Peter Answers Your Emails: Round 19 — May 2020 - Peter Greenberg Travel Detective

Peter is responding to your emails with his answers to your coronavirus pandemic and travel questions. Don’t see your email in one of the rounds? Email: peter@petergreenberg.com.

EMAIL: Ginger Smith

Mr. Greenberg,

On April 22,2020 I was supposed to fly from BDL to DUB then to Newquay Cornwall, England

On April 30, 2020 from Newquay Cornwall to Dublin

On May 5, 2020 From DUB to BDL. The cost was $745.09

I was traveling with a very small group called Friendship Force being hosted in Cornwall for a week

and then touring in Dublin for 4 days—all tours have been successfully cancelled and credited.

Aer Lingus at this time only wants to give a voucher plus 10% added good for 5 years. We will not be able to go to Cornwall until 2022 and I am now 77 years old with no idea of what my health etc. will be in 2 years. How can I get my money back since at this time Aer Lingus is not even allowed to fly from USA to Ireland?

Any help would be gratefully appreciated and thanks.

Ginger Smith

Peter Says: Ginger, thanks for your email and my apologies for my late response. I’ve been inundated with emails with problems quite similar to yours. I totally agree with you about not wanting the vouchers for the reasons you stated. And you deserve that refund. If the tour operator or airline doesn’t want to give you that refund, your best recourse is to dispute the charge on your credit card statement. And also write a complaint letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Consumer Affairs (and copy me).

EMAIL: Lynda Leibrock

Hi!

I had a trip planned for May which obviously won’t happen. I took out a travel insurance policy for this trip from Generali. A few ago I received an email from them telling me that they were issuing me a voucher for future use. Why can’t I ask them to refund my money?

Thanks!

Lynda Leibrock

Naples FL

Peter Says: Lynda, you can and you SHOULD demand a refund. Please email them (and copy me).

EMAIL: Jane Jager

Hello Peter,

I’ve been a fan of you for years and love your emails when they come thru. I listen to your reports when they come out. I just have a question regarding the refunds from the airlines. I know they prefer not to refund, but when this Covid-19 arrived, they might have to rethink.

I’ve been a platinum flyer with United for years, and I was scheduled to go to Amsterdam on Sunday, April 12 for a river cruise. I held on only to find out everything was canceled for our dates. I decided to cancel the air on April 2 and was told that they could not refund my money. Only if they cancel. I canceled thinking we aren’t going anyway.

A few days later I checked on their website for the same flights, and no where were the flights listed, NONE! So do I have a recourse now on trying to get my refunds? I know I canceled a little too early, but everything else was canceled.

Thank you for giving me insight on this, as I am really fumed.

Stay safe.

Jane

Peter Says: Jane, you have a right to be fumed. But under DOT rules, as long as the airline cancels first, then you are entitled to a full refund. If you cancel first (as you discovered), they can then issue a voucher. So you’re caught in a terrible catch-22. There is currently pending congressional legislation to right this wrong, but it won’t be done retroactively assuming the legislation becomes law.

EMAIL: Terry Reeves

Peter,

I canceled our Southwest Airlines May flight to Disney World in March, due to the Covid virus. They did issue a voucher for the 3 seats I booked, but will not refund my Early Bird fare.

Am I screwed?

Thank you. I’m an avid fan. Keep doing what you do!

Terry

Peter Says: Terry, if Southwest had canceled the flight you would’ve received a full refund. But you canceled first, hence the voucher. You’re not screwed, but it’s sad that you didn’t have a choice. At least you can use that voucher for the next year.

EMAIL: William Murphy

Air France — Had a flight from San Francisco to Paris on May 5th. They said that their flight schedules are still on track for that day so they issued me a voucher for that day for next day. I called them yesterday to inquire about a refund instead of a voucher and they said by requesting a voucher that I had cancelled the flight for that day and they had not cancelled me ?

Peter Says: Yes, they are technically correct. If the airline cancels first, you get the full refund. If you cancel first, you get the voucher.

EMAIL: Elizabeth Tandler

Hi Peter,

Thanks for answering so many helpful questions! I have been planning a trip to Peru in August, but have not bought any flights or reserved any accommodations yet. Do you have any insight on if it’s worth taking advantage of low airline prices now? Flight prices have obviously gone down drastically but I don’t want to lose the money if by August we still shouldn’t travel – maybe there’s an international airline that’s better on refund policies than others?

Also – do you have any insight on how Peru is handling the virus, or if they have a strict no travel policy that I should be weary of, just in case?

Really really appreciate your time and thoughts!

Thank you,

Elizabeth from Boston

Peter Says: Elizabeth, right now things are still quite fluid in South America. Argentina,for example has closed their airspace until September! So I would hold off buying any travel right now to Peru until the quarantine rules for each country begin to change. Let’s revisit this around the end of June.

EMAIL: Scott Farison

Peter,

In January, I booked a non-stop flight on American Airlines from Phoenix, AZ to Heathrow, London departing on June 9th. They have now changed this flight from non-stop to a connecting flight out of Dallas adding over 3 hours to the flight. Can you tell me what recourse I may have to cancel if any?

Thanks,

Scott Farison

Peter Says: Scott, since the airline cancelled your originating flight, you preserve your rights to get a full refund.

EMAIL: Douglas Arnold

Dear Mr. Greenberg:

I had purchased tickets to the Chicago Cubs spring training game on March 21, 2020.

She was scheduled to fly to Phoenix, from Chicago, Friday March 20th and return to Chicago Sunday March 22nd.

Major league baseball cancelled all remaining spring training games March 12th because of the virus. March 13th the Cubs announced they would refund unused ticket to the original form

of payment. The refund was issued March 25th.

We cancelled the flight March 16th and immediately requested a refund.

I have written and talked to United and keep getting the same answer. No refund.

I have stated that I was laid off March 8th, my wife who is 74 and had a heart attack a few years ago was advised not to travel because of the virus and I’m not sure if we will be alive in a year.

Please advise your best suggestions.

Very frustrating dealing with a company we have been very loyal to but do not operate on a two way street.

Thank you,

Douglas Arnold

Peter Says: Douglas, all of your actions were well intentioned and given the circumstances, correct. However, by canceling your flight first (and not waiting for the airline to cancel. First, it gave United the opportunity to only offer a credit voucher against a future flight. United has been one of the worst offenders of this. At this point, your best recourse is to complain directly to the U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Consumer Affairs, and copy me. You can also try disputing the charge directly with your credit card company.

EMAIL: Joan

Hi Peter,

My question is concerning a refund for service fees from Airbnb. Booked a 3 night/prepaid Airbnb on January 9,2020 for 3 nights in Charleston to go 4/30-5/2.Obviously cancelled. Contacted our host who told me we are 100% covered and would receive a full refund. Told me to cancel through Airbnb and then she would override the system to refund the rest. So I cancelled, Airbnb refund 50% and then the host tried to cancel the additional charge and Airbnb wouldn’t allow her to refund the service fee. This was not a cheap Airbnb and the service fee is 15%. Contacted Airbnb through email, in that you can’t talk to anyone, and haven’t heard back. Shouldn’t have to pay a service fee for NO SERVICE. Should I dispute charges with Credit Card company or???? Advise…….

Thank You,

Joan

Peter Says: Joan, yes you should dispute the charges directly with the credit card company.

EMAIL: Joseph & Claudia Belsito

Morning Peter…

Love your hard work keeping us up-dated with the CV-19 and travel. GVV has postponed our trip, not the airline companies per se. However, the tour operator WILL NOT give me a refund. I told them about what you’ve said DOT rule that states about the airline cancelling the trip. My tour operator (Great Value Vacations) says they have a commitment to their partnering hotels and transportation companies and will not allow a refund. I’ve been a client for many years now and do like them. They first only offered me travel credit to be used by the end of this year…but I persisted and asked until mid next year so they relented and offered me until aug 2021-but I need to book by Dec. 2020 this year. My trip of course was to Italy on May 5th 2020.

In the meantime they have my money (since sept 2019 when I booked) until next year when I decide it’s safe to go. Should I contact the airline company

United Airlines (UA)
Lufthansa Airline (LH)

Moreover they are telling me that I must rebook using the same airline as the original reservation. I’m not sure if they’ll be around or if they’ll offer flights to Italy (which I’m sure they will but I feel restricted).

Your help/advice is appreciated,

Kindly,

Joseph & Claudia Belsito

Peter Says: As long as you are still intending to go to Italy, then rebook. It’s terrible that we are being asked. to essentially loan travel providers money at no interest for an extended period of time. You can always try disputing the original charge with your credit card company. But that could take 60 days for them to investigate. There’s also the small claims court approach. Whatever choice you make, please keep me in the loop and copy me.

EMAIL: Ann Fritz

My family made reservations to take a cruise to Alaska in June on the Ruby Princess. We canceled before we paid the full amount because we did not want vouchers. We did not know what next would bring with ill health for my husband. We were taking our children to Alaska to make some memories. We went through Costco travel. And made a no refundable deposit of $600. Princess says it is Costco rule and Costco says it is Princess. Are they obligated to return our deposit? Thank you for your help.

Ann Fritz

Peter Says: You can easily make the claim that Princess canceled this cruise and you are entitled. to the full. refund. One way to do this is to dispute the charge with your credit card company. When writing them, include all pertinent information: reservation numbers, dates, and any written correspondence. you have with either Costco or Princess. But since it was Costco that did the initial transaction, your case is against Costco. They, in turn need to seek their own refund from Princess.

EMAIL: Maureen Mathieu

Hello Peter,

Thank you for providing such important information on travel cancellations.

Here are my questions. We had reservations on United to fly from Newark to Boston on April 28, 2020 on a direct flight. When I went online to look at my reservation yesterday, I saw that our reservation had been changed to different flights. We are now booked to fly from Newark to Washington D.C. change flights and then fly from D.C. to Boston. When I talked to United, they told me that since they were getting me to Boston within 3 hours of the original flight, they will not refund our money, but will give us a credit good until 2021. I told them that our original flight had been cancelled, but they refused to say that the original flight was “cancelled” but that it had been “rescheduled”. The way I see it is that our original was cancelled, not just rescheduled. Can I still go back to them an get a refund? The original flight was booked on January 10, 2020.

I have a similar situation with American Airlines on a direct flight from Boston to Phoenix on May 18, 2020. That ticket was purchased on January 13, 2020. They “rescheduled” us on a flight from Boston to Charlotte, the change planes and fly from Charlotte to Phoenix. They also offered a credit but not a refund.

Thank you,

Maureen Mathieu

Peter Says: Maureen, thanks for your email and apologies for my late response. The minute an airline — any airline — changes your original flight, it has then cancelled that flight and thus you preserve your rights for a full refund back to the original form of payment. United has been playing games, citing its own “policy” of not being responsible for a refund as long as they rebook you within a few hours of your original flight. The U.S. Department of Transportation rules take precedence here.

EMAIL: Marty Latman

Peter,

I want to thank you for providing so many people with so much information. We need and appreciate your help.

My wife and I had a river cruise booked for June 28, 2020 on AMA Waterways from Madrid Spain to Lisbon Portugal.

We wanted to cancel this trip as soon as President Trump informed the nation that people entering the US from Europe would need to be quarantined for 14 days and the death total in Spain continued to rise. Our travel agent told us at that time that if we canceled we would lose most of our prepaid trip payments to AMA. We were told our trip insurance carrier did not insure us with pandemic coverage. As a result we waited it out. On March 22, 2020, AMA charged us for the balance due on the trip; over $13,000. On April 7^th, we were informed by our travel agent and subsequently by AMA that our trip was now canceled and they would be providing us with a 115% credit for a future cruise through December 31, 2022.

I immediately told my travel agent that we wanted a refund for the funds paid for the trip and NOT a credit for a future trip. Our agent said that AMA Waterways will not refund our money as they only issue credits to be used for future cruises. We do not know if a future cruise will go from Madrid to Lisbon.

I wrote a letter to both my travel agent and AMA Waterways requesting a refund but have not received a response as yet.

Is there anything I can do aside from taking legal action to get my refund?

Any advise you provide would be helpful.

Thank you.

Marty Latman

Peter Says: Under the Federal Credit Act, if you contracted for a product or service you did not receive, you are entitled to a full credit on your credit card. It’s called Regulation Z. So dispute this charge directly with your credit card company.

EMAIL: Anna Marie Kissel

Hi Peter,

Really enjoy your show on 720 radio on Saturdays.

My husband and I will have our 50th wedding anniversary at the end of May and our plan was to go on a much anticipated ” 50th anniversary trip .” Just a little background information. Our youngest daughter is a person with a disabiity and she lives with us and needs 24/7 support in her daily life. We booked the first leg of our trip to California where we would take her to stay with relatives during the time we take our anniversary trip. We booked this first leg to California using our saved up frequent flyer miles . We paid United a combined amount of $ 606.60 on fees and upgrade to economy plus for the 3 of us, my husband , myself and our daughter plus using our 75,000 frequent flyer miles.

We just received an e-mail today from UNITED stating the following: ” We look forward to welcoming you on board for your award flight to Los Angeles on May 27, 2020. However , we also understand that your plans may have changed , and we want to remind you that you have flexibility . You can change your flight to a date up to 12 months from your original ticket issue date or cancel your ticket, without the usual fees to change your award flight or redeposit your miles.” We purchased all 3 tickets to LA on February 13, 2020.

In light of the Corona virus pandemic we need to cancel our flight . Our daughter has major health issues and we are also not the youngest so we feel that our much anticipated 50th anniversary trip will need to be cancelled . According to what the airlines sent us , do we correctly understand that we can cancel , without fees and our 75,000 miles will be redeposited? Also will our $ 606.60 on fees and upgrade to economy plus be refunded? Should we cancel this now, rather than wait til early May, as it is difficult to get through to the airlines?

Please advise per e-mail. Again thank you in advance and we enjoy your show!

Anna Marie Kissel

Peter Says: Anna, thanks for. your email. And apologies for my late response. Can you update me on your situation?

EMAIL: Kathi Rocccanova

My girlfriend and I booked two round trip tickets on Lufthansa to go to Pisa Italy on May 22nd. Because of the corona virus outbreak, especially in Italy, we cancelled our trip. Lufthansa is being very uncooperative about refunding us anything or even giving us a credit. Can you help?

Kathi Rocccanova

Peter Says: Kathi, thanks for your email and apologies for my late response. If your airline cancels the flight, you are entitled to a full refund. This isn’t just a U.S. rule but a European Union rule. However if YOU cancel first, you deserve a full credit for a future flight. Are you saying Lufthansa hasn’t even offered a voucher? Let me know.

EMAIL: Roy Poucher

Hi Peter:

A dear friend of mine, Lena Hayashi, doesn’t know what to do regarding a series of flights she has on American Airlines that she needs to cancel. Below in red is her report to me just now of her conversation with a woman at AA (the call was likely today) regarding her options for cancelling.

Also below is her flight info as of March 30, 2020. She originally made the reservation on Jan 2, 2020, but this reservation later (March 30, I presume) got changed. When I went just now to check the current status of her record locator, it looks like the flight has been changed again.

What she wants is a full refund, not a credit to be used by Jan 2, 2021 (she has no likelihood of travel by then; she has a lot of family she cares for in CA) nor wants to loose $200.

What can you do or suggest?

Many thanks!!!!

(BTW, I catch you each time that you talk at the LA Travel & Adventure Show, and at the former LA Times Travel Show while that was happening.)

Roy Poucher

Anaheim, CA

Peter Says: Roy, thanks for your email and apologies for my late response. Can you update me on Lena’s situation? Many thanks and hope I can help.

EMAIL: Colleen Finley

Hostel booking question

I booked a hostel to stay in for the IAHCSMM (.org) conference in Chicago. On Mar. 15 they cancelled the conference. The Canada/US border is closed. On March 20 my airline cancelled the flight.

The hostel website says they keep 10% if you booked it on the hostel website. I used HomeTrustVisa to pay for the booking.

As long as I cancel more than 48 hours in advance I can get a 90% refund. Can you suggest how I can get 100%?

PS Your videos are great!

Colleen Finley

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Thank you!

Peter Says: Hi Colleen, thanks for your email and apologies for my late response. Can you update me on your situation and then I can get back to you much faster this time with my advice.

EMAIL: Dennis Brody

Hello Peter,

We booked a trip in November to France. Flights on Delta/Air France to Paris/St. Tropez July 1-9, 2020. We booked on points and cash. We have tried to cancel flights, but no response as they are only dealing with flights within the next 72 hours.

The Hotel would only give us ½ of our deposit back per their contract, and if they rebook the room we will get the balance of the deposit back.

Please advise how we can proceed to get the airlines points/cash refunded and the balance of our deposit from the hotel.

Thanking you in advance,

Dennis Brody

Peter Says: Dennis, this is a game of chicken and my advice is not to blink first. Wait for the airline to cancel the flight first, that preserves your rights to receive a full refund.

EMAIL: Bruce Bridges

Peter,

Thank you for your ongoing videos, I find them very informative.

Our Question:

We have a Princess cruise booked Ft Lauderdale to Quebec with a stop in NYC. Departure is July 25,2020.

We have made payment in full and it might not be refundable.

At present we are not doing anything, waiting for the travel bans to determine the cruise status, but even if they are lifted, we might not wish to take this cruise as we both are in our upper 70’s and have had pneumonia making us high risk for Covid19. What are our options of getting our money back?

Bruce Bridges

Peter Says: Princess has cancelled their summer itineraries, and you are entitled to a full refund. Please let me know what happens.

EMAIL: Agnes Coppin

I found your videos very informative and am taking up your offer to write to you.

My husband and I have booked a crossing on the Queen Mary 2 for 31 May 2020. New York – Southampton. We would like a complete refund for this trip.

Until now Cunard has not cancelled this trip and is offering only 40% refund plus credit for a future sailing. We do not wish to book a future sailing. Ship travel is becoming too dangerous for us.

I expect that if ever Cunard does cancel this sailing we should receive a full refund. However, they will probably still offer’ future credits’.

How can we obtain a full refund? Should we play the waiting game hoping they will cancel? Or can we cancel now hoping that, in view of the Pandemic, they will change their policy?

We will not be going for many reasons.

We are advised to stay away from any cruise ship
Travel from Florida to New York in order to board the ship. Not possible now and probably not at that time.
We would presumably not be permitted to enter the UK in Southampton.
We would be unable to continue our travels in Europe. Our destination is Belgium.
We are over 65 and advised to isolate ourselves.

Thank you.

Best regards,

Agnes Coppin

Peter Says: Agnes, thanks for your email and apologies for my late response. As you already know, the CDC no sail order essentially canceled your cruise, and you are entitled to a full refund. Please update me and let me know if you got that refund.

EMAIL: Betty C

Thanks for all you do

I canceled our Regent cruise on March 11

Regent seven seas navigator from ny to Rejkevik Iceland June 15-June 30

Flying home to Newark airport June 30 on Iceland air.

Maybe I shouldn’t have cancelled but we are over 80 and the world health organization issued pandemic guidelines for the vulnerable elderly.

How can we get a full refund. Booked through Pavlus travel. They said we could have a credit for a future cruise. At our age we don’t know what the future holds and want our money back.

Did I do the wrong thing by canceling and is there any hope? Pavlus last told me Regent has not yet cancelled the June15 cruise.

Help

Betty C

You are the best

Peter Says: Hi Betty and thanks for your email and apologies for my late response. I’ve been inundated with emails! Can you update me on your situation and whether you did in fact get that refund? Let me know. And thanks.

EMAIL: Frederic & Madeleine

Good morning Peter,

Thanks for you comments and explanation regarding the evolving flying rules during the Coronavirus lock-down. As you have explained there is very little chances to fly domestically and internationally in April and May 2020.

I have three reservations for me and my wife. We have non-refundable tickets and NO insurance with all three trips.

Before listening to You, we learned the hard way, we cancelled our trip to Las Vegas, due on April 4th to April 8th, 2020 from Denver. UA gave us just A CREDIT for the basic fare and taxes, but not for the E-Plus upgrade, therefore we lost $ 216.–.

Since we listen to You, we have NOT cancelled the three reservations above. WE ARE HOLDING OUT. Both UA and BA have send several remainders, that we can modify or cancel our trips without any fees. But both airlines would give us only A CREDIT or VOUCHER for a future trip. But UA went so far as to give credit only from the date of reservation, although they had the use of our money from the date of purchase until the date of departure. That means we have only about 8 months to fly again, but we do not know, if and when we can fly again.

Having already a credit from our cancelled trip to Las Vegas, we like to receive A REFUND to the original credit card used for payment of each of the trip above. Based on UA refund policy, if we ask for a refund we would get it only 12 months after the purchase date!!! We may need the money for another trip before 12 months.

As you explained the airlines are playing the chicken game, If they are cancelling the flights they are on the hook for a refund based on DOT rules. Therefore, they do NOT cancel the flight but wait until the last minutes to do so, hopping that the passengers cancel the flights first.

My questions:

– How long do I wait on their cancellation of the flights?

– Knowing that the flights will be cancelled, should I sent them a certified mail asking them a refund if they decide to cancel the flight?

– Where can I find out when the airlines have cancelled their flight?

– Should we just ask a charge-back on our credit cards?

Thank You for your help and stay healthy.

Regards,

Frederic & Madeleine

Denver, Colorado

Peter Says: Hi Frederic and Madeleine, and thanks for your email and apologies for my late response. Can you update me on your situation and I’ll try to help. Remember, even if an airline puts you on another flight, the fact that they do that constitutes a cancellation of your original flight and you are then entitled to a full refund. In any case, let me know.

EMAIL: Wayne Lohaus

Dear Mr. Greenberg:

We booked a river cruise with Viking on April 3-10. On March 2 we received an email from Viking stating we would receive 100% voucher for a future cruise (we cancelled the cruise at that point) due to the virus. Less than a week later, our friends who had booked another cruise with them, received an email stating because of the virus they would get all of their money back or an additional 125% voucher.

Since we cancelled our cruise on March 2, I felt that we should be treated as equally as other customers. I wrote a registered letter to the head of customer relations explaining our situation. The letter was received on 3-23-2020, signed, but I never got a response from them.

I called Viking today and wanted to know what our status was. The representative said we were receiving all we agreed to as of March 2nd.

Obviously, we feel that Viking changed its policy only a few days later. We asked for a full cash refund, just like our friends are receiving so that we can be treated the same as other Viking customers.

Please advise if anything else can be done.

Sincerely,

Wayne Lohaus

Peter Says: Wayne, thanks for your email and apologies for my late response. I’ve been inundated with emails! But can you now update me on your situation and then I’ll give you my advice. Thanks, Peter

EMAIL: Pat Bledsoe

Hello Expedita cancelled my flight because of cancelation of all flight. This flight was from LAX TO NEW YORK on April 15, 2020. I do not want the credit I would like the money back.

Do you have suggestions on how to get this accomplished? I have got no response except call back and hung up on. Please let me know what to do next.

thank you

Pat Bledsoe.

Peter Says: Pat, as long as the airline cancelled the flight (and not you), you are absolutely entitled to a full refund.

EMAIL: Steve Lutwin

Peter,

Thank you for your excellent update information. My wife and I travel quite a bit and like to make our plans in advance of our trips.

We started planning a driving trip last spring. Our intention was to drive from our home in Syracuse to Louisville , Memphis , New Orleans , Panama City Beach , Key West and then home. We finally pulled the plug on the trip just before St. Patrick’s Day as we could see what was happening. All of our hotel reservations were through Marriott so cancellations were no problem.

We did choose to buy tickets for an April 6th visit to Graceland.

We purchased the tickets on January 16 using our Visa card. I monitored the situation at Graceland and they kept posting how clean they were keeping the place but staying open. Finally on about March 25, they announced a temporary closing but with a planned re-opening on April 3rd telling people to start buying tickets for April 4th and beyond. This was in the face of rising numbers in Memphis and despite the fact that the National Civil Rights Museum and Sun Records were closed indefinitely.

Finally they announced that Graceland would remain closed until April 15th but tickets for after that date could be purchased. They weren’t offering refunds but announced ticket holders could use their tickets for up to a year after the original date of the visit. I sent them an e-mail requesting a refund as we are in our 70’s , live 1000 miles away and wouldn’t be coming back within the year’s time. Their answer was that I had a year until April 6th , 2021 to rebook.

In the meantime , all of those tickets that might have been sold after their promised re-opening date of April 15th were stuck in the same situation as us. Sometime around April 15th , they changed the re-opening date to April 30th and encouraged people to buy tickets for a visit after that. I’m assuming anyone foolish enough to heed their previous announcement about purchasing tickets safely after April 15th would be in the same situation as us. It just seems like a scam to me and they could march across the calendar luring unsuspecting people in to ticket purchases. Is this a correct assessment?

I contacted Visa and they temporarily posted a refund of our $128 while they pursue the case. Is this the best thing to do? I appreciate your reporting and hope that our poor world can return to some kind of normalcy in the not too distant future.

Steve Lutwin

Peter Says: Hi Steve, and thanks for your email and apologies for my late response. Can you update me on your situation? Did the credit card confirm the credit to your account? Any other updates? Let me know.

EMAIL: Robin Block

Dear Peter

I watched your video too late! I had two ticket in June from Chicago/ Paris. I cancelled on airline website ( UA) I was not guaranteed a refund or credit. These were economy tickets. Do I have any options?

Thanks-

Robin Block

Peter Says: Robin, there’s nothing lost in asking again, but United has taken the position NOT to refund once a passenger cancels first. But I’d definitely ask them again.

EMAIL: Sam Ventimiglia

Hello Peter

Thank you for your response and insight!

I wrote you a couple of weeks ago regarding our flights from Toronto to Fort Lauderdale with Air Canada which they did not cancel , I did though because Royal Caribbean had cancelled our cruise , and since I didn’t have a refundable fair ,Air Canada did agree to a future travel credit up to 03/31/2021 !

What I’m really aggravated about is , I called Royal Caribbean early in the Day on 03/13/20 to cancel our trip at my pulmonary doctors recommendation, due to some problems I had been having breathing!

Now we had the foresight to purchase travel insurance ,so I should have been able to get refunded except for the cost of insurance, which was $160. , now keep in mind that this is the same day they announced they were suspending all cruises!

So I filed a claim at they’re direction to obtain the refund since we did not want the 125% future cruise credit that they agreed to give out !

Now it’s been almost a month after I submitted the required documents for the refund and now they are reneging and telling us that we are not eligible and will have to take the cruise credit of 100% and will not give us the 125% credit , even though we cancelled the exact same day within a few hours !

We booked this trip back in the middle of December so They have had our money over 3 months and now they are playing games , not to mention I know.

The government will be giving them a bailout for this!

Just want to know if you think we still have any recourse?

Thanks again sincerely

Sam Ventimiglia

Peter Says: Sam, thanks so much for your email and apologies for my late response. Can you update me on your situation, since many companies have changed their refund policies?

EMAIL: Rosina Romano

My flight was delayed due to adverse weather. I know this is not generally covered under this regulation, however, I was delayed 4 days. I feel I should be compensated for the excessive delay. I have contacted the airline, but they did not even apologize.

Please advise.

Thank you.

Rosina Romano

Peter Says: Rosina, thanks for your email. Need some more details. Did the airline fly you (even late) to your destination? Did they offer any vouchers or credits? For the four day delay, did they offer a hotel, or was this flight from your home city? Let me know and thanks.

EMAIL: Frank Calaguire

Peter, I wanted to reach out and recognize what a great job you did on today’s hospitality industry Covid-19 virtual conference call.

Stay safe!!!

Peter Says: Frank, thanks so much for your email and kind words. Much appreciated. And sorry to respond so late. But again, thanks for that email! Peter

Click here for round 1.

Click here for round 2.

Click here for round 3.

Click here for round 4.

Click here for round 5.

Click here for round 6.

Click here for round 7.

Click here for round 8.

Click here for round 9.

Click here for round 10.

Click here for round 11.

Click here for round 12.