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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think if I cancel a December Egypt holiday now they should refund my flights

79 replies

Arnie123 · 16/08/2013 17:38

We had all booked for Cairo this December but are getting concerned about the civil unrest there. Travel company say they will refund for the hotel but not the flight. Are they allowed to do this?

OP posts:
meditrina · 16/08/2013 18:30

You won't be able to insure Egypt holidays now, unless the premium is insanely high.

It's not until December that OP goes - too far ahead to predict the advisability of travel. Without insurance, there is nothing really you can do. And even with insurance, it would be a case of checking T&C. I doubt any pay out for "it might be too dangerous in 4 months time"

LIZS · 16/08/2013 18:37

Yes if it is in the terms and conditions . You should get the tax back as a minimum on any cancelled flights though. Could you maybe have insurance with your bank account ?

Cravey · 16/08/2013 18:38

They don't have to offer you anything until there is a no travel order. Then they only have to offer an alternate destination. I can't believe you are still considering going tbh. I have family there and it's horrific at the moment and from what they are saying unlikely that it is going to calm down in the near future.

specialsubject · 16/08/2013 18:39

If you had bought insurance, you might well have been able to cancel nearer the time if Cairo was subject to an FCO 'no go' as it is at the moment.

as you didn't, you can still cancel but you'll pay the normal cancellation charges. This is one of many reasons why travel insurance should be bought at time of booking.

I hope you were at least planning to buy some insurance before you actually left the country.

quoteunquote · 16/08/2013 18:41

are you sure you do not have insurance?

You may have it through your bank.

CredulousThicko · 16/08/2013 18:44

yes, some bank accounts. Also, if you paid by credit card sometimes they offer some guarantee maybe?

lborolass · 16/08/2013 18:44

If the company are acting within the conditions you agreed to when you booked the flights then of course they aren't being unreasonable.

It's extremely unlikely that the current situation could continue until December so either travel will be advised against and you should be OK or things will be safe and you will also be OK.

I think you'd only be bonkers if your holiday was next week and you decided to just chance it, it's too far away to say about December.

Was there a specific reason for not getting insurance and could you buy it now?

Hissy · 16/08/2013 18:55

Please, please, please don't go.

It's an unsafe country at the best of times, and now more than ever. This won't get any better anytime soon.

As a country it's unethical to go. It's a vile place to be a woman or a child and your money is perpetuating a society that is utterly morally bankrupt.

I used to live there. I won't go back until women are equal, there isn't the 98% sexual harassment against foreign women and 90%+ female genital mutilation.

Please go anywhere else except Egypt.

Yonionekanobe · 16/08/2013 18:58

Wow. I have now heard it all.

Oh, and everything Hissy says in her post.

LIZS · 16/08/2013 19:01

Their t & c's are pretty clear re. airfares being non-refundable, sorry. Also see under Force Majeure.

dontyouknow · 16/08/2013 19:02

Have you asked if they will refund/alter if the FCO still advise no travel to Cairo nearer the date?

A few years ago we were due to go to Mexico when Bird flu (or was it swine flu?) was causing problems. Thomas Cook seemed to be reviewing it on a daily basis and only cancelling holidays a few days in advance.

We only found out two days before we were due to go that the flight was cancelled and could get a refund or rebook elsewhere. Two days later on a plane to Sri Lanka instead!

The following year we were going to Thailand when there were riots in Bangkok and FCO advice was to avoid Bangkok (we were travelling by road from the airport down the coast). Again, the Flight Centre left it quite late to see what the FCO advice was. It changed so we could go on the holiday. If the FCO advice was not to go they said they would have refunded or rebooked.

It's obviously not ideal waiting but you could ask them? 4 months is a long way off and the situation could change considerably.

KhloeKardashian · 16/08/2013 19:03

You are going to go and hope for the best Shock?

sparklingstars · 16/08/2013 19:07

As others have said, considering going is complete madness, and next time get insurance.

LIZS · 16/08/2013 19:08

I hope you are meaning you'll wait it out until nearer the time before deciding whether to go rather than simply turning up and hoping for the best. But be aware if FCO aren't definitely saying no at that point but you cancel anyway a % of the accommodation cost will also be due.

JugglingFromHereToThere · 16/08/2013 19:11

I wouldn't go to Cairo in December, especially with DC.
If you don't get the air travel money back c'est la vie !
At least they're refunding the hotel costs, and you are safe here.

KenAdams · 16/08/2013 19:13

YABU and you know it.

Lilyloo · 16/08/2013 19:16

I have seen it all on here now 'we will go and hope for the best' words fail me they really do Shock

kinkyfuckery · 16/08/2013 19:23

Why do you have no insurance??

JugglingFromHereToThere · 16/08/2013 19:53

IMHO it's not crazy to have no insurance (I know you only asked "why" kinky) but it is crazy to consider going.

Even if, let's pray, there's no more trouble at all between now and then (sadly looking unlikely) it would take a lot longer for me to trust going to Cairo, or even the Red Sea resorts which we went to once before.

specialsubject · 16/08/2013 19:57

actually it is crazy to have no insurance at point of departure. No insurance at this stage just risks financial loss up to the value of the holiday.

no insurance abroad risks bankruptcy if big medical costs incurred.

soapysam · 16/08/2013 19:58

We went to Luxor last year and it was quiet. Cairo, Giza and Alexandria however were scary. Things weren't nearly as bad as they are now and even back then the locals were saying Sharm could get ropey. I love Luxor but I would not travel there right now under any circumstances!

JugglingFromHereToThere · 16/08/2013 19:59

Oh yes, that's true special - going to Egypt with no insurance would be extra crazy.

difficultpickle · 16/08/2013 20:03

When did you book? If it was this year then it is pretty likely you booked in the knowledge that the situation in Egypt and particularly Cairo was extremely volatile. What is happening there now was completely foreseeable. I cannot see any reason why the airline would refund your flights.

Tortoisegirl · 16/08/2013 20:07

The FO advise is dont go but the Red Sea resorts are still fine in their opinion.

BeyondTheLimitsOfAcceptability · 16/08/2013 20:15

Friend of mine is in a similar-ish position. She does have insurance, but Is going to sharm and FO advice is that its safe to go. So the insurance wont cover it if she cancels Hmm

I never buy insurance until about a week before I go away! Will change this now!!!