When Your Vacation is Suddenly Cancelled

You dream of your vacation for months, maybe years. You spend hours planning the details, packing or even shopping for things to take with you. Maybe you’ve saved part of your pay cheque for a long time in order to pay for your trip. And then at the last minute something happens. Over the past couple of weeks there have been flight cancellations to both Cuba and Mexico because of fuel shortages and unrest. Just six years ago there were cancellations around the world because of COVID. And oftentimes you have to suddenly cancel because of injury, illness, or family circumstances. So what can you do when your vacation is suddenly cancelled? How do you handle it? What are your options?

Your First Reaction

When your vacation is suddenly cancelled, your first reaction could likely be one of dismay. Your vacation could be cancelled shortly before you leave, at the airport, or even mid-flight. Or maybe it will be something you could see coming, but eventually you have to face the reality of cancellation. However it comes about, it can be a unpleasant experience to say the least. One of the hardest parts is that you may need to make some important decisions about your next steps quickly. Take a moment to let the reality sink in, but then it is time to move on to decide your next steps.

What Are Your Options

Your options will vary depending on the exact situation. Some variation of these options may apply:

• Wait it out until your vacation can be rescheduled. If the cancellation was due to some temporary incident, you may still be able to go a few days or weeks later. This can be an issue if you are not able to reschedule time off work or have other commitments at home.
• If there have been many cancellations to multiple destinations, you may find that overall prices have risen. Its the rule of supply and demand, when there aren’t as many destinations available, those that are left can charge more because the demand is there. If this happens you’ll either have to wait until later when prices may come down, or decide if you are able and comfortable with paying the extra price.
• Think outside the box when it comes to destinations. If you have always travelled to Mexico or Cuba, maybe it is time to try someplace new. Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, or Jamaica are popular tropical destinations. If not them, how about Guatemala, the southern coast of Spain, or somewhere in the South Pacific? Maybe you’ll find a new favourite destination.

What About Insurance?

If the cancellation has come from the airline, you won’t be out the money you have already spent to book your vacation. However if you are cancelling because of some issue on your end, hopefully you took out travel insurance. You may also have some through your employer or your credit card company. All policies are different so you need to read them and find out what is covered and what is not. Call the insurance company if you are unsure about your situation.

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