Is it possible to get refunded on some of costs for your trip cancelled because of the coronavirus? Most travel insurance plans do not cover circumstances like pandemics in their policies. So what do you do to get a coronavirus travel refund??
You booked your vacation ages ago. Flights purchased, hotels researched and bought and maybe even some fancy dinner reservations made. (You know you’ve been watching those restaurant shows on Netflix…) And then the coronavirus breaks out and nearlythe whole world is on travel ban.
Seriously?! You have to cancel your trip.
And yes you really should because:
- Borders are closing and you might be stuck in another country
- Flights are getting cancelled and you might get stuck in another country
- You contribute to the spread and put yourself and many other vulnerable people at risk
- The virus is spreading quickly and the situation changes day to day
I used to think this was all hyped up but, as a cancer nurse, my opinion has been changing.
Well shoot.
Not only is it a major bummer that you miss out on your vacation (I feel for you!) but you might lose $1,000s or more.
So is all the money lost? How much money are you really going to lose?
You might be able to get back more money on your cancelled vacation than you thought. Or at least be able to use it on a vacation after all the coronavirus insanity has cooled down.
Here are 3 coronavirus travel refund tips to recoup at least part of your vacation money that you lost because of the growing pandemic.
Coronavirus travel refund tip #1:
How to get back some of the money for flights cancelled because of the coronavirus
Many US and international airlines are offering special exceptions and waiving change fees for flights that have to be changed due to the coronavirus.
If your flight was cancelled all together, as many flights to China, South Korea, Italy (and a growing number of countries) are, you should get a full refund with most airlines. This should be the case no matter what level of ticket you bought, even thecheapest-no-change option.
Say your flight isn’t cancelled but you can’t take it anymore. Your work or doctor is putting you on travel ban, the border has been closed, you want to follow the CDC advice and not travel… your options are different based on the airline.
Many airlines are offering people with flights booked during certain dates (usually the next few months) to change their flight with no change fee. You can choose another flight, usually in the next 12 month, and exchange it and pay the difference if it’smore expensive.
Yes, it stinks that you can’t just get your money back. But airlines already are being financially by the sudden drop in flights being booked and might not be able to financially survive if they started refunding millions of dollars in flights. It makessense. Many airlines are already laying off workers as their stocks drop. Small European airline, Flybe, already declared bankruptcy.
Call the airline to make your changes as soon as you make a backup plan. Just be aware of VERY long hold times. (I have to do this this week and I’m not looking forward to it. Ugh.)
Coronavirus travel refund tip #2:
Do hotels offer refunds due to the coronavirus?
Ok. So you were able to change your flight to another time or get a refund. But are you going to lose money on the hotels that you booked?
If you booked with a hotel directly you might have more luck getting a refund for cancelling. Many major hotel brands are even waiving the standard cancellation fee (for bookings during specific dates).
Some of these fee waivers and booking change/cancellations are even allowed for the usually non-cancelable reservations.
Once again it’s best to look up your hotel’s specific policies and give them a call.
Here’s an updating list of all the hotel’s current policies. (But expect looooong call times.)
I was especially impressed with my favorite booking website, Airbnb. They are now offering full refunds to everyone that needs to cancel due to the coronavirus. Especially generous for such a small company, but I worry about all the hosts that will be hit with that drop in income.
If you booked your hotel through a third party, you are less likely to get a refund but you should still try. You might able to get some money back, and a little is better than none.
But you might still be able to get than money back with the next tip (which is my favorite!)…
Coronavirus travel refund tip #3:
Unleash the power of a good travel credit card
I will preach about having a good travel credit card all day long. It’s one of the essential cornerstones to cheap and good travel. If you don’t already have one, here’s how to pick the best one for you (and start traveling for free).
Even if you don’t have a travel credit card (which you should because the free perks are amazing and save you $1000s), many credit cards, not the standard bank issue ones, might be able to help you here.
I’m talking about built in FREE (my favorite word besides chocolate-covered) travel insurance you get just for having the card. I am always trying to get people to take more advantage of their credit card perks (because they make you feel like a VIP RockstarAND save you money) and here’s the perfect opportunity to start.
What this means is that you can get refunded up to a certain amount for vacations that you miss due to certain circumstances, like sickness.
It’s really important to note that you HAD TO HAVE booked the expenses you want to get a refund for on the credit card. I ALWAYS use my travel credit card to pay for expenses for this reason (and the other great perks like free extended warranties).
My favorite one for this is the Chase Sapphire Preferred which refunds up to $10,000 per person or $20,000 per trip for nonrefundable tickets, hotels, activities, etc. Seriously.
So am I eligible for a refund?
Depends on your card and situation.
If you cancel your trip because you, a member of your party, or an immediate family member, are sick (with evidence such as a doctors note or hospital stay); you are likely to get your money back. Similarly if you have evidence that you were advised by your doctor to not travel or put into a medically ordered quarantine, you can get a refund.
If you cancel just because of the pandemic and you are afraid of getting sick with coronavirus (or stuck in another country), you might not get a refund.
How do I try to get a refund for my travel plans cancelled for the coronavirus?
- look up your specific credit card’s benefits online. They will have specifics about what events make you eligible for a refund and for how much
- call your credit card company and ask! One of my favorite things about having a travel credit card is the excellent customer service that goes with it. 24/7 everyday with great and very helpful representatives
- when in doubt, file a claim for a refund! It’s better to try and get some money back than none
I hope you are able to recoup some (or all *fingers double crossed*) of the money you are losing because you are having to cancel your trip due to the coronavirus. Call the companies and ask what they can do to help you.
Also keep an on the situations over the next few weeks and months. Companies may extend the eligible cancellation dates and even the offers that they are giving people. Who knows? You might be told your hotel is nonrefundable one week but the policy mightchange by the next!
Are you going to try to get a coronavirus travel refund?
