Travel problems? Unable to get a refund? Trip cancelled or postponed? Or simply trying to get from point A to…anywhere? Peter answers your emails and tells you what you need to know. Email peter@petergreenberg.com if you don’t see your email answered in one of the rounds.
EMAIL: Colleen
Hi Peter Greenberg,
I enjoy the information and updates you put forth and I value the recommendations you give on the Today show.
I travel to the southern US, several times a year, for vacation and can never seem to get a deal on a hotel room. I love to get bargains but have not been successful obtaining a deal on a room.
I plan to travel in August, if it is safe, and any advice you can give me would be appreciated.
Stay safe, Peter
Colleen
Peter Says: Thanks Colleen for your email. First, need to update you. I was last on the Today show in 2009. For the past 11 years, I’m on…CBS News! So I hope you’ll watch me there, on CBS This Morning, the CBS Evening News and on CBS Sunday morning. Now, to answer your question: when America returns to travel, it will largely be domestic travel, within the continental U.S. What that means is more road trips within 300 miles from home, and that travel might begin by the end of June, but more likely the middle of July, as individual states begin to open up and relax restrictions. In the process many hotels across America will be discounting their rooms as they begin to open up as well, and something tells me that you’ll find many bargains and incentives from hotels at that time.
EMAIL: KK
Hello Peter, hope you’re doing fine in this quarantine. Here’s my dilemma as I approach past the 6 week mark. I hope you can provide guidance or a broader picture on how I should proceed on getting refunds. Here’s the long story short:
– redemption of AF/KLM FlyingBlue award intra-Europe from AMS-TFS
– ticket processed 03OCT2019 for travel on 22MAR2020
– flight was on AF/KLM’s low-cost subsidiary of Transavia (HV)
– upsell of bulkhead seats, taxes and prepaid luggage was about €102
– Spain announced quarantine on 15MAR2020
– phoned KLM’s call center to cancel itinerary on 15MAR2020 on same day
– AF call center returned the miles without any mileage deposit fees on 16MAR2020
– HV’s flight cancellation notice received on 19MAR2020
– when I checked 3 weeks ago, HV’s service center said the refund paperwork already began
So, we’re 47 days past flight cancellation notice as well as 44 days past the original flight date. Both cases, it’s 6 weeks past notification. I haven’t received any notification for any flight credit with HV, AF or KL. HV’s call center (via WhatsApp) only acknowledged the refund process is queued up (I have the message saved on my phone).
How much longer should I wait? Perhaps I should initiate dispute with my credit card? Any advise would be appreciated.
Regards,
KK
Peter Says: I’d wait another ten days or so. the airlines have been flooded with refund requests and are overloaded. but if you don’t hear anything within ten days, yes, dispute with your credit card.
EMAIL: Eric Guerra
Dear Sir,
I am writing you today in hopes of yourself or being suggested to someone about writing a story about Quark Expeditions. Covid 19 caused many of their sailings to be cancelled and them using force majeure pretty much made them profits.. Keeping money and changing terms and conditions or making up new conditons with the current terms and conditons. If interested I can provide all the documentation. About a dozen of us from around the world found each other on social medial to share stories.
Being such a high cost cruise it just amazes me, with stay at home orders, flight cancelations, they ended up being horrible. Covid 19 changed the world and they benefitted financially. With their travel credit some got 120 percent, others 1 to 1 ratio and some upgraded rooms on a future sailing. Anyhow hope I can get some help or direction. Thank you for your time.
Regards,
Eric Guerra
Peter Says: Eric, it’s not about Quark making a profit. But, like many other operators, about preserving cash and merely staying in business. As a result, most cruise lines and tour operators want you to take their credit voucher instead of having to part with that cash with a refund. What you didn’t tell me was your choice — the voucher or a refund. My guess is…refund. You should establish a paper trail and write them directly and explain what you are requesting/requiring. If they still insist on a voucher or credit, then you have the option to dispute the charge on your credit card statement. And if that dispute is denied, you also have the option of a small claims court case (if the damages are under $7500). And that is not as difficult a process as it might appear. But, first things first. The paper trail! And please feel to copy me on your letter to Quark.
EMAIL: Craig Goldstein
Hi
How do I get a refund from NCL Cruise paid for on my Visa in January. Then are travel agent rescheduled July cruise to a date in 2021. Told her we want a refund and not interested in a cruise now with the virus raging. Does not seem to return are calls. What can we do to get a cash refund. Should we call NCL if not willing to refund can our Visa protest the payment and try to get a refund.
Please help
Thanks Craig Goldstein
I listen to you on WGN radio
Peter Says: Craig, the travel agent should be handling this for you. If they won’t your next stop is to dispute the charges on your credit card statement. And then, finally, if that dispute is denied (and that is often the case), then as long as your money damages are under $7500 you should consider filing a small claims court case against the travel agent and NCL. It sounds like a difficult option, but it’s actually quite easy to make this happen. But remember, you need a paper trail and documentation, so first write the travel agent AND NCL. Be specific. Include details and the chronology of your correspondence/conversations with them.
EMAIL: Kathy Bowman
Good Day Peter,
Thank you for these great videos with the latest scoop on travel. We really appreciate you and all the effort you’re putting into these.
We are booked for a Celebrity Cruise to the Baltic’s August 22, 2020. We are still hoping we go. My question is can a country open, but not a port? If the Netherlands open, but not the Amsterdam port, we don’t sail. If a country opens, does that mean their ports will open too at the same time? This cruise goes to Netherlands, Finland, Sweden, Russia, Germany and Estonia. A lot has to open for us to sail. But we are not giving up this dream just yet. We have our final payment coming up next week. We will be paying. That way if Celebrity cancels, we will get 1 1/2 Future Cruise Credit that we could use for our 2021 cruise to Argentina. Others are cancelling for many reasons. Prices for cabins on our cruise are going up and down, so we’re playing the game of switching cabins to bring down the cost. Gives us something to do while we pray that our sailing will continue.
Thank you for all your great advice.
Blessings,
Kathy Bowman
Peter Says: Kathy, you present an interesting dilemma. Keep in mind that all cruises are now under a CDC “no sail” order that doesn’t expire until July 1, and there’s no guarantee the CDC won’t extend that order further out, since cruise lines are required to submit a plan to the CDC of how they will prepare their ships in the age of corona virus. the CDC has to approve those plans, and then. the cruise lines have to implement them. Under the circumstances, that’s a lot to ask in the next three months. My guess is that your cruise will be cancelled/postponed. My suggestion is to thing strategically and plan for a 2021 cruise.
EMAIL: Barb Lathan
Hi,
Last November I booked 5 airline tickets with Aerlingus to Barcelona, Spain. I listened to one of your podcasts and took your advice and did not cancel my trip, waiting for the airlines to cancel. I’ve have received a few emails from Aerlingus to change my flight or request a voucher. My departure date is two weeks from today, May 20th. How long do I wait for the airlines to issue a flight cancellation. I would like my money refunded, vouchers can not be used to pay the mortgage.
I’m getting worried.
Regards
Barb Lathan
Peter Says: Barb, my guess is that Aer Lingus HAS cancelled your flight. And once that happens you need to request the refund, and not before.
EMAIL: Pat Holter
Hi
I’m holding reservations and air tickets for travel to South Africa on SAA in mid September.
We have been told that we can have vouchers valid for two years. They were not refunding tickets. Now that the airline may be gone forever what can we do? If a new airline is created would they honor our vouchers. We are a family of six and our tickets cost approx US$ 7000. Any advice?
Sincerely
Pat Holter
Peter Says: Pat, as you noted, SAA is in bankruptcy, or “reorganization”. It does not yet mean the airline has ceased to operate as a viable business, or has been liquidated. At this point, I wouldn’t wait, and I would dispute the SAA charges on your credit card statement. You contracted for a service and didn’t receive it. The fact that the airline offered vouchers is immaterial. The bottom line is you must dispute the charge, regardless of their offer. Establish a paper trail as soon as possible.
EMAIL: Barbara Elser
Dear Mr Greenberg,
I have read through your questions and answers and cannot find a clarification on this. I have had two separate reservations for this month (May) cancelled by Aegean Airlines. I made both of these directly on their site. They are not issuing any refunds now stating that the EU made a modification to the EU regulations on or about April 13th though I have not found any of the specifics of this on trolling the internet. Aegean informs me that these modifications allow the airline to issue a voucher and if not used the “passenger is eligible to request a refund…of the amount pail on the initial booking.” Have you hear of this? Should I take the voucher or file a complaint with the EU regulators? I can personally hold out for the reimbursement but wonder if you have heard of this.
Thanks for your help. I have followed you for years and value your perspective.
Barbara Elser
Peter Says: Barbara, Aegean doesn’t come under the U.S. DOT rules, unless they are flying to or from the U.S. Filing a complaint with EU regulators may take a long time. Best that you dispute the charge on your credit card statement. If that fails and you feel you can actually use the voucher with Aegean in the next 12 months, then that’s you second best option.
EMAIL:Ron Rader
HI PETER,
Enjoy your online video reports, compact with useful & helpful information
& very little fluff.
Bought a ticket from CheapOair & the outbound & inbound was with 2 different
airlines.
I tried to cancel the 1st leg,(due to coronavirus disaster) but it was impossible
to get thru by phone. A week before flight I did email customer service advising
them I wanted to cancel.
Got a form response acknowledging receipt & they would get back to me.
Never got back to me & I even sent additional emails to customer service,
prior to flight date.
How can anyone cancel if can’t get thru to them?
I was able to get thru via ‘chat room’ on return flight, only by a stroke of luck.
She cancelled, but because 1st leg was past date, she couldn’t help me with that..
The women acknowledged they had over 65,000 calls.
Any suggestions are appreciated.
Stay home, Stay strong, Ron Rader
Peter Says: Your best bet now is to dispute the charge on your credit card statement. I’m assuming the flight has already been canceled. It’s important to create a paper trail, but when dealing with an OTA like CheapOair, more often than not, they will not advocate for you. They take their direction from the airline, which in this case won’t be helpful.
EMAIL: Merideth Williams
Our cruise to Tathti has been cancelled in October 2020. We have over $3000 in Economy Preferred airfare with Delta. What is the best route to request a refund?
Thank you
Merideth Williams
Really enjoy your newsletter and video broadcasts.
Peter Says: Merideth, please send me the details of your flights, which may not actually be on Delta. At this point, I would guess the flights have not officially canceled, so looking for a refund before the flight is cancelled doesn’t preserve your rights to a full refund. You need to wait until the airline cancels first. So let me know the details, please.
