Giving up on spring break plans? Check cancellation policy, expect long phone wait
The spring break season is sure to be impacted by the new coronavirus outbreak this year. This has many people scrambling to reconsider their plans, especially those that didn’t consider a cancellation policy in advance. This can have an adverse impact on your wallet, so here are some steps if you’re exploring this:
Call times
Expect long waits, even through digital channels. Last week a friend of mine waited on hold for more than an hour trying to inquire about the status of their trip. Be sure to have all your information at the ready so when you do get to speak with someone, you won’t experience further delays.
Updated policies
Be sure to check the CDC travel restrictions against your plans. Some are relaxing their previous cancellation guidelines and allowing people to rebook at a later time due to the state of concern at this time. Most air and cruise lines have their updated policies prominently displayed on their websites, so be sure to look at what has developed since you received your initial booking confirmation.
Insurance policies
Some people are assuming if they didn’t purchase travel insurance they are out of options, but I’ve learned this isn’t always the case. Restrictions are being waived overall in some cases regardless of insurance. Remember, it’s in the travel industry’s best interests as well to prevent the further spread of this virus.
I know many of you are in a tough spot when it comes to spring break plans, but rest assured most travel companies are in your corner and don’t want to lose your loyalty. With a solid plan, you’ll at the very least be able to have peace of mind about your options regardless of what you decide.
Kat’s Money Corner is posted on Dollars & Sense every Tuesday. Kat Hnatyshyn, when not blogging or caring for her little ones, is a manager with CommunityAmerica Credit Union. For more financial chatter, visit http://communityamerica.com.
This story was originally published March 11, 2020 at 3:00 PM.