Coronavirus: how to do in case of travel cancellation?

You had to leave, but the Coronavirus changed the deal? Here is everything you need to know if you cancel your trip because of the Covid-19.

The coronavirus is in all spirits. People are worried about getting sick and the vacilla economy. But travellers have other questions. When many flights are cancelled, the question arises: will I be reimbursed? Another very present question: if I cancel my trip by fear of contracting the Coronavirus, will I be refunded? Rights, approaches and interest in subscribing Cancellation insurance , we explain everything to you and make a point on all situations you are led to meet.

Your airline cancels your flight following Coronavirus

This is the first situation you can meet. Some airlines chose to suspend certain flights because of coronavirus. On the one hand, this responds to a need for caution, the cancellation of flights involves the most at-risk destinations like the China and of Italy in particular. On the other hand, in the face of the defection of passengers, some flights are filled to 40% only. As a result, companies, in order not to lose too much money (even if the loss is estimated at $113 billion), prefer purely and simply cancel flights.

If so, as long as it cancels a trip as part of an “exceptional and inevitable event”, the airline must refund you Your ticket. Attention, this only concerns:

• Departure airports in the European Union ;
• Or the arrival airports and airlines whose head office is in the European Union.

When it comes to international flights, each airline freely sets its general conditions, we invite you to consult them to find out if the cancellation of your trip due to the Covid-19 is taken into account.

If you have the opportunity to be refunded, you have no steps to do.

Can you claim compensation?

No, if you’re refunded, it’s already a very good thing. No compensation will be paid to the extent that the airline is not responsible for the cancellation of the trip. Here again applies “the exceptional and inevitable event.”

Your travel agency cancels your trip

Did you go through a travel agency and booked your flight and accommodation with her? If, in the face of the Coronavirus epidemic, your tour operator decides to cancel your trip, once again for “an exceptional and inevitable event”, then you will be refunded . You must be informed as soon as possible and receive your refund within 14 days.

Again, you don’t have a step to do.

You cancel a full trip

This time, you’re the one who, by worry of contracting the Covid-19, decide to cancel your trip. You must report it as quickly as possible to your tour operator or travel agency. Just justify this "exceptional and inevitable event". However, this event must have consequences for the successful execution of the contract. It is quite subtle. Thus, in this context, you must proving that the occurrence of the virus at the destination site will increase the risk of contracting the Covid-19. It will thus be easier to cancel a trip to Italy or China to date than a stay in a country where the number of cases is low.

You cancel your flight because of Coronavirus

This time it’s a little more complex. If you did not pass by an agency and you booked your flight ticket separately and if the airline did not plan to cancel the flight, you cannot in theory not refunded . It is possible, however, to request to postpone your flight if the destination is a country at risk.

On the other hand, if you bought one refundable or exchangeable flight ticket , this time you go may cancel or postpone your trip.

Good to know: If you cancel and cannot be refunded, you will still get a refund of the airport tax as you did not take your flight.

Quid to cancel your accommodation?

You have taken a dry flight and accommodation separately, it will not always be possible for you to cancel and be reimbursed. It's okay. depends on different factors including the date.

Most of the time, when you book a hotel, you can cancel, but costs stay at your expense. If you have simply paid deposits, according to Article 1590 of the Civil Code, you will not be refunded. If you have paid in advance, cancellation fees may be applied depending on when you contact the hotelier. The sooner you cancel, the less the costs will be important.

The means of booking is also important. On platforms such as Booking, it is not uncommon to simply book without paying. It is thus possible to cancel almost until the last day at no cost.

Did you buy travel insurance?

If you are concerned about your refund in case of travel cancellation, it is certainly because you have not taken the precaution of subscribing travel insurance. Of course, it is understood, ensuring your trip has a cost that everyone does not want to add to the flight, accommodation, car rental, and on-site pleasures.

However, paying not to take advantage of his trip has a much higher cost. The case of Coronavirus is the typical example of the interest of travel insurance. Not only are you more serene during your trip, but you are more calmly understanding the events upstream.

Today, many travellers who have not subscribed to cancellation insurance are concerned, it is enough to consult the search peak on Google. « Cancellation travel », « cancellation travel refund », « cancellation voyage Coronavirus ».

What care for travel insurance?

When you subscribe to travel insurance, you benefit from:

• Support for on-site medical expenses,
• Care for hospitalization,
• Repatriation assistance,
• Civil liability insurance,
• Etc.

But you can also forecast the disappointments before even leaving subscribing travel cancellation insurance. This guarantee allows you to cancel a trip yourself under certain conditions. Coronavirus can be an acceptable excuse to cancel your trip. However, you better information with your insurer, the limits of the guarantees are fixed freely by each company.

With the cancellation insurance, you can be compensated for your flight, but also for your accommodation and thus limit the loss of money according to the ceilings of your guarantee. Attention: you must have taken accommodation at professional hoteliers to get a refund.

For example, at Chapka Assurances, it is indicated that you can cancel "for all unpredictable reasons, independent of your will and outside". Clearly, you don’t cancel because you don’t want to leave, but because, as part of the Coronavirus, there is a real danger of contamination.

Insurance cancellation of the bank card

With a Visa Premier or Mastercard Gold card for example, you receive travel insurance that includes cancellation insurance. Attention Once again, you must be fine consult the details of the guarantees and the conditions of the cancellation. Also check the amount of compensation provided by your credit card insurance.

With the Gold Mastercard, you benefit from the refund all or part of your travel expenses in case of non-voluntary cancellation. But by looking closer, canceling a trip because of the Covid-19 does not seem to be a legitimate motive. To be compensated, the cancellation must be due to:

• A health accident ;
• Death ;
• The award of an internship or employment ;
• Material damage ;
• Economic dismissal ;
• Removal or modification by the employer of leave dates ;
• Professional mutation, displacement or expatriation.

That is why we stress the importance of consulting any contract. Being insured is one thing, but it is the terms of the contract that are faith. Exclusions, franchises , deficiencies, everything must be studied with the utmost care to avoid any surprise.