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Glad you got home safely Wes! Walked the Camino in September last year from SJPdP to Santiago - we didn’t find the Meseta boring and were so touched by all the wonderful Spanish people we met. In our prayers!My wife and I finished walking the Meseta just over a fortnight ago, another wonderful Camino experience, we’re grateful to have had it.
Instead of staying on in Spain as planned after reaching Leon, we returned home to Australia early, concerned by the rate at which the world was closing down. Rescheduling flights was very, very difficult: I spent hours on-hold without ever getting through, and websites were largely unresponsive to our preferences. In the end we made it home, but only just, and at significant additional cost.
The international air travel system is in chaos and, as you know, now largely shut down. No-one knows what’s going to happen, but there’s no cause for optimism in the medium term at least.
For what it’s worth, in your situation, I’d be trying to defer any flight bookings for as long as possible. Whatever you decide, treat any information from the airlines with caution.
What I am certain of is that the Camino will need us once this dreadful crisis has passed. It’s heartbreaking to think of the hardships facing the wonderful people we were mixing with so recently, who run the cafes, bars, shops, accommodation and so on, and whose kindness helps make the Camino.
Buen futuro camino.
The Lowveld Ramblers (in South Africa) were scheduled to go on our next camino in mid-June. This now seems highly unlikely, so we are trying to decide what date to change our flights to, once we get (if we get) the option to postpone. We are thinking about October. But what if we still cannot travel in October? If the airline gives us only ONE chance to change our dates for free, then we will all lose all our money (and they were quite expensive this year). Any thoughts?
The Lowveld Ramblers (in South Africa) were scheduled to go on our next camino in mid-June. This now seems highly unlikely, so we are trying to decide what date to change our flights to, once we get (if we get) the option to postpone. We are thinking about October. But what if we still cannot travel in October? If the airline gives us only ONE chance to change our dates for free, then we will all lose all our money (and they were quite expensive this year). Any thoughts?
JillThe Lowveld Ramblers (in South Africa) were scheduled to go on our next camino in mid-June. This now seems highly unlikely, so we are trying to decide what date to change our flights to, once we get (if we get) the option to postpone. We are thinking about October. But what if we still cannot travel in October? If the airline gives us only ONE chance to change our dates for free, then we will all lose all our money (and they were quite expensive this year). Any thoughts?
So, are you saying that, if the airline gives you, say until June 30, 2020 to change your flight to sometime in the next 12 months, you should opt for June 29, 2021? Makes sense, just want to make sure I understand.My wife and I finished walking the Meseta just over a fortnight ago, another wonderful Camino experience, we’re grateful to have had it.
Instead of staying on in Spain as planned after reaching Leon, we returned home to Australia early, concerned by the rate at which the world was closing down. Rescheduling flights was very, very difficult: I spent hours on-hold without ever getting through, and websites were largely unresponsive to our preferences. In the end we made it home, but only just, and at significant additional cost.
The international air travel system is in chaos and, as you know, now largely shut down. No-one knows what’s going to happen, but there’s no cause for optimism in the medium term at least.
For what it’s worth, in your situation, I’d be trying to defer any flight bookings for as long as possible. Whatever you decide, treat any information from the airlines with caution.
What I am certain of is that the Camino will need us once this dreadful crisis has passed. It’s heartbreaking to think of the hardships facing the wonderful people we were mixing with so recently, who run the cafes, bars, shops, accommodation and so on, and whose kindness helps make the Camino.
Buen futuro camino.
Can you get a refund? My flights were cancelled and my carrier offered a refund. I won’t plan to rebook until we get an “all clear”.The Lowveld Ramblers (in South Africa) were scheduled to go on our next camino in mid-June. This now seems highly unlikely, so we are trying to decide what date to change our flights to, once we get (if we get) the option to postpone. We are thinking about October. But what if we still cannot travel in October? If the airline gives us only ONE chance to change our dates for free, then we will all lose all our money (and they were quite expensive this year). Any thoughts?
So, are you saying that, if the airline gives you, say until June 30, 2020 to change your flight to sometime in the next 12 months, you should opt for June 29, 2021? Makes sense, just want to make sure I understand.
I'm so glad you had a chance to walk the Meseta. It is normally very peaceful, I can't imagine the stillness now.
The advice given by @trecile on another thread is relevant here, I think. If the airlines cancels your flight, they have to give you a full refund. If you cancel your flight, the airlines will apply whatever coronavirus policy they have adopted. In my case (American Airlines) that policy is that they keep your money, waive the change fee, and waive the requirement that you re-book the same itinerary. That makes the ticket price sort of like a little bank account I have at American Airlines. They also require that travel be made before the end of 2020, which may meant a lot of hurried travel at the end of the year. But I would also not be surprised to learn that they extend the date of travel if it turns out that the world of international travel has essentially shut down for a longer period. After all, if they are not flying the flights, they can’t require you to be on them.
So I agree with those who say, hold off cancelling till the last possible date, because maybe the airline will cancel on you.
I live very close to the Caminho Portuguese. My suggestion would be to postpone for at least a year, maybe more. I think that foreigners have not yet taken on-board how they will be treated when travel does restart. Everything has changed. You will be treated with suspicion, even dislike.The Lowveld Ramblers (in South Africa) were scheduled to go on our next camino in mid-June. This now seems highly unlikely, so we are trying to decide what date to change our flights to, once we get (if we get) the option to postpone. We are thinking about October. But what if we still cannot travel in October? If the airline gives us only ONE chance to change our dates for free, then we will all lose all our money (and they were quite expensive this year). Any thoughts?
This separation between known and unknown/trusted and untrusted will also happen at official and government level.My suggestion would be to postpone for at least a year, maybe more. I think that foreigners have not yet taken on-board how they will be treated when travel does restart. Everything has changed. You will be treated with suspicion, even dislike.
......
Sad but true. Spain and Portugal will be different to foreign travellers, even if you are a pilgrim.
Hawaii?I have the same dilemma. My flight to Paris is May 23, My flight home from Barcelona is July 14. I can cancel or move my May 23rd flight, but can only move (and maybe pay fees) for my July 14 flight. I purchased the two tickets separately, so they don't have to accommodate the return flight yet... but if I don't depart in May/June, no point in having a return flight. If "I" cancel my May flight, I will get points and have to use them by November. If "they" cancel my May flight, I get my points plus some extras... and a full year to use the points. But I can still only at this point reschedule my return flight. I work for schools, so I can only really do the Camino in the summer months (end of May to mid-July). I can reschedule now for a 1 week October vacation elsewhere... but can only reschedule the May flight once. Should I risk that? I can also schedule a 2 week vacation elesewhere around Christmastime... but it is COLD everywhere that my airline is currently listing to fly in December/January (for now, they have cut most of the Europe destinations, maybe permanently after November). But I fear with the cold months, there will be another wave of Covid-19. That, and I do not like the cold, so I might be miserable and not want to go outside. Also, the trip would cost much more than what I budgeted for the Camino due to more expensive lodging options and no "pilgrim's meals". But I can't just reschedule for next summer either, so do I just go for the December travel elsewhere? So frustrating.
Appreciate this post. We are meant to leave for Porto late May. Not yet any airline cancellations for that time frame but your local insight is invaluable. Thank you!I live very close to the Caminho Portuguese. My suggestion would be to postpone for at least a year, maybe more. I think that foreigners have not yet taken on-board how they will be treated when travel does restart. Everything has changed. You will be treated with suspicion, even dislike.
Since i moved to Portugal nearly 4 years ago, I have been so blessed with the affection of the local people. For me, that continues. Unknown people however are almost being ostracized. I saw that this morning at the bakery, I was treated like a long lost friend, even at 2 metres! Then an outsider stopped for bread. So did the conversation until he left.
Sad but true. Spain and Portugal will be different to foreign travellers, even if you are a pilgrim.
Stay safe, whenever you are.
Sounds great! Except my airline only flies to EuropeHawaii?
I have an overseas flight on American scheduled for May (not for a pilgrimage), and I made my reservation back In February before things went nuts. So my travel insurance, like everyone else's, says they won't cover anything because it is a Force Majeure. So as you say, I am waiting for the airline to cancel everything since they are not allowed to fly into Israel (if I understand correctly--I'll check the State Dept website), which means they'll need to cancel the flight at some point. I don't know how many days before a scheduled flight an airline cancels.The advice given by @trecile on another thread is relevant here, I think. If the airlines cancels your flight, they have to give you a full refund. If you cancel your flight, the airlines will apply whatever coronavirus policy they have adopted. In my case (American Airlines) that policy is that they keep your money, waive the change fee, and waive the requirement that you re-book the same itinerary. That makes the ticket price sort of like a little bank account I have at American Airlines. They also require that travel be made before the end of 2020, which may meant a lot of hurried travel at the end of the year. But I would also not be surprised to learn that they extend the date of travel if it turns out that the world of international travel has essentially shut down for a longer period. After all, if they are not flying the flights, they can’t require you to be on them.
So I agree with those who say, hold off cancelling till the last possible date, because maybe the airline will cancel on you.
Oh, wow, hughb, it did not occur to me that strangers would not be welcomed, but I see your point. I suppose I must rethink my November plans. Rats.I live very close to the Caminho Portuguese. My suggestion would be to postpone for at least a year, maybe more. I think that foreigners have not yet taken on-board how they will be treated when travel does restart. Everything has changed. You will be treated with suspicion, even dislike.
Since i moved to Portugal nearly 4 years ago, I have been so blessed with the affection of the local people. For me, that continues. Unknown people however are almost being ostracized. I saw that this morning at the bakery, I was treated like a long lost friend, even at 2 metres! Then an outsider stopped for bread. So did the conversation until he left.
Sad but true. Spain and Portugal will be different to foreign travellers, even if you are a pilgrim.
Stay safe, whenever you are.
Right now, everything about the future is idle speculation. Nobody knows what the situation, or the general mood, will be in November 2020, let alone in 2021 in Spain and in Portugal and in the rest of Europe.it did not occur to me that strangers would not be welcomed, but I see your point. I suppose I must rethink my November plans. Rats.
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