Can I get a refund for travel expenses if my trip was canceled due to natural disasters?
March 1, 2024 | 30,00 EUR | answered by Ralf Schlittmaier
Dear travel lawyer,
I am contacting you with an urgent question regarding my planned trip, which was cancelled due to natural disasters. My name is Selma Klein and I had booked a trip to a holiday paradise to finally get some relaxation. Unfortunately, my dream vacation was ruined by a sudden volcanic eruption and the resulting flight cancellations and evacuations.
Now I am wondering if I can get a refund for the travel costs. I have already spent a lot of money on flights, accommodation, and activities and I am worried that I will lose my money since the travel insurance does not provide for refunds in such cases. I feel powerless and frustrated as I am not at fault for the situation, but still have to bear the financial consequences.
Therefore, I am seeking your help to find out if there are any legal options to get a refund for the travel costs. Are there any laws or regulations that apply in such cases? Or are there other ways to get my money back, even if the travel insurance does not cover it?
I thank you in advance for your assistance and hope for a quick resolution of this matter.
Sincerely,
Selma Klein
Dear Mrs. Klein,
I understand your frustration and concerns regarding the cancellation of your planned trip due to an unforeseen volcanic eruption and the associated flight cancellations and evacuations. In such situations, it is understandable that you are worried about the refund of the already incurred travel costs.
In such cases, legal regulations usually come into play to protect consumers. According to § 651h BGB, travelers have the right to a refund of the already paid travel costs if the trip has to be canceled due to unavoidable, extraordinary circumstances. A volcanic eruption and the associated flight cancellations and evacuations definitely fall into such extraordinary circumstances.
It is important that you first contact the travel organizer with whom you booked the trip. They are obligated to refund you the already paid travel costs or offer an alternative solution, such as rescheduling to a different travel date or providing a credit for a future trip.
If the travel organizer refuses to offer you a refund, you can take legal action to get your money back. In such cases, it is recommended to consult a lawyer specializing in travel law to assert your claims and consider filing a lawsuit against the travel organizer.
It is important that you keep all relevant documents, such as booking confirmations, invoices, and communication with the travel organizer, carefully to support your claims.
I hope this information is helpful to you and that you can find a solution to your issue soon. If you have any further questions or need legal assistance, I am happy to help.
Sincerely,
Ralf Schlittmaier, Attorney specializing in travel law
