Beverly Lynn
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Monday, October 29, 2001
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Casualties of War: Three More Companies Are Cancelled by Cancellations--Here's How to Get Refunds
Have you cancelled your vacation plans? Someone has. Too many people, in fact.
Three more companies have either scaled back operations or gone out of business completely. This didn't happen in a vacuum; it happened because people, cowed by terrorists, demanded their money back. Which are the latest casualties of American panic?
SPANAIR
This company is alive and well, but it ended all coverage to and from the United States (from Washington's Dulles airport) on October 25. For now, it's sticking to Europe for its bread and butter.
The planes it used have been mothballed, and the company hopes to resume American flights sometime in the spring. For now, though, holders of Spanair tickets are advised to contact the company's reservations line (888/545-5757), where operators will either give passengers full refunds or accommodate them on other airlines (such as, gulp, United).
By the way, if the replacement ticket costs more than the original Spanair ticket, don't worry about it. The airline is absorbing the extra cost because it's sorry to have inconvenienced riders.
AMERICAN CLASSIC VOYAGES
American Classic Voyages, the largest cruiser under the U.S. flag, filed for Chapter 11 last week. Its Hawaii ships, the "Patriot" and the "Independence," finished their runs and were docked. Over 2,100 people were fired.
If you already have tickets for the Delta Queen steamboat (which has been in operation for over 75 years and is a National Historic Landmark), rest easy. Those runs are still operating, and all passenger payments will be placed into an escrow account until the date of sailing. So even if the worst happens, your cash will be safe.
If you booked on any of the company's other boats, we hope you paid by credit card or had travel insurance, because those are the only avenues that will get your money back right away.
Otherwise, you're out of luck for the time being. It's now a matter for the courts, and to get your money, you will have to file a Proof of Claim with the with the Clerk of the Court for the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. Keep abreast of the former cruise company's Web site, www.amcv.comf, for the right address; it will be posted soon. In the meantime, the Web site posts a list of theoretical questions and answers.
The company offers this address for immediate questions, but not for claims. If you write it, be prepared for a cookie-cutter response:
American Classic Voyages
Robin Street Wharf
1380 Port of New Orleans Place
New Orleans, LA 70130-1890
AMCV still has high hopes of beginning anew. In fact, it has arranged for construction of two new ships to proceed apace.
RENAISSANCE CRUISES
This carrier, which specialized in European voyages, went out of business a few weeks before AMCV, so it has already established its address for customers' bankruptcy claims. If you didn't pay with a credit card or if you lack travel insurance, claims can be filed at:
United States Bankruptcy Court
Renaissance Claims
P.O. Box 019169
Miami, FL 33130
If you need help in filing a claim, write to:
First Union Financial Bank Claim Track Service Group
210 North Ridgecrest Lane, Suite 100
Jacksonville, FL 32259
Don't expect snappy action once you file a claim. The American legal system takes its sweet time.
Article 4 of 6 << Previous Contents Next >>
Casualties of War: Three More Companies Are Cancelled by Cancellations--Here's How to Get Refunds
Have you cancelled your vacation plans? Someone has. Too many people, in fact.
Three more companies have either scaled back operations or gone out of business completely. This didn't happen in a vacuum; it happened because people, cowed by terrorists, demanded their money back. Which are the latest casualties of American panic?
SPANAIR
This company is alive and well, but it ended all coverage to and from the United States (from Washington's Dulles airport) on October 25. For now, it's sticking to Europe for its bread and butter.
The planes it used have been mothballed, and the company hopes to resume American flights sometime in the spring. For now, though, holders of Spanair tickets are advised to contact the company's reservations line (888/545-5757), where operators will either give passengers full refunds or accommodate them on other airlines (such as, gulp, United).
By the way, if the replacement ticket costs more than the original Spanair ticket, don't worry about it. The airline is absorbing the extra cost because it's sorry to have inconvenienced riders.
AMERICAN CLASSIC VOYAGES
American Classic Voyages, the largest cruiser under the U.S. flag, filed for Chapter 11 last week. Its Hawaii ships, the "Patriot" and the "Independence," finished their runs and were docked. Over 2,100 people were fired.
If you already have tickets for the Delta Queen steamboat (which has been in operation for over 75 years and is a National Historic Landmark), rest easy. Those runs are still operating, and all passenger payments will be placed into an escrow account until the date of sailing. So even if the worst happens, your cash will be safe.
If you booked on any of the company's other boats, we hope you paid by credit card or had travel insurance, because those are the only avenues that will get your money back right away.
Otherwise, you're out of luck for the time being. It's now a matter for the courts, and to get your money, you will have to file a Proof of Claim with the with the Clerk of the Court for the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. Keep abreast of the former cruise company's Web site, www.amcv.comf, for the right address; it will be posted soon. In the meantime, the Web site posts a list of theoretical questions and answers.
The company offers this address for immediate questions, but not for claims. If you write it, be prepared for a cookie-cutter response:
American Classic Voyages
Robin Street Wharf
1380 Port of New Orleans Place
New Orleans, LA 70130-1890
AMCV still has high hopes of beginning anew. In fact, it has arranged for construction of two new ships to proceed apace.
RENAISSANCE CRUISES
This carrier, which specialized in European voyages, went out of business a few weeks before AMCV, so it has already established its address for customers' bankruptcy claims. If you didn't pay with a credit card or if you lack travel insurance, claims can be filed at:
United States Bankruptcy Court
Renaissance Claims
P.O. Box 019169
Miami, FL 33130
If you need help in filing a claim, write to:
First Union Financial Bank Claim Track Service Group
210 North Ridgecrest Lane, Suite 100
Jacksonville, FL 32259
Don't expect snappy action once you file a claim. The American legal system takes its sweet time.
