The last week of September (13 weeks before Christmas ) is apparently the optimum time to book a Christmas getaway; according to AAA.com. Surprisingly December 25th is not the cheapest date, apparently you will get better deals if you fly on the 23rd…if you are planning a trip don’t forget to check out the discounts we have with Air New Zealand, you can get the current codes by emailing us at ANZCodes@britsin.la
If you are anything like me planning that far in advance can be a bit risky, work, etc is so unpredictable, so picking a date right now is out of the question. Or you worry that BA will decide to strike again? Or perhaps your airline carrier goes out of business? As we’ve all just witnessed ‘reliable and trustworthy’ “Don’t just book it, Thomas Cook it” is suddenly no more! They were in the travel business for almost 200 years!! Apparently they were still taking bookings last Saturday but by Monday morning they had shut up shop. I posted about this possibility back on September 19th, so surely they had an inkling that this was going to happen? The British government has stepped in to repatriate the stranded customers but because the business has shut down completely it is unlikely that anyone will receive compensation. Refunds will be given for future package holidays as these are protected under ABTA/ATOL. If you booked a ‘flight only’ with TC, the only way you have a chance of getting a refund is if either you took out travel insurance or used a credit card to purchase it. If you used a debit card the rules vary. Some banks offer a charge back scheme, so if that is how you paid I would recommend getting on it ASAP. Their business model was outdated, so it is not surprising that they went under, but what is shocking is how suddenly it seemed to happen.
What can you do to protect yourself when you book future travel? I would recommend booking everything with a credit card, and if possible a card that offers travel protection. I hear that the Chase Sapphire Card is excellent, however it does come with an annual fee of $450; although I am sure it is worth it if you ever have to claim. Contrary to popular belief, the American Express card is not one that automatically covers everything when it comes to travel. I found this out the hard way.
Travel Insurance is an annoying added expense but if you have to even use it only once it will probably pay for itself. Some companies even offer ‘cancel for any reason’ options, so if that audition with Steven Spielberg finally materializes you can feel comfortable knowing you can say yes without losing out financially. I personally use Allianz, (www.allianztravelinsurance.com). They offer one-trip plans but I recommend shelling out for one of their annual plans. Which, depending on your personal circumstances, start at a little over $100. They also offer family plans too. Travelex seems to be a very popular choice. I’ve not tried them myself, but they get excellent reviews. (www.travelexinsurance.com).
Visit www.insuremytrip.com to explore and compare more options. If you have a company you like, or know one to avoid, please do let us know. You can email us at info@britsin.la or comment on our social media pages – @BritsinLA
Cash, cheques and debits cards are a very big no when it comes to paying for your trip! For obvious reasons banks seem to care more about their own money, particularly when they are loaning it to you, and therefore put more protections in place. In fact most rental car companies won’t allow you to hire a vehicle if you don’t have a credit card. But if you have to use them, then an insurance policy is even more important. I know many of our members have been affected by this Thomas Cook debacle. So if you are stuck, stranded or just a bit confused, please do drop us a line and we will see if we can help you.
A dedicated support service is being provided by The Civil Aviation Authority to assist customers currently overseas and those in the UK with future bookings. Please visit: thomascook.caa.co.uk for further information.
If you need a bit of cheering up come along to one of our upcoming events – and you don’t have to worry about getting stranded! We have both Breakfast Club at Cecconi’s and Pub Quiz at the Cat & Fiddle on a weekly basis. Full details can be found at www.britsin.la or email us at info@britsin.la.
Hope to see some of you soon!
Cheers!
Eileen
