Cancelled due to fires- AAA will not refund!!!

[kiwitravel]

Thanks Farmfresh!

Kiwi, I'm sorry you've had bad experience with travel agents. For the record, 99% of the time if you see a rate on a hotel's website an agent should be able to offer you the same price, this includes "internet specials".

Its not so much we have had bad experiences with agents, just that its significantly cheaper to do it yourself these days. Here in NZ agents can't compete and many agents are "downsizing" the number of stores and agents that are employed. As I have said earlier its not for everyone and agents won't dissappear altogether but I see it as very poor that on top of costing more, in this case the buyer was disadvantaged by buying through an agent.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

.... As I have said earlier its not for everyone and agents won't dissappear altogether but I see it as very poor that on top of costing more, in this case the buyer was disadvantaged by buying through an agent.

Actually, to the extent the OP was disadvantaged, it was because she booked a package. In some areas you can book AAA packages on the web, without using an agent, so her underlying issues have nothing to do with booking thrugh an agent or not.

Sometimes packages, esp. Disney packages, can be cheaper or have enough "goodies" such as the unlimited fastpass offered in 2006 of "free" dining at WDW, to make them worthwhile.

As with anything, there are a few good travel agents and a lot of mediocre ones. AAA sells a lot of Disney packages, so there are even some good agents that work at AAA.

At the end of the day, AAA should reimburse her the airfare because her airline -- Alaska -- was giving refunds. AAA will probably not refund 50% of the land portion -- the stated cancellation penalty. She may be able to get some compensation from the travel insurance, but there is no guarantee because the hotel and airline were still operating.

--Suzanne

 

[kiwitravel]

At the end of the day, AAA should reimburse her the airfare because her airline -- Alaska -- was giving refunds. AAA will probably not refund 50% of the land portion -- the stated cancellation penalty. She may be able to get some compensation from the travel insurance, but there is no guarantee because the hotel and airline were still operating.

--Suzanne

I am a little confused here with all this..... If the Airline was giving a refund with no cancellation fee, and DLR likewise was giving a refund on tickets and hotel, then if AAA only refunds 50% of the land portion they must get to keep that 50% for themselves???? In other words they profit enormously out of this, far more profit than if the traveller hadn't cancelled. I'm sorry but this just doesn't seem fair. If AAA can get the refunds then they should be passed on to the traveller, there may be a justification to charge a small handling fee to process the cancelation but no more than a $100 or so...

 

[SuzanneSLO]

I am a little confused here with all this..... If the Airline was giving a refund with no cancellation fee, and DLR likewise was giving a refund on tickets and hotel, then if AAA only refunds 50% of the land portion they must get to keep that 50% for themselves???? In other words they profit enormously out of this, far more profit than if the traveller hadn't cancelled. I'm sorry but this just doesn't seem fair. If AAA can get the refunds then they should be passed on to the traveller, there may be a justification to charge a small handling fee to process the cancelation but no more than a $100 or so...

Actually, it is probably WDTC, the package supplier, which will keep the money. AAA is probably only the travel agent booking the package and will only keep its cut of the non-refunded money.

The penalty for cancellation, while it may not seem fair, is the issue with packages. Other than airline tickets, packages often have greater cancellation penalties than the underlying travel supplier. For example, if you book room only at a DLH hotel, you get a full refund if you cancel 3 or more days out. If you book a WDTC (or WDTC thru AAA) package, there is a penality in every case even if you cancel more than 3 days out. This cancellation penalty is the trade off for booking the package and booking a package may or may not be more convenient or a better deal.

One advantage of booking a package is that there is usually a suggestion to book travel insurance, but a good travel agent would also make a similar suggstion. And the most common forms of travel insurance don't pay off in every case of concellation; it depends on the underlying cause. The OP would probably have been better off if the hotels of the DLR evacuated or stop taking vactioners due to the fires (as some in San Diego essentially did during this time to make room for the evacuees). Because they didn't, it is possible the OP will not be reimbursed by the insurance company either.

-- Suzanne

 

[kiwitravel]

Actually, it is probably WDTC, the package supplier, which will keep the money. AAA is probably only the travel agent booking the package and will only keep its cut of the non-refunded money.

Thanks for clearing that up, I am sure there are a lot like myself who didn't know this. I would have thought that AAA could have pressured WDTC to come to the party in this case, AAA must be a big client of theirs and a "we will have to reconsider using your packages in the future" type discussion would have got the desired result. Whilst it outlines the situation a little better for our poor traveller it doesn't really help her, perhaps she should find out who her package supplier is and give them a call?

 

[Disneyenthusiast]

We had to cancel our Disneyworld trip last spring due to my husband's surgery. We did purchase trip insurance and eventually got our $ back (less the cost of the insurance). We had to jump through so many hoops, that we have decided to do our own booking or check with Costco next time. Booking hotels on your own, you can cancel right up to the last few days. The airlines ususally have a staggered pricing for their tickets. If you pay a bit more, you would have the opportunity to rebook. (Our trip to Maui went without a hitch through Costco, but we didn't need to cancel or reschedule.) We have belonged to AAA for years, but are less happy with their packages than we were.

 

[bumbershoot]

We had to cancel our Disneyworld trip last spring due to my husband's surgery. We did purchase trip insurance and eventually got our $ back (less the cost of the insurance). We had to jump through so many hoops, that we have decided to do our own booking or check with Costco next time. Booking hotels on your own, you can cancel right up to the last few days. The airlines ususally have a staggered pricing for their tickets. If you pay a bit more, you would have the opportunity to rebook. (Our trip to Maui went without a hitch through Costco, but we didn't need to cancel or reschedule.) We have belonged to AAA for years, but are less happy with their packages than we were.

Costco also books through WDTC, so this sort of issue won't be stopped by using Costco.

Though their travel insurance people *might* be different, I don't know.

The thing about booking packages is that ALL of this is explained ahead of time. You take the good (one-stop shopping, possibly better price, lanyard and tags and mickey's toontown madness vouchers, etc) along with the bad (spelled out cancellation policies).

We booked through Costco and I made three changes to our reservation. Each time, b/c I read their change policy, I expected to be charged the $25 change fee. Each time, b/c when you call you talk to the WDTC people and they tend to be nice, they waived it (even when I was bringing DOWN the cost of my reservation). But I knew what to expect, it was all spelled out.

This actual situation is a bit of a grey area, since the place was open and the hotels were open, and it was the *possibility* of illness that caused the cancelation, and I have a feeling ultimately the OP will prevail with either AAA or the insurance company, but I know that I personally would never expect to in this situation.

 

[PrincessSitka]

I would write Alaska Airlines let them know what AAA is doing and let them lean on AAA alittle bit if they can. They might have a way to get around that policy. There were warning's about health issue all over the news.

 

[samkj]

nevermind

 

[Vanvmom]

Well put Amy (at least it was before you editted it), I agree with you.

As for the whole frustration level...each person's situation is different - sometimes using a TA is worth it, other times we book on our own (esp. if we are utilizing travel points for part of the trip). There are always terms and conditions that go along with booking vacation travel.

For our family, on DL trips... we risk it and book without INS. For Disney Cruises, we've always purchased the travel ins. that AAA offers (which is less expensive than the travel ins. that WDTC offers).

If I booked through a TA, I would not expect to get the same cancellation considerations that I would have if I booked on my own.

 

[Lou-Ann]

I am starting to think that I will never buy a package if this is what the cancellation problems are. I have never had a problem with the room only deals and buying the tickets on my own....Who needs these hassles?

 

[audrabolster]

I am starting to think that I will never buy a package if this is what the cancellation problems are. I have never had a problem with the room only deals and buying the tickets on my own....Who needs these hassles?

You can still use these packages, just be sure to get travelers insurance in case of something like this!