Airline refunds

Do a search on this forum. You will find many, many other threads, most with very good, practical advice (and with some ranting and complaining) - advice both on what to do, how to do it, when to do it, and also sugestions to calibrate your expectations and try to keep a bit of perspective (as we are in the midst of a worldwide disaster that will claim millions of lives).

I posted some quotes and a link to an article about this subject on the forum today. You may want to read the quotes.

Your frustration is shared by many others. I am sorry for the situation you find yourself in.

Unless it's too late and you already accepted the vouchers, it would be to your benefit to wait for the airlines to initiate the flight cancellations. It's not guaranteed, but it's likely and you have nothing to lose by that approach. If an airline cancels a flight, you are owed a refund (credit back to your card) and the situation is clear cut. If you cancel your reservation preemptively, then they will play games with you that are in their favor.

All airlines are strapped for cash and all seem to be offering vouchers not refunds, since the cancellation is not their fault. On your basis, you wouldn’t fly with anybody as they are all doing the same thing. Wait until they cancel rather than cancel yourself to see if that makes a difference.

Niels, had any of your flights been cancelled before you called? I called Lufthansa today, and after only about a 10-15 minute wait, I got an agent. I knew that 2 of my 4 flights (starting April 14) had already been cancelled, so I asked for a refund. The agent was very pleasant, and presented me with the voucher option, which she said could be extended until next April. I told her I'd prefer a refund because I didn't know when I'd next be traveling. She said she understood, and went ahead and processed the refund. So I think that once a flight is cancelled, the airline will undoubtedly try to get you to accept a voucher. But if you persist, you'll get a refund. I understand the airlines' predicament, and I would have probably taken the voucher option if I felt more confident as to when I'll be travelling.

Based on my current experience with Delta, I would not assume you are getting a refund until the money is back in your account.

Our flight was booked by Ovago with American who passed it off to their partner, British Airways. And it was B/A that cancelled our return flight from Berlin.
We had been told online by B/A that we could get a full refund since it was them that cancelled
Then we got a notice online by American Airliens that our flight was non-refundable.
Ovago is now calling saying only a flight credit is being offered. But we can take the credit and pay another $400 to schedule a Fall, 2020 Berlin flight. And their computers don't go past 12/2020 on arranging 2021 flights.
When you get down to it, how can we be even sure that it will be safe to go to Europe in the Fall, and whether certain airlines will even exist then?

It's almost enough to make us take the credit and fly somewhere domestic. But there are so few places in North America we have not been to and care to see again.

If an airline cancels a flight or rebooks you on a flight that is unacceptable, they owe you a cash refund. Now, they can offer you a voucher, a pet monkey, or whatever. If you accept any of those, case closed. If you insist on getting your money back, they have to oblige. They may not make it easy to get but they have to make the option available.

It's different if YOU cancel the trip. That has nothing to do with the airline so if it is a non-refundable ticket, you could be in trouble. However, most airlines are being nice about it because of the virus and offering passengers vouchers towards future flights. They are not obligated to give you anything

To the OP, I'm guessing it's a non-refundable ticket and that means non-refundable. Just because RS canceled you tour does not mean the airline has to give your money back.

just cancelled a domestic round-trip flight, departure scheduled for one week from today on United. The site allowed me to cancel for a full refund, and the process took about five minutes. I have thought very little of United in the past, but now will give it a closer look whenever that becomes an option.

We had the exact same experience with Lufthansa as Robert in Portland, Maine. Our plane was cancelled, they offered us a voucher, we requested a cash refund, Lufthansa said okay. The glitch is that the representative told us that we would see the refund on our credit in 7 days....that was 3 weeks ago. We have since contacted Lufthansa via Twitter DM and were told that they are running behind with refunds because of the large number of cancellations.

Anyone else receive their airline refund from Lufthansa yet?

While Frank II may be right about non-refundable tickets, I think it misses the point that the airlines are now being bailed out by the taxpayers, i.e. corporate welfare, socialism, call it what you want, but the airlines are now feeding once again at the public trough.

These are extraordinary times for travelers and the airlines. You can take the hard ass approach regarding non-refundable tickets if you want, and say screw the traveler. But in light of the corporate welfare being provided to the airlines, I think the airlines could acknowledge that travelers bought non-refundable tickets with the intent of using them as is. The same extraordinary circumstances that result in corporate welfare to the airlines are the circumstances forcing people to cancel their non-refundable tickets. It works both ways.

Thanks Delta! I received a full refund for a non refundable business class ticket from Tampa through Cincinnati to CDG. I was given a call back time so I did not have to wait on hold. Was offered a voucher but said I would not be able to schedule my April in Paris ( Rick Steves Heart of France) tour within the time I would have to use it. Was then offered a refund which I accepted. This was Monday nite and my credit card has been refunded as of today.

I just used Delta's call back system and I was called within the time of 23 minutes and spoke with a very helpful and understanding agent (Larry).
Last week I cancelled my 4/20 flight - MCO-BOS -but was given an e-credit (the only choice online), but encouraged by all of you and your reports of actually getting a refund (I had only until December this year to use the credit which was not going to happen)
I just called Delta and they refunded the cost of my ticket.
Thanks to all of you for sharing your experience, and THANKS to Delta Airlines which I will be using for my trips as soon as I can go somewhere :-).

The glitch is that the representative told us that we would see the refund on our credit in 7 days....that was 3 weeks ago.

Christine, I was told by the Lufthansa agent yesterday that my refund could take a month; they're so backed up.

The bailout terms said nothing about passengers. The deal was no more layoffs. Some of the money was a grant and the other was loan guarantees.

The airlines were not made to treat passengers any differently.

I'm curious, Frank. Do you work in the airline industry? You seem awfully willing to defend their every move.

I sympathize with all businesses right now, as everyone is hurting and none of it is anyone's fault. Though I am curious how many billions of dollars the airlines have made off of passengers in ludicrous fees (gas surcharges even though the price of oil had gone down; baggage; seat selection; etc).

Niels570, if your flights were end of April they are most probably going to be canceled by the airline in which case you are entitled to a refund. You have to wait them out. I had a flight to Amsterdam April 14 on Delta that I knew they would cancel so I just waited until I got the email stating my trip was canceled. I got the email two days ago, called them today to request my refund and got it.

I saw on NPR that airlines are seeking to be released from the requirement to refund fares for flights they cancel. Much opposition to that position, of course.
https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/04/07/829091394/airlines-want-to-cancel-rule-requiring-them-to-refund-fares-for-canceled-flights

My 10th RS tour is scheduled for September, but my optimism that it will go is diminishing. I was lucky to get great fares on Delta in February, so if I have to eat the fare, it won’t be a disaster.

Tdw, a bailout is a bailout. The airlines are feeding at the public trough. The terms of the "loans" and whether they are ever paid back remains to be seen. Corporate welfare, plain and simple. I'm not saying that it isn't necessary to save the industry, but I object to the double standard where the public bails them out and then the airlines screw their passengers. These are not ordinary times, and the old "non-refundable means non-refundable" mantra is little more than airline apologist propaganda.