The warning comes from travel expert Simon Calder who took questions from ITV Good Morning Britain viewers on Friday morning. Mr Calder warned due instalments on holiday packages should still be paid even if there is a very low chance the holiday will go through due to coronavirus measures around the world. He said: “You should pay your final instalments, because even if it’s a holiday in June, even if there is a low possibility that it will go ahead, if you pay you are guaranteed either a holiday – which would be great – or you’ll get all your money back.
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“If you don’t pay the balance, then I’m afraid you’ll just lose your deposit.
“That’s guaranteed.”
He added: “Some travel companies have been absolutely terrific and they recognise the fact that it is unlikely that these holidays will go ahead.
“And they’re basically just saying your balance is technically due but we’re going to give you some latitude.
“Well worth trying to talk to the travel company but, of course, so many people are finding they can’t get through.”
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It comes as a dozen EU member states have asked the European Commission to allow airlines to give vouchers instead of cash refunds for cancelled flights.
The group, which includes France, Ireland, the Netherlands and Portugal, issued a joint statement calling for a temporary amendment to consumer law because carriers “continue to incur high running costs” despite most planes being grounded due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Enabling airlines to issue vouchers rather than cash refunds would be “a solution for current cash flow constraints of airlines”, they wrote.
The group called for a common level of consumer protection in relation to vouchers, including the right of reimbursement if a new booking is not used by the end of their validity.
Rory Boland, editor of consumer magazine Which? Travel, said: “It’s incredibly concerning that a number of EU member states are asking to temporarily suspend consumers’ legal right to cash refunds for cancelled flights amid the coronavirus outbreak, not least when so many people are now in difficult financial situations of their own and need their money back.
“Not only would this move be bad news for consumers, but it would also be a disaster for tour operators waiting for payments to be returned by airlines in order to fulfil their own legal obligations to refund customers.
“The UK Government must urgently confirm that it will continue to support consumers’ right to cash refunds, and step in with support for the industry to allow them to fulfil this legal obligation.”
