Got cancer? Pay a $3500 cancellation fee

[yo yo ma]

A devastated husband has hit out after he was charged £2,300 pounds to cancel his wife's holiday of a lifetime - which they were forced to abandon when she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer. | Mail Online

Not good PR for the company but I can understand their T&C

 

[markis10]

I am not sure what the issue here is, my reading is the couple have insurance,so there is likely to be a loss as promoted, regardless they should have had insurance, "it won't happen to me" attitudes tend to invite trouble!

 

[yo yo ma]

I was surprised to see the one comment asking about their travel insurance receive negative (red arrow) feedback

 

[alieninperth]

Its on the Mail website, I'm not surprised.

I haven't read the story but I will guess that they are middle aged, white and either semi-retired or white-collar workers. In other words stereotypical middle class English (and Daily Mail readers). My other guess is if they were from any other ethnic background, or heaven forbid foreign then the tone would have been very different.

 

[sanach]

When my husband was diagnosed with cancer, I was able to cancel all flights and accommodation from very understanding individuals and companies. We had booked a series of domestic flights to do selection races for the Australian Triathlon team for age groupers. Both Virgin & Qantas gave full refunds for both of us as I said I didn't know when we might be able to travel in the future, so credits would not be much use to us. Hotels and private renters also refunded in full. It's great to live in Australia.

 

[Danger]

When my husband was diagnosed with cancer, I was able to cancel all flights and accommodation from very understanding individuals and companies. We had booked a series of domestic flights to do selection races for the Australian Triathlon team for age groupers. Both Virgin & Qantas gave full refunds for both of us as I said I didn't know when we might be able to travel in the future, so credits would not be much use to us. Hotels and private renters also refunded in full. It's great to live in Australia.

Here, here.

We tend to whinge and moan a bit (generally speaking) but by and large I think we have it pretty good.

Coming on four years ago a mate and I flew to Sydney with Qantas then on a separate ticket to the Gold Coast with JQ. His Grandfather passed away back in Perth. I phoned Qantas and the agent basically said 'pick a flight and we'll move you to it, no penalty'. I said we were currently on the Gold Coast, not Sydney and she said it didn't matter, they'd fly us both home from there. She added a polite request for proof of death and relationship but that was it. I don't mind telling you it brought a tear to my eye.

Here's hoping this sort of generosity isn't abused.

 

[Paddy55]

When my husband was diagnosed with cancer, I was able to cancel all flights and accommodation from very understanding individuals and companies. We had booked a series of domestic flights to do selection races for the Australian Triathlon team for age groupers. Both Virgin & Qantas gave full refunds for both of us as I said I didn't know when we might be able to travel in the future, so credits would not be much use to us. Hotels and private renters also refunded in full. It's great to live in Australia.

+1 - good to hear of your experience