I think there's thousands others who faced the same thing as me. 'Thanks' to covid19, I have to cancel my trip to Japan that I had planned for about 7 months.
I've been researching about Japan's sakura season since the last sakura season which was April 2019. I've slowly, consistently, researching and gathering information about traveling in Japan during spring. Of course, I have been saving as well to fund this trip. I started to make proper itineraries for my 10 days trip in Japan since June 2019. I'll share that later.
The trip was scheduled to be on 31/3/2020 till 10/4/2020. It was my dream to solo traveling since I have traveled to some other countries with either my friends or my family. Bought my tickets with ANA Airline Japan on 16/12/2019. Despite not knowing the exact time for sakura blooming time (the forecast was out on January), I've made my mind to just bought the tickets based on previous years sakura blooming time. Turns out, it was quite okay, I'll still be there during full bloom until the petals started to fall (supposedly).
Accommodation was the hardest part. I took like forever to choose the right place for my trip as I planned to go to Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka & Nara if possible in 10 days. Probably took around 4-5 months to choose the right place to stay. Once I've made up my mind, I was firm with my decision, though it was not really 'me' to book a 'Non-refundable' accommodation, but I was sure at that time & if it wasn't because of an outbreak, I would've never change my mind. Non-refundable options are usually a lot cheaper than other policies. That's why, you only choose them when you're done with a complete itineraries of your trip which I did, and, you're very sure that you won't change your mind (it will force you to not to anyway as it's a non-refundable booking). It wasn't really a good option to be honest, but if you had a tight budget, it has to be one of your options.
I've been researching about Japan's sakura season since the last sakura season which was April 2019. I've slowly, consistently, researching and gathering information about traveling in Japan during spring. Of course, I have been saving as well to fund this trip. I started to make proper itineraries for my 10 days trip in Japan since June 2019. I'll share that later.
The trip was scheduled to be on 31/3/2020 till 10/4/2020. It was my dream to solo traveling since I have traveled to some other countries with either my friends or my family. Bought my tickets with ANA Airline Japan on 16/12/2019. Despite not knowing the exact time for sakura blooming time (the forecast was out on January), I've made my mind to just bought the tickets based on previous years sakura blooming time. Turns out, it was quite okay, I'll still be there during full bloom until the petals started to fall (supposedly).
Accommodation was the hardest part. I took like forever to choose the right place for my trip as I planned to go to Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka & Nara if possible in 10 days. Probably took around 4-5 months to choose the right place to stay. Once I've made up my mind, I was firm with my decision, though it was not really 'me' to book a 'Non-refundable' accommodation, but I was sure at that time & if it wasn't because of an outbreak, I would've never change my mind. Non-refundable options are usually a lot cheaper than other policies. That's why, you only choose them when you're done with a complete itineraries of your trip which I did, and, you're very sure that you won't change your mind (it will force you to not to anyway as it's a non-refundable booking). It wasn't really a good option to be honest, but if you had a tight budget, it has to be one of your options.
So, HOW DO I GET MY REFUND FOR ALL MY BOOKINGS?
- Luckily, ANA Japan flight for cancellations on tickets is up to 24 hours before departure of the desired flight (but they have other conditions as well, depends on your ticket & buying location/method of payment. So please check with ANA for your eligibility to get a refund) Hence, I just cancelled them through the website. It takes forever to process the refund (like 6-7 months to be credited back into your credit card), but at least, I (will) get the refund - full amount.
- Accommodations
- Booked my stay totally with airbnb for 10 nights - 3 different accommodations. One of them (3 nights total) was a flexible policy, so I was able to get full refund. However, not in the case for the other 2 accommodations (total 7 nights). I was quite devastated at first, as these 2 were 'non-refundable' & 50% refund policies. I thought I was done for. Cried for 3 nights straight hahaha. BUT, due to the coronavirus outbreak, airbnb had updated their Extenuating Circumstances Policy I've read it through, as per 4/3/2020 they only had flexible options for bookings made/accepted to/from China & South Korea (airbnb had update it to China, South Korea & Italy at the moment). But mine was to Japan.
- So I contacted airbnb customer support on 5/3/2020 for them to consider my request to get a full refund, as the hosts have no ability to change/override initial policy upon bookings.
- They took sometime to response, but they replied to me after 6 days (11/3/2020). Considering I still had few weeks left before the policy ends, so I don't mind waiting for their reply.
- So they finally replied to me. They called me as well, asking for any supporting document that could support my statement (I told them Malaysians had been restricted to travel overseas, as been advised by the Health Ministry). So, I gave them a copy of a press statement from Health Ministry Department (got it from their official twitter acc).
- They go through it to check it's validity, around half an hour later I received series of email from airbnb regarding the 2 bookings I made, saying that it has been cancelled with full refund.
- Couldn't be happier of course! I'm so glad they quickly resolve it once they could get through me (considering the huge amount of inquiries they need to handle at this particular moment). Thought I might have to wait more, but fortunately everything was done within less than 2 hours.
But as per today, 21/3/2020, the policy had been updated as "Reservations for stays and Airbnb Experiences made on or before March 14, 2020, with a check-in date between March 14, 2020 and April 14, 2020, are covered by the policy and may be canceled before check-in. Guests who cancel will receive a full refund, and hosts can cancel without charge or impact to their Superhost status. Airbnb will refund all service fees for covered cancellations."
So, that technically covers for most countries & guests/hosts who were badly affected. So, if your reservations are as in description above, there's no need to contact airbnb, you are eligible for full refund. You may refer to airbnb page for more precise info.
I sincerely hope that for each person, who had made this difficult decision to cancel their trip in order to protect those around you, will be given better things in return. You will. We are in this together. May God bless our intention to protect those who we love. God bless.
