My feed
Premium
Please
or
to access all these features

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Holidays

what are the chances PILs will be able to cancel this holiday?

16 replies

CharityShopChic · 15/04/2022 10:10

PILs have been exceptionally scared by the whole Covid thing. They did not leave their house/garden between Feb 2020 and Jan 2021, bleaching the shopping, the lot. Both are 75+ and have health issues.

Huge shock to everyone in the family in March this year when FIL booked a holiday overseas with a major package company. Both appeared excited about getting away. As departure has got closer (they go on 3rd May), they have been regretting their decision. Both are still very scared of Covid, and don't like the fact that where they are going will not require mask wearing, sanitising and distancing. They no longer wish to take the holiday, have paid in full, and know that disinclination to travel is not a valid reason to claim on their insurance.

However - they had an email a couple of days ago saying that the flight details had changed. The holiday company has chartered aircraft from a third party, and will be operating the flight using their own staff. It's also a different type of aircraft which PILs argue is less roomy/modern/ventilated. So they want to cancel based on this material change to their holiday.

My gut feeling says no chance, this isn't a substantial change in the holiday. Possibly the tour company might offer a change to a holiday at a later date, or vouchers - but this is not what PILs want as they are just too scared to go on holiday.

What does everyone think are their chances? The money is spent and gone, but obviously they'd prefer not to lose it.

OP posts:
Report
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
CharityShopChic · 16/04/2022 11:45

@NCTDN

I know this is not the recommended option, but how much proof is needed now to say they have Covid?

They absolutely would not want to get involved with fraud or fake insurance claims by pretending to have Covid.
OP posts:
Report
LittleBearPad · 16/04/2022 10:19

@CharityShopChic

They have spoken to the travel company who basically told them everything we've all said on this thread - that a major change to the holiday is something like a different departure airport, or destination, or a change in flight time of more than 12 hours.

They are still not happy about going, but less happy about losing the money. There is nobody else in the family who would be interested in the holiday and they are not up for trying to sell it on to an unknown party. So I think they are going to go. And probably moan until next Christmas about how nobody was wearing masks and sanitising.

Which if they catch covid might be fair enough.

If they don’t then remind them every time that they were fine.
Report
LittleBearPad · 16/04/2022 10:14

@NCTDN

I know this is not the recommended option, but how much proof is needed now to say they have Covid?

That would be a travel insurance claim not a cancellation. I imagine, if their travel insurer covers covid which isn’t a given, that they’ll need proof of infection.

They are clutching at straws to get their money back but they’ve changed their minds. That doesn’t get them their money back.
Report
friendlycat · 16/04/2022 10:09

Well they now know. So basically just have to choose which option of staying or going they are happier with.

It was an odd decision to book the holiday in the first place with covid still being so prevalent. I know many people (me included) who don’t want air travel at the moment and prefer to wait a good while longer.

Perhaps age played a part in booking something whilst they still feel fit and able to travel. But if they really don’t want to go they don’t have to!

Report
NCTDN · 16/04/2022 08:39

I know this is not the recommended option, but how much proof is needed now to say they have Covid?

Report
CharityShopChic · 16/04/2022 08:34

They have spoken to the travel company who basically told them everything we've all said on this thread - that a major change to the holiday is something like a different departure airport, or destination, or a change in flight time of more than 12 hours.

They are still not happy about going, but less happy about losing the money. There is nobody else in the family who would be interested in the holiday and they are not up for trying to sell it on to an unknown party. So I think they are going to go. And probably moan until next Christmas about how nobody was wearing masks and sanitising.

OP posts:
Report
MichelleScarn · 15/04/2022 23:23

Zero I would think, they are paying to be conveyed by aeroplane to a destination. Type of aeroplane wouldn't come into it I'd think.

Report
friendlycat · 15/04/2022 23:20

I don’t think they can get a refund at all. Realistically I’m not even sure that so close to the holiday itself they can even get postponement for a furture date.

It’s really down to their personal choice that actually they don’t want to go.

Under the circumstances they either need to accept the lost money or try and “sell” the holiday to another person friends/family etc paying the admin fees to do so.

There really isn’t any material change to the holiday that warrants a refund.

Report
Carrotten · 15/04/2022 18:38

Essentially they have changed their mind about travelling, which is not really a valid reason to cancel

Changing the airline isn't really a big change, especially as the flight times haven't really changed.

I agree their best bet is to try to sell the holiday, either that or accept the risk and go, or accept the loss of money

Report
MissAmbrosia · 15/04/2022 18:35

They need to phone the travel company and explain surely? Without us seeing the T&Cs it's impossible to give any advice. If they just don't fancy it anymore, I can't see that as grounds for cancellation - but depending on the company they might be able to rebook e.g for a different trip or next year. My flights I have booked I could change at relatively short notice for example.

Report
Ilikewinter · 15/04/2022 18:25

What about seeing if the travel company will allow them to change the date and the name of the travellers ..... maybe they could sell the holiday to freinds or family members?

Report
Dairymilk50 · 15/04/2022 18:24

Can you try and sell the holiday? Advertise it on fb cheaper than they paid?

Report
Georgyporky · 15/04/2022 18:20

Unlikely that insurance would cover this, but would be worth studying the small print to see if there's a get-out clause.

Nothing to stop them wearing masks etc if that would make them feel better.

Report
CharityShopChic · 15/04/2022 10:19

No change in flight times.

The change is that - for example - the flight was due to be operated by Jet2 on a Dreamliner and is now to be operated by Jet2 crew/pilot, but flying a Boeing 737 leased from Lufthansa.

DH and I have said to them that the company might be happy to let them postpone or take vouchers but that's not what they want as I just can't see them being in the right place mentally to ever take a holiday again. Which is very sad.

OP posts:
Report
olympicsrock · 15/04/2022 10:15

Minimal chance of claiming I think. All commercial planes have to satisfy certain safety criteria so in reality not much difference . Best they can hope for ANA good will gesture of vouchers opportunity to change the date.

They can ask but the bottom Line is that this is a sunk cost.

Report
Frazzled2207 · 15/04/2022 10:12

Fairly sure that is not grounds for cancelling. I think you can if there is a serious change to the flight times but not the aircraft, assuming this is a package holiday.

They may allow a change or perhaps change names on the original holiday, for a fee.

Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.