International flight - what if you have to cancel?

[bgula]

My family is looking at doing the EB transatlantic cruise next April which ends up in Barcelona. I've found a good price for a flight back home, but it's still much more expensive than what we're used to (i.e. Southwest r/t to Orlando). Needless to say, it's going to cost us around $2000. What I'm worrying about is that I believe that the flight is non-refundable. It's not a 100% certainty that we will be able to go thru with the cruise, but we need to book the flight now as we may lose this good price. If I have to cancel out, what options do I have - if any - in getting some or all of my money back from the flight? Insurance of some sort? Anyone who knows, I'd appreciate some feedback.

As a sidebar to this question, we would be traveling with a newborn, approx. 6 months old. This would be a long flight and my wife is unsure of doing this with a child so young. Has anyone done this? Are there more negatives than positives? Any suggestions?

TIA

 

[DebbieB]

I would definitely buy travel insurance. If the flight is non-refundable, they will probably allow you to apply the credit to another flight with a change fee but that's alot of money for another flight if you don't go at all. Here are some travel insurance sites that I got through google. Be sure to find out what they will cover and any exclusions.

http://www.insuremytrip.com/
http://www.travelguard.com/
http://www.accessamerica.com/

You may also want to talk to a travel agent.

 

[bgula]

Thanks. I wasn't sure if insurance would cover the cost if you simply decided you couldn't afford it and canceled. I have a friend who is a travel agent and will definitely talk to her.

 

[SamSam]

Thanks. I wasn't sure if insurance would cover the cost if you simply decided you couldn't afford it and canceled. I have a friend who is a travel agent and will definitely talk to her.

You are right, travel insurance only covers if something like a medical emergency or death in the family occurs. Still, for a trip like you are looking at, insurance is something you need. (IMHO).
Not only travel insurance, but special medical insurance. As an example, we traveled to Peru this past May and a young woman in our group developed extreme altitude sickness, requiring 2 days of hospitalization. She had purchased travel medical insurance which covered 100% of her expenses.
Just something to think about.

 

[Carriemel]

oops...

 

[bgula]

You are right, travel insurance only covers if something like a medical emergency or death in the family occurs. Still, for a trip like you are looking at, insurance is something you need. (IMHO).
Not only travel insurance, but special medical insurance. As an example, we traveled to Peru this past May and a young woman in our group developed extreme altitude sickness, requiring 2 days of hospitalization. She had purchased travel medical insurance which covered 100% of her expenses.
Just something to think about.

Our current medical insurance I know covers us in the US, but I will be checking to see about overseas. I always buy travel insurance when we cruise as it's A LOT of money!

 

[lastminutemom]

I think you are stuck. Trip insurance won't cover you "just because" and if a fare is nonrefundable the best you can hope for is a large credit which generally has to be used for a year.

Why are you so sure that you won't be able to find the same price later? I thought that April was still considered low season for intercontinental fares.


As an aside, the Swine Flu is expected to pretty widespread for the next year. I don't think I would travel that distance with a new baby.

In fact, the recommendations for immunizations suggest that parents of babies under 1 year old be immunized because babies can't be.

Some travel insurance policies don't cover pandemics so read the terms carefully.

 

[uva185]

Well to adress your primary concern of "what happens if we cancel"...

The exact same thing that happens when you cancel a domestic ticket. You will be issued a voucher for the price you paid minus the cancellation fee good for travel within one year of the original purchase date. International cancellation fees are often more expensive than domestic cancellation fees.

As for insurance, I would definitely recommend it for your trip (see if they have a travel insurance / medical insurance package), but it is not there to cover you if you just change your mind. It's there to cover you if something goes wrong.

 

[MAH4546]

Now is not the time to be buying European airfare for April 2010. Wait until December when the spring sales start.

If, god forbid, something where to happen to you in Spain requiring medical attention, you would be treated for free, just like a Spanish citizen.

 

[bgula]

Now is not the time to be buying European airfare for April 2010. Wait until December when the spring sales start.

If, god forbid, something where to happen to you in Spain requiring medical attention, you would be treated for free, just like a Spanish citizen.

Could you explain the last part of your post? Maybe I'm thick, but I don't get it.

Re the flight: I've been told that I'm currently getting an "awesome" price for the flight from Barcelona back to Toronto. It's even surprised me being that it's cheaper than flying back to Orlando or Buffalo. Maybe you can tell me if it's a good price or not - 2 adults, 1 child and 1 infant - $2000 CDN (~$1800 US). I'm afraid that if I don't book now, I may lose this flight and any other ones are like 3 times this price, which I certainly can't afford.

 

[Missytara]

I traveled to Barcelona a few years ago, if a 777, which was completely full. There were at least 6 people with children under the age of one. The parents would take turns walking them down the aisle. You hardly heard a peep out of them in 71/2 hours.

I would have rather sat next to one of them, then the nine year old boy I ended up sitting next to on that flight. He was rude, inconsiderate, mouthy, and just plain ignorant to the flight attendants, until we went into our descent. His ears popped, and he cried and screamed like a baby for almost twenty minutes......in my ear.