An Ontario woman is out $1,800 for airfare after her guided tour was canceled by the company due to poor sales. The case, investigated by consumer reporter Pat Foran, highlights the financial risks travelers face when booking package tours that are later called off.
Last-minute cancellation leaves traveler stranded
The woman, who asked not to be named, booked a guided tour through a company that later canceled the trip because of low enrollment. She had already purchased non-refundable airfare for $1,800, which she says she cannot recover. According to Foran's investigation, the tour operator cited insufficient bookings as the reason for the cancellation.
Consumer protections and recourse
Travel experts advise consumers to check cancellation policies before booking and consider travel insurance that covers trip cancellations. In this case, the woman did not purchase insurance, leaving her with limited options. The tour operator reportedly refunded the tour cost but not the airfare.
Pat Foran, a consumer affairs journalist, noted that this is a common pitfall. “When you book a tour, you assume it will run, but companies can cancel if they don’t get enough participants. Always read the fine print and consider insurance,” he said.
How to avoid similar losses
To protect against such losses, travelers should buy comprehensive travel insurance that includes cancellation for any reason. They should also confirm the tour operator’s cancellation policy and avoid booking non-refundable flights until the tour is guaranteed to run. Some credit cards offer trip cancellation coverage as a benefit.
The woman is now seeking compensation through her credit card company’s chargeback process but faces an uphill battle due to the non-refundable nature of the airfare.
