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Airlines and positive tests

I may have missed discussions on this, but since many countries are requiring negative COVID test results within 3-5 days of travel, how are airlines handling people who fail the test? That is, are they automatically refunding tickets, even the "non-refundable" fares, or just turning people away? The concern over last minute trip cancellation seems to be fueling some reluctance to plan a trip.

Posted by
7453 posts

I can't speak through personal experience, but my regional airport, early on in this crisis, implemented a health check as part of security (Temp scan and questions).

In evaluating the effectiveness, what they found is that people who suspected they were ill, simply did not get to the point of going through security.

Booking agents reported that they would simply look to rebook, the people who did get caught up at the health check, had no idea they were running a fever.

It was also reported that all airlines were rebooking at no cost, refunds I suppose may have varied. However, all this was several months ago, Airlines are slowly re-imposing some restrictions on re-booking and refunds, so what is going on today, or peoples experience, may not hold well going forward. Both my wife and I have altered tickets in the last six months, it was basically no questions asked, just change or cancel, pay only fare difference. (All on Delta)

Posted by
6113 posts

You would need to read the small print of your booking. If you know you are flying abroad, why be reckless and risk catching Covid in the days prior to your trip? Isolate to be sure.

I don’t have any first hand knowledge, but my logic would be if you are unfortunate and pick up Covid, why should the airlines pick up the tab? They are all struggling as it is.

People in the U.K. have been put off travelling as for many places, a negative test is required within 72 hours of arriving at the destination. It costs us around £120 pp per test and they try to get the results back within 48 hours, which doesn’t give much wriggle room. We then have to pay for a further 2 tests each upon returning, so that’s £720 ($1,000 for two people. Not something you would want to pay for a weekend break.

Posted by
8378 posts

Jennifer, yes I agree, and I would not have expected the airlines to generously offer no-cost re-booking permanently. So I wanted to know if anyone had experienced this situation. Its all fluid and things will change by the time I get around to planning foreign travel. But it seems like something for airlines and travelers to consider for the long term as well. With regular non-refundable Return economy seats at around $1500 per person, return, from my home to LHR, for example, I'd be leery to commit, if I might have to give them up at the last minute, with no credit, or reschedule alternative. Upgrade to refundable fares might be a show-stopper for some.

Posted by
11037 posts

Most airlines now advertise a 'no (re)booking fee; fare difference may apply' policy.

Presumably one would know their test result before they got to the airport, so 'just turning people away', should be a non issue.

For US based travelers that should be a truly rare issue as many (most?) areas are in a "walk-in, no appointment needed" situation to get the shot(s).

I would not just assume every airline has the same policy, so be sure to check the fine print for your airline.

Posted by
983 posts

Stan, I think your comment "Upgrade to refundable fares might be a show-stopper for some." is going to certainly cause people to think before buying tickets. I always buy main cabin tickets but noticed that refundable is an optional add-on as you go through the process of purchasing. American was asking $200.00 per ticket to make my main cabin ticket "refundable." (STL to LHR). Which makes those reasonable ticket prices somewhat expensive. I ended up buying tickets through DELTA, they seemed to have a better policy of a least changing my ticket. ( I purchased before April 30). Delta has already changed my flight considerably (added another stop and canceled my direct flight from LHR to MSP), so now I can cancel and get an e-credit. (this was not an option before). The fine print on cabin class seems to be changing quite a bit.

margaret

Posted by
8378 posts

joe32f, my question is about positive test results, not vaccination. As far as I can tell, most countries, and Hawaii for example, are currently requiring negative COVID test results within X number of hours before entry, without regard to vaccination status. So, turning away was figurative, but the point is that you could be only hours away from departure (or waiting in the airport in places where they are offering on-site testing) and get a positive result. Offering low or no cost changes is good (with or without proof). Maybe these kind of questions will be overtaken by events.

Posted by
2207 posts

Stan - great question... and it works both ways, at the beginning and end of a trip. Over the past few months, I've had to deal with both... and as mentioned, the solution will depend on the airline and the type of ticket you booked.

Referring primarily to international flights - which I deal with most - for many airlines, WHY you cannot get on the plane matters little to the airline. Showing up with a positive test to most of them is the same as showing up with NO TEST. The airlines are liable if they allow someone to travel without the proper "negative" COVID documentation - and those requirements are driven by the restrictions of their destinations/connections. So they are simply looking for a negative test that meets that flight's requirements - anything else and you won't get on.

And I've known a few folks who'd suffered both fates - positive tests and inadequate documentation. In the cases I had to deal with, the airlines gave them e-vouchers for new flights - some were done a couple of days in advance and a couple at the airport hours before departure. In these COVID times, they were always able to get e-vouchers. Really not sure how that will work in the future if airlines move to tighten their policies.

Then, there's the on-the-return issue - and that's probably worse. Months ago, we had folks who tested positive in Mexico, at their resort hotel, a day before their scheduled return. One member of the group ended up in the hospital, the others were required to quarantine. 10 days later - after negative tests - they were allowed to depart. The "next-flight-out" reservation was expensive. Fortunately, they did have travel protection and their hotel and medical expenditures should be covered.

Had the same thing happen with a couple of Caribbean locations. The clients were allowed to apply their e-voucher credits to the return flights, BUT they had to pay the difference in their original tickets and new tickets -- and that was pricey. Again, it was different, depending on the airline. Once again, all had travel protection...

For the major travel protection players - like Travelex, Travel Guard, etc - your coverage starts the day after you purchase the policy. So with these companies, you are covered for the "illness" impacting your inability to go on the trip - similar to if you were injured in a car accident a couple of days before departure and could not go.

Airports are starting to offer "onsite" testing - a sign of the times.. and the future - and so this issue will probably become more prevalent as more people travel, and use these onsite vendors. As every situation is different, it does pay to research your ticket cancellation policies... and to look into travel protection for any non-refundable cost.

Posted by
490 posts

I suspect this varies from country-to-country. I just booked an international trip (Australia) from NZ. I can get travel insurance that covers the risk of travel delay because of a positive test. I can NOT get travel insurance if there is a government lockdown which affects travel.

When governments do pause travel what the local airlines are doing are rebooking people at no cost - they have to really otherwise no one would be travelling at all.

Posted by
6113 posts

I found between Spain and the U.K. last year that if we changed the EasyJet flights due to our worries, we had to pay the difference in flight prices, but if the Spanish or U.K. governments changed the rules, flights could be changed for free.

For U.K. citizens, travelling via Istanbul isn’t a good option as Turkey is on the red list and would therefore trigger an expensive 10 day quarantine at a government appointed hotel.

Situations are likely to change between booking a flight and actually travelling. Caution and flexibility are going to be key to travelling this year. Staycations maybe the solution for the nervous or non flexible travellers.

Posted by
4496 posts

so now I can cancel and get an e-credit.

Margaret: If Delta is adding a stop to your itinerary then you can get a refund, that was the policy before covid or after. It’s in the contract of carriage: adding a stop or a change of 90 minutes (you have both) allows a refund.

For those fully vaccinated is insurance for covid really necessary? When the odds for a breakthrough infection are .07%? Noting that after reading several policy summaries I am not seeing any coverage for delay of return to US for a positive test and hotel accommodations for waiting out a negative test. Only seeing cancellation of whole trip or medical costs being covered.

Posted by
2207 posts

Tom_Mn, I book with Travelex & Travel Guard often. Here is the statement from Travelex:

What if I contract coronavirus while traveling?
If you or a traveling companion contract coronavirus while traveling, and it is
diagnosed by a physician, you could be eligible for trip interruption,
trip delay, emergency medical and medical evacuation coverage.

Trip interruption provides coverage for the unused portion of your
prepaid non-refundable expenses as well as any additional
transportation expenses you may incur to return home or re-join your
trip.

Trip delay provides coverage for any additional expenses you may
incur, such as hotel and meals, if a physician orders you to
physically quarantine while on a trip and you are delayed by it.

Emergency medical and evacuation provides coverage for medical
expenses incurred while treating the coronavirus and emergency
evacuation if medically necessary.

And here is a similar statement from Travel Guard:

If you become ill with COVID-19 while on a covered trip, you could be
covered for Medical Expense, Trip Interruption, Trip Delay, and
Emergency Medical Evacuation benefits if there is a confirmed
diagnosis, including proof of illness from a doctor.

Trip Interruption can provide coverage for the unused portion of your
prepaid and non-refundable expenses, as well as additional
transportation expenses incurred to return home or rejoin your trip.

Trip Delay can provide coverage for additional expenses you may incur
for hotel, meals and certain transportation costs incurred if you are
required by a physician to quarantine. Medical Expense and Emergency

Medical Evacuation can provide coverage for medical expenses incurred
while being treated for COVID-19.

These are two of the leaders in the industry. Other companies, like Allianz, have added "trip-delay-accommodations" coverage to their initial policy statements. Travel protection is only as good as the company you buy it from... so yes, always read through the policy coverage. With or without Covid issues - or even CFAR - travel protection is still quite viable depending on your circumstances.

Posted by
2207 posts

A good question to ask when purchasing travel protection in these COVID times might be, "What is the Trip Delay $$$ limit?" And, "Can you supplement that Trip Delay $$$ limit?" - especially if you're staying in a high-priced area or one with limited availabilities. As I said earlier, there seem to be more challenges & concerns on the return journey.

More and more travel protection companies are no longer offering CFAR. But they are trying to accommodate their travelers. Travel Guard has modified its cancellation policy in the last year. Travelex came out last week and dropped their 12 and 24-month deferment restrictions. Now, all active Travelex policies - even those purchased in late 2019 - are viable until at least 12/31/2022. That's a major improvement over the previous restrictive deferment policies (but you must call Travelex if you have a policy to update!!).

Travel protection is a personal choice. The primary premium cost influencers are (1) age of the travelers (2) cost of the trip, and (3) which type of policy you purchase. Depending on your situation, it may or may not work for you. I had a couple traveling - they are 87 and 91 - and for them, it was less expensive to simply cancel the trip and pay the penalties at the resort, than it was to buy an insurance policy for their age group (Kudos to them as they are still quite active travelers!).

So every situation is different...

Posted by
4496 posts

RnR: That isn't really great coverage, since a positive test is not enough to get coverage. The situation the OP is concerned about is someone returning to the US and having a positive test and being denied boarding, then having to wait out the infection. That isn't the case specifically covered by the policies, and insurance doesn't always "stretch" from what they are intended to cover to what your specific case is.

The policies are for people who feel sick during their vacation and seek a doctor's treatment. In order to trigger coverage for the OP's case it means seeing a doctor after the fact of having a positive test, and having them prescribe the isolation that will get a person past the active infection. Maybe that always happens? Also noting that neither policy specifically calls out coverage for additional airline ticket costs for missing the homeward flight, which is curious, although there is vague wording about "certain travel costs". Wondering whether the doctor has to prescribe the test for it to trigger the policy or if a self-ordered test is sufficient. I know that medical insurance in the US will not pay for a self-ordered covid test, it must be ordered by a doctor (although free walk-up tests are widely available). Also one policy refers to coverage for quarantine, which is not the OP's case, he would need to isolate. Is that an accidental misuse of quarantine or deliberate wording to exclude the OP's case and coverage for that?

Anyway neither policy would give me peace of mind, which I think is a main objective of insurance.

Posted by
8378 posts

I'm the OP and thanks for all the interesting comments. I am surprised that no one has had this happen yet, acknowledging that it is a fluid situation. Tom, yes the return trip is the worst case, but I also wondering about the flight over as well. If I have a flight departing tomorrow, and my destination requires a negative test for entry, and I get a positive result today, are all airlines currently offering no-cost re-scheduling or refunds? Does it include the three people I'm traveling with? Same on the return, and then there's the choice of whether to send onwards the other travelers.

Insurance helps, but adds significant costs, that most travelers don't plan on, I think.

Honestly, I'm not worried about this and its not an impact on any travel I'm planning. Just curious about how the airlines are handling last minute COVID-related cancelations, now that it is a known potential threat. I'm not counting on their generosity to go on indefinitely..

Posted by
2207 posts

Tom_Mn - my post was in response to this:

Noting that after reading several policy summaries I am not seeing any
coverage for delay of return to US for a positive test and hotel
accommodations for waiting out a negative test. Only seeing
cancellation of whole trip or medical costs being covered.

Unfortunately, we have had a few folks who've been stuck - on cruise ships, in Peru, in Argentina, in Mexico, and in the Caribbean - with and without COVID symptoms --- but all because of COVID situations. In those times, you're not as much worried about cost as you are getting folks safely and expeditiously home. Fortunately, they did have travel protection and it was impactful in each situation - certainly saving them far more than the policy actually cost. And that's what effective policies do, they defer risk.

Many folks are not fans of travel protection - I get that. I never bought trip protection until about 12 years ago. I started buying travel protection in part because I had a relative get severely ill while traveling in Africa; Also, my trips became more expensive, multi-layered, and lengthy - and I felt I was more at risk. And because I saw - in my current occupation - numerous cases where travel protection "salvaged" a person's vacation. Travel protection can never replace the feelings and memories you missed out on... but it can solve some of the financial concerns and provide some folks, "peace of mind."

And, unfortunately, I've seen the flip-side too. It's quite painful to have that discussion with a traveler - especially after they rejected travel protection during the planning process.

COVID has certainly impacted cancellation and refund policies. Working in 50+ countries last year, we had to deal with many layers of rules, restrictions, vouchers, refunds, and cancellation policies. But as some sense of normalcy returns, companies will have to revisit their current refund policies. For example, I had a conversation today with a vendor in Europe who has taken out numerous loans to keep his business going. He informed me that he won't be doing ANY more refunds or accepting ANY expired vouchers - as he has been doing for the last 14 months. He just can't afford to take that approach any longer --- and as he pointed out to me, he has the support of his federal government in that position.

And thus, travel protection will also have to evolve, as will all segments in the travel industry. We certainly have done so... as I would imagine the RS team has too. I think travel protection will improve; it will develop new concepts - much like a town does after a 1000-year flood. No one saw COVID coming and some of the policies and rules in place before COVID may no longer be applicable. And - in the near future - until there's less of the unknown, there will be continued risks.

Travel protection is a personal choice... But I think it's an option to explore, based on the type of trip you've created.

I am not a Travel insurance salesperson --- I don't have the license for that! But during the initial COVID period (March-May 2020), I was probably on the phone with these folks 5-6 times every week. (Thankfully, not so much anymore). I suppose it's no different than car insurance in that you hope you never have to use it. I have to admit, I learned a lot about travel protection policies, primarily because I had to try and explain them to my clients. So do research the company, read the policy thoroughly, and call the 800# and ask questions!

As far as the OP: CALL YOUR AIRLINE and ask them the questions you've posted here. We often use chat, WhatsApp, & email formats so we have a written record of our "conversation." (Twitter gets their attention also!) Every airline is handling these situations differently... so they have the answers you're looking for. Good Luck!

Posted by
11037 posts

if you are
required by a physician to quarantine.

if a physician orders you to
physically quarantine
while on a trip and you are delayed by it.

Isn't it the governmental policy that requires the quarantine, not the "physician orders" in most places?

The insurance company could have written the policy to say "if you must quarantine", but in each example they chose to add additional ( restrictive) wording. ( i.e., 'physicians orders')

I will admit I am not sure where caution ends and paranoia begins.

Posted by
8378 posts

RnR, Yes I can always look up any airlines current policy. I don't have an airline or a ticket, I was interested in anyone's recent experience getting a positive result shortly before a flight. No-cost reschedule, full refund, required to provide results, second-order effects, etc.

Posted by
2744 posts

Keep in mind, that the airline doesn’t have to do anything. An airline may or may not do something but it’s the responsibility of the traveler to meet all the requirements for travel, which includes things like passports, negative Covid tests, visas etc. So if you show up at the airline with a positive Covid test they’re probably just going look at you and say you’re not getting on a plane just like they would if you showed up without a passport.

I would suggest that if you are traveling and you get a positive Covid result, that you call your airline immediately and work with them to reschedule your flight for a few weeks down the road. And yea you may have to pay. So I would suggest that you make sure you have good insurance. There are insurance policies out there that will cover you, in spite of what the naysayers will tell you.

Posted by
4496 posts

In response to Carol that there can be coverage:

Reading the Allianz travel policy, there is coverage for having to stay longer but it is limited to $1250 (earned in $250/day increments up to 5 days max).

So for example having to stay in Iceland for 8 days for a negative covid test and paying the additional reticketing flight costs home-- you are looking at less than half the expenses being covered.

Cost of a hotel and meals in Iceland: $350/day = $2800
Additional cost of rebooked fare: $1000

So that's $2550 not covered, and then the $350 cost of the policy added on top. Not really worth it to get insurance for this isolation and rebooking cost instance for this concern of the OP (and me).

Posted by
4496 posts

If anyone is aware of a stand alone policy just to cover potentially not being able to fly home due to a positive test I would be interested.

I have already booked my trip with fully refundable lodging and car rental, and with airfare convertible to a voucher good for 3 years. So there's nothing to insure in my opinion, my home health insurance is good there, and I am not going to buy a full policy for hundreds of dollars for coverage I don't need just to get coverage for isolation, meals and increased costs when trying to get home.