What to do if swine flu affects your holiday

May 01, 2009

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The outbreak of swine flu in Mexico has many people reassessing their holiday plans. Where do you stand financially if your holiday is affected?

I've booked a package holiday to Mexico, leaving in the near future. What do I do?

As the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) is advising against all non-essential travel to Mexico, tour operators are reviewing the situation. If your holiday is booked with an ABTA tour operator and is scheduled for departure while the FCO advice is in force, you are entitled to receive suitable alternative arrangements, or a full refund of all money paid to the tour operator if that isn't possible. But you are not entitled to extra compensation as the cause of cancellation is beyond the tour operator's control.

I've booked independently. Can I claim a refund on my insurance?

Scheduled flights to Mexico may go ahead despite the FCO's advice, so you may be unable to get a refund. However, "you may be able to cancel and claim a refund from your travel insurance", says The Times. Check your policy.

I'm going somewhere other than Mexico but want to cancel. Can I get a refund?

Unless the FCO has advised against travel to that destination you are not legally entitled to a refund if you cancel your holiday. Most travel insurance policies won't cover the costs of cancellation in these circumstances, but check.

My holiday to Mexico was cut short – can I get any money back?

Once the FCO advice was issued, tour operators will have begun either arranging alternative accommodation, or for you to return to the UK as soon as possible. If you have had to come home early then you are not entitled to any compensation, but you should receive a refund of any unused services – eg, accommodation costs – if the tour operator is able to recover the costs from its suppliers.

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