Holiday Firms Forcing To Pay Balance For Holidays Unlikely To Go Ahead, An Analysis
Banter 13-May-2020
This Is Money dives into the issue many of us are facing, where we're due to pay thousands for our holiday with the likelihood it will be cancelled, or face losing our deposits.
On a personal note, this situation is particularly concerning because we'll have to decide whether to cancel and lose the deposit paid, or pay the full balance and either hope it's not going to go ahead and get a full refund. However, if the holiday does goes ahead, would the Disney World experience be anything like normal and the experience expectation we technically put our deposit down on? Some people are fine to go with whatever social distancing measures, the possibility of no fireworks, no character meet and greets etc (see the opening of Shanghai) are in place, but there is an argument to be made that it's not the holiday we booked, so should we have the right to cancel?
If customers choose to cancel and not pay the balance, they stand to lose their deposit. It means that disappointed holidaymakers, including many who have lost their jobs or who are vulnerable to the virus, are now faced with a difficult decision. They can refuse to pay and sacrifice their deposit, plus fork out to cover a cancellation fee. Or they can pay the balance and hope they can get a refund when the trip is cancelled.
Holiday firm's customer services departments are overwhelmed at the moment, and naturally they're putting most the resources they have to people travelling in the next month or so. However, that leaves people travelling in the summer stuck with this decision of whether to cut their loses or pay their balance with risk of not getting the holiday you paid for. This is compounded by the fact that Health Secretary Matt Hancock said foreign summer holidays are likely to be cancelled. People are waiting weeks and weeks for refunds for already cancelled holidays for the first couple months of the pandemic, which puts more fear into people paying their balance because they might not see that money back for a long time if their holiday is cancelled.
Some Holiday firm's are being more flexible than others, and as time goes on, hopefully they'll all at least match and be a little more flexible going forward. Virgin Holidays are now allowing anyone with a holiday booked for September 30th and before to reschedule at no cost. While currently with TUI and other tour operators, it's July 11th. If you decide now to reschedule for a holiday already booked for this summer, you will forfeit your deposit in fees.
There is also the fear that you could pay thousands for your holiday, and that company could go out of businesses. While that is mostly fine if you have a ATOL protected package, it's still throwing thousands of pounds into the unknown.
While the whole travel industry is having a tough time through this pandemic, the way they treat their customers will enhance or destroy any sort of customer loyalty in the future.
Join the FREE Mickey From The UK email club & never miss any of our Disney content
Tick the box to confirm you want to signup to our email club
(Your email will never be shared, sold or spammed as outlined in our privacy policy. Only Disney goodness you'll receive.)
Direct Link:
HTML Link: Click the text box above which will highlight, and then copy/paste the link.
All Disneyland Paris packages bookings made by 2nd April 2023 will receive a FREE crossing with P&O Ferries when you arrive between 1st April and 30th September 2023.
Benefits of Coming by C... Read more >
The 30th anniversary continues... and the magic is shining brighter than ever! It's time to dream bigger, laugh louder and smile wider as the 30th Anniversary continues until the 30th September, ... Read more >
Disney PhotoPass has announced a new "Video Memories" feature built into the My Disney Experience app. It takes your PhotoPass photos and creates videos for you to share. Video Memories is availa... Read more >
Disney has announced that on May 14th, 2023, Akershus Royal Banquet Hall at EPCOT will resume serving breakfast and lunch. The princess meet & greet restaurant reopened for dinner at the end of 2... Read more >
Can you claim a Blue Light Card (NHS) discount on your Disneyland Paris holiday? Yes, you can! However, you must book your Disneyland Paris package through the Walt Disney Travel Company UK (bet... Read more >
Do Walt Disney World offer a Blue Light Card (NHS) discount? Yes, they do! If you book your Walt Disney World package through the Walt Disney Travel Company UK (better known as Disney Holidays) ... Read more >
Starting today March 20th, guests who purchase Genie+ will receive the ability to save attraction photos at no additional charge for that day. However, the news isn't that exciting for Brits as M... Read more >
As previously announced, TRON soft openings begin today March 20th through April 2nd. Guests must use a virtual queue to get an opportunity to experience the attraction, or they can purchase a Li... Read more >
Disneyland Paris has announced that AVIS has come become their Official Partner in the Car Rental category for the next 5 years. Avis is a leading global rental car provider, with four distinct b... Read more >
TRON - the newest attraction at the Magic Kingdom - fully opens April 4th. However, guests who are at the Magic Kingdom between March 20th and April 2nd will get the opportunity to ride early dur... Read more >
