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CDC recommends staying home for the holidays -- Here's what to do if you may cancel your travel plans
Summer Hull has been covering (and using) travel tips, rewards credit cards and loyalty programs for over a decade. She has flown close to a million miles, often on points and miles and with her family in tow.
November 19, 2020 • 8 min read
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don't cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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Quick summary
COVID-19 cases are rising in the U.S., prompting the CDC to recommend postponing holiday travel and opting for virtual gatherings.
Travelers reconsidering plans should review travel insurance policies, as most do not cover cancellations due to a change of mind related to the pandemic.
It is important to check cancellation deadlines and airline schedule changes, as these may affect refund eligibility.
Communicating early with travel providers and family members can help manage expectations and minimize financial or emotional impact.
What to consider
Only 'cancel for any reason' travel insurance typically covers voluntary trip cancellations, and even then, only a portion of costs may be reimbursed.
Refund eligibility may depend on airline schedule changes or specific cancellation windows, which can vary widely by provider.
Flexibility from travel companies is not guaranteed, but politely requesting credits or exceptions may yield positive results.
What you'll miss from the article
A step-by-step checklist for canceling holiday travel plans and advice for handling related logistics and conversations.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
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While we have all been counting down to the holidays, another count is increasing. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 1 million COVID-19 cases were reported in the United States over the last 7 days.
After seeing case counts fall for several months a little earlier in the year, perhaps you booked a trip for the holiday season to get away or see friends and family you've missed all year. But now, with the holidays rapidly approaching, COVID-19 cases increasing and lockdowns returning, and you may find yourself deciding to cancel your travel plans -- again.
In fact, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) website now states, "Travel may increase your chance of getting and spreading COVID-19. Postponing travel and staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others this year." The CDC recommends virtual holiday gatherings this year over traditional gatherings as get-togethers "with family and friends who do not live with you can increase the chances of getting or spreading COVID-19."
In light of all of that, if you've decided it's not a good time to go home (or away) for the holidays after all, here's a checklist of things to consider and ultimately take action on.
Those with a "cancel for any reason" plan should be covered. Just keep in mind that even with those more comprehensive plans, you typically only get a percentage of your nonrefundable travel expenses back.
Most other travel insurance policies, including those that come with using certain credit cards you may have used to book travel, won't cover your expenses if you simply decide you'd prefer not to travel. For example, the Chase Sapphire Reserves' benefits guide states that a non-covered reason is, "Your disinclination to travel due to an epidemic or pandemic." That means, just changing your mind won't cut it.
However, if you or an eligible member of your family is directly affected by illness, quarantine or similar, then that's a different scenario and more traditional travel insurance plans may kick-in for those documented reasons.
Check the rules of your travel to see the latest date you can change or cancel without further penalty.
This cut-off date will vary dramatically based on the type of travel you've booked. Some travel is nonrefundable and non-changeable from the moment it is booked, while other travel can at least be changed until shortly before the stay or departure is set to occur.
But as soon as you start having doubts about your plans, double-check all of your relevant change and cancellation deadlines so you don't accidentally miss a window to back out without a penalty.
There may be no benefit to going ahead and pulling the ripcord on your future travel plans in advance if you aren't yet 100% sure you don't want to go, but sometimes it can be easier to avoid fees or get refunds sooner rather than later.
Airlines have been adjusting schedules even more than normal this year to try and pace with fluctuating demand.
It's entirely possible your holiday flight reservation has experienced a major schedule or routing change since you booked. If you've experienced a truly large schedule or routing change that would have a material impact on your travel, you may be eligible for a refund if you request one from the airline.
Even if you don't have relevant travel insurance and you aren't technically allowed to change or cancel a portion of your plans, it doesn't hurt to ask. Many travel companies and Airbnb owners get that we are all in unchartered territory. A trip that sounded like an OK idea even just a few weeks ago, may now present a very different risk proposition.
While you aren't owed more flexibility than what you originally agreed to, it is worth reaching out to your travel provider and asking for assistance if you will no longer be making the trip. You could always politely ask if it is possible to receive a credit to travel at a later date, even if a refund isn't a viable option.
Talk to your family
If you were going to visit friends or family, have a real conversation with them as soon as you start doubting your plans, if not before. Different people are approaching this phase of the pandemic differently, and what seems like inadequate protection or precautions to one family member, may seem like massive overkill to another.
Whether you can together come up with a plan everyone feels safe with (the CDC website has recommendations to reduce risk if you do gather), or you simply need to break the news that you can't go forward with traveling right now, communicate as soon as you know it may not happen. If you were going to split lodging or other expenses, be ready to work through that part of the discussion, too.
It may not be a fun conversation if involved parties have different viewpoints on current risks, but putting it off generally won't make it any easier.
I know this is easier said than done, but if you don't feel comfortable taking the trip you planned for this holiday season -- simply don't travel.
Recoup what you can in refunds or future credits and communicate with those impacted by the change, but know prioritizing health is never a waste. Yes, you may lose some cash or even temporarily cause some disappointment in the process, but don't let that stop you from making the choice you feel is best for your family.
Plan something else to look forward to
2020 has been a lot, and it can truly sting to shelve your holiday travel plans.
While it may not be an even exchange, plan something else fun for when you were going to travel. Perhaps that will mean local hiking with your immediate family, finally creating that Shutterfly book of old travel photos, spending time going all-out bananas with holiday decorations or booking something to really look forward to for the 2021 holiday season.
Figure out a way to safely fill that available time with something that will bring you at least a bit of joy.
(Photo by Barbara Taeger Photography/Getty Images)
Bottom line
Most decisions are hard right now. We are approaching the point when many haven't seen their families in a year, and while COVID-19 case trends appeared somewhat stabilized when travelers were making tentative holiday plans a month or two ago, the situation has again changed.
There's reason to be hopeful for widespread available vaccines in 2021, but for 2020, if you have decided to follow the CDC recommendations and sit tight at home for the holidays, now you have a checklist to run through if that happens.
Comments
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
