Holiday HELL!
What are your rights if you’ve already booked a break in 2020?
HOLIDAYMAKERS were yesterday told to avoid all but essential travel outside of Britain for 30 days. It means that many Easter getaway plans that were already looking precarious are now off the table entirely.
Here, Money Mail talks you through everything you need to know if you were due to go away in the next few weeks.
MY TRIP IS ESSENTIAL, SO CAN I STILL GO?
THERE is no clear definition of what is essential and what isn’t, so it is up to travellers to make up their own minds.
Assume that a holiday is not essential and, therefore, covered under the new advice. If you really think you still need to go abroad, contact your airline or travel provider to make sure flights are still running.
Be prepared to follow the instructions of local authorities abroad and comply with quarantine requirements.
Bear in mind that many countries have closed their borders to visitors.
You must also inform your insurer. If you travel against Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) advice, this will likely invalidate your travel insurance policy, leaving you unprotected if you fall ill abroad.
WILL I BE REFUNDED IF BREAK IS CANCELLED?
IF YOuR flight, accommodation or cruise is cancelled, you should receive a full refund or be offered an alternative date for later in the year — you may need to pay the fare difference.
If you booked through a travel agent, they should organise a refund or alternative travel for you.
If your journey involves two flights and you booked each leg separately, be aware that you may only receive a refund for the one that is cancelled.
You will not be entitled to any additional compensation as the reason for the disruption is beyond the airline’s control.
If just your flight is cancelled, contact your accommodation provider to see if they will refund you regardless.
If not, you may be able to claim the cost on your travel insurance, providing you have cover for consequential losses. This is also true for car hire or excursions booked in advance.
SHOULD I DITCH TRAVEL PLANS?
IF YOuR trip is imminent and has not yet been officially cancelled, contact the travel agent or airline to discuss your options.
If you can’t get through, hold your nerve and wait for the travel provider to cancel so you are more sure of a refund.
This is because even though the FCO has now advised against non-essential travel worldwide, many travel insurance policies do not include cover for travel disruption due to a change in FCO guidelines. This means that if you cancel too soon you could find your insurer won’t pay out.
If you are determined to cancel your plans immediately, be sure to check your policy small print first. The exception to this is if you have booked accommodation separately where you can get a full refund if you cancel a certain amount of time in advance.
If your holiday is more than a month away, you should also wait to cancel as insurers will not cover what they term ‘disinclination to travel’ — even if it is for the very good reason of a pandemic.
HOW ABOUT MY STAYCATION?
IF YOu need to cancel a holiday in the uK because you get the virus or need to self-isolate, you should be able to make a claim for financial losses on your travel insurance policy. You will usually need to be travelling a minimum distance from home to be covered, and you will need a doctor’s note. You should also be able to make a claim if it is a close family member or travelling companion who falls ill or, in the very worst case, dies.
If you do not have travel insurance or your policy does not include cancellation cover, contact your travel provider.
They may allow you to rearrange your trip as a gesture of goodwill or offer a part refund. This may be subject to a cancellation charge.
CAN I STILL BOOK INSURANCE?
ExpERTS say it is now highly unlikely that holidaymakers will be able to find a travel insurance policy without an exclusion for coronavirus-related claims. Some insurers have stopped selling travel cover altogether.
If you have an annual policy, you should check with your insurer before booking any new trips.
And given the impact the virus is having on the travel industry, it may also be sensible to add ‘scheduled airline failure’ protection to your policy.
CAN I GET HELP IF I’M STUCK ABROAD?
IF THE government advice is to come home, call your airline and the FCO for information about possible repatriation flights.
Be wary about accepting a refund in case this means you are left to find your own way home, such as by boat, train, coach, etc.
If you are quarantined or told to self-isolate while abroad which means you need to stay longer, first contact your tour operator or airline to see if they can help move your return date or help with accommodation.
Your travel insurer may be able to help with the cost of an extended stay, but cover levels will vary from policy to policy.
Your travel insurer should also cover the cost of any missed excursions — usually up to a pre-determined limit, so check your small print.
If your trip is cut short or you are confined to your hotel on medical advice, you may also be able to claim for curtailment.
WILL MY CREDIT CARD PAY OUT?
CuSTOMERS struggling to get a refund for a flight, accommodation, car hire or excursion may be able to claim their money back from their credit card provider.
under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act, your lender is jointly liable for spending over £100 if you do not receive the goods and services promised. If you paid by debit card you may be able to ask your bank to reverse the transaction by making a chargeback request.
WHAT IF TRAVEL FIRM GOES BUST?
IF YOu booked an ATOLprotected holiday — for example, a package holiday — you should receive a full refund or a replacement holiday.
Some travel insurance policies will offer a payout if your airline goes bust, but by no means all.
If you are abroad when an airline goes bust, aviation watchdog the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has previously stepped in to get travellers home.
Alternatively, you can try to make a claim with your credit or debit card provider.
CAN I GET MY AIR MILES BACK?
pASSENGERS who booked a flight using an air miles scheme and now need to cancel should get their points back under standard cancellation rules. But they may need to pay an administration fee.
If you booked a hotel using loyalty points, you should usually get them back if you cancel 48 hours in advance, but ensure you check the small print. v.bischoff@dailymail.co.uk