Coronavirus - Travel impacts II

[Freedom56]

Virgin Atlantic officially cancelled my flight from LAX to LHR. Virgin Atlantic has been operating Cargo only flights with their A350 and 787 planes. They received permission to carry cargo in the economy class passenger section (they removed the seats). With both legs cancelled, Expedia stated that they will be processing a full refund and to expect on my credit card in 30 days. There was no way I was going to give up on $4878.16 for tickets.

We will re-book when things begin to stabilize.

 

[braumeister]

Delta Airlines travel policy changes

Interesting email from Delta today.

In addition to all the cleaning and sanitizing procedures they've implemented (and they really are pretty impressive), some other big changes:

For the time being, they are requiring masks on everyone, both employees and passengers, in all check-in areas, gate areas, and on board the planes.

Also, they are doing strict back-to-front boarding to limit the number of people you pass by on the way to your seat.

And they are only selling 50% of the seats in First, and 60% of the seats in the main cabin, with nearly all middle seats blocked off.

I think they're doing everything I would have asked them to, and I expect other airlines will have similar changes. What a different world we're entering!

 

[Winemaker]

We cancelled our Danube cruise with Viking with great remorse. They refunded 80% of money, and credited 20% to a future cruise. They did offer a 125% deal for a future cruise, but we declined. We failed though to ask if the refund would be a check or credit card refund, and the promptness.

 

[explanade]

I heard some cruise lines are planning for departures starting in August.

 

[Sunset]

We have a hotel (studio) rented in London UK, later in May.
We made the reservation last year.
It's not a big hotel/chain with a refund policy for Covid-19.
I emailed them to ask for a refund, as we won't be going there.

They are suggesting move my reservation to next year.
My understanding is that hotels are supposed to be closed in London, or just limited to essential workers.

I'm wondering what people who currently live in the UK think my chances are of a refund, or should I consider myself lucky if I can get a reservation for 2 years from now, and just hope they are in business still ?

 

[DrRoy]

Interesting email from Delta today.

In addition to all the cleaning and sanitizing procedures they've implemented (and they really are pretty impressive), some other big changes:

For the time being, they are requiring masks on everyone, both employees and passengers, in all check-in areas, gate areas, and on board the planes.

Also, they are doing strict back-to-front boarding to limit the number of people you pass by on the way to your seat.

And they are only selling 50% of the seats in First, and 60% of the seats in the main cabin, with nearly all middle seats blocked off.

I think they're doing everything I would have asked them to, and I expect other airlines will have similar changes. What a different world we're entering!

We got this too. Detroit Metro is our nearest major airport and we almost always fly Delta.

 

[LRDave]

Interesting email from Delta today.

In addition to all the cleaning and sanitizing procedures they've implemented (and they really are pretty impressive), some other big changes:

For the time being, they are requiring masks on everyone, both employees and passengers, in all check-in areas, gate areas, and on board the planes.

Also, they are doing strict back-to-front boarding to limit the number of people you pass by on the way to your seat.

And they are only selling 50% of the seats in First, and 60% of the seats in the main cabin, with nearly all middle seats blocked off.

I think they're doing everything I would have asked them to, and I expect other airlines will have similar changes. What a different world we're entering!

I wonder if that generates enough revenue to even cover variable costs? No way does that begin to service their fixed costs.

 

[6miths]

It's simply amazing to look at FlightAware and see how few planes are in the air. And most of those that are flying are cargo flights. Should make for a warmer summer in some places with less cloud cover due to jet contrails.

 

[Sunset]

It's simply amazing to look at FlightAware and see how few planes are in the air. And most of those that are flying are cargo flights. Should make for a warmer summer in some places with less cloud cover due to jet contrails.

Colder nights, as less clouds to form a blanket and keep the heat in..

At least we will all be able to breath easier, since airplanes are one of the largest air polluters, and with less car traffic, it's like a breath of fresh air.

 

[sengsational]

We cancelled our Danube cruise with Viking with great remorse. They refunded 80% of money, and credited 20% to a future cruise. They did offer a 125% deal for a future cruise, but we declined. We failed though to ask if the refund would be a check or credit card refund, and the promptness.

This is the kind of refund policy that makes sense for the travel company and the customer. I don't know why more offers like this weren't presented right-off, when it was obvious there would be massive cancellations. Optimists would grab the 20% "gain" on their payment, and those more interested in a bird in the hand would share a little pain. If my tour company would have offered this, I would have been glad to share the pain, because it wasn't their fault, and I don't want them to go out of business. But as much as I like them, asking me to take a only a voucher for future travel, and not have any cash back, well, that's over the top. So that left the rather confrontational move of a dispute on the CC transaction.

 

[ivinsfan]

This is the kind of refund policy that makes sense for the travel company and the customer. I don't know why more offers like this weren't presented right-off, when it was obvious there would be massive cancellations. Optimists would grab the 20% "gain" on their payment, and those more interested in a bird in the hand would share a little pain. If my tour company would have offered this, I would have been glad to share the pain, because it wasn't their fault, and I don't want them to go out of business. But as much as I like them, asking me to take a only a voucher for future travel, and not have any cash back, well, that's over the top. So that left the rather confrontational move of a dispute on the CC transaction.

It makes sense that they "kept" 20% of your money? You notice the poster only got 80% back in cash. That's not a customer friendly policy.

 

[6miths]

Colder nights, as less clouds to form a blanket and keep the heat in..

At least we will all be able to breath easier, since airplanes are one of the largest air polluters, and with less car traffic, it's like a breath of fresh air.

Yes true on both counts but warmer days due to less clouds as well. Places with high traffic have significantly higher cloud cover. I read once that the south of England had 40% more cover due to contrails. And yes the drop in car traffic will mean less respiratory deaths.

 

[Sunset]

We have a hotel (studio) rented in London UK, later in May.
We made the reservation last year.
It's not a big hotel/chain with a refund policy for Covid-19.
I emailed them to ask for a refund, as we won't be going there.

They are suggesting move my reservation to next year.
My understanding is that hotels are supposed to be closed in London, or just limited to essential workers.

I'm wondering what people who currently live in the UK think my chances are of a refund, or should I consider myself lucky if I can get a reservation for 2 years from now, and just hope they are in business still ?

Well, I got a 75% refund, which is 3 out of the 4 nights stay.

Considering that my reservation originally had wording on it that said it was non-refundable, and a 1 year credit seemed fairly worthless. I feel this is a good enough result.

 

[braumeister]

Well, I got a 75% refund, which is 3 out of the 4 nights stay.

Considering that my reservation originally had wording on it that said it was non-refundable, and a 1 year credit seemed fairly worthless. I feel this is a good enough result.

You did much better than I did. I had a week prepaid in a hotel in Munich, and I only got 10% back. I knew it was nonrefundable, so I can't honestly complain, but it still hurt. I would have been delighted with 75%.

What makes it OK is thinking about the enormous amount of money the hotels are losing every day with little change to their fixed costs.

 

[Souschef]

I just back a little over $900 from Insure My Trip, for the premium on a cruise that was cancelled. Since I considered it found money, I donated to the local food bank.

I am still waiting for the refund of the cruise fare

 

[sengsational]

It makes sense that they "kept" 20% of your money? You notice the poster only got 80% back in cash. That's not a customer friendly policy.

I know they kept some of the poster's money, but I consider the policy less user-hostile than the airlines and many other travel service companies original and some current policies of keeping 100% and offering what, in many cases, is an expiring voucher, which, if they tried to sell on the open market would fetch pennies on the dollar.

 

[gwraigty]

I know they kept some of the poster's money, but I consider the policy less user-hostile than the airlines and many other travel service companies original and some current policies of keeping 100% and offering what, in many cases, is an expiring voucher, which, if they tried to sell on the open market would fetch pennies on the dollar.

That's the situation DD is faced with. We're still under a statewide order that prohibits leaving the house and gathering with people we don't live with except to go to work, provide necessary care for others, or patronize open businesses, through May 28th. So she can't get on her scheduled flight (itinerary has been changed by SW 3 times already) on May 21st for what was going to be a vacation with a friend, that included a now-postponed concert that's still pending rescheduling. She already canceled her hotel reservation and her time off work. She's been hoping that SW would cancel the flight themselves, in light of the order, but I told her not to count on it. They don't know it's not an essential business flight. In a glimmer of good news though, I just checked and SW has extended the expiration of their vouchers to September 7, 2022.

 

[Winemaker]

It makes sense that they "kept" 20% of your money? You notice the poster only got 80% back in cash. That's not a customer friendly policy.

This Policy of 80% refund and 20% credit is their usual policy and non Covid related. We were at the 91 day limit and exercised our option, albeit it more favorable, as they also credited the trip insurance money to the total. Normally they do not. Our travel partners, did not cancel, and are waiting for a more favorable deal. We were just afraid of the possibility of Viking going bankrupt in the next year and not getting anything but a emailed receipt as a souvenir.

 

[ivinsfan]

This Policy of 80% refund and 20% credit is their usual policy and non Covid related. We were at the 91 day limit and exercised our option, albeit it more favorable, as they also credited the trip insurance money to the total. Normally they do not. Our travel partners, did not cancel, and are waiting for a more favorable deal. We were just afraid of the possibility of Viking going bankrupt in the next year and not getting anything but a emailed receipt as a souvenir.

Well that doesn't seem too generous does it, no COVID related refunds, shame on them. This isn't a simple case of "changing your mind"

 

[Winemaker]

Well that doesn't seem too generous does it, no COVID related refunds, shame on them. This isn't a simple case of "changing your mind"

Officially, my cruise has not been cancelled yet because of Covid. I just didn't want to be stuck overseas if a flare up occurred, and thought it would be messed up to eat meals, drink booze, go shopping, see the sights, and have a good time with a stinking mask on. I wore a respirator when I was at w*rk for 35 years, I'm not doing it during retirement when I'm trying to have fun.

 

[DektolMan]

We were scheduled to go to the Finger Lakes the 1st week in June. We rented a house through a property management firm. We wanted to cancel as we are from an area with high break out of Covid - 19 and with 2 other couples from 2 different states we knew we couldn't social distance from each other.


At first they said wait, it's not to bad here. Then they offered my $150 back on a $1500 deposit. So I called their county health department. They told me wineries will be closed till middle of June, restaurants the same except for take out but then she told me they are encouraging tourists and 2nd homeowners to stay home because if they have an outbreak their small hospital can not handle it.


So I finally pressed this on them and said I am going to listen to their local health department. They finally agreed on a 100% refund! I'm glad I didn't give up to easily.

 

[Chuckanut]

There is a lot of hostile buzz about Overseas Adventure Travel and refunds. If the stories are to be believed, they changed their refund policy and applied it retroactively to past payments. They are using "Force Majeure' to justify their actions. Supposedly, they also rescheduled people moving them from a 2020 tour to a 2021 tour without any input from the customer.

I guess most of its customers didn't include trying to get their money back as part of the 'Adventure' they signed up for.

 

[ivinsfan]

There is a lot of hostile buzz about Overseas Adventure Travel and refunds. If the stories are to be believed, they changed their refund policy and applied it retroactively to past payments. They are using "Force Majeure' to justify their actions. Supposedly, they also rescheduled people moving them from a 2020 tour to a 2021 tour without any input from the customer.

I guess most of its customers didn't include trying to get their money back as part of the 'Adventure' they signed up for.

Some of these companies are obviously in a dogfight for survival will do what they need to if it keeps them viable.

 

[braumeister]

There is a lot of hostile buzz about Overseas Adventure Travel and refunds. If the stories are to be believed, they changed their refund policy and applied it retroactively to past payments.

I'm not sure about that. We only used OAT once, last year, but I'm not sure what they're doing is new. They already had strict policies, and I was strongly advised to buy trip insurance through them. I did, and I just looked at the documents from over a year ago. Cancellation due to a pandemic was listed as not covered even by the insurance.

OTOH, our trip with them was excellent, so there is good along with the bad.

 

[Chuckanut]

Some of these companies are obviously in a dogfight for survival will do what they need to if it keeps them viable.

My understanding is that OAT does little advertising and has grown through the recommendations of its customers. I have to wonder how they will survive if their reputation includes not refunding money paid for a product that was not delivered.