With the UK lockdown still in operation, hope is fading for those who had weddings and honeymoons planned this summer. With weddings banned and travel restricted, there are now thousands of couples frantically googling to see what they should do about that dream honeymoon they had booked.
Well, here to answer all your concerns is legal expert Gary F. Rycroft, partner at law firm Joseph A Jones & Co LLP. From what your rights are to whether you should hold your nerve with honeymoons booked later in the summer, this is everything you need to know..
What are your rights if you have to cancel your honeymoon due to Covid-19?
‘This will very much depend on the timeline, if it was your decision or not and the nature of your holiday.
‘In terms of the timeline, If your honeymoon is during the "lockdown" and/or whilst the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) have advised against travel, the good news is travel companies and airlines usually follow that advice. So, if your flight or holiday is cancelled you can expect a full refund.
‘Do not accept vouchers in case the company who has issued them later goes under. Travel insurance may also pick up any other losses – depending on what the policy covers. Policies taken out post Covid-19 will definitely not cover Covid-19 as it is now a known risk. Policies pre March 2020 may well but not always – check the small print. Look for when "cancellation" or "travel disruption" is covered.
Those with honeymoons booked for later in the year should hold their nerve for now.
‘In terms of if it was your decision or not, it may be considered purely your decision not to go as at this point in time it may still be possible. For example, a honeymoon in July 2020 at this stage may be possible to go on as opposed to now when we are in ‘lockdown’ – in this case the situation is fundamentally different. There is no automatic right to a refund and you may lose your deposit or more unless you have insurance which will cover it. So those with honeymoons booked for later in the year should hold their nerve for now. Travel Insurance will not automatically over it unless one of the insured risks is triggered, for example death or illness of one of the parties to the policy.
‘In terms of the nature of the holiday, if you have booked a package holiday (where a tour operator organises and is responsible for linked parts of a holiday – so flights, transfer from airport and accommodation) you have enhanced consumer rights. If one part of the package cannot happen, all parts should be refunded. Also, package holidays are ATOL-protected so if the business goes down you are entitled to a refund. By contrast, those who are "independent" travellers may not be able to fly because it is cancelled but may still have to pay for the hotel – again unless travel insurance covers the loss.’
‘It’s always good to take out or otherwise ensure you have travel insurance as soon as you book as from the moment of booking you have made a financial commitment and entered into contracts with businesses to supply various parts of your holiday.’
So, if you cannot go when planned is it better to postpone rather than cancel?
‘Yes if that suits you. In normal circumstances you may have to pay for this kind of variation of the original holiday contract but at present holiday business should embrace you warmly.’
Will the location of the honeymoon be a factor?
‘Yes, it will be, in terms of whether the FCO advises travel to there or not or indeed what the country’s own situation is with regard to open borders and lockdown.’
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