canceling flights...new to this, have a question.

[daisyx3]

DH and I may have to cancel our May cruise because he has developed health issues that would make it very difficult, if not impossible. I have a month until PIF so I would get my cruise deposit back, but I have already booked air. I have never had to cancel air before. I do have "cancel for any reason" insurance that I included airfare on. If I used that, do I have to wait until the trip date to get the fare returned?
Also, is it possible to transfer the $ for that trip and use it for a trip or two for me to visit the grandkids? He would stay home. Just thought that might be easier than dealing with the insurance.

 

[rwdavis2]

Call the company with which you have the insurance. I doubt anyone here can help without knowing the exact terms of your insurance. What airline? They all have different policies regarding cancellations. Make sure you know exactly what "cancel for any reason" really means.

 

[holden]

We always get the cancel for any reason insurance. I do think we had to provide medical documentation once when we had to cancel due to a health related issue. A note from the doctor was all we needed.

 

[Brett Wyman]

It depends on the airline and what type of condition it is(and the person that picks up the phone too). Also most airlines are much more likely to give you a credit for future flight than a refund.

 

[Mommb]

First, as soon as you are sure you will need to cancel, call the airline. As mentioned above, you may get a sympathetic person who can give you a refund or a credit. Be aware that even if you can get a credit, it is possible that your husband’s credit would be usable only by him.

if the airline will not give you the refund or credit you need, then you can file a claim with the travel insurance. If you have documentation from your husband’s physician that he is unable to travel (and either the condition did not exist when you purchased the insurance or the insurance covers pre-existing conditions), you should be able to file a claim before the original trip date.

Several years ago I had a sudden medical issue a few months before a European cruise. We had booked a domestic flight followed by a flight to Europe, as that saved a good deal of money. When my doctor advised me not to travel, I was able to get a refund for the European flight and a credit for the domestic flight, minus a change fee, for my whole family. However, I recall being told by the airline for the European flight that their policy changed shortly after I purchased the tickets, and that had I purchased them a week later, we would not have been able to get a refund.

I hope that your husband is able to travel, but if he isn’t, I wish you luck with managing the cancellations.

 

[daisyx3]

It is Delta. My husband just started Dialysis. The trip is 5 months away, and we will probably be on at-home dialysis by then (there are two types and I'm not sure which will be better) so we technically could travel, but at this point I'm not comfortable doing so, taking all the supplies, etc. I will probably wait a couple of months to determine, and I did get cancel for any reason (he has been in kidney trouble for a few years with no symptoms except bad blood work, so I always get this type of insurance just in case).

 

[kaytieeldr]

He could also stay on hemodialysis until after your trip. He should be (as) accustomed (as possible) to it by then, and the social workers at his facility should be able to find him a temporary location at your destination.

 

[daisyx3]

well, the location is a DCL cruise , so really no backup locations there, LOL. (trying to make light of a difficult situation) I am now thinking of keeping the flight but shortening it by a couple of days and switching to a WDW trip; the money I already have down on the cruise would pay it. I'll just focus on taking a cruise in the future when he (hopefully) gets a transplant.