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Summer has officially drawn to a close (at long last, if you ask me), which means if you are the type of person who favors fall travel over battling crowds in the heat, this is your time. Yet with the uncertainty surrounding a COVID surge in the autumn and winter, travel plans are increasingly never set in stone.
A silver lining: The pandemic forced airlines, hotels, and travelers alike to learn the best ways for how—and when—to cancel an upcoming trip. After the past few years of scrapped itineraries, here are our best hacks to minimize losing time, money, and your sanity when you need to change your vacation plans.
Don’t assume you have to take a voucher
Airline voucher are a good solution if you’re a regular flyer with one particular carrier, but for most of us, a voucher doesn’t pay the bills. If you cancel a refundable trip or the airline cancels your flight on you, don’t accept the voucher right away. It could be worth your time to inquire about a cash refund instead. This likelihood you’ll receive one depends on the circumstances around your reason for cancellation as well as the airline’s policies. Still, double-checking with a customer service representative could reap cash rewards. On that note...
Try canceling online before getting on the phone
According to USA Today (as well as anyone who has ever tried calling an airline), getting on the phone to talk to a customer service representative is rarely the most efficient option. In most cases, you can cancel online or by email and save yourself a major headache. Plus, the online route sets you up to receive a confirmation number, which you’ll need in order to ensure the cancellation has been processed. If you do need to connect with a real human, here’s our guide to navigating an airline’s phone lines. As a last resort, you can take to social media to publicly complain in the hopes that a representative will finally respond to you.
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Wait to cancel a flight until the last minute
This is risky, but potentially fruitful. As The Points Guy explains, “[t]he airline is on the hook for a refund only when it cancels your flight or makes a significant change to your schedule or routing. And that’s why it pays to hold on to your reservation until the airline does just that.”
Sit tight and check on your flight leading up to departure. If the upcoming flight still shows up in your reservation but it’s not available for sale to new bookings, this is a strong sign that the airline is going to significantly modify or cancel it. If you’re looking for a refund over a voucher, it pays to wait for the airline to make the first move.
Cancel lodging right away
Unlike the waiting game that can pay off with flights, hotels tend to have stricter cancellation policies. As soon as you know your travel plans have changed, prioritize canceling your lodging. If you’re already within the “no cancellation” window, it’s still a worth a shot to call the hotel directly. It’s far easier to talk to a real person at a hotel desk than it is to reach an airline rep, and that real person might be able to extend you some courtesies that you wouldn’t find via online cancellation.
Always save your confirmation numbers
One of the most simple, underrated tips of all time: Keep records of everything. From the moment you start booking, screenshot and save every email that contains a confirmation number of some kind. Keeping the numbers all in one place will streamline the cancellation process—plus, future-you might need the records of whatever credit or vouchers you collect along the way.
In the future, spring for a travel insurance policy
If you’re worried about losing money over canceled travel plans, consider purchasing a travel insurance policy for your future trips. When the fine print of an airline’s policy tries to deny you a refund, your travel insurance will have your back. If you do invest in travel insurance, make sure to secure it before or during booking; you’ll only have a limited time to add insurance once the booking is complete.
True, not every traveler will find that insurance policies are worth the cost. It depends on your budget and how high of a value you place on peace of mind. And keep in mind, if you’re on a tighter budget, you’ll find that basic fares come with so many restrictions that there’s no room to modify or cancel your trip with any hope of a refund at all. In general, cheaper travel means less flexible travel. In those instances, dropping the extra cash for insurance might be particularly worth it.
