Flight only - cancellation?

[Nubbedy]

Hi,
Have been pricing up for April / May and we are looking at £300 cheaper by booking seperate flight and hotel, than through booking package. The thing is, where do we stand in terms of cancellation with flight only. If I am right, flights must be paid outright and are non-refundable. Not wanting to jinx our trip, but if anything were to go wrong eg illness etc, does that mean we would not be able to get money back for flight? (£1250) Wheras if we booked package, we would only (at the most) lose our deposit (£400)?
Hoping someone can help, so many people on here book seperate - am I just being paranoid?!

Sara.

 

[OrlandoMagic]

I think it depends on how close to your holiday you cancel, you should normally get some money back.

We just get annual insurance each year so we are always covered incase we have to cancel our flights or hotel.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

On schduled flights, where you book direct and have just the flights, if you go for the cheapest tickets you cannot cancel, you will not get money back, buy travel insurance to cover.

 

[wayneg]

As others have said take insurance as soon as you buy the flights. If you buy cheap seats the general policy is will lose your money under any circumstances. In fact that is what Expedia told me when my Mum passed away 4 years ago. After they refused to refund for a death I wrote to US Airways in US. Their response was brilliant, very well worded and compassionate. They told Expedia to refund me.
I think under these circumstances they will bend the rules but for illness, change of plans etc there is not much chance for a refund.