Vacation Drama Already

Has anyone ever had to modify an all-inclusive vacation package? Aaron and I now need to return home a day earlier from Cuba than we had originally planned. It sounds like a simple process to shift the entire week a day earlier, right?

I called a certain web-based travel agency - let’s call them "itravel2000" - last night to explain the situation and see what our options were. I was told the following:

- The trip cancellation insurance I purchased was through a third party insurance agent. If I canceled the vacation, I would not be refunded but I could submit a claim to the insurance agent and then, depending on the reason for cancellation, they might decide to pay the claim.

- The tour operator - let's call them "Sunwing" - might be able to modify the vacation, but there would of course be a penalty fee. I would have to call back tomorrow (today,) when "Sunwing" was open again.

Fast forward to this morning.

I called "itravel2000" this morning, who contacted "Sunwing" for me to find out if my request was possible. I was told there were no flights out of Varadero on the day I wanted, nor the two days before that, and that the only available location I could switch our vacation to was Cancun! If I wanted, I could cancel the trip, lose HALF of what we paid and re-book something else. It was also suggested that we "no show" on our flight home from Varadero and book our own return flights through another airline.

By the time Pammie, my office mate and voice of reason, arrived at work, I was almost crying out of frustration. (Not that this is anything new…) She looked at "Sunwing"’s website and searched for Varadero packages for the date range I wanted and she found many available! So, I called them back and asked to get our package switched to one of those listed on the site. I was able to do so for only a $200 fee.

I just don’t get it. Why is it that with phone call #1 there was nothing available, but with the second call, it was all fine and dandy? Is it possible that their standard operating procedure is to hose people out of their hard-earned money until they put up a fight?





In the end, it all got sorted out, but it definitely wasn't easy. Thank you, Pammie!