumblingschools no but we can go another time. If something happens to him just before we go or during it would mean losing a lot of money or having a horrible time anyway

lemonwrighty · 11/04/2025 13:06

I was able to transfer my holiday booked for July to July next year, I did have to pay a small fee per person. Would you be able to do this rather than lose the whole money?

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