By Minius Martinez
Pre-2020, it was inconceivable that your vacation would be canceled. There were around forty million flights per year, so for yours to be chalked off the departure's board was unlucky. Post-Covid, you're lucky if your holiday will go ahead. How times change.
If you have a trip booked, there's no point in wasting energy stressing about it as you can't control the situation. Of course, you can prepare yourself to claim a refund and tell the kids by watching out for the telltale signs.
The following aren't one-hundred-percent accurate, but they typically indicate that a vacation will have to wait until next year.
The CDC Advises Against Travel
The Centers for Disease Control release information about travel safety regularly. During the Coronavirus pandemic, the organization has been working overtime trying to keep up with the number of countries that have closed their borders. Sometimes, the CDC will say outright that you should travel, which will force the airline to cancel the flight. Other times, it'll advise against all but essential trips, which can leave you in a gray area. To clear things up, you may want to check out air cargo and aviation news for the latest details. That way, you can decide to cancel your vacation in advance.
You've Booked A Package Deal
It's worth noting that flight-only bookings rely on the airline to do the decent thing and cancel so that you're entitled to a refund. However, some are playing the game and waiting until as close to the date as possible to encourage customers to opt-out. Some are even flying against CDC advice. There is good news if you've booked a package deal. As your accommodation is part of the agreement, you should receive a full refund if the establishment can't host you and the operator can't find a replacement. Therefore, if hotels are closed, your holiday will be off.
You Receive A Coupon
Again, airlines are sneaky because they understand the rules better than most customers. As a result, you may get a coupon in the post or via email asking you if you prefer to reschedule your trip. Since the flight is still live, you may assume it's the only option to recoup your investment, but it isn't. A voucher is a sign that the airline is about to cancel, which is why you should stay strong and let them do the heavy lifting. Otherwise, you lose your rights.
The Excitement Is Lost
A vacation should be an incredible experience for the whole family. Sadly, the Covid-19 pandemic has made it more stressful than anything else, which takes the shine off the holiday. Nobody wants to watch a child wear a mask for hours on a plane. Plus, it's scary to see nations shut down and go into quarantine. You don't want to put your health at risk for the sake of a couple of hundred dollars, nor do you want to isolate when you return home.
Therefore, it may be in your interests to cancel even if the operator doesn't as it will save you a lot of energy and grief.
COMMENTS