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Deal of the Day by Kelli B. Grant and AnnaMaria Andriotis
Swine Flu and Your Travel Plans: Key Facts
Updated on April 28, 2009.
Travelers planning a trip to Mexico may want to do more than just avoid drinking the water. As the outbreak of the swine flu broadens, some travelers may want to delay or cancel their trip altogether.
The U.S. government has issued a travel warning urging travelers to postpone all non-essential trips to Mexico. But even before that announcement many major airlines and cruise operators already responded, offering worried consumers the chance to rebook or cancel their travel plans with little to no penalty. Hotels are, for the most part, keeping their more lenient cancellation policies in place.
“Anybody going to Mexico is thinking twice about it, you can be sure of that,” says Tom Parsons, CEO of BestFares.com. “Combined with the drug violence there, this is going to mean dramatic cutbacks in travelers.”
Want to get out of your trip? You'd probably have the best luck talking to the travel operators -- your airline, hotel or cruise operator -- as soon as possible, says Parsons.
So far, here's how some of the airlines, cruise lines and hotels are responding to traveler concerns about the outbreak:
The Airlines
The formal travel warning the government issued on Monday may give you more leeway to get your money back (just be sure to call the airline as soon as possible), but it can also backfire. Airlines have so-called force majeure clauses that let them deviate from regular policies in the event of war, natural disaster or other "act of God" -- which could mean you’d be out a refund if the airline cancels flights because it can’t find staff for Mexico-bound routes, says Parsons.
| Airline | Traveling to, from or through Mexico on or before | Special swine flu policy | Regular change fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlines | May 6 | Travelers can change travel dates once without paying a change fee. Based on ticket type, travel can be rebooked up to one year from the date of original purchase. Must have purchased tickets no later than April 24. (For more details, click here.) | Typically it costs $150 to change travel dates both for domestic and international flights bound for Mexico. |
| Continental | May 6 | Travelers can reschedule their trip once without paying a change fee. Travel must be completed within a year of the ticket’s purchase date. The catch: rescheduled for after May 20, 2009, and you must pay the price difference if fares go up. (For more details, click here.) | Typically it costs $150 to change travel dates for a domestic flight and $150 to $250 for an international flight. |
| Delta | May 4 | Change your tickets once without paying a change fee. You can reschedule for no later than May 12, 2009. Travelers can also cancel their tickets and use the value toward another fare. With that option, travel must be completed within a year of the original ticket’s purchase. (For details, click here.) | Typically it costs $150 to change travel dates for a domestic flight and $250 for an international flight. |
| U.S. Airways | 11:30 p.m. ET, April 30 | Shift your Mexico travel itinerary forward or back seven days without paying a change fee. You can also apply the value of an unused ticket toward one for an alternate destination, so long as travel dates are within seven days of your original itinerary. Tickets purchased through third-party travel sites may not be covered. Call the airline to check. (For details, click here.) | Typically it costs $150 to change travel dates for a domestic flight and $150 to $250 for an international flight. |
Cruise Lines
Now that the government has issued an official warning advising against travel to Mexico, cruise-bound travelers can call and try to negotiate a cancellation if they don’t want to go, says Stewart Chiron, a cruise broker known as The Cruise Guy. Cruise lines typically won't budge from their cancellation policy, but you’ll have more leverage if an official mandate of some sort has been issued. One thing prospective passengers may encounter, however, is a change in itinerary. Some cruise lines are changing the routes of ships currently at sea that were originally bound for Mexico in order to protect passenger health, so call ahead to see whether your ship is going to be diverted.
| Cruise Line | Special swine flu policy | Regular cancellation policy |
|---|---|---|
| Carnival | Carnival has canceled calls at Mexican ports for ships at sea and those departing Thursday, April 30 through Monday, May 4. The cruise line will replace the Mexican port with an alternative port in some cases. Details aren't currently available. Guests who don't want to sail on the modified itinerary can reschedule their cruise for a later date. | No refunds are offered for cancellations made within a week of departure. Cancel eight to 29 days out, and you’ll get half of your total fare back. To get a full refund, you must cancel at least 61 days before a two- to five-day cruise, and at least 76 days before a six- to eight-day cruise. |
| Princess | Princess canceled two calls scheduled for Mexican ports today and revised the itinerary for a ship that was bound for Mexico, with stops at San Diego and Catalina. | No refunds are offered for cancellations made within 14 days of departure. Cancel 15 to 28 days out, and you’ll get 25% of your total fare back. Cancel further in advance, and the amount you receive depends on the length of the cruise. For a full refund, you must cancel at least 60 days in advance for a five-day cruise or shorter, and 75 days in advance for other cruises up to 19 days long. |
Royal Caribbean | Royal Caribbean is temporarily suspending its port calls in Mexico effective today for its Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises ships that are currently at sea. Most of these ships will make alternative port calls or spend additional time at sea. Currently, the cruise line hasn't changed the itineraries for trips that are scheduled to begin within the next few weeks. | No refunds are offered for cancellations made within a week of departure or within two weeks of departure for a 10-day cruise. Cancel eight to 29 days out, and you’ll get half of your total fare back minus taxes and fees. With most cruises, you must cancel at least 70 days in advance to receive a full refund, minus taxes and fees. On one- to five-night cruises, travelers who cancel 60 to 90 days before the trip begins receive a full refund. |
Hotels
Hotels tend to be the most lenient, with cancellation policies that let you ditch a reservation at no charge within a few days of check-in. But policies can vary for different packages and rates, so call the hotel to check the policy as soon as you think your plans might change. It’s also worth notifying the hotel upon arrival if you plan to cut your trip short. Some assess an early departure fee. (For more sneaky hotel charges, click here.)
| Hotel | Special swine flu policy | Regular cancellation policy |
|---|---|---|
| Club Med | None known. (Club Med did not respond to requests for comment.) | No refunds are offered within 14 days of departure. Cancel or revise your reservation 15 to 30 days out and pay 50% of the rate; 31 to 60 days out, 25% of the rate. Cancel at least 61 days prior to departure, and you won’t be assessed a fee. The exception: If your trip takes place during a holiday week (for example, Memorial Day), you must cancel at least 90 days out or forfeit the entire cost. (In all cases, membership charges and airfare are nonrefundable.) |
| Hilton | None known. (Hilton did not respond to requests for comment.) | Varies by location. At Hilton Los Cabos, travelers who cancel a four-night stay at least three days in advance of the trip receive a full refund. Cancel any closer to check-in, and you’ll pay for one night. Travelers who book prepaid non-cancelable stay are charged in full. |
| Marriott | None known. (Marriott did not respond to requests for comment.) | Varies by location. At CasaMagna Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa, cancellations made at least three days before check-in will not be charged. After that, you’ll be charged one night’s stay plus tax. |
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