How to get refunds on travel, summer camp and other deals made before the coronavirus

With more people staying at home in an effort to “flatten the curve,” the travel industry is in a tailspin. The number of international airline seats was just 23% of what it was a year prior, said ForwardKeys, a data company.

When airlines cancel flights or make significant changes to an itinerary, they are required to make prompt refunds, says the Department of Transportation.

But airlines are issuing so many refunds for cancelled flights that asking for your money back due to a job loss may fall on deaf ears. Still, there are some strategies to pursue.

First, try to wait it out.

“If you’ve got travel booked between now and the end of June, you could roll the dice and see if the flight is canceled,” said Rossman. “If the flight is canceled, then you can get your money back.”

Most airlines are waiving their usual change fees for nonrefundable tickets, according to the website, The Points Guy. Canceling won’t get a refund, but you’ll be able to get a voucher to apply to future travel. Between hotels, meals and entertainment, you’ll still be saving money postponing your trip for after you’ve landed a new job.

Remember, you’ll probably have to use your voucher by a certain date.

Another avenue to pursue is travel insurance. Passengers who purchased travel insurance with their flight might be able to get refunded if they meet certain criteria, explained Kasara Barto, a public relations manager for Squaremouth, a site that compares travel insurance policies.

“The employment layoff benefit can reimburse prepaid, non-refundable trip costs if a traveler has to cancel their trip due to an involuntary layoff or termination of employment,” Barto said in an email.