As the new coronavirus continues to cripple the travel industry, consumers are clamoring to get their money back for the unused airline tickets, lodging, tours, car rentals and cruises booked before their plans were hijacked by a pandemic.
For some, recouping what they spent has been straightforward and simple, or they're content to accept credits for future travel in lieu of cash.
Others have found that in a world without sports, getting refunds is the new national pastime. They've spent countless hours on hold, ping-ponged between travel providers passing the buck and struggled to make sense of companies' shape-shifting refund policies.
"Every stakeholder in travel is frustrated," said Kurt Ebenhoch, executive director of Travel Fairness Now, a consumer advocacy group based in suburban Lake Villa, Ill. "There's never been this kind of volume of refund activity. It's a confusing, difficult time for consumers, especially when the rules aren't being adhered to."
There's no one-size-fits-all solution for getting cash back on travel plans derailed by the health crisis. Some people, try as they might, will simply be out of luck depending on the fine print of their contracts, among other variables. But for many consumers, there are ways to bolster the chances of a refund. Here are some tips and advice on how to do that.
