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Peter Answers Your Emails: Round 24 — June 2020

Peter is answering your latest emails with travel questions during the coronavirus pandemic. Do you have a travel question or problem? If you don’t see your email answered in one of the rounds, email Peter at: Peter@petergreenberg.com.


EMAIL: Raquel Chavez Sanchez

 

Hello Mr.Greenberg,

My neighbor give me information about your website, I don’t know what to do, I bought 4 tickets USA-Peru round trip directly with Copa airlines on December 2019 to make this trip on March 16 to March 23, of 2020.  I have family in Peru so I was also watching the news with all these coronavirus craziness and I decide to cancel the flight on March 13, they told me they can’t refund since the borders were still open, so they only extended to August 2020. Guess what…Peru closed the borders on March 17…So the news said borders will probably open in October but nothing official yet. What do you think I can do?

I will really appreciate your time to answer my question. By the way my tickets doesn’t have any kind of insurance.

Thank you.

Peter Says: Thanks for your email. The border situation in Peru should mandate the airline extend the validity of the credit they’ve offered you. Do you have anything in writing from the airline about the possible extension of your credit vouchers?


EMAIL: Aviva Tauman

AA canceled my 3/27/20 flight from Chicago to Denver and return flight on 3/31. They have denied my refund request, saying that I can canceled the flight. You have addressed this issue and hope you can help me.

Peter Says: Aviva, do you have anything in writing that the airline cancelled this flight, as well as when they canceled it?


 

EMAIL: Anita Schlecht

We are elderly – have airline tickets on Southwest – Chicago to Sacramento, CA in mid-July to visit children. We have one-stop on the way there and non-stop returning.  My husband needs mobility assistance to and from the gate.  We are on the fence as to whether to cancel trip or not. Any advice?

Peter Says: As long as you call the airline and set up the assistance ahead of time, you should have no problem. Practice common sense hygiene, PPE protocols and enjoy the flight.


EMAIL: Bryan Johnson

Dear Mr. Peter Greenberg,

I have listened to your WGN radio show and seen you on CBS and NCB, I hoped I would never require your investigative assistance and, unfortunately, I now must – I’m desperate for help.  I am also copying different people from TravelZoo, the UK regulator and the Fleetway travel agency. Sorry I found everyone I can to let them know how frustrating this is.

Here’s the situation, my dad is 74 years old and he receives emails from TravelZoo.  He received one with a good deal for a trip to Italy and booked it for him, my mom, their two friens and eventually myself(!!!).  He booked it through TravelZoo he thought as he clicked on the link on their website.  Apparently TravelZoo is affiliated and advertised for thirst parties on their website so he ended up booking it through a firm named “Fleetway Travel.”  Because of Covid, my mom being in the hospital, and my dad’s preexisting conditions he decided to cancel the trip and went onto TravelZo.  He couldn’t find a record of it in their books as became concerned and contacted me (a Peter Greenberg wannabe).  I contacted TravelZoo a few weeks ago and they informed me that they go through a third party and couldn’t assist me as it was booked through Fleetway Travel, even though my dad used TravelZoo to find the deal and click it.

Since that time, I have made multiple attempts to contact Fleetway and only once briefly spoke to someone. I also have sent 4 emails with no response (per TravelZoo they informed my I should take this action). I’ve called Fleetway a few times and you are put on hold forever and eventually cut off and, the one time, I was able to speak with an unhelpful agent.  He told me that there is no refunds despite I saw there was according to their website.

How do you recommend to proceed? I’ve opened up a ticket with TravelZoo finally, case 3202469, but it seems as if I have to perform a lot of the work myself and never received emails stating they are looking into it (had to call).  Should I contest the charge with my dad’s credit card company? I am at a loss and to make things worst I looked at Fleetway’s comments on Facebook and it does not look promising. I also did as they recommend and went to their Manage Reservation Section, but this has been down for at least 4 weeks for an upgrade. Should I contact the BBB?

He did purchase travel insurance which should reimburse him for some of the trip, however you can’t until you cancel the trip and we can’t get hold of anyone to help.  He realizes he will lose a couple thousand as insurance doesn’t cover everything – the cover nothing if we can’t cancel the trip.

Do you know why TravelZoo partners with companies and then provides no support?  I’d think a publicly traded company would perform due diligence on their partners?  And assist their customers.

Below are some of my screenshots. I appreciate any help and advice and am even willing to go on your radio show.

Regards,

Bryan Johnson

Peter Says: Bryan, thanks for the email. Can you send me all the important details I’ll need: dates, reservation/confirmation numbers, and the names and titles of anyone with whom you spoke? Then, I’ll do my best to investigate.


EMAIL: Cindy Erwin

Hello Peter and team,

I have a British Airways R/T flight booked from ORD to DUB in August, that includes a layover in LHR in both directions. So I have 4 different flight numbers (ORD-LHR, LHR-DUB, DUB-LHR, LHR-ORD), but I purchased it as a single R/T ticket.

I do not plan to go on this trip and I’m waiting for the flights to be cancelled so I can request a refund.

Today, BA sent me an email saying the LHR-DUB flight has been cancelled. Do I need to wait for the remaining 3 legs to be cancelled before requesting the refund, or can I initiate the request now?

Thanks for the helpful information that your team provides!

Sincerely,

Cindy Erwin

Peter Says: Hi Cindy, if all four flights are on the same ticket (and it appears that they are), then any one cancelled flight qualifies for the full refund on the entire itinerary as long as the airline cancels first, which they did.


EMAIL: Alan Zemsky

Hi Peter,

I listen to your weekly show on WGN every week! I do normally travel a lot and have many relatives in other states that would also enjoy your weekly show.

Would you be able to send me a list of all the current U.S. stations that carry the show?

Would really appreciate it!!

Sincerely,

Alan Zemsky

Peter Says: Alan, the best way for them to hear the show is log on to petergreenberg.com. You’ll see the EYE on TRAVEL tab under “Listen,” and you can listen to every full show headlined “Eye On Travel” with the dates.


EMAIL: Joe O’Brien

Good Morning,

I listen to your show on WGN. I currently have 5 tickets on an American Airlines flight to Orlando that we booked in January for a Disney trip. We have cancelled all of our other reservations but are unsure what to do about the flights. We do not want $1500 in AA vouchers. Is the advice still to wait to see if they cancel the flight? They have made several changes to the flight already.

Curious what the current strategy is. I almost panic cancelled in March, but heard you on the Roe Conn show and held on.

Thanks for your help.

Joe O’Brien

Peter Says: Joe, thanks for writing. If the airline has made flight changes, that means they already HAVE cancelled your original flight and you qualify for the full refund.


EMAIL: E. S. Leone

 

Hello Peter,

I have listened to your advices and travel information for a long time.

Now I have an issue with an online travel agency (Gate 1) regarding the refund of 2 trips to South  America cancelled because of the pandemic. Was given credit, but because travel to those places will not be possible for a long time I would like a refund.

Can you help? I can send the details of the trips.

Thank you

  1. S. Leone


Peter Says: Yes, please send the details and thanks.


EMAIL: Annette Stephens

I’m hoping you will be able to help! Crystal Cruises canceled my 4/3/30 Danube River Cruise. I was told my refund would show up on my credit card by June 17, 2020.  To date, I have received nothing.  Phone calls to Crystal and travel agent following up on refund have produced nothing.  Do you have any suggestions?

Thank you in advance for your help!

Annette Stephens

Peter Says: Annette, thanks for your email. Can you send me more details? Your confirmation numbers, name of the ship and the names and titles of anyone with whom you have spoken. Then let me look into this and thanks, Peter. 


 

EMAIL: Julia P. Karagianis

Dear Mr. Greenberg,

I need advice and help in trying to get my refund from Delta Airlines. My travel agent book my business class flight on code share Korean Airlines for a trip to Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand last March. I canceled my flights in February. Delta told my agent I’d receive a refund in 30 days last April.

My agent called again June 27, and they said I’m in a queue for a refund but they have 40,000 customers in the queue!

I think they are deliberately dragging their feet on this.

Is there any government agency that I can submit a complaint about this? Is there anything else I can do to expedite my refund?

I appreciate any advice you can give me.

Julia P. Karagianis

Peter Says: Yes, it’s the U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of Consumer Affairs. And copy me on your letter!

 


 

EMAIL: Dorothy Zimmermann

 

The Windjammer Cruise out of Camden, ME that I had signed up to take – has had their season cancelled, due to restrictions by the State of Maine for tourists outside of Maine.  I live in Minneapolis MN, and had paid for RT ticket via Delta.  I heard you say, last evening on CBS, wait for the airline to cancel in order to get total refund.  I doubt Delta will cancel because of this small area.  I’m flying into Boston, as I can be picked up at the terminal by my grandson, and driven to Maine by him.

I am aware that I can cancel because of Covac-19 cancelling my cruise – but – I am 92, will be 93 early Oct 2020 – and I’d prefer a refund.  If I’’m able, I could go next year – but its unlikely.  While I am mobile, my longitivity is unknown.

What is your recommendation?  No, I have not contacted Delta as yet – as I did not care to have it on the record that I was thinking about cancelling. . .

Enjoy the program – albeit on after midnight in Mpls.

Dorothy Zimmermann

Peter Says: Dorothy, thanks for writing. What was the date of your original Windjammer cruise as well as the airline flight? That would help me to dig deeper. Thanks. 

 


 

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