What have got we to lose by booking holidays right now?
WE’RE all dying to go on holidays. But should we go ahead and book one?
The Government has told us it will launch the new EU-wide Covid 19 vaccination passport on July 19. And this will enable anyone who has had Covid, the vaccine jab or a negative PCR test to travel where they want within the EU.
But so far there hasn’t been a mad rush to book holidays. We’ve simply had our hopes dashed too many times and have little confidence in the Government’s ability to issue millions of digital passports practically overnight.
But should we go ahead and book holidays now? What have we got to lose? And what are our rights if something goes wrong after we do? Most car hire deals allow for cancellation without penalty if you do so within a reasonable amount of time, usually a week.
Travel agents also insist that they will look after customers who book holidays that have to be called off due to Covid 19.
Topflight said it has what it terms a new Book With Confidence policy ‘as we recognise that some clients are a little uncertain about booking at the moment’.
‘Now more than ever you need a little bit of extra flexibility and reassurance when you book your holiday,’ a spokeswoman said.
She said customers are being asked to pay only a ‘€150 deposit at the time of booking and your final balance will be due six weeks before travel.
‘If the Government advises against non-essential travel to your destination, or if there are restrictions in place in your destination that will significantly affect your holiday, a member of our team will contact you with your options.’
These include:
Change to a different holiday or different date (a price difference may apply).
Receive a voucher for the amount paid, valid for five years.
Receive a full refund.
This is pretty much what travel agents are required to do. ‘The package travel directive applies when you’re booking a package holiday,’ explained Pat Dawson,
CEO of the Irish Travel Agents Association. ‘They still have to honour that by law. That’s the difference between booking with an agent or booking individually when you have no cover. With an agent there are certain guarantees and commitments,’ he said.
Airlines, however, did not exactly cover themselves in glory over refunding the cost of flights cancelled last year.
Aer Lingus was among those which took advantage of a regulation that requires refunds only where the airline cancels flights. It continued to fly nearempty planes into destinations that were out of bounds to Irish passengers, allowing it to refuse cash refunds to customers.
Where they did cancel flights, airlines then tried to fob
passengers off with vouchers instead of refunds. Anyway the point is, if you book flights, don’t expect an automatic refund in cash. There may be shenanigans.
If it’s you who decides to cancel – for example if there is an outbreak of Covid-19 in your destination – then you may lose the money you paid. You’re covered by travel compensation rules only if the flight is cancelled by the airline.
But it could still be worthwhile contacting your airline as some airlines are offering other options such as a voucher/credit note, according to the Citizen’s Information website. You can also find out more about your airline rights at flightrights.ie.
So what about travel insurance?
You should take out travel insurance as soon as you book your holiday, so that you’re covered straight away for cancellations.
Cover for Covid-19 related illness and disruption is not standard ‘and there are no comprehensive covers for it in terms of medical or logistical expenses’, the European Consumer Centre Ireland tells us. However, ‘some airlines, tour operators and hotels are now offering free or paid-for Covid-19 insurance cover as an optional addition to your booking/ticket, but you should have some type of comprehensive travel insurance for all other claims if you want complete peace of mind’, a spokesman added.
So those are your rights and options for getting the best cover you can.
But with all the uncertainty and ‘ifs and buts’ is it still worth booking a holiday?
Maybe we can take one summer off from flying abroad to appreciate the beautiful island we live on – even if next year, it’s back to the annual sojourn in Sorrento.