Peg_S

My experience: we cancelled a trip for a covered medical reason. Flight costs went towards a credit with the airline.  Insurance sent a check to cover the change fees. We weren’t able to reschedule and use the credits so when they expired I asked the airline for a document verifying the funds were not used. Sent the info to insurance (same claim number) and received a check for flight credit minus change fee amounts  reimbursed earlier.

On 3/7/2020 at 7:46 PM, cb at sea said:

...just keeps you from looking like you're from Minnesota or something... 

HEY... I resemble that remark!!! (Truly I do!!)

Good to know about Suave. I can't stand the smell of Jergen's either. Jergen's also tends to turn me "orange".... so not my favorite. I really like the effect of St Tropez classic foam... the color is good and I seem to be able to apply it evenly with my hands - but I ended up reapplying daily on vacation a couple weeks ago so that was a bit annoying. 

Will give Suave a shot.

American Airlines has a similar offer (shorter timeframe).

I broke my arm, and had to schedule a recheck appointment during the week of our trip. Doc signed the required papers saying I needed to stay home that week. All was approved.

On 1/16/2020 at 9:57 AM, tonit964 said:

I always get my insurance from Insuremytrip. I don't think its the company so much as look at the policies and what coverage you need at a price point you want. They have a "compare" tab so you can look at I think 3 policies at a time side by side to see which coverage is best for your needs.

 

I use this chart method every time. Here's what I do:

Select plan type in the left column, select to sort by premium cost and check the first 10 or so policies to compare. Eliminate policies (hide plan button) one at a time based on coverage levels I want, first by getting rid of policies without pre-existing waiver, then get rid of low medical coverage, then get rid of the policies that require long delays (who wants to wait 24 hrs to get reimbursed for a travel or baggage delay?), compare baggage and travel coverage dollar amounts. Usually at this point I'm down to a handful to choose from. I have some saved info about companies others have recommended/not recommended (look thru opinions on this site and you'll make your own list), I check against my list, and make my pick.

35 minutes ago, Davis2010 said:

I'll be honest with you. This post is freaking me out a bit. Our TA has assured us we will be fine with all the plans she has scheduled for us. 

Can your TA change to flights the day before? This would be a relaxing way to better insure you get to the ship on time. Stay at a hotel near the port and start your vacation a day early. Otherwise Princess' EZAIR site says "Rest easy that you'll make your cruise if flights are delayed or canceled..." so there is some type of "backup plan" thru Princess, though I don't know the details.

Keep asking questions. Everyone here is happy to help.

I don’t trust those zippers since the time I watched the baggage handlers loading the plane and someone’s bag popped open when they grabbed it. They put everything back and zipped it shut again.... but it had all dumped on the ground. A luggage strap around mine every time helps keep the bag shut and is one more step for potential thieves to think about. (Helps to ID my bag too)

No advice - just condolences. What a crappy deal.

And realize if your flight to Sydney is delayed, you may miss the flight to New Zealand and have to purchase a new ticket for that leg. (And risk the same again for return flights.)

IF if if you want to try it... definitely have someone on the ground ready to reschedule your SW flight for you. If you don't contact them know by a certain time, they would call SW and put you on a later flight (with probable extra flight cost... but at least no change fee). Have to gauge your risk tolerance level!!!

Delta rep told daughter that last flight PVG-CAN was full, so couldn't book boyfriend on same routing. She allowed daughter to change routing thru Detroit instead of Atlanta (no charge) MSP-DTW-PVG-CAN, and boyfriend got same flights.

Airline weirdness:

And now both on that last flight (PVG-CAN) that was supposedly full. :confused:

My daughter booked round trip flights for herself to come home for Christmas: CAN/MSP on Delta,

Her boyfriend is going to visit her, and wants to join her on the same return flights to CAN (return MSP later), but they have disappeared as an option. (no longer on Delta sight or itamatrix)

I told her to call the airline and ask if the flights are still available.

Any other advice?

Jan 1, Delta flights 1815, 185 and 6358.

thanks

Another grateful reader here.

I visit this board a couple times a week at least - just to learn! I don't travel much now, but my hope is to do a lot of it in retirement, so I'm learning and will be ready!!!

So the OP's reliance on his credit card benefit may not be something for him to count on.

... but I realize things can go very sideways. We have a Sapphire Reserve...so hopefully the 6 hour delay provisions will help if that happens. ...

But doesn't your card benefit specify coverage for "connecting flights"? Trip insurance specifies this... if I'm wrong, let me know.

Peg

Rugrats, thank you for the link. I didn't know how to look up that information on the website. Very useful. Unfortunately, it's one year from the August 8, 2017 date. I don't plan on flying SW again until April 27, 2019, so my ability to use the funds is dependent on when SW releases its schedule for that time frame.

 

Roz

Roz: Your response above reads like you plan to use the funds for an April 2019 trip. Remember: they're only good til August 8 2018... and that schedule is out. But I'm not sure if you need to return by that August 8? Or simply commence travel by then. Don't know the details.

Peg

Thanks GeezerCouple. That helps alot.

I'm working with cancelled Delta flights and our Chase card coverage. SunCountry has flights for half of Delta's price on the new dates we're looking at... so we could:

A. spend $200 change fee (reimbursable by coverage) and almost $500 (using held funds and add'l cash) to rebook on Delta

or

B. get reimbursed for cancelled flights (now or after the 12 month wait) and spend $250-300 on SunCountry.

Don't want to take advantage of the situation, but if B. is an option, we may go with it.

Peg

Thanks klfrodo.

I understand your 2nd and 3rd point, but trying to clarify the 1st one.

So we need to get the airline and insurance to understand we would not be using the funds from the cancelled flights? Or we have to wait the year period to show the funds weren't used? Just trying to understand how this is typically handled.

We recently needed to cancel our vacation (broke my arm). Hoping to reschedule after my next set of x-rays give us a green light.

Our Chase card offers cancellation coverage with reimbursement of "non-refundable amounts paid ...if a physician has advised that making the covered trip is medically inadvisable". I will get a letter from my doc stating this. I cancelled our original flights with Delta, so funds are waiting to be reused, with $200 change fee for each ticket.

Question: What if a different airline is less expensive for our new dates? Is it ok to book with different airline, and let Delta funds "sit" to possibly (but probably won't) use at a later date? After 12 months from booking date passes, then the policy would be refund us the Delta funds? Or do we need to stick with Delta and reuse the existing funds for new dates?

Thanks for your help.

Peg with one wing

If you book your own flights, do not arrive the day of your cruise.

Thank you to everyone for your suggestions on other avenues to explore and for the suggestions on future travel insurance.

I use the comparison tool on the insurance broker's site to specifically find policies with shorter delay times (travel and missing luggage) and higher payouts for the situations. I am impatient!!!!

FYI: Measure from the floor for the total height.

 

I recently purchased some Samsonite suitcases from Ross. The tags on them say 28"; when I measured the "box" it was 28" tall. Had to add another 3" for the wheels for a total height of 31".

I found this to be common. Don't believe the lengths advertised... do your own measuring to be sure

Since carnival has FTTF, maybe they could come up with LTTM (last to the muster), great money maker for Carnival...lol

 

That's what I was thinking... maybe a $200 fine on the sign and sail for requiring staff to perform the "makeup" muster drill during sail away.

Please consider flying in a day before your cruise starts.

Hate to miss the boat because of a flight delay.

Peg

Once my computer did an "auto-correct" on the airport code. Luckily saw the flights shown were to a totally different airport before I bought!!!

Peg