Dear Anita,
My father (age 90), sister,
and I purchased tickets from St. Louis to Canada on US Airways. A
month later, my father fell, fractured his hip, and ended up
having a total hip replacement. He is now in California with me.
He does not feel that he can make such a long trip. Is there any
way to receive a refund for the tickets? We were told at the time
of purchase that we had two years to travel. Thanks in advance for
any assistance in this matter.
Toni D.
Rialto, CA |
Dear Toni,
I am very sorry to hear of your
father's dilemma, and I wish him a speedy recovery. I contacted US Airways
on your behalf to see what they had to say regarding your situation.
A US Airways representative stated the following:
"Although non-refundable fares are not eligible for a refund, we do
recognize that unexpected events may occur that are beyond the control of
the passenger. Our policy allows exceptions in the event of the death of
the passenger or spouse, a change in military orders, jury or a court
subpoena. Tickets are valid for two years from the original intended date
of travel. The value of the tickets, less a service charge, can be applied
toward new tickets during the validity period."
It is a bad news/good news scenario. Unfortunately, you cannot receive a
refund. However, your tickets are valid for two years.
There used to be a time when airlines did accommodate passengers who could
not fly due to an illness. All that the airlines requested was a doctor's
note noting the illness. Airlines would then change flight plans at no
cost, or would issue a refund.
According to several travel agents, continual abuse of the system by
customers forced the airlines to change this policy. One travel agent said
that a particular client (whose brother was a dentist) claimed to have the
same tooth pulled three years in a row to change flight plans. She says,
"I don't blame the airlines one bit—it was so blatantly abused by
customers."
One option for elderly travelers, or for someone with a pre-existing
health condition, is to purchase travel insurance. A ninety-year-old can
purchase travel insurance for around $70, and for a $500 ticket, that's a
good investment. However, you need to balance out the costs. If an airline
ticket is under $200, it is probably best to just spend the airline
service charge/fee versus buying the insurance policy. Depending upon the
airline, this charge/fee runs between $75 and $100.
I hope I've been helpful. Happy travels!
Anita Dunham-Potter
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