Cancelling a holiday and trying to get something (anything!) back??

[kazzie]

I have week booked to go to Lanzarote on November 3rd.I've booked a villa from private owner and flights with air 2000/First Choice booked at Thomas Cook.
My DS age 15,who some of you know has special needs/Asperger's etc,has become more and more afraid of flying.On the last flight in May to and from Spain he was in a terrible state.So it hasn't come as a surprise that he said 2 days ago he refuses to go to Lanzarote or to fly a short haul flight ever again He isn't being awkward or controlling he really is afraid.Thankfully he will fly to Orlando (we're going for a week in December) because he believes those aircraft won't crash and feels happier they have 4 engines.We have tried and failed to convince him it is safer to fly than cross the road tec. but to no avail

We don't have anyone who will look after Mattie so we need to cancel the holiday.Is there anyway I can recoup even a small amount of the money, as the premium flights and top of the range villa cost the earth (ironically all booked with Mattie in mind?? ) I have paid in full for the villa and flights. I have 2 friends whose GP will give them sick notes or medical notes (whatever it's called) for whatever they ask for.Although my GP is very supportive of the stress we're under and is right up to date on the situation with Mattie,I have no idea what her response would be if I ask her to make out I'm ill?

She may possibly give me a note regarding stress etc. as she's seen me recently and was concerned about me (Mattie also hasn't been at school since last September-me full time carer) as that isn't her being untruthful say as saying I've a bad back,are those sufficient grounds to cancel a holiday in regard to medical cover?? OR would it be classed as pre-existing conditions as it's regarding Mattie.

Or should I go in,be untruthful and pretend I've hurt my back or something.......... or is that totally unethical??

I'd really appreciate any advice as I've never cancelled a holiday before and don't even know whether to do it now or closer to the time?

 

[angel659]

Hiya

I am sorry to hear about your predicament.

We cancelled a holiday a few years ago we lost half of our money. We booked with Airtours back then so I am not sure if you can get any money back if its not a package holiday if you cancel within the agreement times.

I would read on your travel insurance see what it covers and see if your GP would write you a letter that would be within your terms of cancellation.

The only other option is to see if the flights are transferrable i.e sell them on including the villa at perhaps a loss. Does anyone else want to go or even advertise on ebay. I have seen so many flights and holidays on sale due to people not being able to go and cant claim on insurance.

These are the only other ideas I can think of really. Hope this helps.

 

[carolfoy]

Difficult situation I do sympsthise, I don't think you'll get anything back on insurance UNLESS they gave you special dispensation for your sons condition, or if they are really cruel they'd class it under their 'mental instability' section which offers NO cover at all. I'd try selling it to someone privately and offer to pay the name change fee on the aircraft (although that may run to £60 + per person) It is unethical getting a note from your doc saying you're too Ill but I've had clients in similair situations who have done that and thankfully their insurance has paid out (both times this was not my companys insurance nor did I handle the cancellations as they were sunday cancellations) but do be aware that if you were 'spot checked' by the insurance claims dept you could be fined heftily or imprisoned. could you ask the villa owners if you can defer? and then you'd have longer to sell the rental on to someone? If you go down the name change route do it sooner rather than later, It probably sounds mad but could you make a present of it to someone? rather than lose all that money for no reason
I'm really sorry about your situation, I hope you resolve it

 

[Miffy2003]

Karen, I've no advice I'm afraid, but I wanted to wish you well. I really hope you manage to sort something out! What a difficult situation to find yourself in

 

[kazzie]

Thanks very much for your advice.

I guess is this was a 'one off' cancellation I'm sure the owner would maybe allow us at acost to move the dates and possibly the flights,but this is it now no more travel to Europe,I can't believe

I hadn't thought at all about 'selling' the holiday,I don't think I could cope with that!

I'm not sure what I will do at the moment........

 

[florida sun]

Karen

Good Luck to you and I hope all works out well for you. Sending you lots of

Sue

 

[alisonbestford]

Personally I think that you are well within your rights to get a sick note for stress!
You've already said your doc is concerned about you.
As a fellow full time carer (for my husband) I have to say that we repeatedly neglect our own, genuine health concerns - usually at our own expense
Stress is a valid reason for getting a sick note.
No-one knows how you, personally, are coping with everyday life.
We all cope differently and, if your GP is willing to write you a note for stress IMHO I say 'go for it'
I wouldn't have thought that an ins investigation would be anything you need worry about.
You're not doing anything wrong
As a nurse I would say that stress wouldn't be classed as a pre-existing condition
Go and have a word with your GP.
I'd be surprised if she wasn't sympathetic
Go for it.
She's only human and you do a great job caring for your son
I would be surprised if you didn't have a legitimate insurance claim pending

 

[jdybnsn]

Kazzie - what a terrible situation to be in - I do hope that you don't have to lose all that money - not to mention an obviously well earned break.

I'm not sure this suggestion would be any practcal use at all, but here goes.... do you think there would be any benefit in finding out if your airport run any of those courses for people who have a fear of flying, or finding out if they would be prepared to help him in anyway overcome his concerns/ fears ?

I wondered if, since he has a special condition, they would be prepared to help you in anyway and treat him as a special individual case (rather than as just an average fearful passenger) - you never know perhaps a letter to someone in authority might just provide a different avenue to try ? Sorry if it sounds too simplistic - I'm not very well up on what his condition entails I'm afraid - so apologies if I'm out of order.

It would be a shame to think that your son may be limited to where he can travel for possibly the rest of his life.

I really hope you can get things sorted.

 

[Cyrano]

Good luck sorting this out.

Reid

 

[mrshnn]

hope everything works out well for you,good luck

 

[carolfoy]

Before you get a sign off from your doctor for stress, please check that your insurance covers you for cancellation under that condition, theres no point in getting a note to say you can't travel due to stress to find that they won't pay out for that. I do hope you get it sorted, I think the other posters idea of a fear of flying course may be useful but from what I know of aspergers it may increase his worries and you don't want that to affect your florida trip

 

[alisonbestford]

Before you get a sign off from your doctor for stress, please check that your insurance covers you for cancellation under that condition, theres no point in getting a note to say you can't travel due to stress to find that they won't pay out for that.

This is true but, IMHO, stress is a serious health problem which can manifest itself in many ways.
I would talk to your GP and see whether you can come up with a solution if you need to cancel your holiday
At no time do I think you should worry about the insurance company investigating you!
You are doing nothing wrong
Good luck with sorting things out.
I hope you get to go

 

[carolfoy]

I agree Alison that stress is a serious issue I was just trying to warn Kazzie first to check her insurance company does cover it, as a travel agent I see numerous claims turned down for the most bizarre isuues and wanted her to make sure she'll get her money back through that way

 

[alisonbestford]

 

[kazzie]

Thanks to you all for your additional thoughts and advice

Well,where do I start! DS comes to me on Thursday and says 'I think I can overcome my fear,I WILL go to Lanzarote' He is now using all the facts and figures to convince himself it's OK to fly,just like he used them all to explain why he wouldn't fly! It's like any of us I suppose,we use things to back up an opinion but people can just as convincingly come up with things to back up the opposite view.

He has asked to see the villa website which he hadn't done before,and he loved it.

SO,I'm in the position I'm always in before Orlando really,we are denied the looking forward to the holiday as there no way of knowing if we'll get to go until the very day,or even until the flight.This is usually due to his behaviour at the time of holiday,but as he's in a very stable period at the moment I'll have to hope this continues to Novmeber 3rd!

Fingers crossed then,at least this way there is a pretty good chance he'll do it as he's taked himself round,there is no way anyone else could do it!

 

[Mrs Dazzle]

Kazzie, sounds as though Matty has really thought about it - hopefully you shall 'go to the ball, Cinderella'.

Big hug for you all
Annie xx

 

[alisonbestford]

Fantastic news.
I'll keep everything crossed for you.
Kids, eh?

 

[happytraveller]

I'm so pleased for you Kazzie You truly deserve it! keeping my fingers crossed for you

 

[carolfoy]

Well done to Mattie, and to you for your patience Kazzie, hope everything goes ok, it may be a good idea to ask for early boarding on the aircraft to enable him to settle in well before the throngs get on.

 

[mumloveseeyore]

just wanted to add my best wishes and as a fellow parent of a son with Aspergers say i know how you must feel.