Thanks to all of you who have written me with your travel questions and problems. If you have a question and don’t see it answered in one of my rounds, e-mail me at peter@petergreenberg.com.
EMAIL: Carin
Hello,
We are getting a run and round on seeking reimbursement for our cancelled flight to Iceland.
The trip insurance has denied coverage. Please see below.
Justfly.com told us that we could only receive voucher with an additional $50.00 rebooking fee to be paid.
Icelandair told us that they had told Justfly.com to issue us a full refund.
Any suggestions would be most welcome. We have used all of our vacation time with the “stay at home” restrictions and are, thankfully, recovering from COVID 19. My husband has been laid off and my wages have been cut 50%. We cannot afford to take a vacation nor do we have the vacation time until next year.
Best,
Carin
Peter Says: Carin, the question is who canceled your flight, the airline, or you? It makes a big difference. Please send me all the details: airline, flight number, date, confirmation numbers…et al. and copies of any correspondence you might have with justly.com
EMAIL: Kristina Norberg
Dear Peter,
My husband and I purchased tickets through Priceline to fly into White Plains, NY leaving Sacramento the evening of May 11 and returning on May 20. American Airlines rerouted our flight to fly into and out of La Guardia airport, NY. This seems totally unacceptable to me, since NY is still in a quarantine situation and if I had wanted to go to La Guardia that’s how I would have booked the tickets in the first place. They are about $225 cheaper than going to White Plains.
We would prefer a refund rather than a credit. What do you think our options are since American is making changes to our flight?
Thanks!
Kristina
Peter Says: Kristina, American essentially canceled your flight, and as such you are entitled. under U.S. Department of Transportation rules to a full refund that would go back to your original form of payment.
EMAIL: David and Joan Kornbluth
Hello Peter,
I thank you in advance for trying to help people obtain refunds from canceled flights.
I made the reservation below with a travel agent who has not been able to obtain a full refund from Iberia even though they canceled my flight. So I am resorting to contact for your help. Whatever you can help will be much appreciated.
Please see the attached document.
Thank you,
David and Joan Kornbluth
Peter Says: David and Joan, Iberia canceled your flight and remains under a U.S. Department of Transportation rule that also applies to any foreign airline flying to or from the U.S. that entitles you to a full refund paid back to your. original form of payment. Have your travel agent remind Iberia. of that. If that. fails, you should dispute. the charge directly with your credit card. company. citing the exact same rule.
EMAIL: Arla Burdett
My friend gave me your info and said you might help me. I will forward. You my ticket info along ticket
Info.
Had a flight on March 10 to Clearwater Florida. Cancelled on the 8th as the CDC had Florida on their DO not travel to states. My daughter is an epidemiologist so she reads the CDC posts several times a day. After she told us that my friend and I decided to cancel our trip.
We had identical tickets plus mine I paid for checked, luggage both ways. My friend did not. She got a full voucher of her full amount. I did not. I received a credit voucher of $54.50 of my original purchase of $117.50 plus checked luggage $30. Total 147.50
Our return trip came out of Sanford Florida on March 17. Total $132. Voucher was $121.01
As I stated earlier my friend got all her money back in a voucher and I didn’t for the same price tickets.
I have written the customer relations three times to no avail and their phone is in possible. I’d really like my full money back due to this covid19 business nuts to the voucher. Thank you so much for listening to my story and all your help in this situation. I will forward my letters and flight stuff. Thanks again.
Stay safe
Arla Burdett
Peter Says: Arla, you gave me great information except the name of the airline! One potential problem: You also canceled the flight before the airline did, which doesn’t preserve your rights under the U.S. Department of Transportation rule.
EMAIL: Elaine Weeks
Hello Peter,
Thank you for your assistance during this confusing and difficult time.
On December 24, 2019 I purchased Premium Economy air tickets on United for a direct flight from SFO to CDG traveling September 20 to Oct. 10. 2020.
As I check on the status of our flights I see that United has cancelled the direct flight and placed us on air that includes an additional stop and our seats are not in Premium Economy on all the flights.
We do not want to take the modified trip.
Are we eligible for a cash refund? The website only offers a change.
Thank you for your help with information.
Best Regards,
Elaine Weeks
Peter Says: Elaine, you ARE eligible for the full refund. But under no circumstances should. you attempt this online. You must call the airline (United) and remind them that. they made this change/cancellation, and under the U.S. Department of Transportation rule you are entitled to. that full refund.
EMAIL: Karen Harlin
Hello Peter. I appreciate your video travel updates. They are current and very informative.
Here’s an issue I could use some help/advise on.
I contacted Southwest Customer service via email about a month ago about two $100 vouchers that expire May 08, 2020. I asked for an extension since I am in IL and under a stay at home order. The place I’d travel to would be CA which has the same order. I had hoped to use them in April to visit my son and his family but that can’t happen. I have not heard back from Southwest.
Is it reasonable to expect them to extend the expiration date for 6 months or longer? I am 71 and do not want to risk traveling until the Covid 19 infection rate is much lower.
I received the two vouchers for a flight that was cancelled after boarding due to a mechanical issue. We had a 5 hour delay awaiting another plane for the flight from Midway to Oakland, CA The vouchers were issued May 9, 2019.
I’d be interested in any help or suggested action I should take.
Thank you for being our advocate.
Karen Harlin
Peter Says: Karen, my understanding is that Southwest has been extending the expiration dates for these vouchers. But you should not under any circumstances try to do this online. You need to have a direct conversation with the airline. I realize this may put you on an endless hold (call later at night or very early in the morning), but try to remember that the internet does not think creatively or with empathy.
EMAIL: Don Hellriegel
Contrary to your statement on the radio today [Saturday], President Trump never stated on Friday that everything would be open in two weeks. Big error on your part.
Don Hellriegel
Peter Says: Don, I’m afraid that you are mistaken. President Trump first stated he wanted everything done. and ready by Easter. Sunday, then changed it to April 15th, then April 30th. Now, states like New York have extended the stay at home order to May 15th, and that date will likely slide again. In the absence of widespread testing, there is every reason to believe — for all the liability reasons imaginable — that business and life as normal — at least in the world of travel, may have to wait until late June at the earliest.
EMAIL: Garth Blake
Hello Mr. Greenberg,
I planned a trip for my wife and I to visit Portugal in August. I booked my stays through Airbnb back in December. I booked our flights through TAP Air flying out of Chicago. I booked the flights in early January before the Covid19 began. I am just getting into traveling outside of the United States. I planned my first trip outside the US last year taking my wife to Greece. Remarkably everything went fantastic with me doing it on my own. I have been keeping up with Airbnb as to what they are allowing for cancelations…so I am good there. My question is: TAP Air has canceled their flights through May. If down the road they cancel my flight for August, it seems right now they are only giving vouchers. Don’t they have to give a refund if they cancel the August flight, not a voucher. Like I said, I am new to traveling outside the US so not too sure what to do right now. We are really hoping to go! Thanks for taking my question.
Garth Blake
Peter Says: Garth, you are correct. TAP is obligated under U.S. Department of Transportation rules to issue a refund if TAP cancels the flight. At this point, my advice to you is to do nothing and wait.
EMAIL: Pat Folz
Hello,
We are looking for information on how to go about getting a refund for a trip we booked and paid for in full to Fleetway Travel in the UK. We booked a trip to Italy on Feb.23rd which included airfare and hotels all arranged by Fleetway. The trip was scheduled for April 16th and on March 17th Fleetway cancelled the trip but is still not offering a refund.
We have contacted them numerous times and are not getting anywhere. Can you possibly help us out?
Thank you,
Pat Folz
Peter Says: Pat, did you book this trip through a U.S. travel agency or directly in the UK online? If it’s the latter, there are now lobbying efforts through the UK Transportation secretary to force travel providers to issue refunds, but it has not yet been resolved.
EMAIL: Terry Klocker
Peter:
As I’m sure you’re aware, United’s VISA Explorer credit card offers 2 free United Club passes every year to cardholders such as myself. I’m not going to be able to use mine, due to the pandemic, and they expire in mid-May.
Is United going to extend expiration dates on this particular perk? Do I have to do something to renew them? I dread the thought of calling their 800-number!
Thank you.
Terry Klocker
Peter Says: It is my understanding that United will be extending the validity dates on those passes.
EMAIL: Elyse Auerbach
Hi Peter,
I’m just one of your legion of followers. This is the first time I’ve tried to contact you and I don’t really expect you to have an answer but I hope you have an opinion. My husband is 77 and severely disabled for almost 12 years from a stroke. I am 76 and take care of him. Our primary home is in Florida located between Miami and Miami Beach on a causeway. We have lived here since 1970 and have only evacuated twice (1992 and 2017) for hurricanes although we are advised to always leave. We now have a secondary home in Tulsa, OK, because one of our sons lives there. I decided we should leave every year and spend about 5 months there during hurricane season since it is very difficult to evacuate with my husband(and my cat!). So, now it is almost May and I made reservations to leave here on Aug. 1st which is just 2 weeks later than we have been leaving. I am hoping things will be calmer by then and maybe safer for us to travel. Some of my friends have advised us to leave sooner since the airplanes are not crowded at all right now and perhaps by August they will be. Since I am afraid to go to the grocery store, I just cannot picture going to an airport and getting on a plane. But I am petrified to be here during a hurricane since there is really no one who can help us. The question I am asking you is: if we were your parents, would you tell us to go as soon as possible, or wait for the Aug. 1st date? I know that no one can see the future, so this is just your educated guess which would be much appreciated.
Thank you,
Elyse Auerbach
p.s. I plan to avoid this dilemma in the future since I’ve decided we should sell our house and move to Oklahoma full time. I don’t believe I can trust that our lives will ever be normal again.
Peter Says: Elyse, my best advice is that time may be on your side here. Barring any additional corona outbreaks, I’d make the calculated risk and wait for August 1.
EMAIL: Christine Vienna
Hello Peter,
I didn’t see any questions that were similar to mine, so hopefully you may be able to help me.
I have an Air Canada reservation booked on 2/8/20 booked thru JustFly.
Unfortunately I live in the US but flight is from YYZ so I guess I don’t qualify for DOT rule on refunds.
JustFly has offered a reduced voucher but with the stipulation that it be used by 2/8/21, that only 6 months and I can’t travel to Scotland in February! Any possibility of:
1) monetary refund
2)voucher for up to two years
3)can said voucher be used to fly from another location ie: US
I’m a resident of Florida and typically we are in NY in the Fall, that’s the only reason for leaving from Toronto.
I don’t feel I can wait to for 72 hours before flight to rectify this situation.
I also have Allianz travel insurance.
Thank you so much for any advice you may offer. Stay well.
Christine Vienna
Peter Says: Christine, the insurance. here is. probably not covering you. But the best advice is to get the one year voucher offer extended to two years.
EMAIL: Ellen Krinsky
Peter,
We purchased tickets for Disneyland Paris that was supposed to be used this past Monday. As you know, not only was it not possible to travel to Paris at this time but Disneyland closed all of its parks. Could you advise us as to how to get and who to call or write to get a refund on the tickets. The use has been extended but with our daughter starting college in the fall, going to Paris anytime in the future doesn’t seem possible.
I would greatly appreciate any advice you can provide.
Peter Says: Ellen, what I need to know is. who you purchased the travel/theme park tickets FROM a U.S. travel agent or from Disney directly? Did you pay with a credit card? Please advise.
