Fifth wave of Covid and a surge in infections at the very beginning of the summer worry Italians struggling with the holidays to be organized. Being covered by vacation insurance is an option that more and more people are considering. Also because treatment abroad can be very expensive. But many are afraid to stay at home and even lose their money, perhaps due to a positive swab on the eve of departure. In reality, in these cases of travel canceled due to force majeure, you are still entitled to a refund
Compulsory refund for cancellation due to force majeure
«According to the rules of the civil code – explain from Codacons, which has prepared a sort of vademecum – the impossibility of taking advantage of the agreed and paid service, for reasons of necessity or force majeure, provides for the obligatory reimbursement by the supplier. This also applies to cases of positive Covid that prevent the use of transport, stays, vacation packages and other services already purchased “
Who to contact
If you discover that you are positive for Covid near the departure for the summer holidays “it is necessary to immediately contact the accommodation facilities, booking agencies, tour operators or travel agencies from which we purchased the services, opening a report on the disease attaching the outcome of the swab and medical certificate, and start the reimbursement request ».
What happens to flights
For airlines it is sufficient to follow the instructions given on the websites of the various companies: “in the event of a positive covid, the passenger is entitled to reimbursement of the cost of the airline ticket in the same means of payment used for the purchase”. If, on the other hand, it is the airline that has to suddenly cancel the flight due to the positivity of its crew, “the passenger is entitled to compensation ranging from 250 to 600 euros”.
Vouchers or coupons to use
However, many operators refuse to grant refunds in the event of non-use of services due to Covid, offering consumers vouchers or coupons to be used for subsequent holidays or “applying imaginative penalties on refunds”. An “incorrect practice that must not make consumers fall into error, who can demand full refund of the amount paid”.