Friend's untimely demise complicates travel arrangements with Dubai tour operator - SALLY RESOLVES THE ORDEAL
In a series of unexpected events, a reader found themselves navigating through a difficult journey, marked by the tragic death of a friend and subsequent challenges with travel arrangements.
Last autumn, the reader made three bookings with travel company Voyage Prive, totalling £24,260 for a birthday celebration in Dubai. Tragically, before the celebrations could begin, one of the party members succumbed to suspected food poisoning in the Indian Ocean.
Initially, Voyage Prive seemed unresponsive to the reader's request to alter the booking of the deceased's roommate to single occupancy. However, after persistent efforts and the submission of a death certificate, a member of the Voyage Prive team confirmed that the deceased's roommate would not face the full double room charge.
The reader's wife developed swollen ankles before the insurance cover was meant to start. Fearing the unknown, the reader took out a single-trip travel insurance policy in April with Insurance 4 Medical. Unfortunately, the insurance provider cancelled the wife's cover due to an undiagnosed medical condition. A letter of explanation will be provided, stating the cover was cancelled due to a change in risk, not fraud or non-disclosure.
Despite these setbacks, the reader decided to proceed with the trip. The trip, however, was not without further challenges. The reader purchased an oven from Currys which caught fire 30 days after installation. Despite the report of the fault falling outside the 30-day return window, Currys refunded the reader as a goodwill gesture.
The trip, described as 'amazing' by the reader, was a poignant tribute to their lost friend. The group toasted to the friend's memory, a moment captured in a heartfelt photograph that was forwarded.
The reader had to make a claim on the deceased's travel insurance for her £1,200 deposit. The deceased's widower, in a show of support, encouraged the group to go ahead with the trip to celebrate their friend's memory.
In times of adversity, it's crucial to understand the policies and procedures of the companies involved. When a travel company refuses to alter a booking to single occupancy after the death of a party member, the best approach is to contact the company’s customer service directly, explain the situation clearly, and provide proof of the death (such as a death certificate). Many airlines and travel companies have policies to waive change or cancellation fees in cases involving the death of a passenger or immediate family member, though the exact accommodations and fees vary by provider.
This story serves as a reminder of the importance of persistence, understanding, and support in overcoming unexpected challenges. It also underscores the value of clear communication and the submission of necessary documentation when dealing with such situations.
The reader, after facing the tragic death of a friend, needed to claim the deceased's travel insurance for their £1,200 deposit. To avoid the full double room charge for the deceased's roommate, the reader Persistently contacted Voyage Prive, providing a death certificate as proof.
In the midst of the trip, the reader also had to manage unexpected issues with an appliance bought from Currys, where a faulty oven caught fire. Despite being outside the return window, Currys showed understanding and refunded the reader as a goodwill gesture.
