Here’s round 22 of Peter answering your latest emails with travel questions during the coronavirus pandemic. Email peter@petergreenberg.com if you don’t see your email answered in one of the rounds.
EMAIL: Sherry Black
Good morning Peter,
I’m a 72 yr old widowhood likes to travel. I booked a Uniworld river cruise to Russia for 6/22.
I’m experiencing several issues….
1: My passport and Russian visa application was return (no refund of the $300+ I paid) saying they weren’t granting anymore visas due to Covid19.
2: Travelocity won’t give me a full refund for the air fare I paid to get to the cruise. Said they give me a “credit” to use on future flight but there would also be a $275 change fee.
3: Vacations to Go (where I booked the Uniworld cruise) won’t give me a refund (only a credit) until
they hear if Uniworld is going to cancel cruise.
4: Even if Uniworld doesn’t cancel cruise, I can’t go w/o a Russian Visa.
Please help
Sherry Black
Peter Says: Sherry, you can dispute the credit card charges for the visa with your credit card. My understanding is that Uniworld has canceled that cruise and they are offering refunds (but don’t wait for them to offer…ask right away).
EMAIL: Ann C.
Greetings Peter.
I fell in love with Belize five visits ago. Normally I fly into Belize City and fly via puddle hopper to Hopkins on the coast. Would you please gaze into your crystal ball and tell me when I could expect to be able to safely visit again? I understand most of the hotels have let 90 percent of their staff go, leaving many, many people jobless, unable to provide for their families. Is it impossible to believe I could return mid- September, 2020? At present the borders and the airport are shut down according to a friend who lives in Hopkins. I do not want to go and get stranded. If people are hungry and desperate it may no longer be a safe place for a single female traveler over 65. Thanks for your input on any of these questions.
Ann C.
Peter Says: Ann, this is a tough question to answer. September or October is when I hear Belize will open, so nothing has been confirmed yet. All you can do at this time is monitor the situation and then be prepared to move quickly.
EMAIL: Bruce Nathanson
Hi Peter –
Not all American Airlines Advantage members are going to have their status extended. My wife was apparently targeted several months ago for an AA Platinum level promotion, so we have enjoyed upgrading seats for the last several months for future flights. Her temporary status is due to expire on April 19, 2020 and will NOT be extended. We confirmed with AA that it will NOT be extended.
Do we have a “beef” with AA for not extending the promotion, or just accept the expiration of the promotion for what it was?
Stay well Peter –
Bruce Nathanson
Peter Says: Bruce, you DON’T really have a beef here. The extension of status was offered to long time members who had actually accrued some serious miles. The promotion you speak of was limited in nature.
EMAIL: Beau & Jackie
Hi Peter,
Thanks so much for all the great information you share and taking your time to answer our question concerning a COVID trip cancellation.
My wife and I had planned a trip to Australia from June 3 – June 25. We were able to cancel and get refunded for the majority of our bookings but we potentially have an issue with our flights booked through Qantas directly. As of now, they are saying that we can cancel our flight for a full credit with them but only until April 30th. In addition, we would have to use that credit by December 31, 2021. We have not received notification that our flight has been cancelled, however, there is no indication anywhere that they are still flying the route (it was actually supposed to be their new non-stop Chicago to Brisbane). I can’t find any information on the flight on their website. So it almost appears that they have cancelled the flight without officially canceling it for the people that already booked the ticket. To us this all seems a bit odd, why are they only giving us until April 30th to request a credit? It appears that they are betting on us not wanted to gamble that the flight will be canceled between April 30th and June 3rd and we will then be out of our money if for some reason they do fly the route. We would much rather get refunded then have to use an expensive flight credit within a year and a half to travel halfway across the world when we don’t even know if we are going to be able to make this trip work within that time frame.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated, thank you again.
Beau & Jackie
Peter Says: Beau & Jackie, assuming Qantas has by now canceled your flight, and therefore under US DOT rules, you can get a refund.
EMAIL: Barbara Aknin
Hi Peter,
Thank you for all you do! It’s such a help for travel lovers.
I have a group of 5 friends that are planning to go to the countryside of southern Sweden the very end of June. We’re all comfortable with going as we’ll be primarily on our own. However, we are unclear about travel rules and wether we’ll be quarantined for 14 days when we get back to California, not allowed back, etc. It’s hard to find accurate information. We’re looking at Norwegian for flights and there are quite a few options so it appears that the airlines are planning for some summer business.
Are we crazy for considering the trip and where do we find accurate information to make an informed decision?
Thank you,
Barbara
Peter Says: Barbara, my understanding is that you will be fine to go, barring a new outbreak of the virus in California.
EMAIL: Alison Nelson
Peter,
My husband and I have plans to travel to London and Sicily in mid September. He is hesitant to go unless there is a vaccine for Covid19. What are your thoughts on going with or without a vaccine? I certainly want to go.
Thank you,
Alison Nelson
Peter Says: Alison, I’m not a doctor and I can’t give medical advice. You really need to consult your personal physician who has your medical history at his/her disposal, in terms of your physical condition and any pre-existing issues. But I can only give you an intuitive response as to the vaccine. I seriously doubt that even if they find a workable, vetted vaccine that it will be produced in quantity and available by September.
EMAIL: David & Chris Nutter
Two first class tickets purchased 12 Feb OGG to SJC for flights via HA46, presently no service to this destination, date of reservation or flight 6/25/2020 with return in 5 days originally to attend family wedding, now canceled due to virus. Have request via email to Hawaiian for a refund several times with no response. What are my options? Thanking you for your comments.
David & Chris Nutter
Peter Says: David and Chris. Hawaiian has more or less behaved well during the pandemic when it comes to issuing refunds. Wait one more week to see if your refund has been processed, and if not, let me know.
EMAIL: Tina Z
I am getting married in mid-August. We are supposed to go to Hawaii for our honeymoon. Do you think this will still happen at this time?
Peter Says: Tina, barring a second wave of the virus, Hawaii should be open and you should be good to go in August.
EMAIL: Carol Kaspers
Would you be able to offer advice on how to get an extension on our 7/24 Danube River Ama cruise? Our final payment is due 4/25. We have paid a deposit of $800. Apparently they require us to purchase additional insurance, (cancel for any reason), for $175.per person. We hope to rebook for summer, 2021. Thanks for your help!
Peter Says: Carol, I need more information from you including the reservation and confirmation numbers.
EMAIL: Doris Jung
Hello Mr. Greenberg,
Big fan of yours… I didn’t see an answer to my question in your rounds, so I’m writing again. My apologies for bothering you but my final payment is fast approaching.
Question: My husband and I booked a British Airway Vacation last year and put down $1,000 deposit. Final payment is May 12, $5,000. 1Should I pay it hoping they will cancel and get refund or should I cancel now hoping I will get my deposit back. Are they obligated to give my deposit back at this point if it’s pretty certain that travel will be closed till end of June? The trip is for June 14. . I don’t think travel will open till late June or later. We were going to go to Austria and Belgium. Any advice you can give me would be greatly appreciated!
Most Sincerely,
Doris Jung
Peter Says: The answer is yes, especially since the UK has now instituted a firm 14-day quarantine for all incoming travelers.
EMAIL: Meghan Powell
Hi Peter,
I hope you’re doing well! Wanted to start off by thanking you for your video updates as my team and I have been relying on them to make sense of all of these continuously changing airline policies! We are corporate meeting planners and have had to unfortunately cancel several invitational programs this spring due to COVID. Unfortunately, our current travel partner has not been the most helpful so I wanted to see if you had any insight on our outstanding questions:
- Qatar airlines, which canceled flights between US and Bali, is trying to refund less taxes. Under article 5 of their Conditions of Carriage it looks like if the taxes, fees, or charges are abolished or no longer apply we are entitled to claim a refund. I imagine if they cancel the flight, they should no longer need to pay taxes on a flight that doesn’t operate?
- For split payments (one ticket paid on two credit cards), we’ve heard that usually a refund (if granted) is all put back on the main form of payment. Do you know if this has remained true for domestic airlines in recent weeks? We have travelers who paid additional expenses in order to travel in on an earlier day or on a preferred airline so they are out of pocket but we don’t know if the refund will go back on their CC and ours, or just ours and we’ll have to credit them somehow.
- What is the deal with a refund if the outbound flight is not canceled, so you cancel the ticket since you’re not traveling, but then the return flight is canceled by the airline after you’ve canceled the ticket. Would you still be eligible for a refund on that canceled return?
Thank you for any insight at all!
Best regards and safe wishes,
Meghan
Peter Says: Meghan, the Qatar case is, well absurd. Of course you get a full refund of everything, INCLUDING taxes. Remember, you only get taxed if you received the service. In this case you did not.
EMAIL: Jack L. Simon
My wife and I are booked on a cruise with Mayflower Cruises & Tours in June, 2020, which has been cancelled. Rather than opt for the rescheduled cruise date in September, 2021, we have selected the following:
Option 2:
__________ I choose not to use my Mayflower 110% Future Travel Credit towards the 2021 CLR Jewels of the Rhine River Cruise. I plan on using my credit for one of the following:
I will use my Mayflower 110% future travel credit towards a different Mayflower trip, to travel by December 31, 2022.
Or
I will transfer my Mayflower 110% future travel credit to another person
Or
I will wait for the expiry of my Mayflower 110% future travel credit and request a cash refund equal to the amount I paid for the cruise.
Before returning this form, I talked to our travel agent questioning about the refund not being issued until after December 31, 2022. He has talked to Mayflower and been told that is their policy. He said he will continue to talk with them, but we should return the form which we did. Because Mayflower, not us, cancelled the cruise, he also recommended that I send him the following statement, “Since the trip was cancelled , we are no longer interested in selecting another tour or cruise date and are therefore opting to receive a full refund.”
Is there a way for us, and others in our group who share this predicament, to challenge Mayflower’s position? For them to keep all of our money (the trip had been paid in full) for three years is ridiculous and morally wrong, and of course it is interest free.
Thank you in advance for any suggestions and assistance you can provide.
Jack L. Simon
Peter Says: Jack, the idea that a company can hold on to your money for nearly two years, interest free, is wrong on so many levels. This is the time to be strong and demand a full refund. If that is denied, it’s time for small claims court (provided you have/provide all the pertinent documents), and I am reasonably confident you will prevail.
EMAIL: Annmarie
Thank you for taking everyone’s questions.
I am considering a tour by Collette to Egypt with a side trip to Jordan in October. I am very reluctant to book because it is highly possible for a resurgence of this virus again.
I don’t want to be afraid to travel, but want to be smart and not have a problem overseas with such uncertainty.
Will you travel before the end of the year or wait until a vaccine is produced?
Annmarie
Peter Says: Annmarie, as opposed to many other tour operators, Collette excels in full refunds if one of their tours is cancelled. So you’re taking a good, calculated risk with them.
EMAIL: Ernie Pisani
Hello Peter ,
I was listening to your show on 103.9 Long Island.
I have a situation with frontier airlines , due to the virus and travel restrictions I cancelled a round trip flight scheduled for 3/27 from MacArthur airport to Tampa.
The cost was 433.60. We were issued a credit. At first the airlines said you needed to use that credit in full even if you were booking a flight that cost 20.00 now they said we have to use it by the end of June .
I would like a full refund but they will not issue. Operator would not give their name . Should I just contact AMEX and dispute? I paid the charge bill already.
Thank you you for your input.
Ernie Pisani
Peter Says: Ernie, because you canceled first (and not the airline) your rights to a full refund are not protected. You are certainly welcome to dispute with Amex, but your claim may also get denied.
EMAIL: Diana Olsen
Hi Mr. Greenberg,
I did scan your website for answers on what you indicated is a common inquiry, (refunds) did not see a blog or link of that.
Back on December 1 2020, I booked a vacation stay with WeLoveHoliday for Privilege Aluxes in Isla Mujeres from May 1 to May 11. at the price of $1941.34.
WeLoveHolidays and the hotel cancelled our booking and refuse to grant a refund/charge back to my credit card, only a “credit for future booking” all of which dates that I researched are already priced at a higher rate. Truth be told, I do not believe that they will even be in business to provide a “future booking.” When I went to my credit card bank, over two weeks ago, they indicated that the process of disputing this will take 30 days. I explained to my bank that we may not have 30 days, if they are bankrupt prior to a month time. My bank refuses to expedite the charge back.
Also, CheapOAir and United Airline & Spirit Airline are blocking the refunds. The airlines do not answer the phone and the on-line refund application page keeps bumping me out of submitting the request.
Any suggestions? Frustrated here. It takes us many months to save for a vacation and they have stolen that from us and refuse to refund our hard earned dollars. How do they expect customers to ever trust them in the future?
Would love some direction of options here. Thank You kindly Mr. Greenberg.
Sincerely,
Diana Olsen
Peter Says: Diana, please send me more details, exact dates, confirmation numbers, whether the airline cancelled the flight or you did and the full name and title of anyone with whom you have spoken at the different travel providers.
