When it is time for a vacation, most people plan out their trip at least a month or two in advance. However, not procrastinating on vacation plans has become a major problem for the many people whose plans were disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. As cities went into lockdown and flights were cancelled, more and more people are finding that their long awaited vacation will not be happening. Unfortunately, getting a refund for these cancelled plans can be easier said than done. Here are some tips that can help travelers receive these refunds.
Read Terms and Conditions Carefully
The first thing any traveller should do when their plans are cancelled is pull out the terms and conditions of their ticket. Check carefully to see if a refund is offered when a traveller needs to cancel their plans. If the ticket originally said refunds were allowed, the company cannot change their rules afterwards. However, some contracts may say a refund will be denied for forces outside the company’s control, and the coronavirus is considered part of this clause.
Get in Touch With the Company
Even in cases where a company has not clearly stated they will offer refunds, a refund might be possible for travelers who take the time to ask for one. People can get in touch with the company’s customer service team and clearly state why they feel they deserve a refund. Talking to the company through their social media team can be particularly helpful, since many companies seek to have a positive online image right now.
Let Travelers Insurance or a Credit Card Company Handle the Refund
Even if the company still is not budging, frustrated travelers may still be able to get their refund as long as they paid for trip insurance or purchased the trip with a credit card. Credit card companies allow their clients to dispute their charges if they do not get what they paid for, and trip insurance will cover the costs of your trip if it is cancelled. In both these cases, the company will handle all the hassle and dispute with the company for their customer, so the traveller does not have to do anything.