trip cancellation

Tag Archives for trip cancellation.

WestJet Pulls Out Of An Entire Region Of Canada, Won’t Give Customers Refunds

by Gary Leff on October 14, 2020

Oct 14 2020

WestJet says customers will get travel credits, and since it may be years before they return to a customer’s city they “will extend the travel credit expiry date” beyond 24 months. WestJet may never return to some cities, may never return with service that works for a customer, and years into the future the name of the game is breakage. Indeed, customers may actually die while waiting to use their WestJet credits.

Yet the airline “notes the Canadian Transportation Agency has deemed acceptable given the realities of COVID-19” to offer flight credits and not refunds. Perhaps this brazen move will challenge that earlier guidance.

A Simple Guide To American Airlines Trip Credits, Flight Credits, Vouchers And Gift Cards

by Gary Leff on October 4, 2020

Oct 04 2020

American Airlines recently introduced ‘trip credits’ which are electronic and have different rules from the ‘flight credits’ they’re replacing. Both forms of payment you can use towards a new ticket, but the rules are different. And they work differently than a payment voucher – and a gift card.

Fortunately American Airlines has created a comparison chart for their own employees to use. This was published internally for employees on September 26.

IHG Hotels Says Their Flexible Cancellation Policy Is Ending October 1

by Gary Leff on August 31, 2020

Aug 31 2020

IHG hotels, the chain that includes Holiday Inn, Kimpton, Intercontinental, and related brands, is bringing its flexible cancellation policy to an end. All of the major hotel chains have sought to encourage new bookings by making them very low risk for consumers. IHG says, though, ‘no more’ after September 30.

There’s a huge desire to get hotel pricing and restrictions ‘back to normal’ but I don’t think the world is back to normal yet, and if other chains don’t follow IHG will be at a competitive disadvantage.

Detail On United’s New Program To Save Money Cancelling Lightly Booked Flights At The Last Minute

by Gary Leff on August 29, 2020

Aug 29 2020

United is selling flights at specific times, earning customer business on the basis of that schedule, and then reneging – not because they’re unable to operate the flights, but because they decide it’s cheaper not to deliver what customers purchased.

Selling flights and then cancelling them for reasons entirely within the airline’s control, for their own benefit, while 23% of rebooked customers are impacted by more than four hours is an unfair and deceptive practice. Customers whose travels are adversely affected to a significant degree should file a complaint with the Department of Transportation.

New United Program Cancels Flights When Not Enough People Buy Tickets

by Gary Leff on August 28, 2020

Aug 28 2020

This is a major move that’s unlikely to get the coverage it deserves. United Airlines now has a system to cancel flights that don’t have enough passengers, and a quarter of passengers are being delayed over four hours to save them money. When you buy a United Airlines flight, then, you’re no longer guaranteed they have an intention of operating it.

Passenger Accidentally Gets $19.7 Million Refund When Cancelling Airline Ticket

by Gary Leff on July 6, 2020

Jul 06 2020

Australian Jessican Tam reports that when she cancelled a Qatar Airways roundtrip business class ticket from Jakarta to London, and they accidentally refunded AU$28,179,789.36 – or about $19.7 million at today’s exchange rates. She’s even shared a screen shot of her bank balance.

United Airlines Relents: Will Give Full Refunds For Two Hour Schedule Changes And Cancellations

by Gary Leff on June 6, 2020

Jun 06 2020

Even if you were forced to accept a travel vouchers you can contact United for an exchange. You were entitled to a refund if your flight was cancelled, or if the airline changed its schedule more than two hours. And United will honor this policy retroactively, even where they had previously reneged.

The Most Offensive Reason Yet An Airline Refuses To Refund Cancelled Flight

by Gary Leff on June 6, 2020

Jun 06 2020

Lufthansa’s hypothetical thought experiment about a future world that differed from our own, in which they hadn’t cancelled the flight, might be ripe for a TV script – indeed, the writers are running out of ideas for the rest of 2020 – but carry no legal force.

Hyatt Now Offers Free Cancellation For All Stays Through July 31, 2021 (But Read The Fine Print)

by Gary Leff on June 3, 2020

Jun 03 2020

Hyatt has extended their free cancellation policy. Reservations made directly with Hyatt for travel through July 31, 2021 are refundable as long you as you cancel the booking at least 24 hours in advance.

You actually have to watch during the booking process to make sure this flexibility applies though. Here’s why.

Air Canada Introduces World’s Second Most Generous Ticket Change Policy

by Gary Leff on May 22, 2020

May 22 2020

It takes a lot to get people out of the habit of staying in, and overcoming the fear that’s been built up about regular activities like haircuts, let alone travel. Six weeks ago I wrote that airlines are going to have to extend flexible booking policies or customers won’t have the confidence to buy travel in the face of uncertainty.

We’re now seeing policies become even more generous, and more flexible.