How to work with your Hotel or Airline for a Refund

So, you have booked a hotel, hoping to spend your summer vacation by the beach, where you’ll recuperate and generate energy for the rest of the year? Unfortunately, most of those plans have gone to waste due to the situation we all found ourselves in.

Still, we all have to be responsible for our actions at this time and try to make the most of the cards we’ve been dealt with. However, plenty of people ran into all sorts of problems when trying to get a refund from their airline or hotels. Today, we will check out some of the cancellation policies and show you how you can use them to your advantage. Here’s where you can start.

You have a better chance to receive a refund through travel companies

These days, most travelers choose to avoid the travel agencies, due to the high fees they charge and instead opt out to find accommodation for themselves. Unfortunately, most of them are too lazy to check out the best insurance options, which leaves them in a tough spot when it comes to receiving a full refund.

On the other hand, those who use the travel agency’s services are usually inclined to receive their money back. The situation was not ideal from the start, as most agencies refused to refund their customers, but once the governments got involved, most of the passengers were able to get their money back.

Still, some agencies are still avoiding their legal duties, offering only vouchers to their customers. While this works for some people, others simply do not have the time on their hands to sit and way until the borders finally open. If this happened to you, perhaps it would be best to contact your legal team and see what should be the best next step.

Refunds may also cover for car rentals and airline tickets

Not only that, but you can also file a claim for refund due to other financial losses you will encounter because of the trip cancelation. Those include the costs of booking your hotel room or even a car rental. There is a catch here as well, as some insurance companies are claiming that the damages occurred due to extraordinary circumstances, thus refusing to refund their clients. As in many other cases, luck is the determining factor here, and we can only hope that your insurance company is on the list of those who take pride in providing their clients with the best possible service.

Due to the global pandemic, most airlines have suffered huge financial losses. Ultimately, it forced them to cut corners whenever possible, which means that some travelers were left empty handed. Airlines that are located in the U.S. or the European Union did their best to provide their clients with refunds, or at least offered to re-book the flights to a later date.

Sadly, when it comes to those who travel to remote destinations, and especially the low-cost airlines, things aren't as great. In case that you are not able to reach the airline of your choice, or they are simply refusing to pay your money back, know that you have a legal right to file the claim within the 12 months following your canceled trip.

Try to go through PayPal or your credit card provider

If all else fails, you can always turn to your credit or debit card provider in order to get what is rightfully yours. Once again, the situation is not perfect here either, as some banks are not willing to provide the refunds, claiming that the responsibility should fall on the airlines or travel agencies.

In fact, PayPal might be the safest option out there, as their refund policies tend to be a bit better. There are lots of reports of people who were able to receive a full refund through PayPal, and all it took was a couple of emails. Whatever your case may be, it is best to first explore all the options before you raise the white flag and give up. Be persistent and fight for your rights. It is the only way in which we can salvage what was left of our vacations.