This is a post not about planning a trip or taking a trip, but about sadly cancelling a trip.
Maybe my experience is useful to others.
I'd also like to send praise to all those that accommodated the process (even though they likely will never see this post).
I'll also end with a question/offer which I hope is acceptable to the forum moderator(s).
I usually travel to England from the US twice a year. I see my parents and travel like tourist with a little inside information. I was there in November 2019 but due to the pandemic, it was October 2021 before I was able to return.
I hoped to come back again in December with family to spend more time with my parents.
Unfortunately, my trip has been scuppered due to the Omicron variant.
I cancelled my flights with Virgin Atlantic - the website made it very easy to request a travel voucher for the full amount which I can use anytime before the end of April 2023. One request covered multiple individual ticket which I had booked with one booking reference number. I received an email confirmation the same day with the travel voucher numbers - one for each ticket holder.
Cancelling accommodation was easy, since everything was fully refundable. Kudos to Marlin Aparthotel Waterloo in London and Town or Country in Southampton for making the process very easy online and confirming with an email within an hour.
I had bought two very nice seats for Arsenal vs Southampton at the Emirates. Those tickets were non-refundable, but a wonderful Fan Services Advisor named Hazel read my email explaining the situation and immediately processed a full refund - now that's what I call customer service!
I had also booked tickets for the Carols by Candlelight concert at the Royal Festival Hall in the Southbank Centre. This time it was Josh from Ticketing & Membership Operations who read my email and quickly processed a full refund for me (normal Covid-related policy is a credit) - again great customer service and you know I will be going there for a concert as soon as I can!
Lastly, I had purchased four tickets for admission to the Hyde Park Winter Wonderland on Sunday 12 December with a 6pm Cirque Beserk show, plus a ride for each of us on the giant wheel. Unfortunately those tickets really are non-returnable - See Tickets Customer Services advised me as follows:
"We are unable to offer a refund as tickets are strictly non-refundable as per our terms and conditions of sale.
Tickets for this event can be gifted to family or friends if you are no longer able attend.
We are happy to exchange your order subject to availability. If there is no availability showing online than unfortunately we are unable to add any more tickets.
Please rebook your tickets for the desired date and time and get back in touch with the new reference number within 24 hours. Upon receipt of your new reference number we will action a face value refund on your original order."
So if it's okay with the moderator(s), here's my question:
Is there anyone out there on the RS forum that could make good use of the Hyde Park Winter Wonderland tickets that day?
The entry window is 10am - 1pm, but you can stay as long as you like and purchase other rides, activities etc., when you're there. The giant wheel does not have timed entry.
This would have been my first time there, but it looks great:
https://hydeparkwinterwonderland.com/
Cheers
-Charles