[holland]

Hi all,

Just a bit of advice really, may have to cancel one way flights to NZ due to sickness reasons...we dont have travel insurance in place at this time.

I know we will probably just end up loosing the money, but just wondered of anyone had been in this position and whether or not there are any possible avenues to get money back??

I dont know whether I am wasting my time looking at house insurance ( shiping guy that came a couple of weeks ago says its surprising the amount of things house insurance covers...but I think the chances will be very slim!), we also paid on credit card...so I don't know whether there may be some cover included in that?

mmmmm...any thoughts appreciated

J x

[zardell]

That happened to us once and we had the option of cancelling and loosing our deposit or them holding our deposit and transferring to something else at a later date, but within a set period of time.

Having said that, I would be tempted to ring the credit card company.........

Julie

xx

[holland]

Were flying with Singapore Airlines, would be ok to 'hold' the ticket and arrange for a later date...Im hoping it doesn't come to this, but like to be prepared...Ill have to contact booking agent...and ill ring credit card company also...fun fun fun!!!

J x

[wiki]

I think the unexpected surgery thing could be enough to get the airline to hold the flights. Not sure if the credit card route would work as it's you that is cancelling the flights rather than a third-party problem.

Best of luck - Singapore Air probably get asked this a lot and will have something in place.

I got Qantas to move my return flight from NZ four times on one occaision because of illness and they were great about it.

[holland]

Thanks for reply Wiki, I will contact them....the problem is:

(1) I don't know whether it will be necessary
(2) If it is necessary, when he will be fit to fly to rearrange flights

All I do know is that we have until March to get passports stamped.

So frustrating dealing with 'what ifs'

J x

[holland]

OK, I am waiting for someone to ring me back, been on hold for 16 minutes!!

Fingers crossed theres something they can do!!

[suzer]

Most airlines will let you cancel your flights, and hold the tkt (meaning you cancel those actual flights you will be on yet are able to re-schedule onto other flights, sometimes any destination...sometimes only the same departure/arrival cities) for 12 months. This is standard for most airlines so you should be able to do this and only pay whatever change fee they impose, which shouldn't be more than 100 pounds or so.

That being said, if you purchased your tkts from a travel agent who had purchased them from a consolidator (which means you get special rates), you may not be able to make changes to your outbound tkt.

Look through all your paperwork (fare rules & regs) that came in your itinerary so you know what you are entitled to...and if you don't get the answer you want from the airline reservations person you speak to, ask to speak to the manager. Tell your travel agent to do the same if they are the ones handling this.

[holland]

Hi,

Booked on internet through booking agent, i telephoned last night. If we cancel, we will loose £200.00 and get the rest of the money back, the guy assured me we can do this anytime up until the day before. We can change the flights...but we got a good deal, and the 'expiry' of this fee, is 2 weeks after our original flight date...so only gives us 2 weeks leeway....just have to wait and see how hubby is doing.

j x

[keeweescot]

Hi,

Booked on internet through booking agent, i telephoned last night. If we cancel, we will loose £200.00 and get the rest of the money back, the guy assured me we can do this anytime up until the day before. We can change the flights...but we got a good deal, and the 'expiry' of this fee, is 2 weeks after our original flight date...so only gives us 2 weeks leeway....just have to wait and see how hubby is doing.

j x


Please make sure you get this in writing. We booked flights for 4 of us, UK - US, via an internet travel agent. I phoned to change the dates & was told for a fee of £50 pp, I could cancel the flights & re-book, which I did. Only to be told about 4 weeks later (by which time the refund was due), that our tickets were "non-changeable & non-refundable". When they emailed with this information, they even had the cheek to punctuate everything with exclamation marks! :mad:

I eventually got most of the money refunded (with the help of my solicitor), but make sure you get anything in writing.

I hope you don't need to cancel / amend & hubby makes a quick recovery :yes

Sal

PS - PM me if you'd like more info :)

[holland]

Thanks Sal...Think ill email and get confirmation, I must say I wasn't reassured when I spoke to three people in total, as they first two ( after explaining the whole situation), 'accidently' hung up on me after 12 minutes on hold. By the time I got to the third person, I said, 'heres my phone number I have an urgent query can someone get back to me asap'...They rang back in 10 minutes!! ridiculous...blinkin phone bill would probably make up part of the flight money!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

[Helsandfamily]

Hi Holland,

I think it may be worth checking with your Visa company. It is also worth checking your home insurance - if you have a really good cover in place this can help although you may need to pay the first £50.

We had trouble with BA a few years ago, they were willing to rearrange the flights but we had to pay the difference in price and it was LOTS!!!

Good luck

hels

[holland]

THANKS Hels, the company have said we can change free the first time...but has to be within the 2 weeks! and £50.00 for any change after that...plus the extra money for flights...Im just thankful that hopefully we wont loose all of the money! Hopefully we won't need to do any rearranging.

J x