CoronaVirus

odyssey06

Invaluable thread.

Took advantage of news of aer lingus waiving change fees to switch french flights from may to september.
And a new travel insurance policy to cover the new dates.

elperello

Tippgirl74 wrote: »

Yes depends on what kind of rate you book. I had non refundable rate booked on ebookers and can't contact them. Phone call keeps cutting out while holding. Not too optimistic about any refund there! Málaga hotel booked for May on loveholidays.ie is refundable minus 30euro admin fee! Hoping flights will be cancelled...so might have some chance of refund. Don't really have any appetite to reschedule at this stage!!

Yes I was just lucky the refund was built into the price.

Still waiting to decide what to do with the Aer Lingus flights.

Don't forget the airport taxes refund.

If the worst comes to the worst it's the price of a few pints (if you'd chance the pub!)

Tippgirl74

Wuff Wuff wrote: »

You'll probably find all insures will have similar clauses for government directives and pandemics

Not all, as I have been enquiring and googling. I personally know of another couple in same situation who have been advised vhi travel insurance will refund in full (after the travel date has passed) seeing as dfa have advised against all non-essential travel. I think, as with everything, you get good and bad travel insurance. Would love some recommendations for annual multitrip.

Interestingly, I have been reading that a doctor's cert, citing significant anxiety around travel due to virus, which many would quite legitimately experience, may be adequate grounds to claim. Disinclination to travel is obviously excluded.

Tippgirl74

elperello wrote: »

Yes I was just lucky the refund was built into the price.

Still waiting to decide what to do with the Aer Lingus flights.

Don't forget the airport taxes refund.

If the worst comes to the worst it's the price of a few pints (if you'd chance the pub!)

Many thanks for tip re. taxes. Lol! Feel more like drowning my sorrows at home than the pub tbh!! So disillusioned with the whole thing at this stage. Never claimed off of travel insurance and have purchased for years and years. Last time flight cancelled by airline, about 5 years ago and insurance advised that because airline itself had cancelled it was excluded, so couldn't claim for second flight or hotel!

But time for reality check!! We're alive and healthy and safe! A lot of suffering due to this!

Fireball81

Some info from the VHI website

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.vhi.ie/downloads/CoronavirusCustomerAdvice.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwiCoqLyt5joAhU4UBUIHSFpAEgQFjAAegQIBhAC&usg=AOvVaw0-H6T7ze2bxSsMt1MyCIE7

juno10353

666 post above. Just posting this to move on

Tippgirl74

Fireball81 wrote: »

Some info from the VHI website

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.vhi.ie/downloads/CoronavirusCustomerAdvice.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwiCoqLyt5joAhU4UBUIHSFpAEgQFjAAegQIBhAC&usg=AOvVaw0-H6T7ze2bxSsMt1MyCIE7

Yes, this is exactly as I was told by a couple I know personally.

If I cancel my travel plans can I claim cancellation costs?
Vhi MultiTrip will provide cover for both cancellations and curtailment to areas
on DFA’s non-essential travel list. If you wish to cancel a trip please contact...

So disillusioned that this is not the case with insureandgo...will not be recommending them anywhere!! But yes I clearly did not read the small print properly! Would be interested to know if we went ahead and travelled and became ill would we be covered?? Seems so conflictory!

lettuce97

54and56 wrote: »

Because airside of an airport (after you pass security) is deemed international territory (hence duty free etc) so national rules about no gatherings over 100 people don't apply just as national rules about no serving alcohol before Xam or Ypm etc don't apply.

I get that point alright, but if the government are banning gatherings of > 100 people then surely they should be advising againt non-essential travel to anywhere?

daheff

seamie78 wrote: »

the canary islands seem to have very few cases and the ones that cropped up appear to have been brought in, surely the advise against spain would include them

It does.

At what point do your operators cancel travel?

Non essential level or do not travel level?

random_banter

lettuce97 wrote: »

I get that point alright, but if the government are banning gatherings of > 100 people then surely they should be advising againt non-essential travel to anywhere?

In France they have defined the 100 gathering number as gatherings of "fun" things. Like cinema, concerts, etc. NOt things outside that.

ixoy

I've got a holiday booked for the Isle of Man in April and it's (currently) one of the places with zero recorded cases. It'd actually be a safer destination. No chance that I'd risk going but anyone else booked a destination with zero cases?

sheroman01

Disaster of a situation. Flying out with Ryanair tomorrow to Lisbon but flying home with Aer Lingus. Hotel booked with Booking.com.

Booking.com were very helpful. On the phone for 20 mins but they waived the cancellation fee (with agreement from the hotel). We did pay 30% deposit so not sure if we’ll get that back. Have sent an email but worst case it’s not too bad.

Switching the flights is too much of an unknown for us. Not sure what dates to switch it to. So we will cut out loses probably, as we have to make a call by tomorrow morning. Did try calling them but was on hold for 1 hour.

Aer Lingus, we have more time to decide what to do. Will call tomorrow and hope for a travel voucher/credit reimbursement. Long shot but they can be accommodating sometimes.

RoYoBo

If travel insurance no longer covers any travel or claims because of government directives, would it not be the case that the premium paid should be refundable?

I bought travel insurance (Insureandgo) in January on the same day I booked my holiday to Spain in April and it covers nothing now, neither if I went or cancelled. Or is it just tough luck?

beggars_bush

odyssey06 wrote: »

Invaluable thread.

Took advantage of news of aer lingus waiving change fees to switch french flights from may to september.
And a new travel insurance policy to cover the new dates.

Might do this.

titan18

sheroman01 wrote:

Switching the flights is too much of an unknown for us. Not sure what dates to switch it to. So we will cut out loses probably, as we have to make a call by tomorrow morning. Did try calling them but was on hold for 1 hour.

With it being free of charge to switch, I'd say switch to September/October and hope.

dartboardio

Where are peoples flights getting cancelled for?

Its still OK to travel to places that aren't so much affected right?

Fitz*

No, don't travel anywhere. Bar somewhere like the Aran Islands!

Personally, I think we will see a border closure within the next week so all flights will have to be reimbursed.

otnomart

ixoy wrote: »

I've got a holiday booked for the Isle of Man in April and it's (currently) one of the places with zero recorded cases. It'd actually be a safer destination. No chance that I'd risk going but anyone else booked a destination with zero cases?

the issue with places with zero or few cases is that people will move there and then cases will start popping up.
and those areas have only a few hospital beds, based on their own population

Mrtm17

We are booked to fly out to tenerife the 3rd of may
Booked tru travel republic ,final payment is in April
Dunno what to do
Booked it in January and didn't get travel insurance
Flights are with aerlingus
Wait and see?

skinny90

I’ve a trip to Bali in April 3rd..I really don’t know what to do.
If I try to look up what’s happening it’s just daily mail articles..
Would anyone here chance it?our plan is to avoid all the party areas

dartboardio

dartboardio wrote: »

Where are peoples flights getting cancelled for?

Its still OK to travel to places that aren't so much affected right?

This is the Uk, but I’d imagine that the same applies here. https://www.express.co.uk/travel/articles/1254964/Coronavirus-flights-cancelled-routes-easyjet-ryanair-british-airways-jet2-latest

MadYaker

skinny90 wrote: »

I’ve a trip to Bali in April 3rd..I really don’t know what to do.
If I try to look up what’s happening it’s just daily mail articles..
Would anyone here chance it?our plan is to avoid all the party areas

It’s likely our borders will be closed at some point and all flights grounded. Your holiday isn’t happening

Sleeper12

There weeks ago I mentioned that I was going to Peru at the end of March. I was reassured by posters that I had nothing to worry about. It's a European & Chinese problem. I don't think we had any confirmed cases in ireland yet.

Peru has stopped all travel from Europe.

I'm not writing to point out that these posters were wrong because it seemed logical advice at the time. The reason for this post is to show how quickly the landscape has changed. What seemed highly unlikely has happened.

Had a call from the travel agent in the UK and they are rescheduling it for the Autumn. The only thing I will loose out on are my flights to & from London and one nights hotel stay. Its a relief because we wouldn't have known if we were going right up until the day of travel.

daheff

RoYoBo wrote: »

If travel insurance no longer covers any travel or claims because of government directives, would it not be the case that the premium paid should be refundable?

I bought travel insurance (Insureandgo) in January on the same day I booked my holiday to Spain in April and it covers nothing now, neither if I went or cancelled. Or is it just tough luck?

If it's not covering what your policy said at the time that would be a breach of contract (unless they have sneaky terms allowing them to back out).

I'd triple check with them on this.

skinny90

MadYaker wrote: »

It’s likely our borders will be closed at some point and all flights grounded. Your holiday isn’t happening

Is there something I can do now interms of changing the dates or getting a refund

elperello

Sleeper12 wrote: »

There weeks ago I mentioned that I was going to Peru at the end of March. I was reassured by posters that I had nothing to worry about. It's a European & Chinese problem. I don't think we had any confirmed cases in ireland yet.

Peru has stopped all travel from Europe.

I'm not writing to point out that these posters were wrong because it seemed logical advice at the time. The reason for this post is to show how quickly the landscape has changed. What seemed highly unlikely has happened.

Had a call from the travel agent in the UK and they are rescheduling it for the Autumn. The only thing I will loose out on are my flights to & from London and one nights hotel stay. Its a relief because we wouldn't have known if we were going right up until the day of travel.

Bad luck but at least you are re-scheduled.

Don't forget you can get the airport taxes refunded for the London flights and it may be worth checking the T&Cs for the hotel booking. Possible free cancellation.

MadYaker

skinny90 wrote: »

Is there something I can do now interms of changing the dates or getting a refund

A lot of people seem to have had success pushing dates out into the future so maybe contact hotels / airlines and try that? Were in uncharted territory here and anything can happen, lots of airlines and hotels will go bust over this but best to try and reschedule.

acequion

MadYaker wrote: »

It’s likely our borders will be closed at some point and all flights grounded. Your holiday isn’t happening

How do you know that for certain?? How can you tell anybody that something will or will not happen? :rolleyes::rolleyes:

Personally, if I were in limbo I'd be going looking for information from more informed sources.

dory

skinny90 wrote: »

I’ve a trip to Bali in April 3rd..I really don’t know what to do.
If I try to look up what’s happening it’s just daily mail articles..
Would anyone here chance it?our plan is to avoid all the party areas

It doesn't really matter whether it's in Bali or not. It's in Ireland, and it's in wherever you'll be flying through, so you shouldn't go.

The thread has a lot of people asking if they'll get Coronavirus in X place. Little thought for you bringing it with you.

A group of Italians went on holidays to India right when this started in Italy, they thought no way they have it. All tested positive in India.

As someone up there said things are changing v fast so no one can tell what things will be like in April.

If you do go you should stick to the holiday hot spots. Those places will unfortunately get hit either way. Small remote places could stay safe unless someone goes there with it.

RoYoBo

daheff wrote: »

If it's not covering what your policy said at the time that would be a breach of contract (unless they have sneaky terms allowing them to back out).

I'd triple check with them on this.

I intend to check if there's a possibility to transfer it to a later date,or even next year. But the T&Cs have pandemic as an exclusion AFAIVs face as I can make out from the convoluted policy. I can understand and accept that the accommodation deposit is likely a loss, as the provider actually held a booking for us as agreed, and I might get get something from the flights.

The insurance, however, took my money on the basis that I would be covering these risks, which they now back track on, since I am neither covered for going or cancelling. It's really true what I've always said about insurance companies and their products: you only find out how good/bad they are when you actually need to claim.

Not going anyway,as it stands. Not worth the risk, which is clearly all my own now regardless.

greep

Caranica wrote: »

My hotel in Italy was non refundable booked through booking.com but they were able to force a free cancellation when the travel bans came in. So it's a case of wait and see I'd say.

Thanks
Did you contact the hotel via Booking.com messages/chat?
I wasn't sure I needed to contact Booking.com or the actual hotel...

After you send a mail, did you have to wait long for the confirmation & actual refund, from the moment you send a request?

Many thanks

uck51js9zml2yt

Mrtm17 wrote: »

We are booked to fly out to tenerife the 3rd of may
Booked tru travel republic ,final payment is in April
Dunno what to do
Booked it in January and didn't get travel insurance
Flights are with aerlingus
Wait and see?

Spain is being locked down. You won't have to worry about making a decision. It's been done for you

Eduardo CoolS Self-starter

Eduardo CoolS Self-starter wrote: »

Spain is being locked down. You won't have to worry about making a decision. It's been done for you

Only for 14 days. It’s still a waiting game as the virus is such an unknown illness.

MadYaker

acequion wrote: »

How do you know that for certain?? How can you tell anybody that something will or will not happen? :rolleyes::rolleyes:

Personally, if I were in limbo I'd be going looking for information from more informed sources.

Where did I say I knew it for certain? I said its likely, and it is. Many european countries have already done it and I don't see why we wouldn't follow. Anyone considering going anywhere at the moment is nuts imo.

PhoenixParker

Deleted User wrote: »

Only for 14 days. It’s still a waiting game as the virus is such an unknown illness.

It is not a waiting game. This is how the virus works:


Basically it doubles every few days. Suddenly in like 3 days the hospitals go from being busy but ok to turning operating theatres into ICUs, turning away anyone over 65 to die and anyone with any small problem - the same.

When the hospitals have beds, the mortality rate is 0.5-1%. When they don't the mortality rate is 5% to 10%. This is what's happening in Italy and Spain.

Theres a 2 week lag time and its exponential. When you lock down completely you've 2 weeks of exponential growth before it even starts getting better, and that's if you lock down ala Wuhan. Please note Wuhan locked down at 400 cases per day with a high level of testing.

Most of Europe and the US is past the point at which Wuhan locked down. This will last a very long time. The only things that will help are an effective treatment and a vaccine.

greep

Eduardo CoolS Self-starter wrote: »

Spain is being locked down. You won't have to worry about making a decision. It's been done for you

Thanks - I wonder if I still have to get in touch with a hotel ahead of your planned arrival & request a cancellation or will be somehow automatic... because of the lockdown?

Fireball81

greep wrote: »

Thanks - I wonder if I still have to get in touch with a hotel ahead of your planned arrival & request a cancellation or will be somehow automatic... because of the lockdown?

I'd get in touch and ask them, if its refundable - cancel. One less thing to claim for.

54and56

Wuff Wuff wrote: »

You'll probably find all insures will have similar clauses for government directives and pandemics

VHI Multitrip don't, see their very clear advice on claims ref Covi-19 here.

Fireball81

No non US nationals allowed to fly to the US from UK & Ireland from midnight Monday. Just announced by Trump.

6541

I am currently in Fuerteventura, everything is quite, a real end of word feel to it.

6541

Do not travel to Spain, i am in Spain everything is locked down, army on the streets.

njburke

6541 wrote: »

Do not travel to Spain, i am in Spain everything is locked down, army on the streets.

Will you get back?
Due to go to Lanzarote soon, not going now obviously.

Clonmel1000

In Lanzarote now business as usual for the moment but that’ll change we’re told from Monday. Irish bars packed along the strip but the resort noticeably quieter but not deserted. Army not on streets or anything like that.

PCros

So I was heading to Vegas on the 3rd of April with BA.

Now that Trump has included Ireland and UK do I just get an automatic refund or what is the story?

Ms2011

Fireball81 wrote: »

No non US nationals allowed to fly to the US from UK & Ireland from midnight Monday. Just announced by Trump.

Going to America in 5 months, is it too early to panic :eek:

Tenzor07

Dept. of Health just advised citizens to avoid taking flights/travelling altogether...

aisleseat

I have a flight booked to gran canaria for tomorrow. Today's flights have been cancelled as there is an imminent lockdown in Spain.
I'm not really interested in making a change but it's better than losing all of my money for 5 seats.
However if the flight is cancelled, I'll receive a refund. It's going to be a waiting game tonight

6541

Riots here over food items, sheer panic. Send help.

random_banter

France goes to level 3. Closing all non essential public spaces including bars and pubs etc.

Maybe the DFA will upgrade their France travel advice now.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-51892477

6541

Latest news everybody has to assemble down the square, your temperature will be taken, people with high temperature must move to the left, normal temperature go to the right, scary.