AK consumer protection

Cancellation trap snaps shut for many travel enthusiasts

The desire to travel is increasing thanks to frosty temperatures and lockdown. Those who book should pay attention to the cancellation rules. The Chamber of Labor recently fought for a Carinthian couple who wanted to go to Egypt but then had to cancel their trip due to the coronavirus. The organizer initially wanted to retain half of the costs

The German tour operator only wanted to refund the elderly couple 737 euros for their trip to Egypt, which was canceled in March. The original cost: 1638 euros, which the Carinthians had already transferred in the spring.

They are not the first people affected who almost had to dig deep into their pockets for a vacation they didn't take. "Consumers can cancel a package holiday without paying cancellation costs if unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances occur at the destination or in its immediate vicinity," explains Herwig Höfferer from the Chamber of Labor, who successfully advocated for the couple.

Pay attention to the small print!
Since coronavirus, the consumer advocate has been kept on his toes by refusals of refunds and problems with online bookings. He therefore recommends that you find out exactly what the cancellation conditions are. "If you book flights and accommodation separately, you can end up paying a lot more in an emergency." When booking online: pay attention to the small print!