As the coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19) affects travel worldwide, keeping track of flight cancellations, refunds and other info can get confusing.
But don’t worry -- TopCashback has you covered. Below, you’ll find a list of policy updates made by popular airlines, cruises, hotels, car rental companies and vacation sites. We’re sharing all the details with our members, so they can stress less and feel safer.
Airlines
Qatar Airways
Cancelled Qatar Airways flights will be refunded, while customers who purchased tickets for travel until September 30, 2020 may rebook for future travel until September 30, 2020 or exchange for a voucher valid one year from issue date.
Hawaiian Airlines
Hawaiian Airlines is offering guests who book flights between March 1, 2020 and March 31, 2020 the option to change travel to a future date without fees. Those who booked travels before March 9, 2020, with travel plans between March 1, 2020 and April 30, 2020 can make flight changes with new travel before December 31, 2020.
British Airways
British Airways is allowing customers to change the destination, date of travel, or both for free on all new bookings made from March 3, 2020 through May 31, 2020, as well as any existing bookings that depart up to May 31, 2020. Tickets can also be refunded via flight voucher which is good for 12 months from original date of departure.
Avianca
Customers who purchased flights between March 4, 2020 and March 31, 2020 on routes to and from the U.S., Canada and Europe or between March 11 and 31, 2020 on routes to and from other international routes operated by Avianca are eligible to change their itineraries without fees.
For flights booked prior to March 10, 2020 for international travel scheduled from March 10 to April 30, 2020, customers have the option to rebook for travel one year from issue date. Head here for more details.
Emirates US
Customers who made bookings on or before March 31, 2020 are eligible for fee waivers. For refunds and rebooking options, contact Emirates or your travel agent. If you booked directly though Emirates, visit the Request Refund page.
CheapTickets.com
Customers who booked flights through CheapTickets.com can check which airlines are waiving cancellation fees here. If your airline’s policy allows you to change or cancel without fees, customers can submit a form to receive credit for a future flight. For more information, visit CheapTickets.com.
Cruises
Princess Cruises
Princess Cruises has suspended all operations from March 12, 2020 through May 10, 2020. Customers have the option to reschedule their canceled cruise for a future trip departing through May 1, 2022. All voyages that extend past March 17, 2020 will be cut short, and guests will have the option to transfer 100% of money paid to a future cruise.
In addition, Princess Cruises is offering an additional future cruise credit which can be applied to the cruise fare. Princess will honor this offer for guests who made final payments and cancelled their booking on or after February 4, 2020. The future cruise credit can be used on any voyage departing through May 1, 2022.
CruiseDirect
Whether your voyage was set to sail on Carnival, Norwegian or Royal Caribbean, CruiseDirect.com provides the information for each of these cruise lines, along with others, on its website. If you have further questions, contact CruiseDirect.com directly for more information.
MSC Cruises
MSC Cruises guests have the option of canceling their cruise up to 48 hours before sailings departing on or before July 31, 2020 thanks to MSC Cruises’ assurance policy. All travelers who cancel will be able to apply a Future Cruise Credit (FCC) equal to the value of the cancelled cruise on future sailings on or before December 31, 2021. Click here for details.
Car Rentals
Hertz
Customers with pre-paid rentals booked prior to March 13, 2020 can cancel their reservation for no fee and transfer their balance to apply towards a future Hertz booking used within 24 months. Hertz is also offering essential healthcare workers a free, month-long vehicle rental through April 30, 2020.
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
College students, rejoice! Not only is Enterprise reducing the age minimum to rent a vehicle from 21 to 18, but it’s also waiving the rental fees through May 31, 2020 for students up to 24 years of age. Offer valid at U.S. locations only for car rentals reserved in advance.
Alamo Rent A Car
Alamo Rent A Car has reduced the minimum age to rent from 21 to 18 for all members of the military and U.S. government employees renting for personal needs from March 15, 2020 through May 31, 2020.
Avis Rent A Car, Budget Rent A Car & Budget Truck Rental
At Avis, customers are free to modify or cancel car rental reservations without any fees.
Zipcar
Zipcar is temporarily waiving its car rental cancellation fees from now through April 30, 2020.
Hotels
IHG Hotels & Resorts
The company who owns well-known hotel chains like Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza, Hotel Indigo and Staybridge Suites is now waiving cancellation fees for existing and new bookings globally. This policy is valid only for IHG stays between March 9 and April 30, 2020.
Choice Hotels
Another major hotel group, with distinct brands including Clarion, Cambria Hotels, Econo Lodge and Comfort Inn, Choice Hotels has agreed to NOT charge individuals who want to cancel or change their existing non-refundable reservation. They must, however, give notice up to 24 hours prior to arrival or by April 30, 2020.
This policy is exclusively for guests traveling within the U.S. and Canada, and applies to new reservations made between now and April 30, 2020.
Effective until April 30, 2020, the company will not bestow penalties to China, South Korea, Japan and Italy residents who wish to cancel their stays at Choice Hotels in the U.S. and Canada. The same is applied for guests who’ve planned to stay at Choice Hotels in China, Japan and Italy.
Marriott International
If you already booked a room at a Marriott hotel, you’ll have the ability to cancel or change your arrangements by June 30, 2020 – without charge. New reservations will be treated to this accommodation as well. Exclusions may apply.
Expedia.com
The popular travel site is making sure to waive change fees for a plethora of hotels. Currently, Expedia will issue a full refund or, in certain cases, a voucher for customers who booked a hotel stay scheduled to begin before April 30, 2020.
This works for both direct bookings and third-party bookings, like TopCashback.
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts
Known for its brands like La Quinta, Super 8 and Days Inn, Wyndham has announced it will not penalize guests who wish to cancel or change their reservation through May 31, 2020. It will also waive fees for those who are prohibited, under law, from traveling. These policy enhancements are only for direct bookings.
All Wyndham properties are required to accommodate non-cancellable rate reservation changes, as long as the requests are made 48 hours before arrival and the same number of room nights or more are booked for a future stay.
ALL - Accor Live Limitless
Accor hotels, which range from ibis to Delano, are now accepting modifications from guests who booked a non-flexible rate. They can adjust their existing reservations for future travel through April 30, 2021 without penalty by contacting the hotel directly.
Customers who reserved rooms at Accor locations in Europe and the United Kingdom (except France and Italy) between March 17 and May 1, 2020 will be able to cancel and receive a refund without penalty. Or they can modify their reservation for a future date (until May 31, 2021) without any fee.
Travelers who are scheduled to arrive prior to April 30, 2020 in Africa, the Middle East and Asia Pacific may cancel or modify their reservation.
For hotels in France, guests who booked between March 1 and prior to September 15, 2020 can cancel and receive a credit voucher for the full value of their reservation for use within 18 months.
For hotels in Italy, people who have a stay scheduled before April 3, 2020 may cancel and receive a credit voucher for the full value of their reservation.
Radisson Hotels
This beloved chain is granting free modifications or free cancellations for all worldwide reservations – new and existing – until April 30, 2020. Had a meeting or event planned? Radisson is also accepting free cancellations for inbound and outbound business for China, South Korea, Japan, Iran, Italy, Belgium, Spain, France and U.S. travelers through April 30, 2020.
Extended Stay America
Like the ones before, Extended Stay America is minimizing its strict cancellation policies. People who have a reservation for or prior to April 30, 2020 will be able to cancel without penalty.
Vacation Packages
Orbitz & Travelocity
Under the Expedia Group umbrella, Orbitz and Travelocity are ensuring flexibility to their customers during this crisis. Of course, certain cancellation policies are at the discretion of hotel, cruise and airline partners. But these accommodations won’t be limited to direct bookings. Instead, they will also extend to bookings made through TopCashback!
Vrbo
For those who’ve listed properties with Vrbo, the company is advising owners to review their cancellation policies and adopt something more flexible between now and April 30. It also suggests offering travelers who wish to cancel or delay their stay a full credit for the amount they've already paid. If they can't accept a credit, then Vrbo encourages you to issue at least a 50% refund. Vrbo will then refund you its traveler service fee.
JetBlue Vacations
As soon as you visit JetBlueVacations.com, you’ll discover loads of hotel packages that offer flexible changes. Plus, for a limited time, JetBlue won’t be issuing change or cancellation fees to bookings made by March 31, 2020 for travel through September 8, 2020.
Sandals & Beaches Resorts
Sandals has decided to close all its resorts between March 30 to May 15, 2020. If, however, you have an upcoming vacation scheduled during that period of time, Sandals will reach out to you and assist with rescheduling your future plans.
Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas
Don’t let the coronavirus completely stop you from planning a much-needed getaway. If you book a stay at an Atlantis resort by April 30, 2020, you can score rates as low as $189 and up to $300 in Resort Credit. This deal is for travel through April 30, 2021.
Be sure to check back here for the latest updates on travel changes or visit each company's website for further information.