Out of pocket due to cancelled flights - Storm Ophelia

Maz2016

Not sure if this is the right thread but.... Myself and some friends were booked to fly from Cork to Portugal on the day of Storm Ophelia. The flight was cancelled. We got a full refund off Airline - no questions asked.

We had hotel accommodation booked on a Non Refundable rate through Travel Republic. I emailed the hotel to say we couldnt go due to flight being cancelled and asked for a refund. They referred be back to Travel Republic who in turn had booked through a 3rd party.

The 3rd party refused to give a refund but offered either different dates (subject to availability) or a cancellation letter for travel insurance showing loosing out on the full amount paid. We did have travel insurance with Laya. So we opted for the cancellation letter.

The insurance company gave a refund but there was 90 euro excess per passenger (270 euro excess). It said if we cash the cheque we accept the settlement, and if we disagreed with the settlement to return the cheque with comments within 10 days.

Now, as it wasn't our fault that we couldn't go, I am annoyed we have to loose out on the excess. It does clearly state in Layas T&C's that due to flight abandonment there is excess of 90 per passenger. Is there any other course of action I can take? Or do we just lie the loss of 270 euro

coylemj

Maz2016 wrote: »

We had hotel accommodation booked on a Non Refundable rate through Travel Republic. I emailed the hotel to say we couldnt go due to flight being cancelled and asked for a refund.

which part of 'non refundable' did you not understand?

The excess on travel policies is an effective way for the insurance companies to eliminate trivial claims. I'm afraid it's a standard clause in travel insurance policies and you'll simply have to take the hit.

Maz2016

coylemj wrote: »

which part of 'non refundable' did you not understand?

I know and fair point, just thought as we did not cancel it ourselves, there might be some leeway. Thanks anyway

CIARAN_BOYLE

Maz2016 wrote: »

I know and fair point, just thought as we did not cancel it ourselves, there might be some leeway. Thanks anyway

This is why you should always book a package holiday. That way if one part cancels the rest has to refund you.

Or rather you don't have to book but it makes sense to.

CeilingFly

Act of god

Sue the church


I lost a day's turnover, many others lost a day's pay. Some very sadly lost family members.

You're quibbing over a few quid of an excess cos you didn't read the terms of the insurance.

Get over yourself

Hitman3000

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote:

This is why you should always book a package holiday. That way if one part cancels the rest has to refund you.

Do you work in the travel industry to make such a comment?

irishgrover

Jesus, is there really a need to be so ignorant in the responses? It's not like the open was ranting, it was a simple question looking for advice or opinion

CeilingFly

Hitman3000 wrote: »

Do you work in the travel industry to make such a comment?

Oh Christ - somebody gives goid advice and some eejit answers "do you work in the industry"

A five year old would be embarrassed by such a juvenile answer.


Anyone who experienced issues with the ash cloud in Iceland or security issues in Egypt or companies such as monarch or low cost holidays going bust or ryanairs recent cancellations and booked via a travel agent could tell you that they got full refund as if the package cannot be fulfilled in its entirety, the agent is responsible for redress.

Personally for a holiday, I'll always use a travel agent, whereas simple overnight business trips, I'll book direct.

The small extra cost is worth every penny.

Hitman3000

CeilingFly wrote:

Oh Christ - somebody gives goid advice and some eejit answers "do you work in the industry"

It's not good advice. What's good advice is always book with a site that allows free cancellation.

Hitman3000

CeilingFly wrote:

Personally for a holiday, I'll always use a travel agent, whereas simple overnight business trips, I'll book direct.

I have used a travel agent once, never again. My family and I have travelled extensively in the last 14 years no issue. Booked flights, hotels, car hire , tours myself never had an issue.

CeilingFly

Hitman3000 wrote: »

I have used a travel agent once, never again. My family and I have travelled extensively in the last 14 years no issue. Booked flights, hotels, car hire , tours myself never had an issue.

now imagine if I responded to this post by saying

"you must work for one of those booking sites"

Yep - that's how juvenile your initial response was?

Tour agents work best for some people. Others have plenty of time to search all other options.

Personally, for a holiday where I want to relax and allow someone else do the dog work, I'll use a travel agent.

lifeandtimes

CeilingFly wrote: »

Act of god

Sue the church


I lost a day's turnover, many others lost a day's pay. Some very sadly lost family members.

You're quibbing over a few quid of an excess cos you didn't read the terms of the insurance.

Get over yourself

Jeez this was not helpful at all or gave any advice which is what the op was asking. If you have issues with the post (or the storm more like )then don't post, you're post in my opinion wasn't constructive.

Op excess is there in a lot of insurance policy and you agree to then when taking out the insurance, this part and parcel with it and you really have no come back.

Just some constructive advice double check everything next time and maybe book your trips as all in one

Peregrinus

lifeandtimes wrote: »

Op excess is there in a lot of insurance policy and you agree to then when taking out the insurance, this part and parcel with it and you really have no come back.

This. You can usually get the excess on an insurance policy reduced or eliminated by paying a higher premium, but the time to think about this is when you take out the policy.

Once you take out the policy without negotiating away the excess you have effectively made a decision to wear a loss of up to 90 euros per passenger. That's a decision you may now regret, but it was your decision, and nobody else is resonsible for it, or liable to compensate you for it.

Maz2016

Thanks for the replies guys.

whomitconcerns

So on 11th September 2001, my 9am flight from Pittsburgh to New York was cancelled, hotels were non refundable. I lost over a grand then. Acts of God, terrorism, etc not covered and of course not my fault. Short of suing Saudi Arabia that was that... Sometimes you just need to suck it up..

Hitman3000

CeilingFly wrote:

Yep - that's how juvenile your initial response was?

Only one person engaged in name calling. That to me is juvenile.