It’s a new month, and I have more answers. Thank you to everyone who has written me with your questions and problems regarding travel and the coronavirus pandemic. If you have a question and don’t see it answered in one of my rounds, e-mail me at peter@petergreenberg.com.
EMAIL: Delia Klingbeil
Hello
A friend of mine recommended your website. Thank you so much.
My husband and I planned a trip to Sicily this September. We booked round trips on the United Airlines website from BOS->EWR->PMO with Economy Plus seat upgrades.
On April 26, I received an email from United saying that my flight was canceled and that I should login to see my options. I did this and discovered that just our international flights (EWR->PMO) had been canceled. So I called. After waiting and being disconnected, I was able to determine that I would get my extra seat charges refunded to my credit card (a total of $796) and that the cost of the tickets would be put in my Travel Bank good for 24 months.The basic coast of my tickets, tax and fees was $2,379.50.
I requested an email confirming this, but I was told that was impossible! So I’m waiting. I’ve checked my United account several times and have seen several strange notes about my reservation (I used by confirmation number to retrieve the information.
One is that it is not eligible for credit because it was made by a third party (travel agent, etc.). This is not the case. Another is that only the domestic flight to Newark is edible for cancelation!?
Well, it’s pretty confusing and I’m discouraged. The good news is that on April 29, my seat upgrade charges were refunded to my credit card. That is great. But what about the large amount to be put into my Travel Bank? Actually I would like a refund. And I requested that, but …
Any suggestions that you have would be appreciated. I learned that United Airlines received Billions of dollars from the federal government.
Delia Klingbeil
Peter Says: Delia, United gave you incorrect information. you are entitled to a FULL refund to your original form of payment, because UNITED canceled the flight. So request again and remind them of the U.S. Department of Transportation rule that says you are entitled to that refund.
EMAIL: Judy Zerby
Hello, Peter!
Here is my dilemma. I found an amazing fare on Aer Lingus from MSP to DUB for $1200+ round trip for 2 people. It was a special fare, I think, because they were inaugurating a new non-stop. Instead of going for the whole shebang, I chose to put down half as a “deposit fare” to hold that special price. This trip was to happen in September.
Next, I will need to pay the balance 60 days before the scheduled departure or lose the deposit. My question is, lose it or buy the whole flight so that I might be able to get a full refund if Aer Lingus should cancel it.
Thanks for helping us all out of this huge dilemma when all we really want to do is plan a trip and go somewhere!!
Judy Zerby
Peter Says: Judy, right now, while the flight is still showing on the schedule, the tendency for the airlines is to wait until the last minute to cancel the flight. At the same time, the UK is also on lockdown now. But by September, especially since the UK is no longer in the European Union, it might open up, along with Ireland. The real question is, do you want to take this trip in September? If so, barring any major Covid-19 breakouts, the 14-day quarantine rule might be lifted by September and you can go. If not, you should wait until Aer Lingus cancels. Remember, under US Department of Transportation rules, any U.S. airline or international airline that flies to or from the U.S. is required to give you a full refund back to your original form of payment, even if you bought a nonrefundable ticket — if the airline cancels the flight.
EMAIL: Sharon Pociask
Husband and I had a tour booked the first week of September 2020 to Ireland. We bought 2 tickets on American Airlines totaling $1,472.12 in October of 2019.
Tour company just informed us that the tour for September 2020 is cancelled because of Covid19 and rescheduled for September 2021, dates to be determined later. I cannot cancel the tour or I lose my $1000 deposit.
I really don’t want an airline voucher. I would prefer a refund and if we can take the 2021 tour purchase my ticket once we know for sure we can go and have the dates.
Is a voucher good only on the itinerary for which it was originally booked? Under any circumstances can we get a refund on these tickets?
Thanks for your help.
Sharon Pociask
Peter Says: Sharon, I am presuming you bought your airline ticket separately from American? Remember, if you cancel the flight, you will get hit with that voucher. If the airline cancels, you get the full refund. the dilemma is that American is not going to cancel a September flight in May. You’ll have to wait until you get much closer to departure date to see if they will cancel FIRST. Then you’ll be entitled under U.S Department of Transportation rules, to that full refund.
EMAIL: Caroline
Hi Peter,
Fun running into you at the LA Travel Show, before the world closed down…
Wanted to share a good news story. I had a flight booked on Delta/Air France to Florence,
departing this Sunday, stop in Paris on the way to change planes ($3,200 Premium Economy).
I followed all the advice and waited til they cancelled the flight, which they did.
I got an email notification from Air France (not from Delta which is where I booked it).
Anyway, I called Delta. Took 2 hours to get someone on the line, but after that it was quick, 5 minutes.
He looked up my ticket number and said I had the option of rebooking later, or a refund to my credit card.
I didn’t have to hassle, or mention the Dept. of Trans. rule, he just offered the refund, which is what I took.
He did say it would take 30 days, fine with me, and gave me a direct number to Delta Refunds, if I don’t get it by then.
Best,
Caroline
Peter Says: Caroline, you played the game of chicken well — and the airline blinked first! congratulations. And great to see you, as always.
EMAIL: Joel Adelman
We had booked and fully paid for a UCLA Alumni cruise through AHI Travel in the total amount of $13,680. We carefully waited until THEY stopped the trip scheduled to depart 5/2/20. They are claiming they did not “cancel” the trip and only “postponed” the trip and are only willing to issue travel credits through them until 6/30/22. We have subsequently filed a billing dispute with our credit card company which placed a temporary hold on making payments to the credit card company for the amount of the dispute. In my opinion there is no question that they have cancelled the 5/2/20 cruise that we booked and are artificially calling it a “postponement” so as to try to not have to refund the money paid. The credit card company has asked us to further respond by 5/6/20 before they come to a conclusion. Furthermore, my wife has a physical handicap which could likely prevent us from utilizing a future credit. Could you please advise me your opinion on my request for a full refund. How should I respond? Thank you so much for your guidance and assistance.
Joel Adelman
Peter Says: Joel, don’t be a victim of revisionist word definitions. They DID cancel your trip and scheduled it later. And if the credit card company denies your dispute, you have a perfect small claims court case with your wife. Claim limits are $7500 per claim, but divide your $13,680 in half and you and your wife should file separate claims (under that $7500 limit). I am not a lawyer and don’t play one on TV, but I suspect. you will find receptive judges for your case, if it comes to that.
EMAIL: Patricia Brundage
I have two questions.
#1. Frontier has offered me to trade my $335 credit for 70,000 miles. Is this worth it? With the miles I would have a much longer period of time to book a flight but it seems you can’t always use the miles on certain days/flights.
#2 We have flights to London leaving from Toronto on Air Canada on September 19th. I assume we will not be able to make this trip. We live in the US. Is there any way to get a refund? If not what advice do you have About getting a voucher for future travel with Air Canada. We would not travel before there is a vaccine.
Thank you
Patricia Brundage
Peter Says: Patricia, there are a lot of unredeemed frequent flyer miles out there, but the good news, in the short term is that there will be a lot of redemption opportunities throughout 2020. As for 2021, and as travel rebounds, those opportunities are somewhat diminished and the number of eligible mile levels for redemption might be increased by the airline. You need to take that into account, but you do have longer to use them. As for your second question, then you are not traveling in 2020, because the odds for a working, scalable vaccine available this year are not good.
EMAIL: Cindy Tanenbaum
Hi Peter,
I noticed that you recently posted a letter from Susan Cornell in regards to Sea Cloud Cruises. I represent Sea Cloud Cruises, she forgot to mention in the email that she was traveling on a complimentary cruise, since she stated she was a journalist. Her guest paid a reduced fare which was fully refunded, and whatever she wasn’t refunded for in airfare (which wasn’t our responsibility in the first place) was also refunded. She is fighting over her airport transfers and meals, which I think is petty and ridiculous, since she was traveling on the ship for free! I just thought you should know the whole situation.
Thanks.
Best,
Cindy Tanenbaum
Peter Says: Cindy, I agree with you. she IS being petty and ridiculous, and I’m glad you brought this to my attention. Please hang in there, and stay in touch with me. And thanks, again.
EMAIL: Sal Mauro
Hi Peter,
Can you tell me Air Canada must offer full refunds for international flights from Toronto if the cancel our flights.
We are scheduled to fly in June from Toronto to Rome then from Paris to Toronto.
We are US citizens.
Thank you.
Sal Mauro
Peter Says: Under a current Canadian court ruling, Air Canada is NOT obligated to give you a refund, but only a voucher, even if they cancel first. the U.S. DOT rules only apply to airines operating within the U.S. or to or from the U.S. If you were starting your trip on Air Canada in the U.S., then the U.S. rules would apply.
EMAIL: Richard Yelen
Peter
Seems that we worked for the Today Show, but at different times.
Like you, I have a love for travel. I’ve visited 98 countries and earned nearly 23 million miles.
I am writing to ask for advice.
I booked a trip using Citi thank you points on Aegean Airlines to LCA. The airline cancelled my flight. I called Citi to request the points be back in my account.
They said the airline did not authorize, only a voucher.
Can you advise what I can do to have my points returned?
Thank you in advance.
Perhaps we will have the opportunity to meet in person in the future.
Stay safe,
Richard Yelen
Peter Says: Hello to a fellow NBC alum! The U.S. DOT. rules apply to any airline (U.S. or foreign) that flies within, to or from. the U.S. But Aegean doesn’t qualify unless your flight with them started in the U.S. There is a European Union rule that covers this, but many airlines there are currently ignoring it and the battle will take some time.
EMAIL: Gerald Peterson
Peter, I’m really enjoying your Saturday radio show. So informative.
In early February, we booked a 7-night trip to Hawaii with AAA, to which
we belong. The lady offered trip cancellation insurance to us, but I declined.
Our flight with Alaska Airlines was scheduled for May 19th. On April
28th, the airlines cancelled the flight. This means a $1,385 refund
back to our credit card. But the hotel on the island of Maui is a
different story.
Sheraton Maui Resort and Spa will give us a credit of $3,336 to be used
at any Pleasant Holiday destination by December 21, 2021.
We would much prefer a full refund back to our credit card over a credit
voucher expiring at the end of next year. We are in our late seventies,
and a lot can happen in the next 19 months. Can you help us?
Gerald and Celine Peterson
Peter Says: Hi Gerald, I hear you. Sheraton should issue you a refund immediately. AAA should be getting you that refund. They are the agency of record. Go back to them and send a letter (so you have a paper trail) demanding the refund. In the interim, dispute the credit card charge on your bill. Remember, you contracted for a service you did not receive. And please copy me.
EMAIL: Susan Folden
Peter,
Our travel agent made a first class/business class reservation for two from Miami to Copenhagen on Air Canada for May 1st. Air Canada has cancelled the flight and is charging us $475.00 refund fee per ticket for the monies to be returned to our credit card. We did not cancel the flight before Air Canada cancelled.
Additional information: Reservation code: WXXSVA, Airline Reservation Code is PPYXIR(AC). The Reservation was made with Unique Travel of Palm Beach, Inc. a Virtuoso Member and agent was Fran Nelson. I first spoke to Mauricio of Air Canada and he responded that travel agent would need to request a refund. Then I went to agent who informed me that there would be a $475.00 per ticket charge to have refund back to credit card. Another question: Why do we have to go through travel agent when tickets are in our names and paid for by us with our credit card?
Peter Says: Susan, the travel agency should. be getting you your full refund. Remember, under US Department of. Transportation rule, any airline that flies within the U.S. to or from the U.S. (in this case Air Canada) must give you a full refund if THEY cancel the flight, which apparently they did. There should be NO charge for that refund. You need to put this in writing to the travel agent, and then copy me.
EMAIL: Marilyn Grundy
What is your opinion on international travel with the threat of the Coronavirus? We are traveling late May from Alabama to Lisbon/Porto Uniworld River cruise. Is there a travel insurance carrier you prefer?
Thank you,
Marilyn Grundy
Peter Says: Marilyn, sorry to be the bearer of bad news. You WON’T be traveling later this month to Lisbon taking that cruise. Everything has been cancelled, most likely through the end of August. Your travel agent should have told you this. And as I try to remind folks, you can’t buy fire insurance once the blaze has broken out! Please go directly through your travel agent to seek a full refund.
